Rain Wins at Tri City

 With rain showers and forecasts of more in all directions yesterday, we decided to take what looked like the best chance at getting a race in and headed south to Tri City Speedway in Granite City,Il  for the UMP Budweiser 50 late model $10,000 to win show. Kevin and Tammy Gundaker host this show each year the day after the Show Me 100 in Wheatland ,Mo. When the Show Me final two B-mains and feature was rained out Saturday night and rescheduled for Sunday evening, there was a chance that Tri City would plug the plug on the Sunday show. But the Wheatland folks decided by late morning that their track was too wet, while at the same time it was raining in Quincy, so off we went. While we drove through some showers on the way, the Tri City 3/8 mile was dry when we arrived, though the threat of rain remained. Track officials were well aware of this, and promised to do all they could to get the show in, including skipping an intermission.
 Scott Bloomquist rolled through the gate as the drivers meeting approached, giving us a nice field of 32 UMP late models to go along with 18 UMP modifieds dueling for a $1,000 top prize, and 21 B-mods competing for a $600 payday.
 Late model group qualifying was first, with overall quick time going to track regualar Tim Manville with a lap of 14.867 seconds.
 Following three heats for the B-mods, the late models came back with four ten lap qualifiers. Manville sat on the pole for heat one, but when he jumped the start, the front row was moved back, giving the pole to Jason Riggs. He took the early lead, but was soon run down by the original outside row one starter Brandon Sheppard. B Shepp the held on ahead of Riggs, Jared Landers, and Manville , as the top four transferred to the feature. Heat two when to Bloomquist who overtook polesitter Shannon Babb. Row two starter Bobby Pierce also powered around Babb for the second spot, with fifth starting Kent Robinson completing the top four. Polesitter Jason Feger went the distance in heat three. Outside row one starter Billy Moyer JR. fell back early, but rebounded to take the runner up spot ahead of Kevi Kissinger and Alan Westling. Alan qualified after his father Trace appreared to clip an infield tire while running in the fourth position. The final ten lapper got off to a rocky start when outside row one starter Jeff Herzog made contact with the wall in turns three and four, collecting Brian Shirley and Cody Conner, ending the night for all three. Chad Zobrist, who made have had contact with Herzog, then came from the back to grab the checkers, ahead of Jim Shereck, Michael Kloos, and Jason Rauen.
 Two UMP A- mod heats were next, with ninth starting Michael Long charging all the way to second behind Rick Stevenson in the non stop first eight lapper. Fellow Quincy Raceway drivers Dave Weitholder and Shawn Deering followed Michael to the stripe.
 With heat race action done, the late model B-main came to staging as the first raindrops fell. After a brief delay, the 12 lap event came to the track, 12 cars vying for six transfer spots. Outside polesitter Billy Laycock took the early lead, with Mark Burtorf on his bumper. The top two raced nose to tail as a light rain fell. As the laps wound down, the top two seemed to be playing it cool in the low groove. But former track champ Scott Weber jumped to the high side of the oval, charging past the lead duo in the closing laps for the win. Kolby Vandebergh, Jeremy Sneed, and Mark Voigt also took transfer spots.
 The original plan had been to run the late model feature first, but with no other B- mains, it had been decided to run the A -mods to give the late models B-main cars a chance to prepare for the 50 lapper. It mattered little, however, as the continuing light rain made the track too slick to race on, and the plug was pulled on the action about 8:45.
 It was announced that even though all preliminary races were run, rain checks would be honored through July 12. Thanks to the Gundakers and their crew for doing what they could to give us a night of racing!