Hard Work Means Racing at Quincy

 I woke up Sunday morning to what seems like the usual Sunday downpour. When someone asked me at church if we would race that night, I said I didn't see how. But the voice on the phone assured me that barring further rain, we would find a way, and that the program would be pushed back one hour to allow for more drying. When I arrived at the Broadway Bullring, the pits were a mud pit, and the track looked like a plowed field. But Tommy and the crew were working their tails off, and slowly but surely they built a racing surface. The car count was down a bit, but on this night that wasn't all bad, as there was about 60% of the pits usable, at best. Still, about 57 race teams checked in, and sure enough, the program started about an hour later than normal.
 Jason Perry set quick time for the UMP late models at 13.659 seconds, and Michael Long paced the UMP mods at 15.039. The heat races ran off quickly, and although a five minute intermission was advertised, the track crew decided to try and smooth out the bump that had developed in turn three, a procedure that took only about 20 minutes.
 The IMCA sport mods boasted 18 cars, and they all took the feature green flag. A three car pile up on the first lap brought out the caution, with Brandon Lennox and Austin Howes hooked togetrher as they tried to avoid a spinning Austen Becerra. Patrick Phillips then took the lead from row one, with another caution slowing the event on lap two. But after that, it was green flag racing to the checkers! Tanner Klingele was right on the back bumper of Phillips, and Tony Dunker vaulted to third on the restart in what quickly became a three car battle. The leaders hit slower traffic on lap 11 of the 18 lap race, and still they stayed nose to tail. On the final lap, Klingele made his move, and made contact with Phillips. From the best seat in the house, Dunker flew past both cars, and while Phillips led 17 and 3/4 laps, Dunker led when it counted. Phillips recovered for second, Klingele suffered a flat on the contact, limping home fourth behind Joey Gower. Gower had suffered heavy damge the night before at 34 Raceway, and was likely pleased to roll home in third. Becerra recovered to come home in fifth.
 Next up was the ten car IMCA stock car main event. Brandon Savage got a bit of a late start on the season, and even though he has been fast, he had yet to finish a feature. The # 47S ran off with the heat race win, and started up front for the 18 lap finale. He rocketed to the lead with Jeremy Buss and Michael Larsen in tow. By the time Larsen moved to second on lap four, Savage had a sizable advantage. Larsen soon put distance between himself and the rest of the pack, as well. On lap 17, Abe Huls charged to third on the tacky, fast track, with Jim Lynch moving to fourth. But for Savage it was a flag to flag non stop win followed by Larsen, Huls, Lynch, and John Oliver Jr., who was shaking out the Kratzer Brothers # 4K.
  It was now late model time, with ten of the 11 entrants coming to the .29 mile oval. Jim Moon had shadowed Reed to the checkers in his heat, but broke a rocker arm in the process, ending his night.  Perry had followed his quick time with a heat race win, but rolled a " five " for the feature invert, putting Denny Woodworth and Moon on the front row. With the " Moonman " out, Justin Reed moved to the front row alongside Woodworth. Reed jumped to the lead, with Woodworth second, but Perry moved to second on lap two. It became a two car battle, as Perry tried every lap to overtake Reed. Perry finally made his move in traffic on lap 14, grabbing the lead for good. He stretched out a commanding lead in another non stop race.  Mark Burgtorf began closing on Reed in the late stages, but settled for third. Woodworth and Jamie Wilson completed the top five, with Keith Pratt the only other car on the lead lap.
 The UMP modifieds had their lowest count of the season, with nine cars timing in after Steve Grotz on on the road home early.  Still, their 25 lap feature was a good one. Dave Weitholder got the jump on Steven Delonjay at the green, while Long powered from fifth to third as lap two was scored. When Michael cleared Delonjay on lap four, Weitholder had opened a healthy lead. By lap nine, Long was challenging in the middle groove, as Dave ran the preferred high line. The first yellow came on lap 13 for Spencer Havermale, and as the field slowed, it became obvious that the leader had a flat tire. Weitholder was able to get the tire changed to rejoin the pack, but Long used a clear track to open a huge lead over Delonjay. As the laps wound down, Rickey Frankel and Ryan Meyer began to crowd Delonjay for the runner up spot. On lap 24, Meyer had Frankel in his sights, bu went too hard into turn one, slipping over the cushion. We now had a green, white, checkers finish, with Long holding on for the win. Delonjay held off Frankel for second, Weitholder rebounded to fourth, and Danny Lake came home fifth.
 With the later than usual start, it was now past my self imposed Sunday curfew, so I headed to the car as the IMCA sport compact finale came to the oval. Trent Orwig started the season as aregular, but had been missing for several events before returning last week. Last night, he picked up the feature checkers ahead of Brandon Lambert, points leader Kim Abbott, Jeffery Delonjay and Austin McClean.
 Quincy Raceways will be back in action next Sunday for a regular race night before the Sprint Invaders take center stage on Sunday August 23.
  Wherever you are, take in some races this weekend!