Bloomer Beats the Field and the Rain

Friday night, buddy Lane joined Fred and I as we made the trip south to Kevin and Tammy Gundakers Tri City Speedway in Granite City,Il. for the $10,000 to win Lucas Oil late model Budweiser 50. A solid field of 33 open late models featured a mix of traveling national and local talent, supported by 28 UMP modifieds and 30 B-mods . As it was here at home, the wether forecast was threatening, and it was announced at the drivers meeting that the show would move along quickly, with as little down time as possible. Late model and B mod hoy laps were followed by the UMP mods, who qualified and hot lapped at the same time. Mike Harrison set quick time at 16.072 on the 3/8 mile oval. Late model qualifying came next, with early qualifier Dennis Erb Jr. turning a lap of 14.350 seconds that held up throughout.
 Four eight lap mod heats ran caution free, then the late model heats were next. The first yellow waved for Reid Millard, as he contacted the turn four wall in heat one. Erb took the win over Brandon Shepherd, Michael Kloos and Jason Feger. Iowa driver Chris Simpson took off from the pole in heat two, fell behind outside row one starter Darrell Lanigan, then grabbed the lead. As local hotshoe Jeff Herzog used the high side to move to second, Simpson clipped the tire in turn four, bringing out caution number two, and ripping the nose off his #32. With his night over, Herzog restarted up front, holding off Lanigan, Ryan Unzicker and Bobby Pierce for the big win. Defending series champ Jonathon Davenport grabbed heat three, ahead of Shannon Babb, Time McCreadie, and Jimmy Owens, as the national stars stole the spotlight. Earl Pearson Jr started outside row one in the final late model heat, but climbed the wall in turns one and two. Scott Bloomquist received a still challenge from local ace Tim Manville, but held on for the win. Don Oneal raced home third, with Steve Francis holding off Pearson for the final transfer spot.
 It was then announced that the planned order of events would be altered, as the rain was headed towards the track. Four B- mods heats were contested, then the  two late model B-mains were called.
 Local veteran Jim Shereck bested Bob Gardner and returning veteran Billy Faust in the first 12 lapper, while  track regular, school teacher Billy Laycock topped 18 year old Kolby Vandenburgh and Hunter Rasdon for the final qualifying slots. Two series provisional spots went to Pearson and Jared Landers, while the track promoters added Gordy Gundaker and Rusty Griffaw driving the Jim Black # 10x on this night. Lucas Oil leading rookie contender Colten Flinner used an emergency series provisional to complete a 27 car starting field.
 The late model feature was then called to the track - with rain on the way track and series officials wanted to make sure the 50 lap headliner was completed. Davenport took off from the outside pole to lead lap one, dragging Erb, Bloomquist and Babb along. The # 6 car opened a big lead, and by lap eight he was lapping cars. With traffic in play, the now second running Bloomquist closed the gap by lap 11, as both leaders ran the high side of the three groove surface. Bloomert then shifted to the low line, briefly taking the point on lap 18. With slower traffic still in play the top two ran side by side, with Jonathon back on top on lap 20. Davenport then pulled a nifty move, splitting the side by side running cars of Feger and Unzicker in turn three, padding his lead. With open track now in sight, the # 6 again opened a sizable lead. Meanwhile there was plenty of movement throughout the top ten, with tenth starting Mc Creadie and 12th starting Oneal moving into the top five. As the race continued caution free, Davenport, who we would later learn had no brakes, ran a very high line, making contact with the turn one concrete wall multiple times. Meanwhile, Bloomquist ran the low line, closing in on the leader by lap 40. Three laps later, Davenport again slapped the wall and Scott moved to the front again. This time, the 52 year old veteran Bloomquist pulled away, taking the win in the caution free event. Series point leader Davenport held on for second, with Erb getting back around the charging Oneal for third in a close finish. McCreadie completed the first five. Lanigan lead the second five ahead of Babb, Owens, Pierce, and 24th starting Landers in tenth.
 With the race being taped for television, there was now a very lengthy delay, for interviews and the removal of the Lucas Oil signage. Finally, the modified and B-mod B-mains were contested, and then it was time for the 25 lap modified $1,000 to win finale. The winner from the previous week, Rick Stevenson shared row one with NASCAR legend Ken Schrader, former late model driver Rodney Standerfer and UMP national champion Mike Harrison sat in row two, and hot shoes Michael Long and Dean Hoffman filled out row three of the 22 starters in what shaped up as a classic battle. As the green waved, Stevenson rocketed to the lead, with Standerfer, Schrader and Harrison in pursuit. As the pack crossed the stripe for lap one, the caution waved for a turn four spin. As the field went single file, a single raindrop was immediately followed by a pelting shower. With the still sizable crowd hastily heading for cover, it was announced that the show was over, and that the remaining two features would be completed on dates to be decided later.
  It was about 10:40 when we fired up the van for the long drive home in an off and on rain.
  Though it was disappointing to not get to see the modifieds duke it out, we certainly knew the threat of rain was strong before we headed out, and we applaud Kevin, Tammy, the Lucas officials, and the drivers for hustling to make sure we got to witness the 50 lap headliner.
  As I write this, there is a lot of rain in the Quincy area, but I know Quincy Raceways personnel is hard at work trying to get the track ready for the UMP Big Ten Scottie 42 $2,000 to win late model special on Sunday, May 1. UMP modifieds along with IMCA stock cars, sport mods, and sport compacts are also slated to compete, so keep an eye on the track website for information.
 Later in the week, we will be hopefully be heading back to Lee County Speedway in Donnellson on Thursday for the MLRA late model special, and then on Saturday for a companion event at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo. Maybe I will see you Racin' Down the Road!