The Streak is Over at Quincy

 The UMP Big Ten late model series made their second visit of 2016 to Quincy Raceways Sunday night, racing for a $2,000 top prize and track, series, and national points. 20 high powered late models signed in, but the subplot on the night was the win streak by local UMP modified standout Michael Long. Dry slick, tacky, smooth, or rough, Michael had yet to lose a race this season at QR. Five heat race wins, and five features, he was perfect. So for the last couple of weeks, promoter Ken Dobson had placed a bounty on the # 18L, raising it by a Ben Franklin each week, until it stood at $600.00 on top of the $500.00 first place money to outrun Long. When only eight UMP modifieds checked in on a very warm Sunday evening, it looked like Dobson might have to come up with another $100.00 for next week.
 After St Louis hot shoe and Quincy University graduate Gordy Gundaker set quick time for the 20 UMP late models at 13.434 seconds around the .29 mile oval, Long did his thing, turning a quick lap of 14.667 seconds.
 An ailing water truck and a hot late afternoon sun turned the track into a dustbowl for the heat races.
Still Michael ran his win streak to eleven, while Rickey Frankel, Keith Pratt, and McKay Wenger topped the late model qualifiers.
 During the 30 minute intermission, track workers dumped quite a bit of water on the racing surface, eliminating the dust problem.
 The twelve car IMCA stock car 18 lap feature ran first, with Jerry Jansen pacing lap one, followed closely by Andrew Hustead. Row four starter Brandon Savage climbed to third on the second go around, and two laps later it was Hustead out front and Savage second when the caution waved. On the restart, Savage grabbed the lead, with Hustead in pursuit. By lap nine, point leader Abe Huls was up to third, and it became a three car battle until the caution flew again on lap twelve for fifth place Dean Kratzer. One lap after the restart, Beau Taylor had a tire go down, bringing out another caution. Back under green, Huls took the runner up spot, but the caution  came out twice on lap 15 for Michael Larsen and first time visitor Shane Paris, who was running fourth. With the green flag back out, Savage held off the charge of Huls, picking up his second win of the season. Hustead, Jansen, and Jake Powers completed the top five.
 It was now modified time, with Long and Wentzville, Mo visitor Rick Conoyer on row one. Conoyer has been a frequent competitor at QR, and is a top runner in the St Louis area. He got the jump on Long as the green waved, quickly taking the preferred line at the very top of the speedway. Very quickly it became a two car breakaway, with the # 14 holding a decent lead and Long well ahead of the rest of the pack. The leaders hit lapped traffic on the 13th circuit, and Long began to close the gap. The only caution came on lap 16, giving Long another shot with five laps remaining. But Conoyer was not to be denied and picked up the win to the delight of a crowd who holds no animosity to Michael, but was rooting for the underdog. Dave Weitholder came from the back to take third, followed by Donavon Lodge and Shawn Deering.
  Next up was the late model headliner. Frankel had rolled a four to set the feature lineup, putting Gundaker and two time winner Wenger on the front row for the 25 laps. Wenger was out front at the end of lap one, before a lap three caution reset the field. On the restart, Justin Reed moved to third, and Wenger, Gundaker, and Reed formed a three car breakaway, with the latter pair battling for second. Slower traffic came in to play on the 13th circuit, and two laps later, Reed moved to second. As lap 17 was scored, Reed took over the top spot, and Rusty Griffaw joined the fray, taking the third slot on lap 19. With no further stoppages, Reed picked up his first win of the season, followed by Wenger, Griffaw, Gundaker, and Jim Moon. Dustin Griffin led the second five ahead of Frankel, Denny Woodworth, Mark Burgtorf, and Daryn Klein. Brian Dively in eleventh completed the lead lap cars.
  The IMCA sport mod class was a bit light with twelve entries. Second generation driver Levi Long survived a pair of early cautions to lead the opening laps. By lap four, Brandon Lennox had charged to fourth, and he began to pressure Long as Austen Becerra closed on the front duo. The leaders ran side by side on the ninth circuit before a lap ten yellow. Back under green, Tanner Klingele moved to third, but again it was Long and Lennox side by side on lap twelve. As  the top three battled, Long left the door open on the top side, and Lennox slipped around on lap 14. When Klingele slipped on the high side, Becerra regained the third spot, and Joey Gower also eased by for fourth. At the checkers, it was Lennox, Long, Becerra, Gower, and Klingele.
 Rounding out the card was the IMCA sport compact 15 lap finale. Eight of the nine cars took the green, with Jeffery Delonjay pacing the start. With Brandon Lambert in tow, the front pair staged a two car battle for the lead. Kimberly Abbott saw her run to the front evaporate with flat right front tire, but Craig Bangert began to make up ground. With no cautions, Delonjay held on for the win over Lambert, Bangert, Alyssa Steele, and Adam Scott.
 The final checkers waved soon after 9:00.
 With the dry, dusty conditions early, and next weeks forecast for temperatures in the nineties, it was decided to move back the start time next week by one hour, with hot laps about 6:20.
 With a three race weekend in the books, it is time to catch up on sleep, but I hope to see you next week Racin' Down the Road!