Long Completes the Hat Trick at Quincy

 The weatherman finally gave Quincy Raceways a break on Sunday, with cooler temps, although there were a couple of stray sprinkles early in the evening. Still it was good place to spend my last night of vacation, a busy time even though I managed to squeeze in a night of racing in Donnellson and in Tipton, Iowa. Unfortunately, by the time I could have reported on them, it would have been very old news!
 Sixty one cars signed in at QR, but things got off to a bit of a late start with a medical call in the grandstands following time trials. Jason Perry had paced the UMP late models at 13.303 seconds, and Michael Long was the final UMP modified to qualify, leading the 14 car pack with a lap of 14.609 ticks of the clock.
 Once under way, the nine heat races ran off quickly, but the heavy rains on Thursday night created some bumps in the track which crews ironed out during intermission.
  The IMCA stock car feature ran first, with all but one of the ten cars signed in taking the green. Jake Powers crossed the line first on lap one, and on lap three, a charging Abe Huls got tangled up with Rudy Zaragoza, bringing out the yellow. Back under green, however, it was Brian Hoener out front as Abe moved to fourth in one lap, and was third on lap five before the second and final caution waved. Huls took over second on the restart, and set sail for Hoener. Brian was hugging the low line while Abe chose a higher groove. On lap ten of the 18 lap affair, Huls powered to the front. Four circuits later, Andrew Hustead used that same top groove to claim second, chasing Huls to the checkers. Hoener finished third followed by Michael Larsen and Powers.
  Fast qualifier Perry had captured the first late model heat, and he rolled a zero to set the 25 lap feature lineup straight up. Perry then grabbed the lead at the green, quickly moving to the high line ahead of Griffin. A battle quickly developed for third between Clint Kirkham, Mark Burgtorf, and Denny Woodworth. By the eighth lap, Denny had charged to third, and the leaders hit slower traffic around lap eleven. Point leader Justin Reed joined the fray, moving to fourth on lap 14. Three circuits later, Griffin was bearing down on the leader, and he pulled a slide job in turns one and two for the lead on lap 20. Perry stayed close, but could not return the favor, as Griffin picked up his second checkers of 2016. Perry ran second ahead of Woodworth, Reed, and Burgtorf. Kirkham led the second five followed by Vance Wilson again wheeling the # 6M, Trace Westling, McKay Wenger, and Chuck Mitchell. All 14 starters took the checkers in the non stop event. It was good to see Wenger back at the track, although racing with a cast on his wrist certainly posed a problem. Also, Alan Westling made his first appearance of the season in the Jim Moon back up car. Moon is also reportedly dealing with some injury issues.
 The IMCA sport compacts only showed eight cars, seven started the 15 lap feature which also went non stop. Jeffrey Delonjay jumped to the early lead in his new ride, plain black with a duct taped # 32  on the side. On lap four, Kimberly Abbott took the runner up spot from Allyssa Steele as the two lady drivers tried to run down Delonjay. Darin Weisinger Jr. joined the front group, moving to third just before the half way mark. Three circuits later, Weisinger slipped around Abbott for second. As the leaders charged out of turn two for the final time, Abbott slowed and pulled to the infield with a rare mechanical failure. Delonjay cruised to his second win of 2016, chased by Weisinger, Steele, Brandon Lambert, and Adam Scott.
 Under the " what's new" category, Michael Long also won his heat race, and was set to roll the die for the 20 lap feature invert. Oddly, there was an " eight" on the die, which Michael rolled, and for the first time that I know of, four rows were inverted for the main event. All but one of the 14 cars signed in took the green flag, with Shaun Deering leading Donovan Lodge as lap one was scored. Long crossed the line sixth, as lap two was scored, he was third, and he was going for the lead when the caution waved on lap three. The Delaware restart put him outside of Lodge, and he shot to the lead going down the backstretch. As he began to build a lead, third running Deering spun in turn one, but fortunately for him, the yellow had just come out for Keven Tomlinson in turn four. It was now Kevin Blackburn, driving the Mike Begley # B4 now in second, and while Long checked out, Blackburn, Deering, and Dave Weitholder waged a battle for second. When Blackburn suddenly exited the speedway on lap eleven, Long had a nearly 1/2 track advantage on the second place Deering. With no further cautions, Michael picked up his third feature win of the weekend as he chases the UMP nation points title, currently running second to Michael Harrison. Deering and Weitholder ran second and third, followed by Spencer Havermale and Frankie Wellman.
  The IMCA sport mod finale was in staging as I headed for the car, with the 9:00 hour fast approaching and a long "catch up" Monday on my mind. Congratulations to Brandon Lennox, who has had an up and down season, as he topped defending champion and new point leader Joey Gower for the win.
  Although I would very much like to be in West Liberty, Iowa for the MLRA/IMCA double late model show on Tuesday, it " ain't gonna " happen, so we will see what next weekend brings. Until then, enjoy the races!