Longs Streak Ends, Huls Rolls On

 Some first time winners grabbed the checkers Sunday night at Quincy Raceways, but in the IMCA stock car class, it was a familiar face.
 The night began with qualifying, and Denny Woodworth paced the UMP late models with a lap of 13.974 seconds. And it was no surprise when Michael Long turned a lap of 15:300 seconds to top the UMP modifieds. Woodworth then captured the late model heat, and pulled the zero chip to set the feature field straight up. Long looked to be in command in the first mod heat, but Dave Weitholder stayed close, and he shocked the crowd by flying past Michael for the win coming out of turn four to the checkers. Dave also pulled the zero chip, and we were ready to go feature racing.
  The stock cars were up first, and Jerry Jansen led the first two trips around the oval, with Andrew Hustead taking over on lap three, taking last weeks winner Michael Larsen along in second. With Abe Huls advancing to third, those three and Jansen formed a four car pull away. Following a lap five caution, Larsen got shuffled back to sixth, and Huls took over second. Lap seven saw Abe on top, but Hustead was not giving up, and the two raced side by side, Huls on the low line, Hustead one groove higher. Andrew was scored the leader at the half way point, and the yellow waved on lap eleven. On the restart, Larsen took to the cushion that produced his win the week before, moving to third. By lap 15, it was Huls in front of Hustead with Larsen closing. Andrew led lap 16, then Abe on the 17th circuit as the caution flew. Coming to the green, Larsen got sideways, collection Jake Powers, who retired with a broken front end. As the field came to the checkers, Larsen again got sideways, but it was Huls stretching his points lead with another win. Hustead was second followed by Jansen, Rudy Zaragoza, and Larsen.
  The late models were up next, and row three starter and two time winner Justin Reed was a no show with mechanical woes. Woodworth grab the lead at the green, with third starting Mark Burgtorf running the high line in second. Lap three saw the 16 time track champion take the lead, and one lap later Jason Perry grabbed second also running the cushion. The caution came on lap five, and back to racing, Burgtorf, Perry, and Woodworth ran three wide through turn two, with Denny back to second. Another stoppage came on lap seven, and back under green it was now Burgtorf, Dustin Griffin, and Perry running three wide. With Burgtorf staying on the cushion, Griffin challenged on the inside line, showing Mark his fender before the final caution on lap 21. Burgtorf was not to be denied, and he led the final four circuits to pick up his first win of 2016. Griffin rode home in the runner up slot ahead of Woodworth and Perry. Terry Wilson took home fifth ahead of Charles Vanzandt, late model rookie Trent Grotz, and Cliff Powell.
 The IMCA sport compacts came to the track next for 15 laps. Jeffrey Delonjay jumped to the lead ahead of Allyssa Steele. On lap three, Craig Bangert charged to second with Kimberly Abbott in tow. Following a restart, Abbott nabbed second, and a three car scrum developed. Soon Delonjay and Abbott pulled away, Jeffrey running on the bottom and Kim a line higher as she searched for a way around the # 32. Delonjay continued to hit his marks, holding off the point leader for the win. Bangert took third, Darin Weisinger Jr was fourth, and Brandon Lambert nosed past Steele at the checkers for fifth.
  It was now UMP modified time. Weitholder and heat two winner Frankie Wellman sat in row one, with Long and Russ Coultas in row two. Weitholder jumped to the lead, with Long trailing. Staying green, the front two ran this way, Weitholder on the inside and Long running low in turns one and two and pounding the cushion in three and four. Long closed the gap by lap nine, and 15 trips in, slower traffic got heavy. As the leaders cam past the flag stand, a slower car forced Weitholder to move up to the middle groove as Long tried to move to the front on the high side. There was not enough real estate, and contact occurred between the leaders, leaving both with flat tires. Weitholder quickly went to the hot pit, while Long stayed out, but he would not be allowed to restart with a flat, so he also went to the hot pit. Weitholder made it back to the tail in the two lap grace period, but Long came out late, spinning in turn two to bring himself back to the pack. It was now Kevin Blackburn out front in the Mike Begley # B4. Blackburn has held the ride for about a month, and has been fast, but mechanical issues have ended some strong runs. No such issues would stop Kevin this night, however, and he picked up his first main event win. Trying to make up ground, Weitholder looped his ride, but stayed on the gas and kept going on the final lap 15 restart. Coultas had a strong run in second, Long came back from eleventh to third, Darin Weisinger nabbed fourth, and Spencer Havermale completed the top five. Michael had been going for his third win of the weekend, as he continues to lead the UMP national points.
  The final race on the card was the 15 car IMCA sport mod feature. Tanner Klingele led through a lap four caution,  ahead of Justin Bartz, Kevin Tomlinson, point leader Nathan Bringer, and Austin Howes. By lap seven, Howes had powered his way to second, and was challenging for the lead, while Brandon Lennox rim rode his way to third. It was now Klingele on the bottom, Howes in the middle, and Lennox on top, as the track may have been the raciest it has been all season. Howes grabbed the leadon lap ten and began to pull away. Meanwhile, Klingele and Lennox staged a side by side battle for second. As Lennox grabbed second on lap 14 the yellow waved, giving the spot back to Klingele, although it was of little consequence with the Delaware restart. But as racing resumed, Lennox did not get the start he hoped for, and Bringer moved to third. Howes again pulled away, picking up I think, his first QR win of 2016. The battle raged on for second, with Klingele prevailing. Lennox recovered for third, with Bringer and Tomlinson turning in top five runs.
  Today I learned the sad news that long time area racer and engine builder Jack Evans passed away Sunday night. Jack was  a regular in the stands at both Quincy and Donnellson, and I had my final conversation with him Friday at Lee County Speedway. Thoughts and prayers go out to Jacks family and friends.
  See you at the races.