Pierce Goes Flag to Flag at Tri City

Friday night, Fred and I setr sail for Tri City Speedway in Pontoon Beach,Il. for the Mars/UMP $5,000 to win late model challenge. 27 late models checked in as part of a five class, 105 car field. Late model qualifying was lead by Jonathon Davenport with a lap of 14.745 seconds. The three heat races were lined up straight up by qualifying times, with Davenport topping Jason Feger, Tony Jackson Jr, and Tim Manville in heat one. Polesitter Brian Shirley capyured heat two ahead of Billy Moyer, Kevin Gundaker, and Austin Rettig. The third ten lapper went to outside row one starter Bobby Pierce besting Michael kloos, Jim Shereck, and Joe Godsey. Veteran Terry Phillips had advanced from sixth to fourth in heat two when he appeared to fold under the front of his car, suffering heavy front end damage, ending his night. The biggest field was the UMP B modifieds, with 35 cars signed in. Because of the number of cars, five heats races were run, with the top four transfering to the main feature. The remaing 15 cars were scheduled to run a full length second feature similar to what Lee County Speedway did with the hobby stocks in the Lynn Richard era. with the winner having the option to take the winners check or tag the tail of feature number one. Chuck Goodman took the win and elected to move on in what turned into a time shortened event. Following the prliminaries, and with intermission waved, the twelve four cylinders came to the track for their feature. Dallas Lugge took the win. Next up was the 21 car B mod 15 lapper. Trey Harris benefitted from a three car tussle up front to take the win in a race slowed only three times for caution periods. Goodman started in 21st and crossed the line in sixth. It was now time for the late model 40 lap headliner. Pierce and Davenport filled out row one, with Pierce jumping out from the pole and quickly charging to the top side of the 3/8 mile banked oval. Davenport settled into second, with row two starters Shirley and Feger side by side before Feger took the spot on lap two. Pierce was stretching his advantage before the caution waved on lap three as Allen Murray collected the tractor tire in turn one. Murray seemed convinced he was squeezed entering the turn. Davenport took the inside line on the Delaware restart, and Feger moved to second at the green, with Billy Moyer following him to third using the top groove. The front three began to pull away, with Pierce running high in turns one and two, and low in three and four. Feger pounded the cushion, and Moyer elected a middle line. As the leader caught slower traffic, Feger closed the gap quickly as Pierce was forced to change his line. Lap 14 saw the font runners in heavy traffic, but Pierce moved skillfully, and by lap 18 he once again had a comfortable lead. Moyer found his way past Feger just before the halfway mark, and at at lap 20 Shirley also slipped around Feger. Jason fought back into third, and the second and final caution waved on lap 34 for Billy Laycock, erasing Pierces big advantage. As the field was being reset, Feger pulled to to the infield, his night finished. If the yellow had come in the final five laps, the field would have restarted single file, but with six to go, it was a Delaware reallignment. Moyer elected the outside, putting Shirley on the bottom. As racing resumed, Moyer stayed glued to Pierce for a couple laps, trying to use the high groove in turn four to make his move, but he could not get the job done. Meanwhille Shirley found himself in a battle with tenth starting Manville. At the checkers, it was a flag to flag win for Pierce, who was easily the class of the field. Moyer came home second followed by Shirley, Manville, and Davenport. Jackson Jr. in the #40th car was sixth ahead of Gundaker,eighth row starter Logan Martin, Peyton Looney. Raymond Merrill was credited with tenth, the first car one lap down. The modifieds and street stock features were up next, but we headed for the slight detour home as the clock read 10:30. I see this morning that Mike Harrison topped the 17 mods for I believe his 30th feature win of 2017, while Terry McCann was first in the street stocks. All in all, it was a good night of racing at Tri City, as Kevin and Tammy Gundaker presented up with a smooth, racy track and a timely show. With Quincy Raceways taking the week off, this was likely my only night of racing for the weekend, so we will see what Labor Day weekend brings!

Quincy Raceways Under New Leadership

Apparently the deal is done, and Quincy Raceways has new owners. Jason and Robert Goble were on hand Sunday night to negotiate the purchase of the 43 year old facility even as racing action was going on, and they are taking over operation immediately. Ciltrak Promotions offered to finish out the 2017 schedule, but the Gobles want to hit the ground running. The track had a scheduled night off this Sunday, but when the green flag flies on Sunday, September 3, it will happen with the new team in charge. Although nothing definite has been announced, indications are that the classes that have been running all season will finish out 2017. The new owners also indicated that they will stretch the season into October, although the original date for season championships was September 24. With the Gobles already making the move to Quincy, they have stated that giving the grounds a facelift will be the first order of business. Jason Goble has over 20 years experience in various capacities at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, and he is the son and nephew of former late model racers. so he comes into this venture with a solid racing background. As things develop, I will try to keep everyone informed on any changes or additions to the schedule. I wish the Gobles the best as they try to breathe new life in the legendary speedway. Even though it is Wednesday, this weekends racing plans for me are still up in the air, but the weather forecast sounds perfect, so everyone head to your favorite track, and maybe I will see you there!

Woodworth Doubles Up, Sale in the Works

Denny Woodworth picked up the the feature win in both UMP late model classes Sunday night at Quincy Raceways, but that was not the biggest story of the evening. Jason and Robert Goble were introduced at intermission as possible - perhaps likely - buyers of the .29 mile facility. Just days ago, it was looking as though the 43 year old speedway might be seeing its last days as a race track, but the pair from Burlington,Iowa have stepped up to show serious interest in purchasing the facility. Hopefully more information will be released in the near future. At this time, the Ciltrak group led by promoter Kenny Dobson will finish the 2017 season. Six classes were in action on Sunday, with the IMCA stock cars running the first feature. Jerry Jansen and Briab Hoener crossed the line side by side as lap one was scored, with point leader Hoener taking over on lap two. Hoener built a big lead before the only caution of the event for a Jesse Weggs spin. When racing resumed, Hoener again built a commanding lead, taking the win ahead of Jake Powers, Jansen, and Weggs. The UMP Pro Crate lates models were up next for 15 laps. Woodworth shot to the lead at the drop of the green, with fifth starting Brandon Savage moving to second. Woodworth opened a lead that stretched to a full straightaway, while Savage built a 1/2 lap margin over third running Laine Vanzandt. The race went all the way with no yellows on the smooth, fast, tacky surface. Woodworth pick up the win, with Savage in second. Charles Vanzandt overtook son Laine late in the race for third, with Bill Scott credited with fifth. The UMP modified feature was run with fast qualifier and heat one winner Michael Long already on the trailer. Michael blew his engine as he took the checkers in his heat. It was a particularly tough blow, as it was the first night on the power plant. Steve Grotz and Frankie Wellman started in row one for the 20 lapper, but it was row two starter Ray Bollinger grabbing the first lap lead. As the leaders crossed the stripe, the yellow waved for a spinning Charles Baker in turn four. On the Delaware restart, point leader Dave Weitholder charged to second. Much likie the crate feature, Bollinger soon built a lead that eventually stretched to a 1/2 lap, with Weitholder gaining a comfortable advantage in the runner up spot. At the same time, Grotz was cruising in third. With the final 19 circuits run non stop, it was an easy win for Bollinger, his 20th UMP win of the season,as he sits second in national UMP points. Wetholder scored the runner up finish, with Grotz taking a solid third. Joey Gower and Wellman completed the top five. Jeffrey Delonjay jumped out to an early lead in the IMCA sport compact feature, while four cars battled behind him for second. Point leader Craig Bangert had his hands full coming from the fifth spot, eventually staging an entertaining duel with Darin Weisinger Jr. before finally grabbing the second spot. He tried ti narrow the gap on the leader, but another caution free event saw Delonjay take the flag to flag win. Bangert was followed by Weisinger Jr, David Primm, and Kimberly Abbott. The UMP super late models found Woodworth agaijn on the pole for the 20 lapper. The late model lawyer led Jamie Wilson as the first lap was scored, with Woodworth running the low line and Wilson pounding the cushion. Jason Perry took over second on lap seven, and one circuit later, quick timer and heat winner Ricky Frankel moved to third. By lap 13, Perry had erased Woodworths lead, and Perry challenged hard the final five laps. He made a valiant try out of turn four coming to the checkers, but another non stop race saw Woodworth win his second main event of the night, firming up his points lead in both late model divisions. Frankel outlasted Wilson for third, with Joey Gower scored in fifth. The final race of the evening was the 16 car, 18 lapper for the IMCA sport mods. Kevin Tomlonson put his #49 out front at the drop of the green, with the first of several cautions coming on lap one. Vance Wilson was behind the wheel of the AJ Tournear number 1, and he claimed second on the restart. Lap three saw Brandon Lennox move to thirdafter a row three start. Lennox slipped past Wilson on lap seven, but a yellow returned the spot to Vance. For the Delaware restart, Wilson chose the inside line, and when the green waved, Lennox took second, with yet another caution before the lap was scored. On the next retart, Wilson chose the outside. Still, Lennox powered to second, while fifth running Austin Becerra charged to third. With one more lap in the books, the yellow waved again, seven laps in the books. Back to racing, Becerra took second, and a three car battle ensued. Becerra grabbed the lead on lap 13, wthe yellow out again on lap 14. With five circuits left, the restart was now single file, and Tomlinson looped his ride in turn four to bring out the final caution. On the final restart, Becerra took the top line while Lennox worked down low. The final pair of laps saw them pretty much side by side, and Lennox won the drag race out of turn four to the checkers. Tanner Klingele recoverd from early troubles to record a third ahead of Ray Goodwin and Wilson. Wilson was piloting the #1 because former hot shoe Adam Birck purchased the #28 car formerly driven by Wilson. Birck turned in a solid sixth place finish on his first night behind the wheel in 2017. Quincy Raceways will take off the night of August 27 before returning to action for all four Sundays in September. We will offer updates on the future of the track for 2018 and beyond as information becomes available, so stay tuned!

Rollover,DQ, at Quincy Raceways

Things sratred out tame enough, but the action picked up late in the action Sunday night at Quincy Raceways. Michael Long started off the action setting quick time for the UMP modifieds on a smooth and fast racing surface. Michael picked up the heat one win, then rolled a three for the feature invert. It was the IMCA sport mods running the first feature of the night, with all but one og the 16 cars taking the green flag. Rick Barlow,Jr paced the opening three circuits, with Austin Howes taking over on lap four. As Howes opened a lead, Mike Goodwin and Brandon Lennox locked in a battle for second. The caution waved on lap six, and when racing resumed, Lennox took command of second, with Tanner Klingele easing past Goodwin for third. Howes stayed glued to the bottom of the track while Lennox ran the high line until the caution waved again on lap ten. Justin Ebbing moved to fourth on the restart, but the front three had pulled away. Three laps from the end of the 18 lapper, Lennox jumped the turn two cushion, falling to third, and the yellow waved a final time on the same lap. The field was now set single file, and Klingele tried unsucessfully to squeeze under Howes coming to the white flag. He lost a bit of momentum with the move, and Lennox retook the spot on the final circuit. At the checkers, it was Howes, Lennox, Klingele, Vance Wilson, and Ebbing. The UMP Pro Crate late models were up next for 20 laps. Heat two winner Tommy Elston drew the pole position, with the caution waving at the end of lap one for a spinning Brandon Savage. Back under green It was Denny Woodworth in command, but the yellow came out on lap four as Bill Scott lost a drive shaft in turns one and two. This is the same Bill Scott who was a regular at QR some 40 years ago! Elston grabbed the lead as racing resumed, and the leaders pulled away. Meanwhile there was a great three car battle for third between Tommy Sheppard Jr., Clint Kirkjam, and Savage. On the ninth circuit, Woodworth took the lead and began to put some distance between himself and Elston. As the race for third raged on, Tegan Evans, the 14 year old young lady from Clinton, Iowa making her first visit to Quincy, brought out the caution with a lap 17 spin. The field was reset with three laps remaining, and one lap later Elston and Woodworth were side by side down the front stretch when contact got Elston sideways. With Woodworth unable to slow in time, the momentum sent Elston into a pair of hard sideways rolls, drivers side first, stopped when he contacted the tractor tire at the entrance to turn one. Tommy emerged from his badly damaged car, sore today, I am sure. Woodworth would have to restart at the back of the now five car field with only two laps remaining. Sheppard was the new leader, and he held off Savage for his first QR win. Woodworth powered back to third ahead of Kirkham, Charles Vanzandt, and Evans. Savage however, failed post race inspection due to the incorrect placement of weight in the back of his car, moving him to ninth behind the remaining cars on the track, as well as Elston, Joey Gower and Scott. Until these final three circuits, only one lap in the crate class had been led by anyone other than Woodworth and Elston on 2017, a first lap lead for Brad Denney. The IMCA stock cars were up next for 15 laps. Jake Powers charged to the opening lap lead, as Brian Hoener and Beau Taylor slugged it out for the second spot. The stock cars all elected the low line, although Hoener and Taylor locked together briefly going down the back chute as they fought for position behind Powers. Jake held his line, running 15 mistake free laps, and picking up his first stock car win. Hoener, Taylor, Jerry Jamsen, and Nathan Hayes completed the top five. All 19 UMP modifieds came to the track for 20 laps of action. Following a couple of first lap cautions, Dave Weitholder and Long vaulted out to a two car lead.On lap six, Long charged to the top spot, and Weitholder came hard into turn one, looping his machine. Though he did a good job of powering out of the spin,with the field bearing down on him, the caution waved, and Weitholder was headed to the back. Before racing resumed, he apparently could not get his #05 refired, and he was pushed to the pits. As the green waved, Jason Frankel used the Delaware restart to take second from Gary Bently, but he could not run down his brother in law, Michael Long. it was now Bently, his teammare Rick Conoyer, and Shaun Deering in a tight race for third. As Long easily negotiated slower traffic, Conoyer took over third and began to run down Frankel. With about two laps to go, Conoyer moved to the runner up spot, but at the checkers, it was Long with the easy win. Conoyer, Frankel,Deering, and Bently scored top five runs. The clock was now heading past 9:15, so I headed to the car as the seven car IMCA sport compact finale was still to be contested. Craig Bangert picked up another win over Darin Weisinger Jr., Brandon Lambert, Jeffrey Delonjay, and David Primm. As the is originally a scheduled night off at the track, the turn out was perhaps better than might have been expected. In fact, the 19 modifieds checked in persuaded promoter Ken Dobson to add them to the card next Sunday night along with the return of the UMP super late models,the crates, stock cars, sport mods, and sport comapcts. Then Sunday August 27 is a scheduled night off before racing every week in September. It looks now like next Sunday might be my next race night, maybe I will see you there!

Close Finishes at Lee County Speedway

Friday night I took in night two of Summerfest at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson,Iowa. An unofficial total of 99 cars signed in to race in six divisios, led by 27 IMCA sport mods. The heat races clicked off in good fashion, with a bit of a delay when contact in late model heat race number one sent Derek Liles hard into the turn two guardrail. The #33 recieved heavy damage, although Derek was able to complete a lap in the feature with his car resembling a modified more than a late model. Following a candy dash and some more intermission hijinks, it was feature time, with extra laps added in several of the classes. The IMCA sport compacts ran first. Nine cars had started the heat race, with Josh Barnes starting scratch on the field for the main event after I assume arriving late to the track. Polesitter Brandon Reu and row two starter Barry Taft crossed the stripe side by side as lap one was scored and those towo battled until Reu finally took command. Meanwhile, Barnes advanced to fourth on lap five, and he powered to third five laps later, then set his sights on Taft. With no caution periods slowing the action, Reu held on for the win, with Taft barely edging Barnes at the line for second. Kimberly Abbott and Travis Demint filled out the top five. The INEX legend cars were on hand, 18 strong, and they came to the track next for a 30 lap main event. With the field tightly bunched entering turn one on lap four, contact sent a pair of cars flipping multiple times. One of those airborne was former open late model pilot Jason YUtter, and the other was Nelson Stewart, the 79 year old father of NASCAR legend Tony Stewart. Although slow to exit their cars, both drivers professed to be ok. Back to racing, therer were several lead changes up front, with Bismarck,North Dakota driver Drew Papke taking the win over Tim Brockhouse. A B main for the sport mods ran next to eliminate three cars to set up the final four rows of the 20 lap feature. Bobby Six captured the win over Tony Dunker, who had run fifth in the fourth heat. All but one of the 17 IMCA stock cars, the #30c of Abe Huls, came out for 22 laps of feature racing. Front row starter Jeremy Pundt was the first lap leader, with outside polesitter John Oliver Jr. inches behind. Oliver nosed ahead on lap two and took command on the third trip around the 3/8 mile oval. Meanwhile, visiting David Brandies started mid pack, powering to fourth on lap four. With Oliver holding a nice lead, the first caution came with six laps down. On the Delaware restart, third running Jeff Mueller moved to second, taking Brandies along in third. Oliver was working the top side of the track, with Mueller and Brandies working the low line. Brandies then began moving around on the track, searching for the fastest groove. He challenged Mueller on lap 13, taking the position two laps later. But Mueller was not in a mood to surrender the spot, and he regained the runner up slot on the 16th circuit. Lap 19 saw Jason See ease past Pundt for fourth, and that is how the top five took the checkers. Dakota Simmons parlayed a pole start into a first lap lead, with Ryan Cook taking over on lap two. The yellow waved for debris on lap four, and back under green, Jeff Waterman grabbed the lead, with Cayden Carter on his heels. Row four starter Michael Long was looking for racing room behind cars running side by side, and following a lap seven caution he was able to nab fourth. On the tenth of the 25 lapper, Long took over third, and it was now a three car breakaway. Carter alternately fought off the challenges of Long, who was running the top in turns three and four. the diving to the inside in one and two, and stalked Waterman, as the front duo ran the top groove. Lap 21 saw the front two side by side, and on lap 23, Carter powered around Waterman in turn four, with Jeff using a crossover move to cancel the pass. The checkers waved with a excited Waterman picking up the win over Cater, Long, Chris Zogg, and Dennis Laveine. The IMCA sport mod 20 lapper was next, with outside polesitter Brandon Lennox taking the early lead, with Brandon Dale challenging. The caution came out on lap two for a multi car scrum, and back to racing, a three wide battle for second saw Jim Gillenwater take the spot. Following a lap four yellow, Lennox moved to the low line that was working for Gillenwater. Lennox built a nice lead, but with seven laps to go, he caught slower traffic, allowing Gillenwater to close in. With clear track, Lennox would pull away, with Gillenwater again closing in traffic. The caution waved with two laps remaining, and now Dunker, who had started outside row nine, was up to sixth. Gillenwater took over the lead on the backstretch as racing resumed, but the caution flag negated the pass. The final restart saw Dunker charge to thrd, and he was not done yet, as he cleared Gillenwater for second. At the checkers, he was within striking distance, but it was Lennox with the flag to flag win. Dunker turned in the run of the night in second, followed by Gillenwater, Carter Vandenberg, and Brayton Carter. It was now time for the 25 lap $1,000 to win UMP Pro Crate late model headliner. Heat two winner Mark Burgtorf was wheeling the Clint Kirkham #28 for the two day Summerfest, and he sat outside row one, taking the lap one lead ahead of row two starter Todd Frank. Fifth starting Tommy Elston moved to third on lap three,the cleared Frank five laps later. By the tenth circuit, he was up to challenge Burgtorf. As Elston worked the low line on the multi grooved surface, Burgtorf ran low in turns one and two, and the high line in three and four. Sam Halstead started in row four, and he was on the move, taking third at the half way mark. He steadily made up ground on the leaders, challenging Elston on lap 16. The top three pulled away from the pack, hitting slower traffic on lap 18, as Frank tried to stay in the mix. With a pair of laps to go in the non stop event, Halstead stuck the nose of his #84 under Elston to take the spot away. As I was stating to write the results down, Burgtorf pounded the turn four cushion for the final time, and Halstead stuck his ride on the bottom groove, winning the drag race to the checkers for an incredeible finish. It was win number two of 2017 at LCS for "Superman." Burgtorf pulled up in victory lane to congratulate a happy Halstead. Elston took third, with Denny Woodworth getting around Frank late for fourth. Visiting Kyle McMahan, from Mt Vernon,Il was sixth ahead of Jeff Guengerich,Gunner Frank, Chris Richard, and Tyler Cale. Chase Frank was next, ahead of Russ Schoonover, while Trent Grotx pulled out on the final lap. Liles was scored in 14th. It was a late night, with the final checkers close to 11:30, but a truly outstanding night of racing! Wather premitting, we will be back at Quincy Raceways Sunday night for UMP Super late models and modifieds, along with IMCA stock cars, sport mods, and sport compacts.