Harrison and Unzicker Stay Hot at Tri City

This late September racing weekend opened early with the Thursday night one running of the three night Mod Mania at Kevin and Tammy Gundakers 3/8 mile speed plant in Pontoon Beach,Il. Thursday night car counts are usually strong and this year was no exception, with 56 UMP modifieds and 30 UMP late models signed in. Although less than the 2016 numbers, it was more than enough for a quality show, with plenty of heavy hitters in both divisions. Thursday was the only night with separate hot laps scheduled, as the remaining two nights will combine them with group qualifying. Following hot laps, the mods timed in, four at a time, to set lineups for eight ten lap heat races. North Carolina ace Nick Hoffman was the only driver to break the 16 second mark with a lap at 15.899 seconds to collect the $500.00 fast time bonus. Late model quick time went to Shannon Babb at 14.761 seconds. Babb was one of three drivers competing in both classes, along with Bobby Pierce and Chris Simpson driving the Kelly Kovski #10K. With three late models on the track at a time, Pierce was the lead car finishing his first lap when the yellow waved for Jimmy Miller, who stalled out. Although the scoreboard recorded a time for Pierce, officials waved it off, intending to restart the round. Unfortunately, Pierce pulled to the infield with a flat tire, unable to take his laps. Then as qualifying ended, he attempted to come back out, but was apparently denied, leaving him with a " no time " lap, putting him on the tail of his heat race. The mod heat races clicked off in good time, with only the winners advancing from the eight ten lappers. Hoffman, second quick Michael Long, Mike Harrison and Babb won the first round of heats. A pair of late model heats were scheduled to run next, but five of the seven cars for mod heat five came to the track instead. Rather than pull them off, officials then went to the trailers of the remaining two drivers to get them on the track early. This was the only real snafu in the very efficiently run program. Kenny Wallace advanced from that heat, and when the three remaining mod heats ran later, it was Tait Davenport, Dave Weitholder in the best race of the night over Rick Stephenson, and Pierce with wins. The four late model ten lappers adavanced the top four from each race. Winners were all pole sitters, Babb, Tim Manville, Ryan Unzicker, and Simpson. Local hot shoe Michael Kloos was running second in the first heat when he smacked the turn three wall, ending his night, and Wisconsin driver Mark Rose was in a transfer spot in heat three when he suddenly veered into the backstretch fence. Pierce started last in heat two, powering his way to second at the checkers. With no intermission scheduled, the mods ran a C-main to move cars coming home sixth and seventh in the heats to the pair of B-mains, won by Danny Schwartz and Brent Mullins. A lone late model B main went to pole sitter Dewayne Kiefer. The top four were joined by provisional starters Mike Hammerle and Brent McKinnon, setting a 22 car late model feature field. The 30 lap late model feature paying $2,000.00 to win was moved ahead of the modified headliner. Babb and Manville sat on row one, with Babb holding a slight edge as lap one was scored. As the pair continued side by side, Manville looked to be ahead on lap three, and the only caution period of either feature came on lap four for debris. Unzicker had been riding in third, and he moved to second on the Delaware restart. He was side by side with Manville as lap five was scored, with Simpson slipping around Babb for third. Unzicker hooked up on the low line, while Manville moved from the cushion to a middle line, but Ryan made his move to the lead on lap twelve. Slower traffic became a factor on the 14th circuit, and Unzicker deftly used the lapped cars to open a comfortable lead. With the race staying green, he cruised to yet another win as he tries to close in on UMP national points leader Rusty Schlenk. Manville held off a challenging Simpson for second, with Babb and Pierce recording top five finishes. The next five was led by Frank Heckenast Jr. over Tony Jackson Jr. in the Raymod Merrill # 12M, Jason Feger, Schlenk, and Daryn Klein. It was now time for the 30 lap mod finale, paying $3,000.00 on night one. First heat winner Hoffman had spun a three for the inverted start, putting likely nation point champ Harrison on the pole with Long on the outside. Harrison shot to the lead using the bottom groove, while Long pounded the cushion looking for momentum.With Michael mounting a challenge, Harrion moved up in turns one and two, then ran a middle line in three and four. The two car breakaway ended as Harrison began to put distance on Long by lap seven. Meanwhile there were good battles behind the leaders, as Hoffman, Babb , and Pierce duked it out for third, while Wallace and Weitholder went side by side for sixth. The leader caught slower traffic on lap twelve as Babb began to fade. Pierce took over third on the now black slick surface on lap 14. With Harrison on cruise control, Pierce began to stalk Long, taking the runner up spot on the 22nd trip around the oval. Long fought back as the two raced side by side for the next three laps. Long was second again on lap 25. but Pierce took the spot two laps later. Meanwhile, Hoffman joined to fray, edging Long for third on the final circuit. Wallace scored a top five, followed by Weitholder, Babb , Schwartz, Mullins, and Stepenson also in the top ten. Thanks to buddy Fred for driving last night, and I will return the favor tonight as we head out shortly for night one of the two day show at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis,Mo. Six classes of cars will be in action in the fall extravaganza, with all but the crate late models returning on Saturday.