Abbott Wins First of 2017 at Quincy

Race night number three of the long weekend found me at Quincy Raceways, where four of the regular classes were joined by the USAC/IMRA DII Midgets. With three nights of racing at Tri City and two at Scotland County, car counts were down a bit, but the action was still hot and heavy on a crisp fall evening. With heat races in the books, the IMCA stock car feature ran first. Four cars took the green flag, with Jesse Wegs on the trailer after he pulled out of the heat race in a cloud of smoke. The .29 mile oval had been reworked at intermission, with turn one still a bit slippery. Jerry Jansen looped his ride on the opening lap to necessitate a restart. Brian Hoener charged to the lead, with Abe Huls in pursuit. However, Abe lost the handle on the #30C also in turn one, recovering before he spun, but dropping to third. He quickly rebounded to the runner up spot, but with no more cautions, he could not run down Hoener. Jansen and newly wed Jake Powers ran door to door for several laps, with Powers eventually taking command of the third spot. The midgets ran next, with all nine on hand taking the green for 20 laps. Following a false start, Chance McDermand took the early lead. On the third circuit, Andy Baugh powered to the lead, and one lap later Mitchell Davis moved to second. Davis was mounting a challenge to Baugh as the pair encountered slower traffic on lap eleven, however Davis got caught behind a lapped car on lap twelve, allowing Baugh to stretch his advantage. With no caution periods, Baugh cruised to the checkers. Davis held the runner up spot ahead of McDermand and Broc Hunnell. The UMP modified 20 lap finale was up next. Late arrival Dugan Thye jouned the back of the pack. A caution on the opening lap saw Bill Roberts restarting at the tail of the field. Dave Weitholder charged from row two to lead the opening circuit, ahead of row one starter Shaun Deering. The next yellow came on lap three for a spinning Thye. One lap later the yellow waved for a spinning Tim Ippensen. Roberts joined Ippensen at the tail, while Russ Coultas, who spun to avoid, was allowed to keep his spot. After a false start caution for debris, Joey Gower used the Delaware restart to take over the runner up spot. Weitholder was stretching his lead ahead of a lap nine caution for a spinning Roberts. Back under green, Deering overtook Gower on lap eleven using the high line around the track. With Weitholder running the inside line, Deering was closing fast when another debris caution came on lap 17. A final caution for Mark Enk came with only two laps remaining. On the green, white, checkers finish, Deering again climbed to the top side and made the last lap pass for the win. Weitholder settled for second followed by Gower, Spencer Havermale and Thye. The IMCA sport compacts were up next for 15 laps. Track champion Craig Bangert had pulled out of his heat race and was a no show for the feature. Meanwhile, Kimberly Abbott, who did not start her heat, atgged the tail of the now nine car feature. Jeffrey Delonjay paced the opening circuit from his front row start. Abbott Charged to third by lap three, and took over second three laps later. Following a lap seven caution for Wayne Chamblee, Delonjay and Abbott began to distance themselves from the pack. Kimberly used a top side pass to take the lead on lap ten, then held on for the win. It was the first victory of the year at her home track for the 2016 track champion. Delonjay came home second ahead of Darin Weisinger Jr., David Prim, and Jaden Delonjay. The final feature was the 18 lapper for the IMCA sport mods. Brandon Lennox came from outside row two to lead lap one, while Austin Howes in the Kevin Tomlinson #49 rebounded to lead lap two. The first stoppage then came for a spinning Mike Goodwin. Back under green, Howes looped his car on lap four. Lennox opened a big lead, as a four car battle for second developed between Tanner Klingele, Bobby Six, Austen Becerra, and Daniel Fellows. Becerra took the spot on lap ten, and a lap twelve yellow for John Renier wiped out a big Lennox advantage. When racing resumed, Becerra used a slide job to try to gain the top spot, but Lennox fought back on the lower line. The two ran side by side on lap 14 ahead of another yellow for Renier. As racing resumed. Howes charged back to third, and this time the slide job in turn four saw Becerra take the lead. Austen then held on for his fifth win of the last two weekends. Lennox held off Howes for second, Klingele was fourth, and Six ran fifth. The final checkers waved about 9:00. Despite the story that the QR scoreboard could not be repaired, the new track owners found out otherwise, and the crowd broke into applause as track announcer Doug Mealy pointed this out. Jacob Jones was making his first start in the comapct class, just turning laps, when he suddenly found himself with his first win. One by one, three leaders fell by the wayside, until onlt Todd Jensen and Jones remained. But coming to the checkers, Jensens car stalled out before he could get to the finish line, leaving Jones the surprise winner! Quincy Raceways is scheduled to run for the next three Sunday nights, with the UMP Pro Crate late models on tap October 8. They will now be running for a $700.00 top prize. Modifieds, stock cars, sport mods, and sport compacts will also be on the card. Next on my schedule will be Friday night action of the two day special at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. After a family event on Saturday, I hope to be back at Quincy Raceways on Sunday. There is still plenty of racing in the Tri State area through October, so take adavantage and help out these promoters who are feeding our racing fix!