Illinois Drivers on Top at Tri City

 Although we gambled and lost out to the weatherman on Wednesday, we decided to roll the dice again on Friday. So with good friend Lane along, Fred, Darryl and I headed south to Kevin and Tammy Gundakers Tri City Speedway for another eddition of the UMP Summernationals for super late models and modifieds.
  Despite gloomy skies punctuated by occasional showers, a solid field of cars signed in, including 35 late models, 28 modifieds, and 32 B-mods. The 3/8 mile track took some extra rolling in, with hot laps starting a few minutes after 7:00. The modifieds hot lapped and qualified in the same set of laps, with the late models up next. Florida hot shoe Kyle Bronson was among the first group of three cars to time, and his lap of 14.406 held up until the final two cars hit the track. Then Tony Jackson Jr. turned a lap at 14.314 seconds to set overall quick time on the wet, heavy track.
  Following three modified heats, the late models were up for four ten lap qualifiers. Bronson shot to the lead from the pole in the first heat, with third starting Bobby Pierce charging to second. On lap four Pierce lost the drive shaft in his #32, bringing out the caution. Outside row one starter Brian Shirley had fallen to fourth, but he rebounded to the runner up spot, crossing the line behind Bronson. Kevin Gundaker started seventh and finished third, with Jason Feger the final qualifier. Ryan Unzicker led the distance in heat two ahead of Dennis Erb Jr., Rusty Schlenk, and Tanner English. As the night wore on, the wet track turn bumpy, making a treacherous combination of fast and rough. On the opening lap of heat three, series point leader Shannon Babb caught a rut in turn one, slamming into the concrete wall in turn two. Babb was unhurt, but was forced to go to a backup car for the B main. Later in the event, Joe Godsey met a similar fate in turn four. Jackson won a duel with Tim Manville for the victory, with Timothy Culp and Paul Stubber taking transfer spots. Nick Hoffman captured the final ten lapper, with Bob Gardner Jr. coming from sixth starting slot to second. Frank Heckenast Jr. and Chris Simpson were next in line.
  Although Tammy had announced at the drivers meeting there would be no intermission, following four B mod heats the decision was made to try and " farm " the track to try and smooth out the racing surface. With that complete, the modifieds came out for their C main. It soon became obvious that the work was mostly for naught when Mark Enk got sideways in turn three, rolling two times and landing wheels down. Enk was shaken and checked out by the ambulance crew.
   With seven late models scratched for the night, their C main was cancelled, and twelve cars took to the track for a twelve lap B main. Only two cars would transfer to the 40 lap, $10,000 to win main event. Mark Burgtorf shot to a big lead from his outside row one starting spot, with polesitter Jeff Herzog in pursuit. An early caution brought the veteran from Quincy back to the pack, and following the Delaware restart, fifth starting Billy Moyer advanced to second. Unless my eyes deceived me, there seemed to be some confusion, as I did not see the white flag displayed, before the checkers waved, with Burgtorf and Moyer set to move on.
  The B mod B main was up next, with six cars scheduled to transfer. With the clock ticking, when only ten cars reported to the lineup, it was decided to scrap the race and move all ten to the feature, a classy move by the Gundakers for more reasons than one.
   Several changes in the original running order were made throughout the night, and now the modifieds were called to the track for their 25 lap $1,000 to win main event. Unfortunately, with the scrapping of the previous race, there was some delay in getting the 22 cars to staging. When the green flag did fly, front row starters Evan Taylor and Kenny Wallace ran side by side for the first lap, with Wallace gaining the advantage on lap two and Allen Weisser jumping to second. The second confusing event of the night came on lap four. Running third, Taylor got sideways in turns three and four, and fourth running Mike Harrison appeared to help him complete the spin, bringing out the caution. But when the cars were realigned, Taylor and Harrison were back where they were running before the caution. From my vantage point, I did not hear an explanation as to why. After a false start, we were back to racing. Lucas Lee, who started outside row eight entered the top five. Three circuits later he moved to fourth, and on lap eight he was third. Weisser took over the lead from Wallace on lap ten, and one lap later Lee also got around Wallace for second. It quickly became a two car race, and as the laps clicked off, the lead duo encountered slower traffic on lap 20. Contact between the front runners came on lap 22, with Lee taking the lead. But as the white flag waved, it was Weisser out front by a nose. The pair split a lapped car coming to the checkers, and it looked as though Weisser held the advantage. As Lee crossed the scales, with Weisser waiting behind him, the checkered flag was handed to Lee. Just as quickly it was taken away and handed to Weisser. A prolonged discussion involving the two drivers and track officials followed,  and I am guessing at least ten minutes transpired. The track announcer, waiting on the victory stage for post race festivities was unable to provide an explanation of what the issue was, speculating it may have had to do with the placement of the scoring transponders on the cars.
  Finally Weisser emerged with the checkers. Lee had to be content with runner up honors. Wallace held off Harrison for third, and row seven starter Michael Long got around Taylor for fifth. It was definitely one of the weirder races I have seen in a while.
    At long last, the late models were set to roll off, 22 cars for 40 laps. Provisional starting slots were given to Babb, Pierce, Brian Diveley, and Mike Hammerle. Other than Babb as the series points leader, I am not sure exactly who filled what spot among the other three.
   Fourth starting Ryan Unzicker charged to the first lap lead, with third starting Nick Hoffman in second. Both front row starters, Bronson and Jackson, retired on lap three. By the time Shirley took over the runner up spot on lap five, Unzicker held a commanding lead. But Shirley quickly ran him down, vaulting to the top spot on lap eight. He found himself in slower traffic by lap ten, but the yellow flag waved one lap later. With the rough track no doubt a factor, only 13 cars remained when racing resumed. Lap 15 saw the Hoffman car spewing what may have been tire smoke in the corners, but he jumped to third and began to pressure Unzicker. With Simpson starting at the back of the pack, Pierce took the green from outside row nine, but he entered the first five on lap 17. As the race reached the halfway mark, Shirley bobbled in turn four, falling to third. Pierce was now in third at lap 21, three circuits later Unzicker was again building a sizable lead as Pierce rolled to second, taking Heckenast along in third. The caution came out on lap 25, as sixth running Culp slowed on the track. Back under green, Shirley pounded the backstretch wall with ten laps to go, ending his run. Unzicker and Pierce made it a two car race until the caution waved again on lap 34. Stubber and English heading pitside, leaving nine on the track. One final caution for Hoffman set up a green, white checkers dash for cash. While Pierce could stay close, Unzicker remained in control, and the El Paso, Il. driver collected the big check. Pierce led Heckenast, 16th starting Babb, and Schlenk to complete the top five. Feger held off Gundaker and Gardner, as only eight cars took the checkers. Hoffman and English were credited with the ninth and tenth spots.
  The clock was now signaling the end of Freds birthday, so we dashed to the parking lot ahead of the B mod finale.
   The cool temps seem like a good chance to catch up on sleep, but on the way to Tri City, I received notification that our Friday night hangout, the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson had too much rain to host their 305 sprint car special. However, 34 Raceway had already pulled the plug on Saturday night action due to wet grounds, so race director Mike Van Genderen decided to stage a rare Saturday night event in Donnellson. Maybe time for a nap before heading out?
  Thanks for reading.