Shirley Extendes Summernationals Lead

 Sunday night, the UMP Summernationals late model tour rolled into Quincy Raceways along with the Summit modified drivers. In addition, the local IMCA sport mod class was in action, and with the help of some sponsors, their feature was set to pay a whopping $2,000 to win. The normal starting time had been pushed back , with hot laps scheduled to start at 6:30, racing at 7:00. With the influx of out of town cars due in, I arrived at the track in the late afternoon. The sun was bearing down, however there was a nice breeze, and it looked as though there was enough moisture on the track to keep the dust away. The car counts were a bit on the low side, but we are in the fourth week of the tour, and it is Sunday night, so that was not a big surprise. The late model count stalled at twenty, although in the end a full field of 22 started the 40 lap feature. 19 modifieds signed in, and the sport mod count was 16.
  A huge crowd was filing in, but it soon became obvious that we would not be starting on time. The track crew was trying to roll the surface into shape, but there seemed to be excess moisture and a shortage of packing vehicles. Finally about 7:30, sport mod hot laps began, and the late models were called to the track next. For whatever reason, the drivers seemed to have little interest in moving the show along, as they mostly ignored the multiple calls to staging. Finally a group of late models and modifieds came to the track and proceeded to do more packing, and late model hot laps finally began about 7:45.
  Modified hot laps/time trials came next, with Ray Bollinger setting quick time at 14.668 seconds. The late models were paced by Frank Heckenast Jr. with a lap of 12.911 seconds.
  Three modified heats were followed by three for the late models. Crate late model driver Trevor Gundaker was along with brother Gordy, and when he saw that the late model count was twenty while the Summernationals normally start 22 cars in the feature, he decided to unload his #11, qualify, and run the show.
  All three late model heats were won from the pole. Heckenast topped series point leader Brian Shirley, Gordy Gundaker, and Wisconsin driver David Jaeger in heat one. Shannon Babb nabbed heat two ahead of Jason Feger, Jay Johnson, and Mark Voigt. The final ten lapper went to Rusty Schlenk over Steven Roberts, Mark Burgtorf, and Brian Diveley.
  Following a pair of sport mod heats, it was intermission time. During the twenty minute break, late model driver Derek Fetter pulled in to the pit area. The Troy, Mo. driver had been in a parade earlier, but found out that the car count was around twenty, so he loaded up and made the 1 1/2 hour tow to the track. He was in hurry up mode, as the late model feature was scheduled to go first, but with somewhat rough track conditions, some of the late model drivers asked if the modifieds could run first and perhaps, " blow off " the track a bit.
  So the mods lined up for 25 laps of action. Dave Weitholder jumped out front from his pole position, with Mike Harrison coming from row two to second. Those two, along with Mike McKinney, Michael Long, and Bollinger set the early pace ahead of a lap four caution. McKinney used the Delaware restart to power to second, and Bollinger went over the backstretch cushion, exiting the track during a lap six yellow. The field then restarted single file, and the leaders mostly worked the high line around the .29 mile oval. Soon it was a three car battle between Weitholder, McKinney, and Harrison, with Long lurking close behind. On lap 19, McKinney went too high on the backstretch, with Harrison slipping to second. Harrison took over the lead on lap 22. Then one lap later, disaster struck. The leaders came upon the slower car of Russ Coultas, Weitholder was clipped by McKinney, spun his #05, and crashed into Long, sending him hard into the front stretch wall. Long was upset and showed his displeasure with Weitholder. His night ended behind the wrecker, with heavy damage to his ride. Although I am not at all sure why, both McKinney and Weitholder were given their spots back. However Weitholder had damage to his car, and he fell back in the green, white, checkers finish. Harrison picked up the $1,000 win in only his third visit ever to QR. Rick Stephenson ran a steady race and took runner up honors, followed by McKinney, Texas driver Phil Dixon, and Kevin Blackburn.
  It was now time for the late model $5,000 to win headliner.
Schlenk and Heckenast sat on row one, with Babb and Shirley in row two. Heckenast took the early lead, followed by Schlenk. Babb powered to second on lap two, and Shirley cleared Schlenk on the third circuit. The first caution came on lap twelve, as Burgtorf slowed with smoke coming from his #5, ending his top ten run. Back under green, Shirley cleared Babb for second on lap 15, then another caution came three laps later as Gordy Gundaker came to a stop. Shirley began to pressure Heckenast, and the pair ran side by side past the flag stand with the caution coming on lap 21. The scoring loop had Shirley ahead by a nose, and he lined up out front. A debris caution came at lap 30, and five laps later Babb used a power move out of turn four to grab the second spot. On lap 37, Babb suddenly slowed, as he appeared to have broken something in his suspension, and he fell off the pace. As the white flag waved, Fetter, who started 22nd and was now in ninth, stopped in turn two, needing a wrecker to exit the track. At the same time, Heckenast headed to the trailer. The green and white waved together signaling one more lap. Shirley held on for the win, and now Roberts found himself with a runner up finish. Schlenk, Feger, and Diveley completed the top five. In his victory lane interview, Shirley said this was the first night out for the car, and he was hesitant to race with the condition of the track. However certain unnamed drivers called him a p***y, so he decided to show them!
  There was still the sport mod feature to run, and the big money had brought out the local hot shoes and even lured Brayton Carter all the way from Oskaloosa, Iowa. All 16 car started for 18 laps. Keokuk, Iowa driver Daniel Fellows took off from the pole, setting a torrid pace, and surviving a lap six yellow. Brandon Lennox was looking for racing room in the top five, when he spun in turn two on lap nine. The resulting crash eliminated contenders Adam Birck and Austin Howes. Two more yellows came by lap 15, and it was then that announcer Doug Mealy apologized t o the remaining fans that he had gotten it wrong and the race was 30 laps, not 18. Unfortunately, the clock was now on the wrong side of 11:00, and having early commitments on Monday, I decided to head for home and file this report before grabbing a few hours sleep. I see on Facebook that Fellows held on for the win.
  Thanks to Jason Goble and his staff for their hospitality.
  Next up for me will be racing action this Thursday night in Donnellson, Iowa, during the Lee County fair.
   Thanks for reading, and good night!