Easter Sunday: Church, Family, and Racing

 Following Sunday services and a non traditional holiday cookout, it was time to go racing, with Quincy Raceways the destination. It has been an odd early season for the folks at QR, with two programs lost to cold, rainy weather and two shows staged with temps in the high 70's, low 80's at race time. Unfortunately, the sunny skies and stiff southerly breeze made for tough conditions before sunset. The .29 mile oval dried out quickly, with the dust already flying towards the grandstands during hot laps. An additional spritz of water helped get us through heat race action for the six classes on the card. Then, with the sun setting, track officials gave the surface a good soaking during intermission. And while it took a considerable amount of time to " run in " the moisture, we were left with a lightning fast track for feature action.
 The first main event was for the IMCA stock cars. Early leader Michael Larsen found that a somewhat greasy spot remained at the top of turns three and four, and when he slipped in the corner, week one winner Beau Taylor was there to pounce. But two circuits later, Taylor also bobbled in the same spot, and this time it was Craig Bangert who charged to the lead. Craig was in the #66 car we are used to seeing with Brian Hoener behind the wheel. With Larsen rebounding to third, the chase was on. But the ten laps clicked off caution free, and Bangert held on for his first stock car win in his first start in the division. When Taylor tried one last high side move out of turn four on the final lap, Larsen stuck his nose underneath the #2T to claim second. Pete Stodgell completed the top four.
  Next up it was IMCA sport mod action. Polesitter Brandon Lambert led the opening circuit, but by the next trip past the flag stand sixth starting Daniel Fellows had powered to the top spot. Fellows proceeded to open a commanding lead as a four car scrum developed behind him. By lap seven, Daniel had a straightaway advantage, but slower traffic now came into play. Meanwhile, the race for second was now a two car duel between Tanner Klingele and Austen Becerra. Fellows had little trouble with the lapped cars, and as this feature also went caution free, he picked up the " easy " win. As with the stock cars, the runner up position was decided by inches, with Klingele nosing out Becerra. Bobby Six and Lambert also scored top five finishes.
 The UMP modifieds had the biggest car count at 14, and it was fast qualifier and heat one winner Micheal Long starting on the pole in his first 2019 visit to the speedway. Outside row one starter Tommy Sheppard Jr., a surprise visitor to the track kept Long in sight early while battling with another long distance traveler, Trey Harris, for second. Harris is racing a car out of the Gary Bentley, A1 Towing stable out of St. Charles, Mo. With a clear track in front, Long built a big lead before the first feature caution on lap nine, when fourth running Vance Wilson spun in turn one. Harris grabbed second on the Delaware restart, and stayed within a few car lengths of the leader. But five laps later, Harris went a little too hot into turn one, spinning to bring out the yellow once again. Back under green, it was now Chris Spalding and Sheppard Jr. fighting for second as Long opened a solid lead. Meanwhile, Harris used the final six laps to charge back towards the front. Following Long across the line was Sheppard Jr., again in a close battle with Spalding. Week one winner Dave Weitholder grabbed fourth, and Harris nipped Wilson for fifth.
  The UMP Pro Crate late models had a disappointing four cars sign in, so it was a twelve lap feature for them. The team cars of Denny Woodworth and Melvin Linder started on the front, and Melvin used the preferred high line to hold off the " boss " for the first lap. Denny nosed ahead on the next lap, with Linder leading laps three through six before Woodworth took command for good. The caution free event saw Woodworth take his second win of the season, followed by Linder, Darin Weisinger Jr., and rookie late model pilot Jake Dietrich, up from the sport compact ranks.
  Dylan Schantz sat on the pole for the IMCA sport compact main event, and for a while it looked like he might score a flag to flag win, as several cars battled behind him. But on lap eight, defending track champion Barry Taft used a crossover move out of turn four to grab the lead. Two circuits later, the hottest four cylinder driver in the area, Jacob Houston was able to move past Schantz for second, but he could not reel in the leader in the final two laps of yet another caution free race. At the checkers it was Taft, Houston, Schantz, Kim Abbott, and Alyssa Steele.
  Cumby and Wentura closed out the night with a win in the two person cruiser class.
   Quincy Raceways will host weekly racing next Sunday, and in two weeks the high powered MLRA late models will make their first ever visit to the track for a $3,000 top prize. The date is May 5, and it will be the final race of a four day swing for the series, ending at Quincy after three nights of action in Iowa. The IMCA stock cars and IMCA sport mods will also run that evening.
  In the meantime, there is no shortage of racing events in the area, so load up the car and head for your favorite track next weekend!