After two long years of dormancy and following a lot of doubts, racing returned to the former Quincy Raceways in fine fashion. New promoters Jim and Tammy Lieurance have rebranded the .29 mile legendary facility as Adams County, Illinois Speedway, and after one rainout and a lot of hard work, they were able to present their first show on Sunday. I think it was fair to say both their and my expectations were exceeded, as sixty five race teams checked in to the pit area on a day when it would have been fair to doubt if racing would happen given early day showers. And even with the start time pushed back one hour to allow for more drying, there was a long line at the ticket window as the clock hit the 5:15 hot lap time.
It looked as though the track was on the dry side as the street stocks rolled out for hot laps, and sure enough, the dust was flying. But after four cylinder hot laps, dirt guru Steve Grotz climbed from his street stock into his customized water truck and gave the surface a dose of H2O which was quickly run in and the dust issue was gone for the remainder of the program.
Officials drug their feet a bit to allow what turned out to big a large opening night crowd to find their seats, but the heat races still rolled out right at 6:00 after modified qualifying was scrapped in favor of a draw and go format. The ten preliminary events clicked off quickly, with intermission and a bit of track work commencing about 6:50.
One area that will need attention is the concession area, where long lines were a problem not only during what turned out to be a thirty minute plus break, but all night long, however it is understandable that such issues could arise on the first night with a larger than anticipated crowd. And after two long years, the track faithful seemed to be more than happy to catch up with old friends and make new ones on a pleasant evening, weather wise. During the delay, Jim and Tammy addressed the crowd from in front of the flag stand, and they were well received by the enthusiastic race fans.
Street stocks kicked off feature racing, with eight of the ten cars signed in lining up for fifteen laps. The rules for this non sanctioned class allow for both UMP and IMCA type cars to race, but it is obvious that the UMP machines have an advantage. Heat race winners Robert Cottom and Rudy Zaragoza lined up in row one, and they led the pack in that order until Zaragoza spun in turn four. It turned out to be a short night for the Jacksonville, Il. driver, as after tagging the tail, he spun again in the same spot just before the halfway mark, ending his run. Those delays were the only things to slow Cottoms' march to victory, as he captured the win by a large margin. The race to watch was the battle for second, with three IMCA type cars locked in an intense battle. First it was 2019 track champion Beau Taylor and Jake Powers dueling wheel to wheel, then in the closing laps Leremy Jackson made it three wide. At the checkers it was Powers in the runner up spot and Jackson, who made the long tow from Unionville, Iowa in third ahead of Taylor. Grotz completed the top five.
Track officials had received a lot of interest from the four cylinder crowd since the announcement the track would reopen, but as we know, talk does not always equal cars. But Sunday the money met the mouth as a large field of twenty five signed in from everywhere from the Quad Cities to Pekin, Il. to Salisbury, Mo.! 2021 All Iowa Points champion Cyle Hawkins from Blue Grass, Iowa, and Keokuk, Iowa hot shoe Michael Grossman lined up on the front row of the fifteen lapper, which saw all cars come to the track. Grossman grabbed the early lead with Hawkins in tow, while row two starters Jimmy Dutlinger and Jeffrey Delonjay stayed within striking distance. Grossman caught the back of the pack on lap five, and one lap later disaster struck, as a faulty oil filter filled his #2 machine with smoke, ending his run. Back to green it was now Delonjay assuming the point. Although he was challenged at every step, he hit his marks each time, and held on for the hard fought win and the $300 top prize (thanks to an extra $50 fan contribution.) Dutlinger made his haul from Peoria pay off with a runner up finish following a top five run at his hometown track on Saturday. Hawkins came home third, trailed by the winners' brother Jaden Delonjay, and former track champ Kimberly Abbott, who advanced ten positions to fifth.
IMCA sport mods were up next, with all eighteen cars making the call for an advertised eighteen laps. A lot has changed at the track since the 2019 season, but unfortunately it is more of the same in the sport mod division. I may have miscounted, it was hard to keep track, but I recorded nine caution flags in fewer than nine laps to start the race. After the final yellow flag restart, Josh Holtman, who had been running amongst the leaders, climbed the backstretch guardrail and flipped his #5 machine. He was then hit by at least two more cars, creating a lengthy red flag situation. Although Josh appeared unhurt, his car suffered heavy damage, as did the #14L of Brandon Lambert. When racing resumed, it was single file and with the time limit long gone, it was a green, white, checkers finish. Through it all, Muscatine, Iowa racer Shane Paris held serve, taking the marathon win. Moberly, Mo. driver Dakota Girard, no stranger to the track, pushed Paris to the checkers. Local standout Tanner Klingele made a late charge to third, nipping Adam Birck, while Michael Goodwin came back from an early spin to finish fifth.
One of the anticipated issues at the speedway was what the car count might be in the crate late model class, and this proved to be an issue on Sunday with only four cars signing in. Defending track champion Denny Woodworth looked like the man to beat as he captured the heat race and set sail in the eighteen lap feature. But the veteran from New London, Iowa "Superman" Sam Halstead has also turned a bunch of laps at the track, and he was making Woodworth work in the early going. And by lap thirteen, Halstead had closed the gap, pulling to the inside of the #45DW. Continuing to run side by side, Sam was out front as lap sixteen was scored, but Denny recovered to take the white flag first. However Halstead was a rocket on the final circuit, and he was a nose ahead at the checkers. Climbing from his new orange #84, Sam was one excited guy in his post race interview, praising the track and imploring more drivers to come so he could " kick their a**!" Woodworth was followed by rookie driver Spencer Coats who was solid in finishing strong on the lead lap in third. Darin Weisinger Jr. was an early casualty with fuel issues in his #11.
What would a race night be without some controversy, and those who may have left early missed an entertaining race with a surprise ending. Eight modifieds were set for twenty laps to wrap up the action. Defending champion Dave Weitholder sat on the pole alongside heat winner Mike Vanderiet Jr. from Centrailia, Mo. Following a couple early cautions, Weitholder found himself challenged by A mod rookie Austen Becerra, the pair racing side by side while Vanderiet and Michael Long stayed close by. Soon Long showed his muscle, and powered to the front while finding a line with moisture inside the buried tires in turns one and two. For several laps he took the short way around the track, establishing a sizable lead all the way to the end. But as the checkers flew, the announcement came that he had been disqualified for running inside the tires, with the win going to Weitholder. Becerra was credited with second, followed by Vandereit, Brandyn Ryan, and Levi Long. The decision capped a stellar weekend for Weitholder, who picked up a runner up finish Friday at Lincoln, Il. and a cool $1,000 victory Saturday at Peoria.
The final checkers waved on this opening night about 8:50, capping a positive return to racing at the bullring. If I were going to play promoter, I would be very pleased overall for the night. The concession area will need attention, and given their history, I would strongly consider moving the sport mods to the end of the program, as I did witness a few fans give up and head for the gates during their caution fest!
Thanks to Jim, Tammy, Blake and the crew for their hospitality and for reviving this historic track! For another take on the action, check out the One Fan's Travels on Positively Racing, as it was fun to have my fellow blogger Ed on hand. Lets hope for better weather soon, so we can spend more time Racin" Down the Road!
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