I guess it wouldn't be race day if we didn't have a threat of rain. Still the powers that be at Adams County, Illinois Speedway were determined to host Sunday night action, so with frequent updates it was declared that the sprinkles received around Quincy would not stop race night number four. The USAC/IMRA D2 midgets had been on the card as a reschedule, but it was decided earlier in the day that with the chance of rain wiping out the program, they would call off their appearance and attempt to again reschedule a date later in the season.
Sixty seven cars signed in across the regular five divisions, although only ten to compete for the $1,025.00 top prize as part of the street stock special, a class that has to this point been dominated by Galesburg, Illinois driver Robert Cottom.
Hot laps fired off at 5:30, concluding with A modified hot lap/qualifying, topped by Austen Becerra with a lap of 14.928 seconds around the .29 mile oval.
Track officials I am sure had been a bit hesitant to add too much water to the surface, so with quite a bit of dust flying, the track was spritzed at this time. Fortunately, the stiff breeze was blowing away from the grandstands, where a nice crowd had gathered. The conditions resulted in a somewhat dry slick track for the heat races, with several spin outs marring the qualifying events. During intermission, a heavier dose of water was added, and as the sun set, the track responded, with multiple racing grooves for the first feature, the IMCA sport mods.
All seventeen cars lined up for eighteen laps. Front row starter Pete Stodgel looped his ride on the backstretch of the opening lap and was hit hard by Kelly Bartz, sending both cars off on the hook. Kyler Girard took off from the pole position on the restart to lead the first pair of laps. Tanner Klingele emerged from a three wide battle for second to slip past Girard for the lead on lap four. Two laps later, it was Joe Bliven moving to second as Girard lost the handle and fell back through the field. The caution came on lap seven for a spin by Matt Kay. Back under green, a four car duel developed up front, with Klingele out front, Bliven and Nicholas Profeta swapping second and third positions, and Adam Birck searching for an opening. With six laps to go, Birck was able to sneak inside Profeta for the runner up spot. Klingele was locked on the top side of the track, while Birck ran the bottom, the line that had been dominate in the heats. While he was able to drive under the leader in the turns, Klingele maintained his momentum up top, picking up his first win of the season. After winning on that same cushion last week, Birck this time settled for second. Bliven cleared Profeta for third in the battle of the #20s, and Brandon Savage rebounded for fifth after falling through the pack early.
As Klingele was interviewed in victory lane, raindrops began to fall, sending this blogger for cover. The shower was brief, and soon the five UMP Pro Crate late models came to the track. Two time feature winner Denny Woodworth lined up on the pole, and quickly shot to the lead. Outside row one starter Darin Weisinger Jr. stayed close for the first couple of laps before Woodworth began to pull away. 2022 first time visitor Derrick Carlson, having moved up from A mods, cleared Sam Halstead for third, then put a nose ahead of Weisinger for second as the crossed flags were displayed signifying the half way mark at lap nine. With Carlson hugging the inside tires and Weisinger working the high line, they staged a back and forth duel as the laps clicked off. With three laps remaining, rookie Spencer Coats cleared Halstead for fourth, with Sam then taking his #84 to the pits. Woodworth cruised to his third win in the non stop event, followed by Carlson, Weisinger Jr., and Coats, with Halstead credited with fifth.
It was now time for the fifteen lap 4 cylinder feature, as all but one of the twenty one cars came to the track. With the $100 bounty still on his head, Jeffery Delonjay lined up outside row three. The yellow flag waved before one lap was scored, and as the lineup reset, Delonjay headed for the trailer with apparent mechanical issues, the bounty canceled for this week. Again before lap one was scored, the caution waved, and once more the rain began, this time in earnest. It took only a few short minutes before the announcement came that the track was lost, and there would be three features made up at a later date. With the extra money on the line for the street stocks, word came quickly that their race would be made up in two weeks, May 29, while the 4 cylinder and A mods would be made up at a date to be determined.
Next Sunday night will see the MARS late models come to Quincy with a $7,000 winners check offered. The race will be part of a three race Illinois swing for the super late models, with a solid field of mid west standout drivers expected. Check the track website for more details.
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