Tri City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Illinois had plans to kick off a major weekend of racing culminating with the first appearance by the NASCAR Cup Series just down the road at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison on Sunday. However the weatherman did not cooperate on Wednesday, with soggy track conditions forcing postponement of the FLO Racing $22,022 to win late model and $1,500 to win UMP modified headliner. With the World of Outlaw late models topping the card on Friday night at the 3/8 mile facility, several late model teams were either en route to the track or already on site. So track owners/promoters Kevin and Tammy Gundaker stepped up and added a UMP late model event to the Thursday card, which featured USAC Midgets, Hart Non Wing Micros, Winged Karts, and Junior Sprints. The late models would be racing for $5,000 to win, and would run the opening feature of the night.
At least, that was what was advertised, but...
A total of one hundred fourteen race teams checked in, with twenty nine late models and twenty seven midgets leading the way. Following hot laps for all five classes, the midgets time trialed, two at a time, then the late models did the same, in groups of three. Penngrove, California driver Buddy Kofoid gave us a preview of what was to come, by pacing midget qualifying at 15.687 seconds, then Kyle Larson climbed from his midget into his #6 late model and paced the field with a lap of 15.400 seconds. Fifteen heat races and four B mains later - including a pair of twelve lap six car late model last chance races transferring the top four, it was finally feature time.
Based on the order of events earlier in the program, it was apparent that the midget main event would likely run first, as this was the featured race for the T.V. crowd on this night. But we were a bit dismayed to see all twenty two Outlaw Karts line up for fifteen laps around the short track built inside the 3/8 mile. As most of these participants are of elementary school age, lining up the race was much like forming a lunch line, but instead of punching the person in front of you, there was a lot of what I assume was unintentional bumper tag, often resulting in stalled karts, etc. One interesting note about this division was the participation by several next generation racers of note, including Cruz Griffaw (son of Rusty), Elladee Crafton (daughter of Matt), Brexton Busch (son of Kyle), and Owen Larson (son of Kyle), who went for a wild flip early in the race. Eventually fifteen laps were completed, with Grayson Price surviving a late race yellow flag to edge out Busch in a battle of North Carolina drivers. Area racers Daniel Browne, Isabella Coleman, and Cruz completed the top five. During this event, the track crew did a quick manicure of the corners of the big track.
Interviews and pictures complete, the midgets came to the track for thirty laps of action. Kofoid had followed up his quick time with a heat race win, and by third lap of the feature he had charged to the front of the pack. He then set sail, leaving the rest of the twenty four cars to fight it out behind him. Th race had one red flag on the opening lap, as heat three winner Dominic Gordon went for a hard flip after jumping the cushion in turns one and two. Larson muscled around Justin Grant for second late in the race, but by then Kofoid was long gone. Zach Daum and Cannon McIntosh rounded out the first five. Thomas Meseraull topped the other heat, while Jace Park grabbed the B main.
Now it was late model time. The lineup was of course straight up from the heats, with Larson and Bobby Pierce in row one, Max Blair and Ryan Gustin in row two. Pierce was out front as lap one was scored, followed by Larson and Blair. On the second trip around, Larson grabbed the lead and Gustin jumped to third. The caution came at lap four, Pierce retired with engine woes, and Shannon Babb joined him on the infield. Back under green, Larson was working the narrow cushion in turns one and two, opening up a nice lead over Gustin. Kyle Bronson came up to challenge Gustin on lap nine. Two laps later, the steering appeared to break on Larsons' car, as he drove into the turn one wall, bringing out the caution and ending his run. On the restart, Gustin pulled away from the pack and was about the catch slower traffic when a final caution came at lap nineteen for a slowing Frank Heckenast Jr. With a clear track ahead, Gustin shot to a nearly straightaway lead over Bronson, while Tanner English, Dennis Erb Jr., and Blair duked it out for third. Gustin cruised to the win, topping Bronson, Erb Jr., Blair, and English. Kyle Hammer ran sixth, followed by Billy Moyer Sr., out of retirement for the Eldora Million, wheeling the Tim Lance #48. Daryn Klein, Dylan Thompson, and Mark Voigt filled out the top ten. Heckenast Jr., and Trevor Gundaker were B main victors.
Two features remained, but we joined most of the remaining spectators in a dash for the gate as the midnight hour was upon us. The racing was entertaining and the surface was a good one, but time management is the one issue that Tri City seems to struggle with. Or maybe I am just getting too old to hit the bed at 3:00 A.M.!
Tonight we will stay closer to home, returning to our familiar spot at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, where the Sprint Invaders will join the regular five classes in making up their rained out event from last weekend. And per Facebook, Dancin' Bobby Hansen is set to join the show in his #9 late model! Maybe we will see you there!
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