The Quincy, Illinois area continues in a severe drought, and even with a promise of rain on Sunday, Adams County, Illinois Speedway was able to host mid season championship racing. With car counts a bit low, it is likely the forecast did keep a few travelers at home, but enough competitors showed to give us a pair of heat races in all except the long suffering Street Stock division. Late Model drivers were also vying for a $1,000 King of the Crates winners check in addition to the mid season crown.
Defending UMP Modified track champion Austen Becerra scorched the .29 mile oval with a qualifying lap of 13.647 seconds, and with heat racing wrapped up by 7:00, the first main event hit the track about 7:20.
Crate Lates would lead things off, with heat winners Jason Perry and Tommy Elston sitting on row one. Elston jumped to the lead as those two drove off from the pack. Tommy was running the middle line around the track while Jason continued to stick the nose of his #27 to the inside. On the fifth of the twenty laps, Perry completed his low line pass, then gradually increased his margin. The real battle to watch was for fourth through sixth, as last weeks' winner Sam Halstead was busy holding off a side by side duel between Jason Oenning, and Darin Weisinger Jr. With no yellow flags to break up the action, Perry cruised to his second win of the season. Elston outdistanced Jamie Wilson, while Halstead, Oenning, and Weisinger Jr. crossed the line in that order. Defending champion Denny Woodworth, Christian Miles, Derek Hollenstine, Austin Poage, and Darren Cawthon would round out the field.
Becerra and Kenny Wallace collected heat race wins, and they would bring the UMP Modified eighteen lapper to green. The lone caution came on the start as Jadin Fuller was the victim of a brake check. Following the restart, this race also went caution free. Becerra rocketed to a big lead as he worked around the inside tire barriers where there was still a nice line of moisture. As the laps clicked off, Austen encountered slower traffic, but he was able to maintain his near straightaway lead as he walked off to the sweep of his events. Wallace was solid in second, while Jacob Rexing eased around Dave Weitholder mid race to claim third. Mike Vanderiet Jr. held off Mark Burgtorf and Shawn Deering to complete the top five.
With rain outs to the north, the 4 Cylinders class grew with Cyle Hawkins from Durant, Iowa, Joshua Muse and Josh Starr from Tipton, Iowa, and Thomas Adams from Moline, Il. all making a long pull to race on Sunday night. Hawkins and Spencer Coats topped the heat races and paced the fifteen lap feature. Coats got the jump before Hawkins emerged from a three wide battle to lead lap three. 2022 champ Jeffery Delonjay followed in second. Hawkins worked the inside line, with his #28 familiarly lifting the left rear tire as he negotiated the tight corners, while Delonjay looked for a bite running the high line. With eight laps in the books, Adams clipped the tire between turns three and four, bringing the only caution of the race. The restart was what Delonjay needed to use his high side momentum to power to the front, leading Hawkins and Peoria ace Jimmy Dutlinger in a three car pull away. They would drive under the checkers in that order, with Jaden Delonjay advancing from row six to finish fourth,while Landon Neisen gained nine positions to nip Kimberly Abbott for fifth.
Logan Cumby came from row two to pace the IMCA Northern Sport Mod field as Tanner Klingele charged from ninth to the runner up spot on lap three. One lap later eighth starting Adam Birck drove to third. Meanwhile Cumby was cruising in front before the first of two cautions came with eight laps in the books for a Dakota Girard spin. Birck used the Delaware style restart to grab second as he pounded the cushion on the following circuit before the final caution, again for Girard. Back to racing Klingele now slipped around Birck on the inside line. Klingele then moved up the track as he set sail for the leader, while Birck searched multiple grooves looking for more speed. With just a pair of laps to go, Klingele pulled to the back bumper of the leader, and on the final lap Tanner completed the pass, picking up his second win in a row. Cumby settled for second ahead of Birck and Reed Wolfmeyer. Michael Goodwin edged A.J. Tournear for fifth.
The struggling Street Stock class had only five cars sign in, and they would close out the night going for twelve laps. Rudy Zaragoza would take the early lead before Jake Powers used the low line to move to the front on lap three. From there Jake pulled out to a big lead. A lone caution came for debris with just three laps to go, but Jake remained in control, picking up a convincing win. Zaragoza held off a mid race challenge from Pete Stodgell to finish second. Kale Foster slipped around Stodgell for third, while Brandon Boden would be scored fifth.
The final checkers waved at about 8:20, well before darkness descended on the speedway, a Sunday night delight! Adams County,Il Speedway will take next Sunday night off as they prepare for a visit from the UMP Summernationals Late Model series on Wednesday, June 28. Check the track website for details. Thanks to Jim, Tammy, and the crew for another fun night at the track.
Our plan is to join that UMP Summernationals tour Tuesday, June 20 at Moberly (Mo.) Motorsports Park, where the Summit Dirtcar Modifieds will also be on the card. Then on Wednesday, June 21 we will journey to Davenport (Ia.) Speedway where the UMP Summernational Late Models will be joined by IMCA Late Models and IMCA Sport Mods. Racing season is in high gear, so take in a show when and where you can!
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