Sunday night at Adams County,Il. Speedway featured a birthday celebration for promoter Jim Lieurence. Free popcorn and reduced beer prices were a part of the festivities. Temperatures finally moderated a bit, and as the sun set and the full moon rose, it was an enjoyable evening.
Late in the week, the Hart B Modified portion of the program was cancelled, so four classes would fill out the card. For the first time since the track reopened last season, the growing Street Stocks division led the way with fifteen entries. Oddly, Crate Late Models, UMP Modifieds and Dirtcar 4 Cylinders all turned out thirteen competitors.
The Late Model class has been operating under a passing points system, but following a driver poll, beginning this week time trial qualifying replaced the draw method for heat race lineups. Jason Perry topped the leader board at 13.826 seconds, while Dave Weitholder paced the Mods at 14.261.
Hot laps got off to a rocky start when rookie driver Carter Cookson rolled the #7H 4 cylinder after making contact with the tractor tire in turn four. The driver was uninjured, but the car, formerly driven by Mike Hornung Jr. and others was done for the night. Then as the checkered flag flew marking the end of the first 4 cylinder heat race, the #71 of third running Kimberly Abbott took a sharp right turn into the front stretch wall resulting in a rollover. Landing on her wheels, Kimberly appeared to be okay, but she was also out of action for the feature.
After an intermission which included a water balloon fight for the youngsters, it was time for feature racing.
Street Stocks lined up first, fourteen cars for fifteen laps. Robert Cottom sat on the pole, and paced the opening lap. Behind him, Sage Martin, Beau Taylor, and Rudy Zaragoza duked it out for second. By the time Taylor secured the position, Cottom had checked out on the pack. Jake Powers joined the front runners and with five laps to go, it was Taylor, Zaragoza, and Powers racing in close formation behind Cottom. With the white flag displayed, the checkers was replaced with the yellow for a spin by rookie Ryan Aden. Twice more the caution came without a lap scored, and the Delaware restart was then replaced with a single file line up. Cottom then cruised to the flag to flag win, with Taylor taking runner up honors. Zaragoza was third, and Powers narrowly topped Martin for fourth.
Late Models would be up next for twenty trips around the .29 mile semi banked oval. The top two in each heat race redrew for their starting spot, with Derek Hollenstine and Jamie Wilson in row one ahead of Tommy Elston and Perry. Seventh starting Braden Bilger was having issues with his #17B and tagged the tail, heading to the pits a few laps in. Perry charged to the lead ahead of Wilson as lap one was scored, then Elston slipped around Wilson on lap two. Perry and Elston had separated from the field before a caution five laps in for Darren Cawthon. Back to racing, the track was slick and black with a serviceable cushion, and the leaders ran the high line nose to tail. Perry was stretching his lead when the yellow again waved with eight laps to go for Austin Poage. Denny Woodworth used the Delaware restart to power to third, and a final caution came with fifteen laps scored. Elston would try his best, but could not get close enough to make a move as Perry picked up his third win in his comeback season. Woodworth followed Elston while Darin Weisinger Jr. was the hard charger, wheeling his new to him ride from an eighth place start to fourth at the checkers. Wilson completed the top five. Hollenstine, Jason Oenning, Cody Maguire, Sam Halstead, and Christian Miles rounded out the top ten.
Eleven 4 Cylinders were able to make the feature call for fifteen laps. Spencer Coats and Jeffery Delonjay filled out row one, racing side by side as the green flag flew. Coats finally established a lead with Jeffery on his tail in the low groove while brother Jaden Delonjay stayed within striking distance on the top side. A caution flag came with six in the books, and back under green Coats changed his line, moving up the track. Jeffery was able to pull alongside, taking his first lead by a nose with five laps remaining. He then held on for what I believe announcer Doug Mealy said was his seventh feature win in a row! Coats was close in second. Dyllan Bonk came on strong in the second half of the race, driving past Jaden for third after starting in sixth. Kyle Weisenberger completed the top five. Joshua Hawkins made the long tow from Imperial, Missouri and came home in sixth.
UMP Modifieds would close out the action, thirteen cars racing eighteen laps. Jacob Rexing and Austen Becerra paced the field, racing side by side before Becerra took command on lap two. Rexing, Mark Burgtorf, and Weitholder battled for second as Becerra drove off from the field. Weitholder moved to second with five laps scored, then the first caution came two laps later. The running order stayed the same, and after another caution with ten in the books, Becerra again pulled well ahead while Rexing challenged Weitholder for second. Once again the white flag flew, I scribbled down the top five, but once again flagman Allen Motley waved the yellow instead of the checkers. This set up a single file green, white, checkers finish. There was, however no change in the running order, with Becerra scoring the win over Weitholder, Rexing , Burgtorf, and Mike Vanderiet Jr.
Those final checkers came a few minutes after 9:00.
Thanks to JT Promotions and their team for another entertaining Sunday night. Racing at the Broadway Bullring will continue through the month of September with a two day show September 30 - October 1, check the website as their will be some mixing of classes, including an appearance by the Sprint Invaders on August 20. The season is set to end with a Thursday night championship weekend show for the MLRA Late Models on October 12.
It is crazy to be discussing "post season" racing, but it will be here soon! In the meantime, I plan to continue Racin' Down the Road.
Correction: The MLRA finale is October 12.
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