While many tracks around the mid west have hung up the "Closed" sign for 2023 or perhaps have a couple of specials remaining, Adams County, Il. Speedway soldiers on with their weekly racing program. The Sunday night show had four of the five regular classes on the card, however a group of sponsors stepped up with support to add the 4 Cylinders to the lineup. With several track regulars in the IMCA Sport Mod division having spent the week at the IMCA Super Nationals, it was decided that Sundays races would be opened up to include UMP and USRA B Mods along with the IMCA cars in a non sanctioned event.
A solid field of sixty nine cars signed in on a pleasant evening in front of a decent sized September crowd. The effects of a long season soon became evident, as there was a lot of bumpin' and door bangin' going on, some scores being settled or perhaps just normal late season frustration. From our perch near turn one it made for lots of interest and conversation, and I assume there was also plenty of chatter both over the Racecievers and in the pit area!
The car count was nicely divided to provide a pair of heat races in each class, and despite some of the aforementioned activities, they clicked of quickly. During intermission, promoter Jim Lieurence addressed the crowd, letting us know that despite any rumors to the contrary, he has reached an agreement to operate the track again in 2024. He indicated there will be some adjustments to the schedule, yet everything will remain essentially the same. So that is good news for Tri State area racers and fans! Also during the break, popular veteran Kenny Wallace made an appeal for help for his well known race companion "Jughead", who is raising funds for a trip to Mayo Clinics for a serious stomach condition. A helmet pass plus the track 50/50 donation netted $2,000 for the cause!
The feature lineups had the Crate Late Models rolling out first, with all fifteen cars making the call for twenty laps. Things got off to a rocky start when pole sitter Vance Wilson, out for only the second time in his #212, appeared to lose power between turns three and four on the opening lap. The result was a five car pile up and a red flag. Although it took quite a bit of time to clean up the mess, only Christian Miles was unable to continue racing. With Wilson now restarting on the tail, heat two winner Tommy Elston moved up alongside Denny Woodworth in row one for the restart. With Tommy jumping to the early lead, the yellow waved again with two laps scored when Cody Maguire spun in turn two, collecting National Dirt Hall of Famer Gary Webb. Both cars needed wreckers for their early exits. Back to racing, Woodworth moved to the front on lap four and began to slowly open a lead. Heat one winner Ray Raker was in pursuit of Elston for second when he pushed too high in turns one and two on lap nine, allowing Sam Halstead to take over third. A final caution came with just three laps to go when contact between Vance Wilson and Braden Bilger sent Wilson for a spin. . During the caution Jason Oenning, subbing in the Derek Hollenstine #21 exited the track, later displaying a bandaged and swollen arm. The final restart was single file, and Woodworth remained in control to take the win and a narrow points lead over second finishing Elston. Raker regained third over Halstead and Jason Perry. Jamie Wilson was the quick qualifier on the night, but a heat race stumble left him starting the feature in row four. He was able to advance to sixth at the checkers ahead of Vance Wilson, Darin Weisinger Jr., Darren Cawthon and James Dickerson.
UMP Modifieds would go next, with all but Chris Spalding making the call from the dozen cars signed in. Dave Weitholder, who along with Spalding and Jacob Rexing was doing double duty, had an issue with both his Mod and B Mod in his heats, but brought the B Mod to the track for both features, having to tag the tail in this eighteen lapper. Trevor Neville made the two and a half hour tow from Mackinaw, Illinois, captured the opening heat and fired off from the pole in the feature. Track points leader and heat two winner Austen Becerra lined up outside row one, and dropped in behind Neville while seventh starting Mark Burgtorf found an opening and charged to third on the first lap. On the third trip around the .29 mile oval, Neville and Becerra made contact, with the leader spinning at the entrance of turn three. Although Austen pled his case that he could not avoid the #777, he was sent to the tail while Neville retained his position. Back under green, Neville and Burgtorf separated themselves from the field, racing nose to tail all the way to the checkers. Fast qualifier Kenny Wallace outran Jacob Rexing for third, while Frankie Wellman had a strong run in fifth.
All fourteen Street Stocks lined up for fifteen laps. Heat one winner Rexing, in only his second start in his Street Stock, shot ahead from row one with points leader Jake Powers in second. By the mid point Rexing had nearly a straightaway lead. As the race stayed green, a gaggle of five cars wrestled for positions two through six. Five laps were left on the board when Robert Cottom cleared that pack, but he could do little to close on the #59R. With no yellow flags to slow the action, Rexing cruised to the win. Cottom led the group of Powers, Rudy Zaragoza, Sage Martin, and heat two winner Beau Taylor across the line.
If you are a follower of Adams County Speedway action, hold on to your seats for what I am about to tell you. Fourteen of the fifteen B Mods checked in ran eighteen laps caution free! (Spalding also scratched from this feature.) Visiting driver Joe Rudy, Kirkwood, Mo. sat on the pole with Patrick Phillips to his right. That duo paced the field until lap three when fourth starting former NASCAR great Kenny Schrader powered to second. Three laps later, Schrader made the move to the front, and from that point he was gone. A heat race tangle had resulted in Weitholder facing the wrong way on the track where he was hit by Tanner Klingle. With both cars having to start deep in the feature field, they came forward together waging an entertaining battle. But with no breaks in the action, their progress was limited. Although he had to contend with lapped traffic, Schrader breezed to the win, matching his heat two checkers. Rudy held second followed by Phillips and heat one winner Dakota Girard. On the final lap, Weitholder and Kligele cleared another visitor, veteran John Hobson for fifth through seventh.
An indication of the quick and entertaining pace of the features saw most of the crowd stick around for the 4 Cylinder finale. Heat one winner and track points leader Jeffery Delonjay shared row one with Spencer Coats. They paced the field ahead of a lap four yellow for Ethan Prim who was collected by Blaine Lambert. Back to racing, the bumpin' and bangin' had everyones' attention. On lap nine, heat two winner Joey Laws, up from Hillsboro, Mo. drove to second, but one lap later Coats and Dyllan Bonk both slipped around Laws. With all the action behind him, Delonjay cruised to another feature win. Coats held second chased by Bonk, Laws, and Kimberly Abbott.
Although I imagine there are some less than pleased drivers, the night had lots of what I would call "throw back" racing! Adams County will be in action the next two Sundays, capped by a two day show at the end of the month, check the website for details.
We have plans for a couple of week night shows starting tomorrow( Tuesday,) so be sure and check in throughout the week. And just maybe we will see you as we go Racin' Down the Road!
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