Sunday night was the third annual Chad McCoy Memorial at Adams County, Illinois Speedway east of Quincy. Shortened from an originally scheduled two day event, there was still big money on the line in all five divisions. UMP Modifieds would highlight the program, with a winners' purse of $4,545 plus lap money. Street Stocks, Hart Series B Mods, and Crate Late Models would all have first place money in excess of $1,000, while 4 Cylinders would compete for a top prize of $645. The festive fall atmosphere would also include a Hay Rack Ride courtesy of B Mod and Street Stock racer Pete Stodgel, a costume contest, silent as well as a live auction, and more. Unfortunately, all of the hoopla combined with more cars, extra laps, and a plethora of caution flags contributed to a marathon event which saw the final checkers wave just as the clock ticked past 11:00.
Ninety three drivers checked in, led as expected by the UMP Modifieds with twenty eight teams. Only the Mods needed a B main to set their feature field, so after thirteen heats, that lone B main and intermission, the qualified Modifieds came to the track for the King of the Dirt Finale. Ten drivers were eligible, having competed in four of the five preliminary events staged throughout the season. The twelve lap affair was captured by young Drake Stevenson, who overtook early leader Austen Becerra mid race, then held on for the first major win of his fledgling career.
Feature racing began with a twenty lapper for the dozen Street Stocks on hand. Following a first lap caution, Rudy Zaragoza and Jacob Rexing drove off from the pack in a side by side battle. The yellow came again with seven in the books for Kimberly Abbott, out for only the second time in the George Wilson #77. Back under green the red flag quickly came for a multi car tangle which eliminated four cars. One more time the caution flag waved before Rexing took the checkers for the second time since he added the #59R Street Stock to his stable. Zaragoza came home second ahead of track champion Jake Powers, opening night winner Leremy Jackson, and Pete Stodgel.
Thirteen Late Models lined up next for twenty laps. Again, a lap one caution set up an original restart. Pole sitter Denny Woodworth shot ahead of his row one mate, Tommy Elston. At this point the fast way around the oval appeared to be the inside line, but Elston operated in a higher groove as he hounded the leader. Jason Perry joined the front duo between a pair of yellows on laps four and six. Finally Elston was able to ease past Woodworth on the top side with a dozen laps in the books while Perry followed using the low line. With just four circuits remaining, Perry suddenly slowed, coming to a stop at the exit of turn two, his run ended. Vance Wilson cleared Woodworth for second on the Delaware style restart even as points champion Elston pulled away for another second half win. Vance Wilson, Woodworth, Jamie Wilson, and Jason Oenning scored top five finishes. Darin Weisinger Jr. ran sixth ahead of Austin Poage, first time visitor Eric Rutherford, and Marty Hull Jr.. Perry was credited with tenth.
Paced by the #45 Modified of the late Chad McCoy, the headline event of the night came next. The field was whittled a bit to twenty five starters going at it for forty five laps. A pair of travelers, fast timer and first heat winner Jared Thomas, Edinburg, Il., and heat two winner Chase Holland from Success, Mississippi filled out row one. Along with third heat winner Michael Long they shot to the front with Thomas overtaken for the lead by Long on lap three. As Michael stretched his advantage fourth heat winner Trevor Neville found speed on the top side of the blackened surface, racing to the runner up spot on lap nine. The first caution came after that ninth lap was scored and three circuits later Rick Conoyer joined the party in third followed one lap later by track champ Austen Becerra. Just as Long caught the back of the pack on lap seventeen, the caution flag would come again. At this point Becerra exited the track with his front bumper apparently folded under the front end of his #22. Back to racing it was Long working down low and Neville on the cushion when slower traffic again came into play. With cars racing for position in his preferred low line, Long appeared to clip the tractor tire barrier in turn four possibly nudging it a bit onto the track. In any event, fourth running Dave Weitholder apparently hit the tire, causing enough damage to end his run as the caution flag waved. On the restart Long charged hard into turn one, losing the handle and spinning to bring the yellow back out. He then retired to the pits. As racing resumed, it was Holland in second while Mike Chasteen Jr. powered to third. With nine laps to go, Chasteen Jr. charged to the runner up spot, while Neville had opened a sizable lead. One final caution brought the #777 back to the field with four laps remaining, but the single file restart presented only a temporary delay for Neville, who picked up the big payday. Chasteen Jr. advanced nine spots to take runner up honors followed by Holland. Chris Spalding started tenth and finished fourth in front of Rick Conoyer. Sixth through tenth went to Stevenson, Treb Jacoby, twentieth starting Shawn Deering, Steve Picou and Thomas.
Sixteen 4 Cylinders would run next, going eighteen laps. After finishing third in his heat race, points champion Jeffery Delonjay redrew the number one pill for the feature lineup. He then paced the field through a lap three caution, holding off a four car scrum behind him. Eventually Jeffery and brother Jaden broke free in nose to tail fashion. After Jeffery was able to put a lapped car between himself and Jaden, he stretched his margin, cruising to the win. Visitor Matt Mackey was able to close on Jaden, but settled for third at the checkers. Spencer Coats edged Jimmy Dutlinger for fourth at the line.
The final event on the card saw two dozen Hart Series B Mods line up for twenty laps. Popular local driver Tanner Klingele suffered a flat tire during the parade laps, dashing to the work area for a quick change, then tagged the tail of the field. Troy, Mo. driver A.J.Cline and St. Louis pilot Matthew Edler filled out row one with Cline leading lap one before Edler took over on lap two. After a lap two restart, Cline looped his ride, bringing a second caution. The next stop came with eight laps scored, and as the race reached the mid point, Damien Kiefer completed his run from row six to the lead. The second generation racer from St. Genevieve, Mo. then survived three more caution periods, the final coming with just two laps to go, to score the hard fought win. Part time local driver Bobby Anders was strong and steady in second followed by Edler and local hot shoes Reed Wolfmeyer and Adam Birck. It was a quick comeback for young Kiefer who rolled his car the night before in Memphis, Mo. action.
Thanks to J.T. Promotions for their continuing hospitality and for offering up October racing.
Next up for Racin' Down the Road will be Friday and Saturday Harvest Hustle racing at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. Hope to see you there!
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