The 2024 MLRA season is off to a nightmare start, with seven weather related cancellations in the first nine events. Only a mid April two day show at the series' "home" track, Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., was in the books as the calendar flipped to May. Heavy downpours last weekend likewise wiped out the later than usual season opener at Adams County, Il. Speedway near Quincy. So even though MLRA typically schedules multiple days in the same weekend, both the series directors and the Lieurance family at Adams County were eager to see cars on the track. That was the scene as the gates swung open late Sunday afternoon at the .29 mile semi banked bullring formerly known as Quincy Raceways.
In addition to the high powered Super Late Models, three of the weekly classes at the track, UMP Modifieds, Street Stocks, and Dirtcar 4 Cylinders would fill out the card, with the Late Models vying for a $5,000 top prize.
As is to be expected with the traveling series, there were already several heavy hitters in the pits when I arrived three hours before race time. And going forward, a steady stream of racers continued to pull through the new check in area until a final tally of eighty four teams signed in. Between the large number of super size haulers and multiple areas of too soft for parking areas, by the time Frank Heckenast Jr. rolled in as the thirtieth and final late model, parking spots were at a premium. Indeed, promoter Jim Lieurance commented that in addition to all the recent downpours we have experienced in the area, there was an additional inch and a half of rain on Thursday, and had Saturdays sketchy forecast dumped even another tenth, he would have been forced to cancel. Thanks to the hard work of Steve Grotz and his crew, the track was in excellent condition, and aside from a couple of whoop-de-dos, held up remarkably well through many laps of qualifying and racing!
Fresh off the Lucas Oil Late Model Tour, "Turbo" Tyler Erb took a misguided route from World of Outlaw Saturday action at Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Wisconsin to Quincy after initially pointing to the similarly named Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa. That turned out to be his only misadventure, as he proceeded to set overall quick time, win his heat race, and with possibly one exception lead all forty laps of the $5,000 to win headliner.
Following his 12.647 lap in qualifying and his first heat flag to flag win from the pole, front row starters Earl Pearson Jr. and Derrick Stewart scored heat wins. Only in the second preliminary did the winner advance from the pack, as defending series champion Chad Simpson nosed ahead of Tony Jackson Jr. to capture heat two. And it was Trevor Gundaker scoring a front row victory in the lone B main, with eleven of fourteen scheduled starters taking the green flag for ten laps.
With intermission complete, Street Stocks would be up first, all but three of the eighteen signed in racing for fifteen circuits. Chuck Mitchell would line up on the pole and pace the field through a caution with three in the books. One lap after the restart, defending track champ Jake Powers and Robert Cottom were battling for position when they became hooked together, bringing out a second and final yellow. It would be the end of the night for Powers. Back to racing, third starting double duty driver Jacob Rexing charged to the lead and gradually pulled away to a convincing win. Mitchell and Rickey Frankel III waged a side by side battle for second with Frankel eventually securing the position. Rudy Zaragoza and Cottom completed the top five.
It was now Late Model time. Erb and Pearson would lead the way with the low line the preferred way around the .29 mile oval. So third running Stewart decided to try the top side, putting pressure on Pearson but never quite able to complete the pass. He would eventually fall back a bit off the pace. Four caution periods in the first eleven laps would keep Erb in clean air, but the final twenty nine circuits would produce "edge of your seat" action. By the halfway point, only a couple of cars had dropped out, and the leaders found themselves in heavy traffic. Pearson at several times was able to pull alongside the leader, and may have actually led one lap. The Jacksonville, Florida veteran decided to stay true to the bottom groove, and soon found himself trapped momentarily behind a lapped car. That was all the help Erb needed, as he was able to open a bit of cushion and drive home for the win. In the closing laps Pearson had to fight to hold off sixth starting Gordy Gundaker for the final podium spots. The drive of the night went to Garrett Alberson, who methodically weaved his way from row eight to steal fourth away from Chad Simpson at the finish. Stewart hung around for sixth, topping Heckenast Jr., nineteenth starting Chris Simpson, Daniel Hilsabeck, and B main winner Trevor Gundaker, giving us two sets of brothers in the top ten!
While some of the estimated 1800 fans headed for the gates, eleven 4 Bangers lined up for fifteen laps. Among the three not able to take the green flag was popular local Kimberly Abbott, who took multiple tours around the oval courtesy of a push truck, but could not get her #71 to keep running. Travis Demint charged to the early lead before giving way to Derrick Deford on the third circuit. Deford held on through the first of two cautions, but at the crossed flags, defending track champion Jeffrey Delonjay powered to the front. He was soon joined by brother Jaden as the two hot shoes picked up where they left off in 2023. Deford came home third while Demint held off a hard charging Dyllan Bonk to round out the first five.
Modifieds would stage the finale, with all twenty two cars coming to the track for twenty laps. Trevor Neville was the heat one winner, and he shot to the early lead from the pole. With four in the books, defending track champ Austen Becerra headed to the hot pit under caution, effectively ending his chances at a win. Back to racing, Neville pulled well in front, but eight laps in heavy traffic became a factor. Now it was ninth starting Hunt Gossum on the move, and he drove to the runner up spot at lap ten. A pair of yellow flags followed, and now the front pair were fighting a tight battle. A caution with five laps remaining saw the field line up single file. Again it was Neville and Gossum dueling hard, and as they battled out of turn two on the final lap, a pile up in turn one brought a dramatic final caution. A one lap shootout followed, and Gossum found a way around Neville for a thrilling end to the evening. Dave Weitholder had the best seat in the house in third, while Chris Spading came on late, gaining seven spots to finish in fourth. Austin Seets crossed the line where he started, in fifth.
The final checkers waved a bit after 10:00, bringing a close to a very successful season opener.
Thanks as always to Jim, Tammy, and the helpful smiles at the newly situated and constructed pit gate for their hospitality! On a personal note, I will be away from the track for a couple of weeks, with my next report planned from this same fine facility for the May 19 event. Thanks for reading, and we will see you soon as we go Racin' Down the Road!
