It would be a big night of racing at Adams County, Il. Speedway on Sunday as the mid west touring MARS series for Super Late Models and open Modifieds made their only stop at the "Broadway Bullring." A cool $5,000 was awaiting the Late Model victor, with a $2,000 check topping the Mod payout. In addition, all important series championship points would be awarded. Three local classes, Street Stocks, Dirtcar 4 Cylinders, and Crown Vics were also in competition.
Twenty six Super Late Models along with twenty open Modifieds were the featured attraction in the eighty three car field. A huge crowd was on hand on what was an absolutely beautiful Sunday night, and an all star group of former Quincy Raceways drivers were spotted in the midway!
Both MARS classes would time trial qualify with veteran Dennis Erb Jr. topping the Late Models at 12.807 seconds while Will Krup led the Mods at 13.749.
Heat races were lined up "straight up" by times, with Erb Jr., Jason Feger and Ryan Unzicker all grabbing Late Model qualifiers from the pole position. Krup from the pole and track regular Austen Becerra from outside row one topped the Mods.
After a lengthy intermission hampered by a medical call in the pits, it was time for five feature races.
Late Models would go first, with all twenty six lining up for forty laps. The top two from the heats would redraw for starting spots and that would put a pair of Quincy natives, Matt Bailey and Rickey Frankel on the front row. Frankel would take the early lead, and the pair would run one, two until lap eight when fourth starting Erb Jr. would take the high line to second and Unzicker following on the inside to third. As Erb pressured the leader, slower traffic became a factor and on lap eleven Frankel was held up by a slower car. Dennis then powered to the lead taking along Unzicker as Frankel fell out of the top five. The first yellow flag came with fourteen laps scored as Clayton Stuckey rolled to a stop in turn three. Following the Delaware Style restart Jason Feger joined the front pack in fourth, as Justin Duty was shuffled from fourth back several positions. As the race crossed the half way mark, Erb and Unzicker gained a bit separation, but three more circuits and they were again in slower traffic. A second caution came with a dozen laps left, and as the field reset, Gordy Gundaker drove to the pits giving up a top ten run. Back under green, Feger moved to third, but just one lap was scored before another caution for local standout Justin Reed. As racing resumed Bailey was shuffled out of the first five, with McKay Wenger and California driver Cody Laney advancing to fourth and fifth. A final yellow flag came with seven laps remaining as Mark Voight slowed with a flat tire after back stretch contact with another car , and as the cars circled the .29 mile oval Laney saw his good run come to an end. This final restart was single file, and Erb went pretty much unchallenged to the checkers for a sweep of the nights' action. Unzicker, Feger, and Wenger followed with Bailey rebounding to fifth. Allan Weisser gained five positions to sixth ahead of Duty, Bob Gardner, eighteenth starting Mitch McGrath and his row nine mate Daniel Adam.
Thirty laps would await the Modifieds with Dylan Woodling and Becerra in row one. But it would be third starting Krup out front trailed by Becerra as lap one went in the books. As the front duo raced side by side, Austen would nose ahead on lap four. They would catch the back of the pack at lap nine, and with Krup caught momentarily behind a slower car Becerra was able to open a bit of a lead. A pair of caution periods book ended the half way mark of the race, and back under green Krup charged back to the lead while series points leader Michael Long climbed to third. Lap nineteen saw Long, a hometown hot shoe use a power move off turn four to grab the runner up spot. As Long began to close the gap on Krup there would be a final stoppage with five to go. The field would now go single file and as Indiana racer Ryan Thomas cleared Becerra for third, Krup and Long drove off in a two car battle. The checkers would fly for Krup, while Long would settle for second. Thomas, Becerra, and Woodling would round out the top five. Local star Dave Weitholder gained five positions to sixth chased by Ray Bollinger, Lyndon Whitfill, Zeke McKenzie and Chris Spalding.
With pomp, circumstance and television interviews out of the way, it was time for the "local" classes to shine. All but one of the fifteen Dirtcar 4 Cylinders came to the track for fifteen laps of action on a track that now resembled asphalt more than clay. Visiting Jeremy Hancock sat on the pole, and he charged to the lead ahead of outside row one starter Travis Demint. Lap four saw fifth starting Matthew Mackey drive his uniquely lettered #01 to the runner up slot. He then chased Hancock for six more trips around the oval before using an inside move to take over the lead. A single caution came at lap twelve, but it was only a slight delay for Mackey, who powered away to the win. Hancock and Demint followed while Jaden Delonjay topped Dyllan Bonk in a tight battle for fourth.
Robert Cottum suffered mechanical failure during his heat race, so he climbed behind the wheel of Alan Cottums' #M2 for what would be an eleven car eighteen lap feature. Rickey Frankel III would get the early lead from row two and pace the field throughout for his first ever main event victory. Beau Taylor would chase Frankel in the opening laps before Ryan Aden Jr. took the position on lap three. Jacob Rexing started in row four on the super slick track and ran the high line while the leaders all worked low around the tire barriers. Rexing was finally able to take the runner up spot with seven circuits to go, then be presented with his best chance at the leader following a lap thirteen single file restart. But Frankel held serve for a flag to flag win. Rexing followed in front of Jake Powers, Aden Jr. and Taylor.
Ten Crown Vics made there way to the track to wrap things up. Jacob Jones would turn a pole start into a win followed by tenth starting Brian Kaylor, Steve Meyer, Alex Hatfield, and first timer Glen Wiley.
Thanks for a fun evening to Jim and Tammy of JT. Promotions, Jeff and Renee Delonjay for the continuing awesome improvements to the facility, and to MARS director Jonathon Clayton and his staff for their help.
Tonight I will look to put a wrap on five nights of racing in the six days of my "racin' vacation" with a visit to Davenport Speedway for night one of the XR Super Series trifecta. Super Late Models will race for a $15,000 top prize while Modifieds will compete for $2,000 on their way to a $20,000 finale on Wednesday. Stop and say "Hi" if you see us there!
No comments:
Post a Comment