After taking a week off in deference to the county fair a handful of miles up I-72, Adams County, Il. Speedway roared back to life on Sunday, August 4. Count 'em, all six classes were in action as the track heads into the final couple of months of an eventful and seemingly successful 2024 season. It was $5.00 admission night for those who purchased tickets at Quincy Auto Supply. There were giveaways as well as drink specials adding to the festivities.
With plenty of "fireworks" on and off the track as well as social media, I felt obligated to check the calendar to confirm that it was for sure August 4, not July 4! But in keeping with the spirit of "Positively Racing," we will concentrate (mostly) on the actual racing and results.
Preparing a dirt track on 90 degree afternoons for early starts is for sure a tricky venture, and unfortunately on this Sunday a bit too much water added after hot lap/time trials pushed the program back several minutes. There was a nice field of seventy seven cars in the six divisions competing in front of a large crowd and the field was balanced well enough to offer a pair of heat races in all but the Late Model division which managed to squeeze out three qualifiers. Following a rather lengthy intermission in which the UMP Modified drivers came to the track apron to be introduced to the crowd, it was finally feature time.
An even dozen Dirtcar UMP Modifieds lined up for twenty laps, with fast timer and heat one winner Rick Conoyer on the pole, flanked by heat two victor Austen Becerra. Conoyer led the opening lap with Dave Weitholder slipping past Becerra to be scored in second. The only yellow flag of the race came with a pair of laps in the books, and back to racing Becerra used the Delaware Style restart to power to the runner up position. He then drove around Conoyer on lap four, and those two began to ease away from the pack, Becerra pounding the cushion while Conoyer operated in the low groove. As Conoyer continued to apply pressure, Becerra tried different lines, looking for his "sweet spot." With just two laps remaining, Austen rode a bit too high off turn two and got in the crumbs on the backstretch. This momentary stumble was all Conoyer needed to grab the lead, and he then held on for a clean sweep for the evening. Becerra recovered to take second followed by Weitholder, Jacob Rexing and Kenny Wallace.
Spencer Havermale was a scratch, leaving us with sixteen UMP Pro Crate Late Models to race for twenty five circuits. Heat one winner Tommy Elston redrew the pole position with Darin Weisinger Jr. alongside. They ran one, two early, while seventh starting Denny Woodworth worked his way to third on lap three before giving up the spot one lap later to Jamie Wilson. Woodworth would retake the position, then clear Weisinger for second on lap seven. By then Elston had built a sizable lead, but the first caution would erase that margin. Another quick caution and a red flag to clean up a multi car scrum would soon follow. Finally putting together a green flag run, Elston and Woodworth pulled away, both locked in the inside line. A caution for debris came with thirteen in the books and now it was a single file restart with Woodworth changing tactics, trying to overtake Elston by running a higher line. With seven laps remaining Woodworth was able to execute a crossover move and grab the lead. He then moved back to the low groove and now it was Elstons' turn to move up the track. One more bout of carnage came with two laps to go, but the racing attorney remained in command, picking up his first win of the season after a bunch of runner up finishes. Elston, Jamie Wilson, tenth starting Jason Oenning and Jeffrey Delonjay completed the top five followed by Terry Wilson, Weisinger Jr., Austin Poage, and Eric Rutherford. Braden Bilger was credited with tenth. There were plenty of damaged race cars and I imagine a few hurt feelings when this one was over.
Richie Wagy was a Street Stock scratch, leaving us with a fourteen car eighteen lap shootout. Levi Long spun from the pole as the field entered turn one for the first time, collecting another pair of cars. The original restart saw outside row one starter Robert Cottom jump to the lead over Rudy Zaragoza and double duty Jacob Rexing. A second and final caution came with one lap in the books, and back to racing the top three drove off from the pack. Zaragoza and Rexing battled hard, allowing Cottom to open a bit of breathing room. On the final lap Cottom came upon a gaggle of slower cars, drifted too high on the backstretch, and in his own words "almost ran out of talent." But he recovered to take the win, chased by Zaragoza, Rexing, Jake Powers, and Rickey Frankel III.
Twelve IMCA Northern Sport Mods came to the track next for eighteen circuits. John Reiner led lap one, giving way to Logan Cumby the next time around the .29 mile oval. Meanwhile Tanner Klingele and Adam Birck came from rows four and five to battle for third. Birck cleared Renier for second on lap three with the first caution coming with six laps scored. A.J. Tournear was third at this point, and he charged to the runner up spot on the restart while Klingele and Birck again did battle behind the front pair. Eight laps in Klingele moved to second, then it was Birck the runner up one lap later. Following a lap twelve stoppage, Birck and Klingele again raced side by side behind Cumby, with Birck finally gaining enough separation to go to work on the leader in the closing laps. As he appeared ready to pounce on the top side, a final caution came with sixteen laps scored. The final restart went single file, with Cumby in command to the checkers. Birck, Klingele and Tournear followed, with Reed Wolfmeyer rounding out the first five.
Ten Dirtcar 4 Cylinders were scheduled for fifteen laps. Travis Demint led both the first and last trip past the flag stand, but there was lots going on in between! Lap four saw Demint, Spencer Coats and Jaden Delonjay racing three wide for the lead, with first Coats then Delonjay out front for the next two circuits. A yellow flag with seven remaining saw Coats again jump ahead, but one lap later apparent contact found Coats going off the top of turn two. With both Coats and Delonjay restarting at the tail, Demint was again the leader. Back to racing another "incident" brought out the black flag and gave us a single file restart. Another caution eleven laps in, and the time limit was hit with Demint declared the winner. Kimberly Abbott avoided the carnage to come home second while Jaden Delonjay worked his way back to third. Landon Neisen and Jordon Delonjay also recorded top five finishes.
It was now creeping up on 10:30 as I headed for the parking lot with the Crown Vic feature coming trackside to close out the action. My Race Pass shows double duty Jeffrey Delonjay the winner over Jacob Jones in the twelve lap finale. A season high eleven cars signed in for the fledgling division.
Thanks once again to the Lieurance and Delonjay families for their hospitality and for the very positive ongoing improvements to the facilities. Oh, and in case you missed it the main topic of conversation at the 49 year old Raceway was the announcement this week that there will be a switch to Friday night racing in 2025! And... there is lots more to come, so stay tuned!
No comments:
Post a Comment