The season began as Adams County, Il. Speedway but on Sunday the final 2024 checkered flag waved over Quincy Raceways. In such an unprecedented and crazy year, it seemed only appropriate that first time winners would be in victory lane on this final night. UMP Dirtcar Modified champion Austen Becerra would tow his #22 Late Model to the track for the first time and drive away from the field for his first Quincy win in that division. Multiple time track champion Justin Reed drove the Begley #B4 to victory in the Modified class for the first time. Dyllan Bonk debuted a sharp looking #98, winning the most hotly contested race of the night in the Dirtcar 4 Cylinder class, and former track champ Terry Houston came out atop the first year Crown Vic division. The hybrid Sport Mod, Bmod, E Mod mash up on this night saw Tanner Klingele make it four wins in a row, while Jake Powers added to his victory total in the Street Stocks.
Although things started well, it was a bit of a rocky night for the new promotions team, with intermission followed by the back stretch lights temporarily going out, a delay for a medical call in the grandstands, and more than the usual number of spins and crashes as drivers raced with full abandon on this closing night.
Responding to somewhat dwindling car counts of late in the Sport Mod class, on this night drivers competing at other venues as a B Mod or E Mod were welcomed to the speedway. Fifteen competitors checked in, and they would open feature racing with a scheduled fifteen lapper. Tanner Klingele redrew the pole position and as he paced the parade laps, the back stretch went dark. Fortunately track officials had brought in some extra portable lights, and with some redirection racing began, with the bank of lights eventually coming back to full strength. An early caution period was followed by a four car pile up on the front stretch. Back to racing, Klingele would open a commanding lead ahead of another yellow flag with twelve laps scored. As the field reset, the red light came on for the medical call to the stands. With the time limit now in play, the race ended with a two lap green, white, checkers. Klingele drove on to his fourth consecutive win to close out the season. Visiting B Mod second generation hot shoe Damian Kiefer ran second ahead of A.J. Tournear, fifteenth starting Michael Goodwin, and former track champion Eddie Dieker in a Dave Weitholder #05 machine.
Dave Weitholder and Justin Reed lined up in row one for a fifteen lap main event. The caution flag flew as the field attempted to complete lap one, and back under green, the two veteran drivers took off from the pack. Behind the leaders, Shawn Deering and Frankie Wellman battled side by side for third. A final stop came with eight laps in the books, and back to racing Reed and Weitholder again raced well ahead of the field. The checkers waved over Reed, followed by Weitholder, Wellman, Deering and Joey Gower.
It was now Late Model time, battling for twenty five circuits. With Vance Wilson already headed home, ten cars were left to take the green flag. Rookie Jackson Frankel shot to the front with Austen Becerra and Denny Woodworth in pursuit. On lap four Frankel misjudged the cushion in turn one, falling to third behind Becerra and Woodworth. The first caution came at lap seven for Matt Kay, and by the half way point of the race Becerra was checking out. At lap fifteen a second and final yellow flag came for Bill Berghaus, and back to racing heavy contact between Frankel and Woodworth ended the night for Jackson, while Denny continued on with sheet metal damage. Becerra cruised to the win ahead of Woodworth, Darin Weisinger Jr., Jason Oenning and Sam Halstead. Jeffery Delonjay, Mark Enk and Berghaus rounded out the cars still running at the checkers.
Again the Street Stock class was short on entries, but quickly an intense three car battled developed between Rudy Zaragoza, Jake Powers and Beau Taylor. As Powers and Zaragoza ripped around the .29 mile oval, Jake moved to the lead on lap six. Zaragoza then jumped the tricky turn one and two cushion, allowing Powers to pull well out front. A single caution five laps from the finish brought Powers back to the pack, but he had no problem driving to the fifteen lap win. Zaragoza came home second while Brandon Boden outgunned Taylor for third. Braydon Rich completed the top five.
Fifteen laps would be the distance for the 4 Cylinder main event. Following the original start being called back by a caution flag, Spencer Coats, Dyllan Bonk and Jaden Delonjay did a three car breakaway from the field. Coats and Bonk battled side by side while Delonjay lurked behind looking for an opening. With Bonk edging ahead by a nose, the lone yellow flag came with nine laps scored. Back to racing, Delonjay moved around Coats on lap eleven, but he could not overtake Bonk, who drove the #98 to victory lane to the delight of his considerable cheering section. Delonjay took runner up honors over Coats while Kimberly Abbott made a late race move to fourth. Landon Neisen completed the first five.
Houston grabbed the final checkered flag of 2024 with a win in the combined Crown Vic, Mini Hauler Truck division. While the Mini Haulers were a late addition to the lineup, only three signed in, so they were mixed in with the dozen Crown Vics. Glen Wiley chased Houston to the checkers trailed by Alex Hatfield, Jordon Zummalt and Brian Kaylor. Randy Ronner in ninth was the top finishing Mini Hauler.
While the on track action in Quincy for 2024 is complete, this will be an off season yielding lots of rumors mixed with hard news. Considerable updates are planned for the 50 year old facility, and indications are that 2025 will be celebrated for a half century of operation. And of course the big decision, not yet official will be the regular night of operation for racing. Along with our other travels, I will do my best to keep up with any announcements coming from new owners Jeff and Renee Delonjay and new promoter Chance Bailey, so stay tuned!
A class reunion for good ol' Keokuk High and some family activities will keep me away from the track for possibly two weekends, but our season is far from over, so check back for updates along the way and thanks for reading!
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