Sunday evening marked the return of the iconic "Quincy Raceways" moniker to the historic race track on the far east side of Quincy, Il. New owner Jeff Delonjay and promoter Chance Bailey kicked off the latest chapter at the fifty year old speedway. With many improvements, some complete and many others underway, it was a bit of a different atmosphere. While the kitchen undergoes renovations, there were food trucks on hand, and as the new owner works towards a liquor license, personal coolers were in abundance! But most importantly, there were six divisions of race cars pitside, ready to do battle, with passing points the order of the day now that the points season has concluded.
Not unexpectedly with no points and one day after the conclusion of Super Nationals, the car count was a bit light. But Steve Grotz and his crew had the .29 mile oval in tip top shape, and even with several obstacles in their way, the promotions team hit the ground running in fine fashion. Hot laps kicked off RIGHT ON TIME at 5:30 followed by heat race action. Intermission came at 7:00 P.M., and with most of the technical issues out of the way, feature racing kicked off about 7:35 in front of a nice sized crowd on an increasingly chilly evening.
Late Models were up first, with several participating in the optional "Topless" night, giving the cars a bit of an odd look, perhaps hearkening back to the long ago days of racing convertibles! Beginning a theme for the night, the caution waved on the first lap as Mark Enk went sideways in turn one after contact from another car. On the original restart, Denny Woodworth charged from inside row three to lead the opening lap, a position he never relinquished. A second and final yellow flag came with one lap scored as Vance Wilson exited the speedway, and it was followed by twenty four laps of green flag racing. Front row starters Tommy Elston and Jason Perry, sporting an apparent new ride, chased the Racing Attorney throughout. In the early portion of the race, Elston stayed close running high on the track while Woodworth stayed glued to the bottom. But the low line proved fastest, and soon it was Woodworth, Elston, Perry and Sam Halstead in the Barton #7B racing around the inside tire barriers, while fifth place Jackson Frankel attempted to gain ground in a higher line. Eventually Woodworth drove off to a full straightaway lead, cruising to the win. Following the top five it was Jeffery Delonjay, also in a "new" ride, chased by Jason Oenning and Matthew Kay. Terry Wilson and Enk were credited with the next two spots. Last weeks' winner, Braden Bilger went up in smoke on the first lap of his heat race and was done for the night.
Modifieds came next, fourteen cars for twenty laps. A brake check as the cars came to the green flag stopped the action, and on the restart pole sitter Dave Weitholder shot to the front ahead of his row one mate Justin Reed and Rick Conoyer. As Weitholder held the top spot, Reed and Conoyer battled, with Rick moving to second on lap three. As Weitholder and Conoyer pulled away, Rick was able to use an inside move to grab the top spot on lap nine. But one lap later, a pair of slower cars got together in in turn one, and with nowhere to go, Conoyer slammed into the #1LH of Lane Huff. While the cars of Huff and Matt Diaz were going on the hook, track workers removed the front bumper from the Conoyer #14, and he was able to restart at the back of the field. This put Weitholder back out front ahead of Reed and seventh starting Steve Meyer. Back under green, Meyer missed his mark exiting turn two, fading out of the top five. "New" flagman Joe Bliven would wave the white flag, then replace it with the yellow as Jadin Fuller spun in turn four, ending his night. This would set up a green, white, checkers single file finish, but Weitholder was up to the task, picking up the win over Reed, Michael Vanderiet Jr., Shawn Deering and a rebound by Conoyer.
Only four cars signed in for Street Stock action, and they would run a non stop fifteen lap feature. Rudy Zaragoza would lead all fifteen circuits, gradually pulling away from Jake Powers and Codey Smith. Brandon Boden was an early exit with mechanical issues.
The theme of first lap cautions resumed in the Sport Mod fifteen lapper, as Michael Goodwin looped his new looking #1 machine. Back to racing, Tanner Klingele drove to the front from his pole position followed by third starting A.J. Tournear. A three car mix up came with one lap scored, but from that point the green light remained on. Klingele was able to hold serve, while Tournear did the same in second. Logan Cumby rebounded from a sick engine in hot laps and his heat race to start in the back and race his way to third. Quinton Shelton and Cody Henderson completed the top five.
As the track was being cleared from post race festivities for the Sport Mods, Landon Neisen would come charging through the pit gate with his #05 4 Cylinder on his open trailer. Track officials took just an extra couple minutes to allow Landon to drive through the pits and tag the tail of the twelve lap 4 Cylinder feature. What a story that would have been had he come through for a win. But that would not be the case on this night. Visiting Danny Oates and Spencer Coats filled out row one, with Coats taking the early lead in front of Jaden Delonjay. Kimberly Abbott started in row three, and eased around Delonjay for second on lap three. She then moved up to challenge for the lead, taking command with an inside move on lap five. Soon it was a two car battle, and although Coats stayed close he was unable to mount a serious challenge, with Kimberly picking up the win in the non stop event. Coats took runner up honors ahead of Delonjay, Devin Harrell and Coosada, Alabama driver Jay Kunce.
Crown Vics would round out the program, ten cars for twelve laps. Again it was a caution calling off the original start. Dalton Tournear grabbed the early lead as racing resumed, but the yellow flag would wave again on lap two. Yet another caution came on the restart and then red flag was displayed as there was an apparent injury in the grandstands perhaps from a flying mud clod off the track. With a possible lengthy delay coming, I headed for the parking lot, with the clock reading 9:00 straight up as I started my vehicle. My Race Pass results show Austin Johnson taking the win, besting Jacob Jones and Jordon Zummalt.
All in all I would say it was a successful first night for the new regime with things moving along at a steady pace. Thanks to the Delonjays, Chance and crew for their hospitality on Sunday!
There will be one more night of racing for Quincy Raceways this season, as the six regular classes will be in action next Sunday, September 15. Note that the Extreme Midgets were removed from the original schedule for that night, with the new group still getting settled in. Although the 2024 season is winding down, there is still plenty of racing to be had, and I am hoping to rejoin the MLRA Late Model series as they visit the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa on Thursday followed by two nights at Davenport Speedway. Both of these venues produce excellent racing, hope to see you there!
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