It had been four years since my last trip to the Illinois Fall Nationals in Lincoln, Il. Checking the weather and our weekend commitments, we were able to line up for night one, Friday, of the two day event to mark the end of the UMP points season. The quarter mile track on the Logan County Fairgrounds is one of those popular Illinois "bullrings." Opening night would feature four classes, Super Late Models, Pro Crate Late Models, Modifieds and Pro Modifieds, each running a full show.
As it turns out our decision was a wise one, as the Saturday finale was canceled during the action on Friday based on the high possibility of rain. My how things have changed over the years, but that is a topic for another day!
A solid field of one hundred and ten entries made for a full night of racing in front of a late arriving group of enthusiastic supporters. Four of the Pro Crate Late Model competitors also signed in to Super Late action with varying degrees of success, several Modified drivers also doubled up.
We were in the heart of UMP country, which meant time trial qualifying for all divisions. Springfield, Ill. veteran Jake Little topped the Supers, with a lap of 12.981 seconds around the quarter mile, about a second and a half faster than the 14.542 turned by double duty Dakota Ewing in the Crates. Collin Alexander was overall fastest of the thirty four Modifieds at 14.428 while Drake Compton broke the track record for Pro Mods, besting the thirty two racers at 15.021 seconds.
With no delays, heat race action rolled off quickly, setting the feature fields for the twenty six Super and eighteen Crate Late Models, while it took a pair of B mains to pare down the two Mod classes for their main events. It was during the final Pro Mod semi that a crash in turn three resulted in one driver being transported to the local hospital, and with no further condition updates we will leave it up to track officials to make any announcements, however he was said to be alert.
I am not certain if Lincoln has a curfew as the track sits on the edge of a neighborhood, but the very informative announcer mentioned several times that the program needed to hurry along, the Pro Late Models lined up on the half mile "horse track" during the accident delay, and with no intermission (much to our delight!), all eighteen cars came to the track for twenty laps.
Heat winners Ewing and Brandon Sweitzer led a group of four cars battling side by side and nose to tail, with Swietzer leading the opening lap before Ewing took command on lap two. The only caution came with three laps scored as Jeremy Nichols had issues off turn two. Although the track was tacky and racy throughout, the high side seemed to be the place to be, and back under green, Ewing and Sweitzer pulled away on that top line. As slower traffic became a factor about lap thirteen, Ewing was able to gain a bit of separation and even when that traffic became heavy, they stayed mostly in the inside line allowing the leaders to whistle by on the top. With no further delays, Ewing cruised to the win, his seventh in seven tries at the track this season! (He was also three for three at Quincy this season as he captured the UMP national title.) Sweitzer followed in second ahead of Chad Osterhoff, Chris Dick and Colby Sheppard. Ryan Miller gained four positions to sixth, topping Jason Oenning, Erik Vanapeldoorn, Jacob Doolan and Chase Wilson.
The UMP Modified field was a stacked one, as Brian Lynn and Kenny Wallace brought twenty five cars to the green for twenty five laps. Lynn led the first circuit as fifth starting Rick Conoyer charged to the runner up spot. Both of the #14 cars gained separation on those behind, with Conoyer closing the gap on lap six. With Lynn racing the preferred high line, Conoyer sneaked by on the low side to grab the lead on lap eight. Lynn fought back and with that duo racing side by side the first of two quick yellows came with nine laps in the books. The restart saw a group of three tangle in turn one, then back to racing Conoyer and Lynn again drove off from the pack. Wallace, Ray Bollinger and Frank Marshall waged a tight three car battle for third before a final yellow flag slowed the race with eleven laps down. Wallace briefly grabbed the runner up spot following the Delaware Style restart, but Lynn quickly recovered and took up the chase. Again the race was for third, as Conoyer lengthened his lead, driving high on the inside berm in turns three and four. Bollinger took command of the fight for third on lap twenty one. Traffic came into play just a pair of circuits from the checkers, but Conoyer had no problems, driving home to a convincing win. Lynn settled for second in front of Bollinger, Wallace and Marshall. The second five was paced by Alexander over Austin Lynn, Tyler Loughmiller, Austin Simpson and sixteenth starting Ken Schrader. John Toppozini made the haul from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, earning hard charger honors, advancing twelve positions to finish eleventh.
Super Lates came next with all except Jose Parga coming to the oval for thirty laps and a $2,000 payday. Jake Little sat on the pole, but it was his row one mate Jason Feger grabbing the point. Living up to his "Highside Hustler" nickname, the UMP national champion widened his lead before hitting heavy back of the pack traffic on lap seven. He then was forced down the track, weaving in and out of the slower cars racing for positions. But Little now had his hands full of hometown driver Myles Moos, as the three heat winners led the way. Moos cleared Little for second on lap eleven, one circuit ahead of the only caution of the event as Blaze Burwell looped his #44 in what seemed a rather treacherous turn three. On the restart Little regained second while twelfth starting Ewing had his crate engine wound up, jumping into the top five. Feger once again rode the high line before catching the tail of the field on lap nineteen. The crowed conditions gave Little another chance, and as lap twenty six was scored, he was bumper to bumper with Feger. But he could not mount a further challenge, as Jason worked the traffic with precision to score the hard fought victory. Behind the tumbling dice #25 it was Little, Moos, McKay Wenger and Ewing. Chase Osterhoff ran sixth, besting Brayton Wallace. Zach Taylor finished where he started in eighth ahead of Tommy Sheppard Jr. and Ryan Little. The hard luck award goes to Daniel Adam, who was battling for the first heat win when he spun in the final set of turns, finishing last. Lining up twenty fifth in the feature, he gained thirteen spots to finish in twelfth.
The victory lane festivities were postponed until racing was complete as the Pro Mods came to the track for twenty laps. Following an early caution, we made the decision to begin the two and a half hour plus trip towards home, hoping to avoid the promised rain showers (we did!). My Race Pass shows Dalton Ewing collecting the final 2025 checkers at Lincoln while Bret Eilerman moved up eight spots to second over Blake Carroll, Cody Sale and Garett Schumacher. Matt Milner was sixth in front of hard charger Aaron Canterberry, who advanced eleven spots, topping Brady Reed, Alex Cygan and Taryn Page.
Although they do not have a scoreboard proper, the large electronic lap counter on the front straight along with an excellent P.A. system are a huge help at this bullring track. Many thanks to the Lincoln Speedway staff for their hospitality, with a special shout out to the very helpful young lady at the ticket booth. One of the fun things about venturing from home is the people you meet and the stories they tell. One of those folks sitting in our section was the daughter of well known former racer "Jungle" Jim Davison, as she shared some fun stuff about her years growing up at the track.
We will now set our sights on one of our "can't miss" events, Shiverfest at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson next Saturday, October 25. Here's hoping for continued good weather and maybe no "shivers" this year!
No comments:
Post a Comment