Feger, Alexander, Sheppard, Doyle Fall Nationals Night One Winners

    As has been the case so often around the midwest this fall, officials at Lincoln Speedway made the correct decision to move the Illinois DIRTcar Nationals back one day, with racing on Saturday and Sunday following a Friday practice night. Much cooler temps and mid week rains made the change a no brainer, and in another smart move, start times were also moved ahead by two hours with hot laps both days at 4:00 to counteract the brisk conditions. Saturday would be our best opportunity to make the trip to the Logan County Fairgrounds quarter mile facility. What was now the opening night featured four UMP divisions, Super Late Models, open Modifieds, Pro Late Models and Pro Mods competing on a final weekend for national points honors. Street Stocks would join the Sunday program. 

   A solid field of 114 entries produced time trials in all divisions, followed by 14 heat races, 4 B mains, and 4 features with action still wrapping up by the hoped for 9:00 hour. Weather conditions were tolerable for mid October racing and a late arriving but nice sized crowd witnessed exciting racing across the classes. Also, the new lighting at the track is a nice touch.

   The track was "hammer down" early on, in fact the Pro Modified one lap record was broken three times with Mason Duncan topping the board at 14.874 seconds. Brandon Sweitzer led the Pro Late Models at 14.227, Collin Alexander was fastest in the Modifieds at 13.935, and Jason Feger bested the Late Models with a lap of 12.928 seconds over Tanner English at 12.929. Not coincidentally, those two are locked in a tight battle to be decided on Sunday for the UMP national championship, which pays $25,000 to the winner. English currently holds a small lead over Feger.

  By heat race time the racing surface was slick enough to be a bit treacherous, especially in turns three and four, with the Pro Mods having the most trouble resulting in more than a few spin outs. But as the night wore on and the track took rubber, the racing improved dramatically, and with a bit of manicuring during a short intermission, the feature action was top notch. 

   Pro Late Models were up first, with all twenty one entries going at it for twenty laps. Heat winners Colby Sheppard and Tim Luttrell filled out row one, with Sheppard jumping to the lead. Fourth starting Braden Johnson overtook Luttrell on lap two and the chase was on. Sheppard opened a sizable lead, but as he caught the back of the pack on lap six, two of the back markers collided. Sheppard locked up his brakes but still made contact and was himself then hit by oncoming traffic. Although he had come to a complete stop, Sheppard was allowed to restart in front and fortunately seemed to have no issues with his #27. Back to racing Sheppard and Johnson again left the pack behind, catching slower traffic again about lap fifteen. Just as Johnson would close in, Sheppard would make a dandy move through the heavy traffic and pull away. On the final circuit there were no lapped cars in the way and Johnson took one more shot, but could not get close enough for an attempt at the lead. Following that duo, third running Ryan Miller made contact with a lapped car exiting turn four, sliding sideways across the line to hold his position. Austin Mccarty and Sweitzer completed the top five. Parker Perry crossed the line first in heat three, but was DQ'd for an unknown infraction, started twentieth in the feature and gained fourteen spots to finish in sixth. Fifty dollar per lap bonus money went to Sheppard in addition to his $1,000 first place prize. 

   Dirtcar Modifieds were up next. the thirty three cars whittled down to a twenty four car starting field racing for twenty five laps. Interestingly, series points leader Mike McKinney, who just rolled around behind a B Main field, and Kenny Wallace lined up in row eleven after taking provisional starting spots. Pole sitter Collin Alexander grabbed the lead as the green flag waved, quickly increasing his lead as the laps clicked off quickly. Meanwhile McKinney was charging through the pack, entering the top ten on lap nine. The top two cars bobbled in turn four on lap eleven, with third running Ray Bollinger driving to the runner up spot and closing quickly on Alexander. Things looked to get interesting as the leader caught the tail of the field on lap fourteen, but a timely yellow flag ended that drama. On the restart, Bollinger executed a slide job but Alexander was able to cross him back over in what turned out to be the decisive move of the race. The top runners were literally bouncing off the concrete walls, sending sparks flying as the laps wound down. Bollinger was able to make it close at the end, but Alexander was up to the challenge, collecting a flag to flag win. Austin Friedman came home third ahead of Brayden Doyle, and hard charger McKinney, who gained sixteen positions. 

   Twenty two Dirtcar Super Late Models were on hand, and only Tanner Butkovich, racing for his first time in a second Mark Voigt car, was absent from the starting lineup. Thirty laps would be the distance, with a $2,000 check and more lap money on the line along with those important UMP points.  Feger, English, and Mike Spatola were heat race winners, and they would claim the top starting spots along with fourth starting Ryan Unzicker, the recently crowned MARS series champion. Spatola would get the jump to lead the first three circuits before a Jake Little spin brought the first yellow flag. Back under green, "Opie" drove through the middle of turn one while Feger lived up to his "Highside" nickname, pounding the cushion and powering to the front off turn two. Quickly the front runners formed a line around the top, with slower traffic coming in to play about lap twelve. Again Spatola would close the margin only to have Feger find a way around a slower car and pull away once more. When English and Unzicker moved in to battle with Spatola, Feger used the opportunity to drive away. By the time English took second in the heavy traffic, Feger had opened a full straightaway advantage. What looked to be an easy win suddenly evaporated with five laps remaining when the sixth and seventh place cars of Rich Bell and Chevy Boyer came to a crashing halt on the front stretch. The field would reset single file, a final five lap rule, and with clear track ahead Feger walked away for the win, gaining not only a nice payday, but a few precious points in pursuit of English. Tanner would hold second in front of Spatola, Unzicker, and Daniel Adam. Veteran Steve Sheppard Jr. ran sixth in front of Devin McLean, Little, Bell, and Timmy Dick. 

   Pro Mods started out with a whopping thirty eight entries with twenty six lining up for twenty laps. Pole sitter Drake Compton led from the start. Following a stoppage, double duty Brayden Doyle charged to the front. Once more it looked like smooth sailing for the leader, but a final caution bunched the field once more. As in the prior race, the battle for second worked to the leaders' advantage, as Doyle picked up his second top four of the night, this one in victory lane. Kade Ballinger gained six positions for runner up honors followed by another double duty pilot, Luttrell, and ninth starting Drew Schwartz. National points leader Zach Whaley started and finished in fifth, one spot ahead of his closest challenger, Compton. 

   Thanks to the folks at Lincoln for their hospitality. We were able to make the two and a half hour trip three times in 2026 and hope to visit again next season. October (and November!) racing used to be a rare treat, but there is still plenty on the calendar, so get off the couch, grab your coat, and let's go racing!

Wait, What? Horn is Dirt Stars Winner

    Right or wrong, I have long subscribed to the adage "don't believe anything you hear and only half of what you see." Well, Saturday night proved it to be correct. We watched Dustin Smith lead the Davenport Dirt Stars feature event at Davenport Speedway the full twenty five laps, then celebrate victory on the podium. "Trust but verify," we checked My Race Pass during the two hour plus drive home for complete results. But when I awoke this Sunday morning, I was greeted with a post questioning why Smith was DQ'd at some point following the race. I do not know what the infraction was, only that I am glad I waited until this morning to file this report. 

   Smith had apparently survived four caution periods, including two in the final five laps which wiped out commanding leads followed by single file restarts. With just eight laps to go the #53 had encountered a slower car racing for position in his lane allowing second running Brandon Hamburg to close the gap before a well timed yellow flag left the leader with a clear track ahead. C.J. Horn used the Delaware restart to move into second which turned out to be the winning move of the race. The final stoppage was followed by a bit of a dust up between Matt Ryan and Joe Beal, sending both to the tail. Those final three laps saw Smith pull away as Horn and ninth starting Nick Marolf battled side by side for what would turn out to be the victory in the final Karl Chevrolet Premier Late Model event of the season. The revised order would have Horn the winner followed by Marolf, tenth starting Jeff Aikey, Andy Nezworski, and Hamburg. Dustin Schram led the second five in front of Dave Eckrich, Nathan Balensiefen, Ryan, and Gary Webb. Twenty cars started the race, with Justin Heuer unable to make the call.

   Feature racing started innocently enough as eighteen Sport Mods battled for fifteen caution free laps. Ben Chapman lined up outside row one, shot to the lead ahead of pole sitter Finn Oppenheimer, then led the distance for the win. Jarrett Franzen was wheeling a #75 machine, and he charged from row five to the runner up spot. In the final five laps Franzen narrowed the gap considerably, but could never quite get close enough to challenge for the lead. Bryson Eckrich started in row four, fell out of the top ten, then came charging back late to complete the podium finishers. Oppenheimer and Levi Laymon rounded out the top five. 

   The caution free racing continued as all fifteen Stock Cars came to the track for fifteen laps around the quarter mile. Pole sitter Braden Richards led Jordon Miles and David Brandies in a three car breakaway in the opening laps. Brandies powered to second on lap ten, but by then Richards had checked out. With zero yellow flags, Richards cruised to the victory. Brandies held second over Jordon Miles, Kodey Miles, and co hard charger John Oliver Jr., who started ninth. 

   Modifieds would follow the Late Models, all twenty one entrants going at it for twenty laps. The yellow flag came on the start as Logan Veloz and Mike Garland got together coming to the green flag. On the restart, third starting Jace Eckrich paced the first lap. Jason Schueller was out front the next time around, holding the position ahead of a red flag on lap three as Charlie Mohr rolled his #99 on the backstretch. Back under green, Eckrich retook the lead as ninth starting Matt Werner moved in to battle Schueller for second. As Eckrich drove off ahead of Werner, a tight four car scrum developed for third through sixth. Jace Whitt would soon emerge from that tussle to take command of third while tenth starting Brandon Durbin moved to fourth. Whittg would power to second about lap thirteen and two laps later Durbin would clear Werner for third. But by now Eckrich was moving smoothly through lapped traffic while maintaining a comfortable lead. At the checkers it was Eckrich, Whitt, Durbin, and  Werner, while Shane Paris finished where he started in fifth. Although not visible from our vantage point, there was apparently an incident on the backstretch of the final lap which left Veloz with a heavily damaged race car. As track crews worked to clean that up and nearing the 10:00 hour, we decided to head for home. 

   Congratulations to feature winners Carson Butt who lined up seventh in the Hobby Stock main event and bested thirteenth starting Matt Bennett, and Street Stock winner Scotty Pratt who topped Jesse Owen for the victory.

   Kudos to the track crew! The quarter mile was in excellent condition as witnessed by just three caution flags during the fifteen qualifying heats. And a tip of the cap also to the race director, as hot laps began right at 6;30 with heat races beginning just a tick past 7:00 for the 102 cars in competition. 

Elston, Becerra First Kings of the Bullring at Quincy Raceways

    Friday was the opening night for the circle track season ending "King of the Bullring" at Quincy Raceways. The two day extravaganza is a showcase event for 4 Cylinders and Crown Vics. The 4 bangers will work towards a $4,000 to win Saturday finale, while outside contributions have swelled the Crown Vic Saturday feature to a first place payout of $3,333! 

   But in order to reach the finals, Friday was qualifying night, with qualifying and heat races for the two headline classes, while Late Models contested a full show for a $1,000 to win and B Mods did the same for a $1,050 top prize. 

   The race weekend was originally scheduled one week prior, but wet conditions forced the reschedule. And this week produced perfect early fall conditions for both racers and fans eager for one more helping of action.

   Entries ranged from as far away as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky, but I imagine the folks in charge might have been a bit disappointed in the total car counts in the two featured divisions. Twenty one 4 Cylinders and an even two dozen Crown Vics signed in for night number one. A solid field of twenty two B Modifieds and a dozen Late Models rounded out the seventy nine car gathering. 

   It was interesting to have time trial qualifying in the classes where lap times are usually not paid much attention. Verona, Kentucky racer Brandon Gibson Jr. topped the 4 Cylinders with a lap of 16.168 seconds on the immaculately prepared .29 mile oval, while Dubuque, Iowa visitor Derrick Dean was the only Vic driver to break the 18 second mark with a lap of 17.981 seconds. By contrast, the fastest lap in competition for the B Mods came in heat one, 15.341 by Chris Spalding. The top Late Model lap was by Curtis Glover, a 13.842 in heat one. 

  Only two features were contested on this opening night, with eighteen of the twenty two B Mods still around to go at it for twenty laps. Good, close racing was unfortunately interrupted by seven yellow flags, which eliminated a few top contenders. Austen Becerra, driving the Bobby Six #6 and Patrick Phillips sat in row one, with Becerra jumping to the early lead. He was quickly followed by row two starters Tanner Klingele, Kahne Groves, and sixth starting Spalding in a four car breakaway ahead of a lap six caution for a spinning Dakota Girard. Following a lap eight caution for Jake Etter, Olivia Hoffman made hard contact with the turn one wall, ending her night with apparent heavy damage. Spalding with then bring out the yellow flag, contact up front ending his run, and on the restart Alec Cain joined the party as Groves was shuffled back to fifth. Now Becerra and Klingele would pull away from the pack ahead of a final stoppage twelve laps in as Josh Dietrich pounded the turn two concrete. On this final restart, Becerra pulled away, cruising to the win. Klingele held off Cain for second in front of Groves, and row seven starter Brandon Lennox. Chri Burke, Phillips, A. J. Tournear, hard charger Spencer Coats, and Shannon Schmidt completed the top ten. 

   Jackson Frankel blew his engine in Late Model heat two, which also saw visiting Don Pataska limp to a stop, leaving ten cars for the 25 lap feature. Sam Halstead, and another first timer, third generation hot shoe Cruz Birkhofer filled out row one. "Superman" Sam powered to the lead with third starting Tommy Elston in pursuit. Elston would move to the lead on lap two, quickly pulling away as Glover moved in to challenge Halstead for second. As the race stayed green, Elston caught the back of the pack with eight laps to go, but they would present no problems. Seventh starting Jake Griffin found the top lane to his liking in the second half of the race, charging to the runner up spot with just five laps to go. A nearly full straightaway lead for Elston was wiped out when the lone yellow flag came with three laps remaining. The field was reset single file, but there would be no catching the IMCA national points runner up, as Elston drove to the win. Griffin settled for second while Halstead won his race long battle with Glover for third. Birkhofer rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth went to Jamie Wilson in the Krigbaum #11D, Denny Woodworth, Jason Oenning, Ryan Aden Jr., and Cody Washburne. 

   Those two features were then followed by the qualifying heats for the 4 Cylinders and Crown Vics. Those two classes then each ran a Grudge Match to round out the action, apparently with some prize money offered. Cincinnati, Ohio traveler Jason Todd topped the 4 Cylinders while Derrick Dean took Crown Vic honors. 

   Action resumes on Saturday night with any newcomers starting in the back of B mains for 4 Cylinders and Vics ahead of their main events. A full show for Late Models, A Mods, and B Mods are also on the card, as Quincy Raceways wraps up their 2026 season. 

   Thanks to all the folks involved at QR for their season long hospitality. 

Glenz Tops Dirt on the Downs

    With all the rain this past week, very few venues would be able to stage a racing event this weekend. Fortunately, Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is one of those venues. The highlight of the Dirt on the Downs post season came Saturday night with the revived Miller 100 for Late Model Stock Cars. A " can't miss" staple of the 1980's when the Downs was a premier half mile dirt track was back on the quarter mile featuring Brandon Davis' Karl Chevrolet Premier Late Model series. The event was run in two segments of 50 laps each with a ten minute fuel stop at or near the mid point. 

   Mod Lites, Legends cars, and a vintage class filled out the card on a cool evening in front of the packed covered grandstand. 

   As every race fan by now surely knows, after a decades long experiment with pavement racing, the good folks of C.R. came to their senses and put high quality dirt on the inside quarter mile track. It has been stated that there will still be some pavement racing on the half mile, but the emphasis will now be on dirt events. The return to dirt began last fall when Benton County Speedway promoters Rick and Corey Dripps joined the Downs crew for a four week trial of dirt racing featuring a mix of classes which produced solid car counts and exciting racing, most importantly in front of big crowds. The Late Model headliner in 2025 drew 40 competitors, with Nick Marolf taking the win in the 25 lap feature.

   While for a variety of reasons the car count was down a bit this year, there was still a full field of quality Late Models, and a very manageable total of 83 cars in the four divisions. 

   Hot laps kicked off just a tick after the advertised time of 5:30, and racing began about 6:20 as a number of disappointed Hawkeye fans filtered in to a rapidly filling grandstands. The highlight, or more like low light of the ten heat races came in Mod Lite heat one when the #P58 of Hoffman Grenz came high off of turn four and was sucked into the concrete wall, flipping his ride multiple times. Fortunately the driver was uninjured, but the car appeared to sustain major damage. 

   Throughout the qualifying races, during intermission, and as the features rolled on, track crews worked to smooth out the surface as much as possible, attempting to make up for the large amount of rain that had restricted track work until the last couple of days. And even though the track had a bit of character, there was plenty of passing mixed in with entertaining competition. 

   Midwest Jalopies would kick off feature racing with all 11 entries going at it for 15 laps. The results show Michael Hulsing leading the distance from outside row one, but that hardly tells the story. The #09 was pushed all the way by third starting Austin Honts as those two quickly separated from the pack in a nose to tail battle. With zero cautions to slow the action, Honts finally drew close enough on the final lap, pulling alongside the leader as they exited turn two on the final circuit. Hulsing held off the charge by a car length as the checkers waved. The hard charging duo lapped all but the third and fourth place cars of Jayson Blunt and Jeff Blunt. All 11 cars were still on track at the end.

   All but three of the 25 Mod Lites took the feature green, racing for 20 laps. The first main event caution came on the start as Derek Foster came to a stop, his run over. Pole sitter Colby Oberembt shot to the lead on the restart, with his row one partner Jaxon Carr in tow. Austin Gray would come from row three to second as lap two was scored, and it took another two laps for Gray to grab the lead. Austin then slowly opened a sizable advantage even as Oberembt also gained separation from the pack. When the front runner caught the back of the pack near the halfway point, Oberembt was able to draw close, but soon Gray was once again in clean air and increasing his lead. An untimely caution brought Gray back to the pack for a two lap shootout, but he was up to the challenge, cruising to the win. The restart was not kind to Oberembt, who was shuffled back to fourth behind Josh May and Matt Suzuki. Scott Bailey completed the top five as 13 cars crossed under the checkered flag. 

   A large field of 23 Legend cars signed in, with 21 lining up for their 20 lap feature. Once again the yellow flag flew on the start, as first heat winner Tony Olson came to a stop in his #33. Osseo, Wi. racer Chris Sleep shot to the lead ahead of fourth starting Michael Weber. Weber was able to grab the lead before a lap six caution. He then pulled well in front as racing resumed, while a gaggle of cars battled nose to tail and side by side behind him. A pair of yellow flags came around the mid point, bringing the pack back to the bumper of the leader. Once more Weber opened a nice lead before a final stoppage six laps from the end as an engine fire broke out in the #04 of Adam Meyer. Back under green for a final time, Weber drove off to victory lane. Cohen Henze took runner up honors followed by Kacey Korsmo, Robby Morrison, and Diesel Ostby. Some interesting names in the Wisconsin pit area!

   It was now time for the headline event. Only Jeff Tharp who was an early exit in heat two, was absent as the field lined up for 100 laps paying $4,000 to the victor. The passing points format found heat two winner Troy Morris III and Eric Pollard sitting in row one. It had been determined days earlier that any and all caution laps would count towards the 100 except for the final ten, which would be green flag only. Although I did not keep a close count, the result was likely perhaps between 60 and 70 laps of actual racing, which in no way detracted from the action. Morris would power to the lead, while third starting Wisconsin visitor Jesse Glenz, Pollard, and heat winners C.J. Horn and Matt Ryan filled out the top five. Slower traffic came into play by lap seven, with Glenz taking the lead while Morris was shuffled back to fifth. The first caution came with 13 scored for Logan Duffy, by which time Morris had rebounded to third. With some left side sheet metal damage, Morris would charge to second on the restart, chasing Glenz as they put distance on the pack. The next stoppage came at lap 27 as Landon Duffy tried unsuccessfully to exit the oval. During the realignment, Morris ducked to the work area along with Horn and they would then restart at the tail of the lead lap cars. Glenz again pulled away as Ryan used the Delaware restart to clear Pollard for second. The leader would once again catch the back of the pack around lap 43, but a yellow flag two laps later brought us to our half way stop. Only a couple of cars elected to give up their position to make a tire change, including Horn and tenth running Bobby Hansen, those two moving to the tail for the restart. J.D. Auringer would then join the lead pack in fourth, advancing to third following a restart on lap 58. Glenz and Ryan pulled well ahead while Jeff Aikey found a line to his liking, charging from mid pack to forth by lap 66. Slower traffic allowed Ryan to draw close to Glenz as the laps clicked past 70, but as Matt was in position to make a move for the lead, the caution flag waved once again. With clear track ahead, Ryan could no longer stay in striking distance. The final yellow flag came as the race approached those final ten laps as Ron Klein gave up a top ten run. But Glenz was on a rail, and he cruised to victory lane. Ryan settled for second, chased by hard charger Auringer who gained nine positions, Aikey, and Dustin Smith. Pollard ran sixth, topping Ben Lerch, Horn, Scott Strauss, and Brennen Chipp. Just ten of the 23 starters were still around at the checkers. 

   Those final checkers came just after 10:00 on a gorgeous night for racing. Special thanks to Rick Dripps and the staff for their gracious hospitality. Dirt on the Downs has two more action packed Saturday nights on the schedule, with rumors of an exciting slate of events planned for 2027, so stay tuned! It may be October, but there is still lots of fall specials to be had, so grab a hoodie and head to the track!

"Topless" Night a Washout at Quincy

      With the track points season over, Quincy Raceways looked to have some fun, hosting Topless night at the speedway on Sunday.  All six regular divisions were on the card for the final time this year - the two day show next weekend will feature a different mix of classes. Perhaps "Topless" should have included a wet T shirt contest. Rain had once again plagued the Tri State area, although the race track had missed the brunt of it. But with heat race action complete for the fifty six entries, a light but stubborn drizzle began to fall. Although track crews tried to keep up with it, eventually the sprinkles won out and the track was lost. With this being the final night of regular racing, a drivers' meeting was then called to determine how the purse would be divided, the decision coming after I had left the facilities. 

    Although they were unable to add to their points, several QR regulars finished near the top in the national IMCA Late Model standings. Unofficially Tommy Elston finished in the runner up position to one time visitor Zach Zeitner. Jake Griffin was sixth as well as first in the Rookie of the Year chase, and Curtis Glover came home ninth after making the six hour plus round trip each week to Quincy from Runnells, Iowa. Additionally, Darin Weisinger, Denny Woodworth, Sam Halstead, and Jason Oenning placed in the top thirty nationwide. Congratulations to those drivers!

   As mentioned, QR will round out the season with a two day extravaganza Friday and Saturday, October 2nd and 3rd featuring $2,000 to win for the Crown Vics, $4,000 for the 4 Cylinders, plus each day top prizes of $1,000 for Late Models and B Modifieds. 

Delonjays Dominate, Wilson, Deering, Klingele Top Quincy Action

    After being weathered out earlier this season, the MLRA Late Models planned to come back to Quincy Raceways Sunday for a late season $5,000 to win special. However as has happened so many times in 2026, Mother Nature had something to say about that plan. With a less than favorable forecast, the travelling series elected to cancel their trip. Quincy Raceways officials then decided to stay on the horse, adjusting plans to a more conventional weekly program. The new lineup would now feature IMCA Late Models for $1,000 to win, with national points available. This was particularly crucial for two top contenders, as Tommy Elston sits in second, just four markers behind leader Zach Zeitner while Jake Griffin holds sixth while also atop the Rookie of the Year race. IMCA Sport Mods would also race for national points. The track was also working to make sure UMP points would be awarded for 4 Cylinders and Crown Vics would also be in action. Modifieds were also a last minute addition.  

   Whether it was due to the questionable forecast or the late pivot, or perhaps a bit of each, both the car and fan count was somewhat less than hoped for. And that is too bad, as it turned out to be a beautiful evening for racing on a track that was in excellent condition that produced good racing.

   Modifieds kicked off feature racing, and with track points ended there was a handful of Sport Mod/B Mod drivers who took the opportunity to try their luck with the "A" Mods. Vance Wilson and Shawn Deering paced the field, with Deering leading lap one. Wilson took over the next time around, holding the top spot before bringing out the first of four yellow flags with eight laps scored, as he slowed, his night over. Deering would inherit the lead, with Dave Weitholder charging to second. Weitholder had missed his heat race, then started last in the feature. His gremlins continued as he suddenly slowed with seven laps to go, ending his charge. Tenth starting Lucas Schieferdecker and Kirk Cunningham then battled hard behind Deering before Cunningham looped his ride four laps from the checkers. One more yellow flag slowed the action before Deering picked up the checkered flag. Schieferdecker, Cunningham, Logan Cumby, and seventy nine year old Hall of Famer Dick Crane would round out the top five. 

   Unfortunately the Late Model count stood at eight, which I believe was not enough for full national points. Still it was a stacked field. A popular saying is that you cannot win the race on the first lap, but in this case the winning move came before a lap was scored. Curtis Glover and Griffin lined up in row one with the initial start called back with Glover deemed to have fired too early. He was then penalized one row, putting Jamie Wilson on the pole. Jamie would then drive a flawless race, running a middle line to lead all twenty five laps to claim his first victory of 2026. The race was stopped only one other time, as contact with one lap scored sent Elston for a spin. Griffin and Glover battled hard behind Wilson for most of the race before Jake took command of the position and briefly mounted a challenge to Wilson. At the end Wilson held a comfortable lead over Griffin, Glover, Austen Becerra, and Elston. 

   Jaden Delonjay and Kimberly Abbott paced the 4 Cylinder fifteen lapper. Along with Landon Neisen, the top three raced in tight formation before Delonjay gradually pulled away. Cole Reed soon joined the fun, taking third on lap three, then battling Niesen for second. As the race stayed clean and green, Reed took over the runner up spot about lap nine, but Delonjay was long gone. Delonjay would score the win, chased by Reed and Niesen. Abbott held off a late challenge by Jeremy Elmore to finish fourth. 

   Top contender Alec Cain lined up outside row one for the Sport Mod eighteen lapper, but pulled to the infield on the parade lap. Track champion Tanner Klingele powered to the lead by inches over first time visitor Chris Burke, who made the surprise trip from Altoona, Iowa. Klingele and Burke would race side by side, with Burke taking over the lead on lap four. Following back to back yellow flags Klingele grabbed the lead and one lap later the red flag was briefly displayed as rookie Hudson Hayes smacked the turn three concrete. Back to racing, Klingele cruised to the win ahead of Burke and Josh Dietrich. Spencer Coats was out for the first time in a Sport Mod after his 4 Cylinder career, and at the finish line he nipped out of retirement Jim Powell and his familiar #48 for fourth. 

   Crown Vics would complete the action, a dozen cars for fifteen circuits. Leaving his Late Model at home, Jeffrey Delonjay lined up fourth but grabbed the lap one lead over Kevin Horner. A pair of quick yellows eliminated Carter Goodwin and Brian Moore. As racing resumed, tenth starting Jacob Jones jumped to second. But his challenge would end as he rolled to a stop with five laps scored. Traveler Jeff Hall, in his first action at QR, then moved in to battle Horner for second. Delonjay saw his half lap lead evaporate when a ute tire was kicked to the track with just three laps to go. But Delonjay had no issues with the single file restart, picking up the win. Horner won the battle for second over Hall, Chance Bailey, and Chris Moore. 

   With tracks beginning to call it a season, Quincy Raceways still has three nights of scheduled racing. Sunday, September 27 will be "Topless" night, then plans are complete for a two day King of the Bullring Friday and Saturday, October 2-3. Open 4 Cylinders will battle for $4,000 to win while Crown Vics will race for s $2,000 payday. Late Models and B Mods will also be on the card for a $1,000 top prize each night. 

   

Glover and Raffurty are Super Nationals Champions

    On Monday, Labor Day, our motley crew made our way to Boone, Iowa Speedway for night one of the 44th IMCA Super Nationals. Late Models would be the featured class in their only competition of the week long extravaganza. A portion of the qualifying races for Sport Mods and Hobby Stocks would add to the long day and night of racing. 

   But first, the rains came. Pretty much all day Sunday, so they say. Much of the racing for that "preliminary" day was cancelled. But it was "Big Dance" day for the Mod Lites, so their Sunday 25 lap qualifier, 30 lap feature, and 12 lap Race of Champions would be folded into the already chock full Monday itinerary. 

   And then more rain came to the already saturated grounds on Monday morning, pushing things back by more than an hour. So after a very satisfying meal at Hickory Park in Ames, we arrived to : 437 individual cars in competition, plus approximately another 100 Stock Cars hot lapping only, 69 total races (we made it through 62 of them!), 7 "track farming sessions" (if you have never witnessed one, imagine 9 big John Deere tractors, one water truck, and a handful of pack vehicles doing a 10 minute total track rework followed by 5 minutes of hot lapping), 11 plus hours at the track, not to mention so much mud that we would be parking across the highway, a roughly 15 minute stroll from the ticket gate. Oh, and then there were a few DQ's thrown in, as well!

   Now none of this should be seen as a knock on the track or its' operations - this is simply Boone Super Nationals! Something over 1100 race teams would be in competition in what has unofficially become an eight day extravaganza plus the Saturday night "Prelude." Any time spent at the track during this time is really not for the casual fan, this is hard core stuff! Close racing, warm tempers, crashes leading to upside down race cars all packed into for us 11 plus hours of action, and we hit the go button with 2 plus hours still to go!

   Covering all the racing blow by blow would be a fools' errand, so I will attempt to hit some of the highlights. 

   Murfreesboro, Tn. driver Jaedon McDowell topped Kansas City, Mo. ace Dillon Raffurty to win the Mod Lite 25 lap qualifier, but from there on it was the Raffurty show. He would top Bryce Voman, Chaz Baca, Jon Padilla, and McDowell to capture the Big Dance trophy, then come back later to win the Race of Champions over Padilla, Bryan Zehm, Texas driver Scott Jordon, and Josh May in the race involving points champions from eleven represented IMCA sanctioned tracks. 

   Sprinkled throughout were 20 heat races each for the 181 entered IMCA Sport Mods, and 189 IMCA Hobby Stocks, as well as B Mains and Race of Champion qualifiers for each of those divisions. Both of those classes also raced a pair of Feature qualifiers for the Saturday Big Dance finale, only one of which hit the track before our departure. 

   That 25 lap Sport Mod event saw Iowa racers Mike Smith on top, chased by Brett Thomas, Hunter Longnecker and Minnesota driver Brayden Ahlers with those four locking into the Saturday finals.

   As mentioned earlier, the IMCA Late Models ran a complete program as this was their only night on the card. A solid field of 37 turned out, split into 4 heats, with the top 3 moving on to the 50 lap $3,000 to win Big Dance feature. Curtis Glover and Andy Nezworski were victorious from row three of their 8 lappers, while Jesse Sobbing and Beau Johnson picked up wins from row two. A pair of 12 lap B Mains added a dozen more to the feature field, with outside row one starters Tommy Elston and Logan Veloz claiming wins. The 50 lap feature got off to a rough start on the opening lap when Gregg Hamman spun in turn one and as the field slowed, Robbie Thome made contact with the back of Nezworski, apparently locking them together. As a result all three would restart at the tail. Glover had redrawn the pole position and he then shot to the lead ahead of his row one mate Zach Zeitner and third starting Darin Weisinger Jr. As that trio pulled away from the pack, Weisinger moved to second on lap two, then slipped around Glover the next time around. Glover would retake the top spot on lap four as he ran high on the one third mile track and Weisinger worked down low. Row seven starter Elston, who is locked in a tight battle with Zeitner for the national points title, quickly advanced to sixth before stalling out. About lap eight Zeitner cleared Weisinger Jr. for second while Beau Johnson joined the leaders in a four car breakaway. The leaders soon found themselves in heavy lapped traffic, and when Zeitner dove low to try and slide past Glover, Johnson charged to second. With just a dozen laps remaining, a second yellow flag came as Bobby Hansen and Kale Kosiski got together. Zeitner reclaimed second on the Delaware restart, and as he battled with Johnson Glover stretched his lead a bit. Just when it looked as though we would stay green to the checkers, a final caution came with two to go for Drew Baker. That would be only a temporary delay for Glover, who picked up the prestigious win. Zeitner would hold second over Johnson, Weisinger Jr., and Shane Demey. Veloz gained eight positions to run sixth, besting Sobbing, Elston, Kole Nordquist, and Cooper Tilley. 

   Announcers Ryan Clark and Jerry VanSickel had already invoked Patsy Clines' " After Midnight," so we began the journey home, where I arrived just shy of 4:30 A.M.! It was great catching up with friends I get to see often as well as those only once or twice a year, and we are already discussing the 2027 edition of this marathon event!