Beating Mother Nature

After Quincy Raceways endured their seventh Sunday night rain out in ten weeks, the promoters followed through on an earlier promise to use Tuesday night as a make up date once school was out. As I had not done any racing this past weekend, it seemed like a welcome turn of events. Working against the track, besides being a week night, was 95 degree heat, a late model Summer Series race in Iowa, and the fact that no points could be awarded in the IMCA late model or stock car classes. So what happened? An average or better car count in four of the five classes, with only the UMP modifieds - who were racing for points - being down. The crowd was a bit smaller than a typical Sunday night, but that was certainly expected, and as the numbers came in, track officials indicated that the experiment will continue, should it be needed. Having just watched the Sunday forecast, it looks like next week could be more of the same. Incredibly, the track has only had one late model points night, and mid season championship is coming up in two plus weeks! A total of 56 cars signed in Tuesday, and the racing was as good as it has been all season. The 15 car late model feature saw numerous lead changes, with Denny Woodworth leading after restarts and looking like he would pull away. The late model lawyers car seemed to " go away " on long runs, and outside polesitter Joey Gower slipped by on lap 24, leading the final six circuits for his first QR win in some time. On a personal note, Gowers win gave me 14 different late model feature winners in 14 nights of racing so far in 2011! Woodworth held second ahead of Keith Pratt, early leader Lonnie Bailey, and Darin Weisinger. Visiting Tom Goble nabbed sixth. A three car pile up in the first late model heat saw Dustin Neese get upside down on top of Weisingers mount. Although the damage looked extensive, Dustin was able to run the entire 30 lap feature.
Festus, Missouri modified ace Rusty Griffaw made the trip north in search of UMP points. The # 16 started front row outside of QR's # 16, Shawn Deering. Rusty set up his ride for the high side, and with the mods running last, the top groove was pretty much gone. Deering paced the field as defending track champ Jared Schlipman worked his way past Griffaw, the eased by Deering on lap 19, surviving a restart one lap later and picking up the win. Deering held off Griffaw for second.
Aaron Brocksieck led from flag to flag in the caution free stock car feature, his fourth win in five nights, with the only other winner, Kevin Tomlinson coming home second. Bobby Anders made it five straight in the hobby stock class, although his consecutive laps led streak was stopped at 76 when he failed to lead lap one. He took over on lap two, starting a new streak, as he paced the final 19 circuits, outdueling Steve Carlin.
Casey Kendrick led flag to flag in the 12 lap Wild Thing finale, finishing ahead of Todd Nelson of Springfield, Il. Todd had some pretty good help in the pits, as Mark Burgtorf was helping the guy who normally helps him. Mark is on the sidelines at the present time as the rear end is out of his late model.
The week night program started at 7:00 sharp, with the final checkers waving about 9:40.
This weekend is again up in the air for yours truly, as the month of June is filled with non racing activities. Still, I hope to do some racin' down the road!