The Heat Is On

As old as I am getting, you would think I would be used to contrary weather, but 2011 has been just flat irritating. One week ago tonight, Keagan, Fred and I decided to ignore the clouds and the so-so forecast and make the three hour drive to Independence, Iowa for the World Of Outlaw late model special. After all, Fred and I were burning vacation days, so nothing to do but go, right? the closer we got, the rainier it looked, and we arrived at the fairgrounds with intermittent showers falling. When the rain quit, we made our way to pit road to sneak a peek at who was already there and who was rolling in. As we stood under the big tree, the rain picked up, and as Chris Simpson rolled through the gate, a track official walked up to tell him that the race had been postponed to August 8. as much as i would like to support this big event, I will not be able to make it back, but best of luck to Cam Granger and Rick Hartzell in this ambitious venture.
Friday and Saturday nights were filled with family time, and Sunday, Keagan and I - with Keagan behind the wheel - headed for my weekly stop at Quincy Raceways. Once again, heat was the dominant word, and QR is obviously not alone in in seeing both fan and car count down a bit in the oppressive conditions. Still, the track was good, and so was the racing. The UMP modifieds were not on their best behavior, staging something of a marathon main event. When the checkers flew, second generation racer Steven Delonjay showed why he is a threat to assault some of his Dads impressive stats. Steven captured his fifth straight QR feature win, besting an 18 car field. Two more second generation drivers were in the top four. Jared Schlipman took second , and following Tony Dunker in third was the beat and battered # B1 of Vance Wilson in fourth. Before the races, Tonya Weitholder, wife of Dave told me not to get too close to their # 05 without a tetanus shot. She then said Dave told her the would hang a new body on the car after 50 races. When I asked how close they were, Dave said Sunday was night # 46, so it should happen in the next week. They are true racers, to say the least!
Abe Huls grabbed an entertaing IMCA stock car feature ahead of the pink # 40 of Aaron Brocksieck, while Jake Powers grabbed his first ever feature win in the hobby stocks in front of early leader Nathan Anders and point leader Steve Carlin.
Denny Woodworth assaulted the top side of the .29 mile oval to blast into the lead, looking like he would run away with the 30 lap IMCA late model finale. Soon, however, Justin Reed began closing the gap on the very bottom of the track as the cushion disappeared. Woodworth then moved down the track, but His # 45DW would not hold the bottom groove, and Reed slipped by for the lead. From there, Justin stretched it out over the late model lawyer, grabbing his second win of 2011 at QR. Joey Gower, Keith Pratt, son Matt and father Lonnie Bailey - all previous feature winners this season, completed the first six. The last car to check in for the late models was Justin Jennings, # 56J. Justin still had a big smile after a sucessful Saturday at Iowa Speedway. The 18 year old had put together a last minute deal to enter the ARCA 200 at Iowa Speedway, a natural progression of his budding asphalt ( as well as dirt ) career. Justin entered the race with two goals - finish the race, and do so in the top 20. Despite the intense heat, the diminutive teenager realized both goals when he took the checkered flag in 19th position. He hopes to perhaps make a couple more ARCA starts before he enrolls in NASCAR school this fall.
The final race of the night saw a bit of QR history. Like many tracks these days, QR has had a steady flow of " lady " racers. Unfortunately, none had seen victory lane before or since A modified driver Mary Kay Allen took a feature checkered flag at the age of 22 in 1993. Mary Kay finally gained some company on Sunday when " veteran " teenage racer Kimberly Abbott snagged a win in the 4 cylinder Wild Thing feature. Kimberly, who lives just a short distance from the speedway has been a regular for several seasons at Lee County Speedway, and started racing her # 71 at QR this season when the Wild Things were added to the card. A further bit of trivia, Mary Kay " retired " a couple seasons after her win to start a family, handing the driving chores to husband Ted. They now burn up the highways watching her " little " brother, Michael long, win races around the midwest.
As it stands now, this weekends plans are a Saturday visit to I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska, for the final night of the $ 25,000 to win late model Silver Dollar Nationals along with the USMTS modifieds. Then it will be back to QR on Sunday - if Mother Nature will cut us some slack! Wherever you are, Dog Days are here early, so take in a race while the heat is on!