Unfinished Business, Part 2

 Maybe I am getting more stubborn as i get older, but going to a race track and not getting to see the feature events really ticks me off. So when buddy Darryl called early in the week to see when the next $2,000 to win Budweiser Super Series late model show was at the Peoria Speedway and I found out it was Saturday, April 28, it did not take much convincing to get me to say I would go. Originally, this was to be an " off " Night for me, but two straight rainouts at Quincy Raceway was enough to make me rethink that plan. And besides, Keagan had been unable to go to the Corn Belt clash race two weeks ago when we were rained out after the heats, and Peoria would be a new track for him. So with the radar looking pretty good for the Peoria area, we three, plus buddy Fred took off for the 2 and a half hour trip from Quincy, after Keagan and I made the 30 minute trek to Darryls place. The temperature was about 62 when we started out, but dropped a full ten degrees on the way. When we arrived at the 1/4 mile central Illinois facility, the wind was whipping, and im short order we had all donned the several layers of clothes and coats we had thankfully taken with us. Before leaving, I had checked and noted that most tri state area tracks had already cancelled, and soon after arriving Keagan received a twitter message that rain had also washed out I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo. Although the skies were grey, Peoria seemed to have escaped the moisture that had also wiped out nearby races in Fairbury and LaSalle, Il, adding fans and cars to Peoria. With the less than comfortable conditions, Announcer Jeff Adams assured the larger than one might have expected crowd that the show would move along quickly, and to the credit of the staff and management, that was the case. Hot laps began at the 5:00 advertised time, and one lap qualifying for the UMP late models and UMP modifieds began about 6:00, taking about 40 minutes to time the 29 late models and 33 modifieds. Veteran hotshoe Kevin Weaver set quick time for the late models, turning the track in just over 12.3 seconds. The show moved quickly into heat races, with the six classes featuring 123 machines. One thing we really enjoy with UMP is that whenever possible they consolidate their heat races, with the 29 late models and 33 mods split into only three heat races. Their had obviously been rain in the area, and the track was slow to come in. During the 14 heat races, the top groove did not really come in, with the top being a bit rough, and most racing around the bottom. All three late model heats were won from the front row, with Wes Steidinger putting his Larry Reichert Racing # 94 out front at the drop of the green in heat one and holding off the pole sitter Weaver. To the delight of the crowd, Dennis Erb Jr.had dropped in, and edged out Scott Schmidt for third.  Billy Drake led all the way in heat two in the # 75, with track regular Todd Bennett coming from the sixth starting spot to take second, after outside row one starter Jason Feger retired on lap two. Iowa driver Chad Simpson was an unlikely entrant on the night, and finished fourth behind Donnie Walden. Brian Shirley outran 15 year old Bobby Pierce in heat three, with Ryan Unzicker and 19 year old third generation driver Brandon Sheppard in the final late model heat.  While the five companion classes started their features straight up, the late models used a six lap dash to set the top three rows of the 30 lap finale, and Steidinger continued his dominance by outlasting the field to grab the pole, with Drake claiming the outside spot. With fifteen cars qualified through the heats, the remaining fourteen ran a twelve laps B -main to fill out the 20 car field. Second year late model driver Mike " Opie " Spatola put his # 89 in victory lane ahead of rookie McKay Wenger, from Fairbury. Feger, who had his car repaired by this time, started dead last and used multiple grooves to advance to fourth  by a lap eight caution, settling in for a third place finish ahead of Richie Bell. After a modified B, Adams promised a ten minute intermission - yeah, we've heard that before - but no more than twelve minutes had elapsed before the limited late models were on the track for their 15 lap feature. By this time, the cushion was coming in, and the 17 car field saw plenty of action. Tommy Duncan, who was also competing in the modifieds held off Steve Shannon for the win. Next up was the 13 car street stock 15 lapper. The # 68 of Zander led the early laps before Simmons in the black # 11 took over. With just a couple laps to go, Bob Simpson charged to the lead and the win. In  a brief post race interview, Simpson said the track had really come around, and promised an exciting late model feature, which was up next.
As it turned out, his words could not have been more true. When the green flag waved, Stedinger took the early lead, before Weaver took over from his row two start after a few laps. As the leaders worked into lapped traffic, fifth starting Pierce made his move, and was alongside Steidinger as the two pulled to within a car length of Weaver. The two made contact entering turn one, and Pierce headed to the pits with steering issues, possibly a broken tie rod. This brought out the first caution, with 18 laps down. Following the restart, Shirley was the man on the move, and he pulled a major league slide job on Steidinger for second in turns one and two. From there, he hooked up on the top side of the track, powering by Weaver for the lead and the win. Weaver held the runnerup spot, with Erb moving from a row four start to third. The closing laps featured absolute edge of your seat side by side racing for fourth through eleventh, and at this time I am still awaiting the official finish, as it was impossible to chart from my vantage point, especially as I am not sure where the finish line is. I am pretty certain that Spatola came from  a row eight start to nab fourth, with Steidinger , Drake, and Sheppard following. The following spots went to row nine starter Feger, Simpson, Unzicker, and Walden, although I am not sure of the official order.
  The UMP mod feature was shaping up as a good one, but we were four very cold guys quite a ways from home, so we headed to the car, with the clock reading 9:55 and the temperature setting at 49 degrees as we pulled out. Unofficial results Sunday morning had Eric Bruce topping the 20 car main, with part time Quincy ace Donovan Lodge in second.
  It seems amazing that I had never been to the Peoria speedplant before these two April excursions, but I hope to make the 1/4 mile a part of my rotation in the future, as the racing is fast and close, and it is an excellent place to watch a race.
  As I am typing this, I should be in my usual perch at Quincy Raceway, but persistent rains forced cancellation at the " Broadway Bullring " for the third week in a row. Hopefully flipping the calender to May will bring back weather closer to what we experienced in March! Either way, make plans to support local racing whenever you can. See you down the road!