Races 2 Rain 0

Despite forecasts that would indicate otherwise, we were able to get in two nights of racing over the weekend. With a vacation day in hand Friday and Keagan having an early out day at school, we picked up buddy Fred and took off for our first visit of the season to Kevin and Tammy Gundakers Tri City Speedway in Pontoon Beach - aka Granite City - Illinois. The Lucas Oil late model series was making its first of two stops at the 3/8 mile speedplant, and they always put on a quality show on their visits. In addition to the $10,000 top prize, the UMP modifieds were running for a $1,000 to win, and UMP ProCrate late models were chasing a $750 winners check. The pared down three class program proved more than adequate, with 119 race cars signed in, including 48 late models, 41 mods and 30 crates!
  The first fight of hot laps hit the track at 6:35, with time trials for the Lucas cars starting at 7:20. Timing three cars at once, qualifying took just over 30 minutes, with 16 year old Tyler Reddick setting overall quick time at 14.468 seconds.
   Wasting no time, the first crate heat rolled out at 8:00, and we were under way. The three crate heats ran off quickly, and the super lates hit the track with a bang. On the first lap of heat one, Quincy,Il driver Rickey Frankel was hit from behind, sending his # 33F into a wild flip and roll. Rickey, who has had only bad and worse luck in 2012, was uninjured, but his car did not fare as well. On the restart, Don Oneal came from row two to take the win. Heat two saw Wisconsin driver Brady Smith, back on the tour this year advance from row six to a sixth place finish. Brad Neat scored the win. Heat three saw local hot shoe Billy Faust exit on lap one, ending his night, while Quincys Mark Burgtorf dropped four spots to last in the Richard Realty # 15. Mark recovered to finish seventh, with Brian Shirley picking up the win. The final heat featured the " Highside Hustler : Jason Feger trying to move up from a row five start. True to his nickname, Jason twice made contact with the outside wall, with Scott Bloomquist picking up the win.
 After five modified heats, the B-mains were up next, with the crate B first. Two late model B's came next, with series points leader Jimmy Owens edging Smith in the first 12 lapper, while Jared Landers outlasted Earl Pearson Jr. in the second. Two mod B's were next, and as the first one was running, it was announced that the late model 50 lap finale would run between the B's. As the late model guys were hardly ready, that was changed, but the lates would move ahead of the crates. As the 26 starters came quickly to the track, a few raindrops fell, but that would be all.
  The race was slowed early by several cautions, including a lap one yellow for a spinning Shannon Babb. On the restart, a multi car tussle ended the night for Billy Moyer, who had the nose ripped off his # 21. Outside polesitter Shirley led the early laps before Oneal moved by about lap seven., with Bloomquist moving to second. A lap 22 caution saw Duke Whiseant retire, while sixth running
Dennis Erb Jr and tenth place Brandon Sheppard made pit stops. On the restart, Shirly slipped from third to sixth, and Oneal remained in control.  The next caution came on lap 28, and on the restart, Owens, who had started 17th, moved to fourth. While Oneal stretched his lead, John Blankenship, who started dead last in 26th on an " emergency " provisional, cracked the top ten. Meanwhile, Jimmy Mars stayed in the top six with heavy body damage on his mount. The yellow flew again on lap 38, for Steve Francis, a flat tire derailing his charge from 24 th to 6th! Following the restart, young Reddick slipped around Bloomquist for second.
The final caution flew on lap 41 for debris on the track. Oneal held on for the win, with Reddick, Bloomquist, Owens, and Wendell Wallace in the top five.
The 50 laps took about 40 minutes to run, and although there had been no intermission or wasted time, the clock said 11:15, and we were still 2 and a half hours from home, so we headed to the gate.  When we left, we new Quincy area driver Dave Weitholder had a good starting spot in the mod feature, but thought Michael Long would be on the trailer. after starting last in his heat and failing to make the top three, Michael was cruising to a second place finish in a B-main, when an out of control lapped car took out the top two on the final turn of the final lap. Michael staggered across the line one spot out of a transfer, but was apparently given a provisional spot. Chad Kinder took the mod win, with Weitholder scoring a top five, while Long was an early exit. Casey Montague captured the crate main over an impressive group of former and part time super late model drivers, including returning veteran Ed Dixon.
 If you have not been to the Tri City Speedway, it is worth the trip!
 The forecast for Sunday sounded worse than Fridays, but after three consecutive rainouts at Quincy Raceways, Keagan and I headed out with hope in our eyes, and clouds in the sky. Amazingly, the skies parted, and only a brief sprinkle hit the track. As should be expected, the crowd was late arriving, but a nice group turned out. and the weatherman did not scare away the racers, with 90 cars jamming the pits in six classes. The positive aspect of the  switch to UMP late models was very evident as we walked into the pits and saw the familiar blue hauler of Dennis Erb Jr. Dennis is sponsored this year by QR driver Jerry Lierly, and perhaps Jerry worked some magic to lure the national standout to a weekly show, much to the delight of the crowd. Still there would be plenty of competition for Erb - besides our assembled locals, Brandon Sheppard, Bobby Pierce, and the suddenly on fire Dewayne Kiefer were in attendance!  In total, 23 late models signed in. Mark Burgtorf also came to race, but not in the # 15. Mark was back in # 7B, a car that was to be driven by his former sponsor, Todd Nelson. Work is taking Todd out of the area, so Mark will be turning some laps with the ride at his home track. Unfortunately, Burgtorf broke the main belt in the engine while leading the dash, ending his night. Erb inherited the lead and captured the dash and the pole position for the 30 lap finale, after he, Burgtorf, and Kiefer collected heat wins. The " One Man Band, " as Erb is known, led flag to flag to take home The $1,000 top prize, with Kiefer overtaking  point leader Sheppard for second.
Two class driver Michael Long ran fourth, while young Pierce put on the show of the night, falling from row two to the back, then pounding the cushion to come back to fifth.
 Robbie Reed and Dave Weitholder ran side by side for the better part of the UMP modified feature, with Reed eeking out the win. Terry Houston won an IMCA stock car win marred by a nasty flip by Michael Larsen, who had one the heat race. Jim Gillenwater captured a ten car IMCA sport mod event, Jake Powers topped the hobby stocks, and Andrew Davis towed from Keokuk, Iowa to nab the IMCA sport compact main.
 Again, with threatening weather, track officials hustled the program through - the late model feature ended before dark, and the final checkers waved just before 9:00.
  Plans for this weekend are uncertain, but you can bet their will be some racing involved!