Summer Has Arrived

For the second week in a row, my racing was confined to Sunday night at Quincy Raceways. I had plans to take in the UMP Summer national show at Tri City Speedway in Pontoon Beach,Il., but plans changed at the last minute. So grandson Keagan and I staged a race of our own, on the indoor go kart track at the St Louis Mills Mall on the north side of St Louis. the karts are fast and fun, but being less than 30 minutes from Kevin and Tammy Gundakers 3/8 mile speedplant on Friday was... trying. Still there was plenty to do, including eating out, another of my favorite hobbies. We also had the chance to visit buddy Darryl, who underwent major surgery on Wednesday at Barnes Hospital. The good news is that is on the mend, the bad news is his racing is probably curtailed for a few weeks.
 Driving home in the rain Saturday night, Keagan was getting tweets from the Montgomery County Motorsports Park, where 25 late models showed up. I have yet to make the 100 mile trip to the newly reopened 1/4 mile, but hope to soon.
Quincy regular Dustin Griffin picked up the late model win, with St Louis area racer Tim Hancock winning the mods.
  The car count was down a bit on Sunday, but as the thermometer registered 95 degrees as hot lap time approached, it is hard to find fault with anyone taking a night off. The preliminary races ticked off rather uneventfully, with 11 heats and the late model dash completed in just under an hour. The UMP modified feature ran first, and while the racing was good, the seven yellow flags made it tough to string together a lot of laps. Front row starter Steven Delonjay held the top spot through the first 18 laps, and had been running the high line in turns one and two. With QR using the NASCAR style side by side restart - of which I am not a fan - Steven elected to take the inside spot, giving Michael Long the top side. Sure enough, Michael grabbed the lead, holding it for four laps until the next yellow. Long picked the top side, but had to get out of the gas on the start, as Delonjay drove to the middle groove. Long then went too hard into the first corner, jumping the cushion. Delonjay held on for the win, and the two drivers visited for a while at the scales. Point leader Dave Weitholder nabbed second, with Jared Schlipman third.
 The IMCA sport mods were up next, and though the field was light at 11 cars, they still managed to create six caution periods in 15 laps. after front row starter Aaron Pennick spun in front of the field in turn one on the start, Joe Bliven took the early lead. Vance Wilson was the next to lead, but point leader Tony Dunker was out front after a lap nine restart. Wilson raced alongside Dunker, but came up short, settling for second, while Bobby Anders moved up to third.
  Up third was the 30 lap UMP late model finale, with Jason Perry and Justin Reed on the front row. Heat two and dash winner Perry took the point, but Reed took over on lap three. By his own admission, justin has been " slower than the water truck, " until these last two weeks. He again shot out front following the only caution on lap seven, cruising to the win. Perry held the runnerup spot ahead of Michael Long, Dustin Griffin, Mark Burgtorf, and national point leader Jim Moon.
  Abe Huls started row three in the IMCA stock car feature, but took the lead after a lap two restart, collecting a track best seventh main event win of the season. Jerry Jansen turned in a strong second, while Gabe Harrison got the best of a turn four last lap mixup with Terry Houston to finish third.
  Only 12 of the 15 IMCA sport compacts took the feature green, and they ran all 12 laps caution free. Brandon Lambert took the early lead, but went pitside on lap two. Robert Thompson held the top spot until the mid point, when Austen Beccera took over. Austen narrowly missed a feature win a week or so back, and was not to be denied on Sunday. Thompson and Kimberly Abbott followed.  Abbott finished one spot ahead of point leader Seth Woodruff, and she now trailers by only one point.
 The hobby stocks completed the nights card. Point leader Jake Powers and Brandon Symmonds dueled early, before Brian Hoener took over on lap five. On a lap nine restart, Hoener moved up the track, and Powers retook the spot. Following a lap ten restart, Hoener agin took the point, and survived a partial rollover by Jeff Delonjay on lap 14. Powers left the fray at this point. Tanner Klingele moved to second late, with Symmonds racing home third.
  The final checkers flew about 9:30.
   The late models and stock cars will be off next Sunday, as the MOWA 410 sprints cars will be in town, backed by UMP mods, IMCA sport mods, IMCA sport compacts and hobby stocks. The late models mods and hobbys will then be in action Friday, July 6 as the UMP Summernationals come to town. Hope to see you at the races!