UMP Points Leaders Focus on Quincy

When Quincy Raceways made the decision during the off season to switch to UMP late models, one topic of discussion was the difference in how points are awarded compared with IMCA. With IMCA , track points are crucial, and track championships play a key roll in national championships. It is a formula established to help build track loyalty. UMP takes more of a " every man for himself " approach, and points earned at any sanctioned track can be added to a drivers total. I apologize that I do not know exactly how many starts are counted towards a drivers total, but I think there is a maximum amount, at which time you can begin to toss out poor finishes and count better ones, a practice IMCA also uses. But track loyalty is more of an afterthought in UMP, and when you are the only Sunday night late model track in Illinois, you wait... until now. Sunday nifght, as Keagan and I walked down pit road, it was impossible to miss the bright green hauler already in the pits. Yes, it was national points leader Brian Shirley. Before making our first pass, we checked in at the pit shack, and learned that the third place driver in points, Kevin Weaver, was also on hand for the first time this season. This is exactly what we had anticipated as we talked on a cold January Saturday night!  The two big guns, along with sometimes visitor Brian Dively gave  us a solid car count of 18, even as several of our track regulars were missing.
  After two IMCA stock car heats, the late models ripped off three ten lappers, with Dustin Griffin, Mark Burgtorf, and Weaver collecting wins., Burgtorf taking the checkers with a flat rear tire.Two IMCA sport mod heats ran before track officials decided to bring out the maintainer to try and improve the rough conditions in turns one and two. A lengthy delay followed, but when racing resumed, the surface was much improved. Heat races were completed in the remaining three classes, and it was time for the six car, six lap late model dash. Burgtorf and Weaver shared the front row, as the six spots are determined by heat race passing points. Although Burgtorf had the pole, Weaver blasted to the lead, and put on a clinic around the .29 mile oval to gain the pole for the 30 lap finale.
  Intermission was skipped, and the IMCA stock cars hit the speedway for 15 laps. Nine time winner Abe Huls took only four laps to advance from row four to the lead, then held off a persistent point leader, Terry Houston, to chalk up win number ten. Only a missed week has kept Abe from making a shambles of the points chase. Michael Larsen followed up his ninth heat win of the season with a third in the feature.
  Sixteen late models then took the green flag, as Dively was already on the road home after heat race issues, and Bill Genebacher kept his smoking ride pitside. This time, Weaver blasted off from the pole, with Burgtorf in tow. The race stayed green for 19 laps, as the " Flatland Flash " diced his way through lapped cars. The caution bunched the field, but also gave Weaver a clear track. By now, ninth starting Shirley had muscled his way into the top five. The only other stoppage came two laps later, and Jason Perry now took up the chase from second. Shirly powered his way to third, but this night belonged to Weaver, who lapped up to the seventh place car. Perry held off Shirley for second, while Griffin eased by the # 7B of Burgtorf for fourth. As we enter the final weeks of points racing, it is likely these two and possibly other top points chasers will make the Sunday pull to QR.
  Bobby Anders slowed the juggernaut that is Tony Dunker by winning his second IMCA sport mod feature of the season. When the checkers waved, Dunker was 1/2 a car length from his tenth win of the year. At last report, Tony was third in IMCA sport mod national points, and the second place run may have helped his standing. Joe Bliven came home third.
  The UMP modifieds were up next, and again had a bit of trouble with caution flags and heavy attrition. Dave Weitholder took the initial lead, but went to the infield on lap two with drive train problems. Steven Delonjay shadowed Jared Schlipman until midway through the 25 lapper, when he grabbed the lead. On lap 14, Schlipman and third running 13 year old Jake Griffin made contact. Jake held on to take second, with Jared slipping to fourth, behind Shawn Deering, who had restarted at the back on lap eight. Delonjay then ran the low groove, while young Griffin slammed the cushion. Griffin was faster out of turn four, but Delonjay held the edge in one and two. On the final lap, Jake aired it out up top, but Steven held on for a .058 second margin of victory. Schlipman, Deering and Craig Spegal completed the top five. Aura Griffith saw his night end early as he took a nasty roll on the front stretch in heat one, a mishap that also sent Kevin Blackburn to the trailer with damage.
  Tanner Klingele and Jake Powers ran side by side for most of the 15 lap hobby stock main event, with Tanner taking the top prize.
  After having his four race win streak snapped last Sunday, Austin Becerra was back in victory lane in the IMCA sport  compact finale, topping Brandon Lambert and Kim Abbott.
  Congratulations to former track regular Justin Jennings. Justin drove his first NASCAR Nationwide race on Saturday night at Iowa Speedway, coming home 26th in the Jimmy Means # 52. More importantly, JJ ran the entire race, and brought his mount home in one piece! Way to go, Justin!