Shirley Closer to Title After Another Win

It was a chilly night at Quincy Raceways on Sunday, but UMP super late model  national point leader Brian Shirley was on fire. " Squirrel " set fast time at 13.943 seconds around the .29 mile oval. He then rolled a " six " to sentence himself to a row three start in the ten lap fast heat/dash. Jake Griffin outdueled Jim Moon in that race, with Shirley racing to third, earning a row two starting slot in the 30 lap finale. By feature time, the lower groove seemed to be the preferred line, and Griffin took off from the pole, leading around the bottom as Shirley faded to fifth. Around lap five, Brian decided to take a look in the top groove, and he charged to second behind Griffin. The veteran and the youngster than ran side by side for several laps before Shirley nosed ahead on lap eleven. Jake stayed close until the leaders caught slower traffic on lap 18. with the pack running the bottom groove, Shirley had the clear path, and stretched out his lead in what was a non stop event. Dustin Griffin outlasted Michael Long for third, with Moon in fifth.
It was Shirleys second win at Quincy, and he had been well on his way the week before until dropping a drive shaft. Shirley was the only " traveler " on Sunday, as a season low eleven late models checked in. Track points ended the week prior, and several regulars sat out this Sunday.
  Steven Delonjay was the beneficiary when UMP modified fast qualifier Craig Spegal also rolled a " six, " and the track champ led all 25 laps off the main event, besting a 22 car field. Jake Griffin completed his bridesmaid night with another runner up finish, as he pounded the top side of the track two races after watching Shirley make the high line work. The 13 year old picked off  Mark Burgtorf in the Mark Van Winkle # 24V for third on lap22, then nosed past Dave Weitholder at the checkers. Jared Schlipman also slipped by Burgtorf late for fourth.
  The IMCA stock car count was low, but they once again ran a clean, close, non stop 15 lapper. Michael Larsen took the early lead and held off Abe Huls for his second win of the year.
  The IMCA sport mod feature was all Bobby Anders until he encountered a slower car on the final lap. Anders seemed unsure what line to take, and made contact, bringing out the yellow. This set up a green, white, checkers finish, and just when it looked like Tony Dunker would settle for a third place run, he used the restart to power past Joe Bliven for the win.
  Justin Bevill drove around Richie Wagy and his 1957 Chevy hobby stock on lap six and held off Brian Hoener and Tanner Klingele for his first win of the season.
  The night ended just before 9:00 with Austen Becerra racing past track champ Seith Woodruff to grab another IMCA sport compact 12 lap finale.
   Quincy has one more night of racing scheduled for this coming Sunday, with all six classes in action, and UMP late model and mod national points up for grabs.  While the season is for sure winding down, there is still a month of good racing in the area, so dig out the stocking cap and gloves, and lets keep going racin' down the road!