Frankel Keeps Streak Alive at Quincy

Rickey Frankel picked up his first UMP super late model feature win of 2013 at Quincy Raceways on Sunday, and in doing so he kept an unusual streak going. After three nights of racing, there have been three checkered flags going to drivers who had never won a late model feature at the Broadway Bullring, following Jerry Lierly and Chad Simpson. A solid field of 20 late models signed in, with visitor Dewayne Kiefer, making the long haul from St. Genevieve,Mo setting quick time at 14.761 seconds. Kiefer rolled a " two " for the dash invert, setting up a front row with Lierly on the pole beside him. It was third starting Frankel, however, who powered through to take the win, putting him on the pole for the 30 lap finale. For the second straight week, the .29 mile oval was smooth, but lacking a cushion, and Rickey took off at the green and quickly moved to the low groove following two false starts. The first yellow before racing started saw Jim Moon from Mt Auburn,Il., a 2012 track regular,stopping on the track, dropping him from 12th to the back of the 20 car grid. After first time visitor Donnie Cisco III took a trip to the back, racing began. The caution flew again on lap three for Vance Wilson, and Lierly headed for the trailer. The action continued, but just as Frankel caught slower traffic on lap 17, the caution waved for Alan Westling. From there it was 13 green flag laps, and although Kiefer stuck the nose of his # 0 inside a few times, Rickey held on for the win. For his part, Kiefer has three regular season trips to QR, and has taken away one first and a pair of seconds. Mark Burgtorf started fourth and ran third much of the event, until Moon, the only car doing much passing, nipped him at the checkers for third. Justin Reed fell back early, but recovered to run fifth at the checkers.
 Steven Delonjay continued his hot streak in the UMP modified class, setting fast time, capturing the dash, and the 25 lap finale. Michael Long chased the second generation champion to the checkers, with Shawn Deering climbing to third. Top contender Dave Weitholder ran several laps with a flat tire, pitted on a yellow and came back to run eighth.
 The IMCA stock car class was 12 strong, and had an unusually wild and wooly feature with an unusual amount of bumping and banging. Abe Huls picked up the win over Jake Powers, Beau Taylor and Brandon Savage. Things got started off in interesting fashion when Steve Carlin had his steering wheel come off on the start.
 Bobbby Anders topped a field of 13 IMCA Sport Mods, although Tony Dunker used a bag of tricks to try and slide by. Bobby was up to the task in in entertaing 20 lapper.
  For the second consecutive week, the IMCA Sport Compact pole sitter failed to make the feature call, as Laine VanZandt was a scratch. Only nine of the 11cars took the green. Skip Dunker was on his way to a second straight win when the yellow waved on lap tenm setting up a green, white , checkers finish. On the restart, Austen Becerra charged past for the win, with Craig Bangert in third. Fourth place went to Kimberly Abbott, the only other car running at the end.
  Sunday was my only race of the weekend, as a family wedding filled Saturday night.
  It was only after last weeks posting that I learned that Jimmy Owens had the NDRL win at I-55 Raceway in Pevely,Mo. taken away after his tires were sent off for inspection. This gave the big check to Brian Birkhofer, and was the second such occurrence in the midwest already in 2013. Certainly makes good internet message board fodder!
 Although it is warm and dry as I type this, the upcoming weekend does not sound promising. Hopefully we will be able to find some action somewhere Down the Road!