A Big Announcement at Quincy

Sunday night started out like many others at Quincy Raceways, but when I received a call to make sure I came to the drivers meeting, I had a feeling it wouldn't be for anything positive. In fact, co owner Paul Holtschlag actually called a meeting for car owners instead, and he then confirmed the rumor that had made the rounds of late, that being that the track was for sale or lease. He then went one step further, stating that if no one  stepped up to buy or lease the facility, there would be no weekly racing in 2014. As I was thinking maybe specials only, he quickly doused that notion by saying that the extremely popular Monster Jam would likely be the only " motorsports " activity of 2014. While a sale price was not discussed, Holtschlag offered up $36,000 as the bottom line lease price.  At this time, I have not heard of any individuals ready to step up, although there was some discussion about a possible association being formed. Quincy Raceways has been a part or full time racing destination for me since it opened in 1975, and I have been a fan, a crewman, and a media member throughout the years. Son Brent was track announcer for a dozen or so years, and grandson Keagan now works as a scorer, so obviously I have hope that some group or individual will keep the engines roaring at the Broadway Bullring.
 When we got down to the business of racing, we had one of the best prepared surfaces of the season.
UMP national points leader Brandon Sheppard was the first car in the pits fresh off a top ten run at the Prairie Dirt Classic. As was the case last season with eventual national champion Brian Shirley, we are expecting to see a lot of the 20 year old third generation driver at QR for the remainder of the year. QR is the only points paying Sunday night UMP track in the state of Illinois, and Brandon lives less than 100 miles away. He blistered the .29 mile oval with the fastest time trial lap of the season at 13.155 seconds to best the 13 late models on hand. He then rolled a " five " to set the dash invert, putting himself on the inside of row three. He quickly jumped to second in the ten lap dash and put pressure on Clint Kirkham, but settled for second to the # 28. Kirkham was running with a cracked block in his ride, but it was plenty fast enough to earn the pole in the 30 lap finale, with Sheppard on the outside.
 The IMCA stock car main event started off feature racing with veteran Jim Powell leading the first half of the 15 laps. Abe Huls began to challenge on lap six, and on lap nine he grabbed the lead. Normally that would be the winning pass, and he took off following a caution on the next lap. However two laps later Abe bobbled in turn four, slipping to third behind Terry Houston and Jake Powers. One lap later Powers and Huls spun in turn three, collecting Gabe Harrison. Last weeks winner, Brandon Savage then took over the second spot, with the yellow waving one more time on lap 13. Houston held on for the win, with Savage second, and Jerry Jansen third, Jerry came back from an early flat tire to put his Ford in the top three. For Savage, it made fours consecutive weeks of top two runs.
 The UMP modified count was 20 strong, but only 16 made the feature call. Dave Weitholder had set quick time at 14.837 seconds, but rolled a " six " for the invert. This put 14 year old Jake Griffin up front in the dash, and he grabbed the win and the feature pole. He survived two early restarts, giving up the top spot to Steven Delonjay on lap six of the 25 lapper. On lap eight, Michael Long moved up to challenge for the lead, sticking the nose of the # 18L under Delonjay several times. Several more cautions kept the field close as the leaders hugged the preferred low groove. Meanwhile, Griffin tried the top side, running in the top four. On a lap 13 yellow, Jakes car quit and refused to refire, ending his night with what turned out to be a broken wire. On lap 20, Long made contact with one of the tractor tires in turn four, and when the yellow waved, he went pitside.  Delonjay led the final five circuits picking up his seventh points feature of the year. Mike Vanderiet Jr made the long pull from Mexico, Mo to nab second ahead of Shawn Deering and Weitholder.
  Tony Dunker grabbed the lead from Greg Uppinghouse on lap three, then survived another caution plagued event to capture the IMCA sport mod 20 lap finale. Jim Gillenwater made the tow from Keokuk, Iowa to pressure Dunker for second, with Tanner Klingele in third.
 The UMP late model feature ran next, and Kirkham held a slight lead across the line on lap one before Sheppard took over on the high side. Mark Burgtorf moved around Kirkham as well on the second lap and set his sights on the # B5. This race was all Sheppards, however, as the raced stayed green for all 30 laps. Brandon lapped all the way up to the fourth place car of Rickey Frankel. Burgtorf ran a distant second, with Long rebounding to run third. Kirkham faded early, the came back to run fifth ahead of Denny Woodworth, Bill Genenbacher, Adam Mefford, Jared Schlipman, Mie Hammerle, and Cliff Powell, with Ron Elbe dropping out early with a flat tire, and Kenny Vandorn checking out with heavy smoke rolling off his # 22K.
  The IMCA sport compacts wrapped up the evening, and the red flag came out on the start, as Jacob Tournear pounded the guardrail off turn two. On the restart, Laine Vanzandt saw his night end in the backstretch guardrail. When racing finally began, Skip Dunker pulled away for a big win ahead of Austen Becerra, visiting Wes Rensch from Rushville,Il, and Kimberly Abbott.
  Racing resumes next Sunday night, and Sunday August 11 the ALMS late models stop by for a $2000 to win special. I have been assured that there are no plans to cut the 2013 season short, so there is still two months of racing action at Quincy Raceways.
  Congratulations to former QR regular Justin Jennings on making the field for the NASCAR Camping World truck race at Eldora Speedway. Justin and his # 63 Mittler Brothers LG Seeds truck had lots of camera time, and he completed the event, coming home in 23rd place, his first time on the famed half mile!
  This weekend is wide open, so maybe I will see you Racin' down the Road!