The final weekend in September gave us a chance for one more two race weekend, and thanks to yeoman work by the two track crews, we were able to witness some excellent racing. Despite the forecast, Saturday morning, Keagan and former late model driver Rick Coats joined me as we headed for Knoxville, Iowa for the final night of the Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals. Darryl and Fred were able to take in all three nights of the event, and we were hoping Saturday would not be a wash out. I always like to get to Knoxville around noon time for a couple of reasons. One is to take in as much of the atmosphere as possible, and two, I am always on the hunt for a parking spot that allows me a base close to the grandstands and the ability to make a quick exit from the grounds. It seems that the free parking areas are getting to be less and less in recent years, with areas where we used to park now roped off. But with an arrival just after 11:00, we found a good spot and hoped to wait out the persistent rain, which alternated between drizzle and light showers. About 3:00, as forecast, the rain was finally gone, and the track crew went to work. I doubt there is another track closer than Eldora that could have raced under those conditions, but the Knoxville guys made it happen. And only 15 minutes late to boot!
 The Thursday night car count had been 72, with all but two returning for Friday. On Saturday the number stood at 66 with three preliminary events scheduled to finalize the 32 car starting field. The first 12 rows were locked in, leaving six qualifying spots and two provisionals up for grabs.
 First up was the 12 lap D feature, with nine cars making the call. Ely, Iowas Skip Frey took the early lead, soon yielding to Cuba, Ill. pilot Steve Lance Jr. Steve was wheeling brother Tims back up # 48 car that Brian Shirly drove on the UMP Summernationals Tour. The second generation driver took the win, with Frey, Michael Smith , and Dustin Walker in the # 77A normally driven by Justin Asplin also transferring to the tail of the 15 lap C Main.
 That race opened with a scary moment, as Charlie McKenna got sideways in turn one, was hit by another car, and bounced in the air, landing atop the # 58 of Ray Guss Jr. Neither driver was injured, both were done for the night. Brian Birkhofer came from row three to take the lead on lap ten and the win, with two of the Eckrich brothers following him to the checkers, Andy second and Dave third. Thler Breuning rounded out the all Iowa top four transfers.
  The 20 lap B feature belonged to Texan Morgan Bagley, as he took off from the pole position to capture the win. The third Eckrich brother, Denny powered from row five to make the big show with a runnerup finish. Shannon Babb, Mars champion Tony Jackson Jr., Ryan Unzicker, and IMCA national champion Justin Kay also nabbed transfer spots. Birkhofer made a dramatic charge, coming from the back of the pack to battle with Kay for the six spot. He was eventually able to get around both Justin and Unzicker, only to blow a tire coming through turn four on the final lap. He was forced to get out of the gas as he was headed for the fence, and thus fell from the top six.
 Billy Moyer, Jr, and Dennis Erb Jr picked up the provisional starting spots, and with little delay, the 32 car field was on the track for 100 laps, $40,000 going to the winner. Although Dale McDowell had the pole, Josh Richards sat alongside, and the " Rocket Man " had dominated the two $7,000 to win 25 lappers on Thursday and Friday. Richards took the early led, and by lap eight he had caught the back of the pack. 13 laps in,. third starting Darrell Lanigan took the second spot, and seven laps later he took the lead. The first yellow waved on lap 33, and by then the front two had pulled away to a big lead. following another caution seven laps later, fifth starting Jason Feger moved to the third spot. With 59 circuits to go, UMP national point leader Brandon Sheppard was running in tenth when he made contact with the turn three fence ending his run. During the cleanup, sixth running Earl Pearson Jr. saw his night end, as he went pitside. On the restart, Mc Dowell retook third. Billy Moyer was now the man on the move, 14th to fifth as the leaders again began to pull away. Lanigan found separation from Richards, but with 22 to go, Josh mounted a comeback. Moyer charged to third with 20 laps left, and three laps after Richards moved back to the lead. With the front two battling, the red came out with six to go, as Eddie Carrier Jr. rolled his # 28C in turn three. With less than ten laps remaining, the field reset in single file formation. As the green flew, fifth place Don Oneal charged hard into turn one, making contact with Feger, sending Jason flipping hard. Once order was restored and the race went green, Lanigan made a late charge around Richards, to take his first Knoxville win, denying Richards the weekend sweep. Tim McCreadie was strong at the end, racing back to third, 2012 winner Steve Francis came from 22nd to fourth, while Moyer faded slightly to fifth. John Blankenship led the second five ahead of  Brady Smith and Scott Bloomquist, by my count the final cars on the lead lap. Jimmy Owens and Chad Simpson completed the top ten.
 Knoxville is as close to a " can't miss " race as there is for me, and the 2013 version did not disappoint!
  After a late night drive home and a few hours sleep. it was time for season championshop night at Quincy Raceways. Quincy was hit with quite a bit of rain on Saturday, and the track crew worked hard to get both the racing surface and the pits ready for the final night of racing. 73 cars checked in for the five divisions of racing. The track was a bit dusty and one lane in the late afternoon sun, but at intermission the track crew did some reworking, and there were two racy grooves for the features. The three IMCA classes started their main events straight up, but that only meant fifth starting Brandon Savage had some work to do in the IMCA stock car 20 lapper. Brandon used the high side to overtake pole sitter and track champion Abe Huls to pick up his fourth win of the season. Savage raced out to a big lead, with Huls holding off Terry Houston at the finish.
  Fast timer, dash winner and points champion Steven Delonjay had the pole for the 22 car UMP modified finale, but it was outside row one starter Rusty Griffaw who shot to the lead. Griffaw kept his # 16 in the high groove until a mid race restart when he changed to the inside line. With about ten laps to go, Justin Reed was able to clear Delonjay using the high groove, and Dave Weitholder, who missed qualifying and started deep in the pack, moved to third. Dave, by the way, found problems with his power plant, ans was running a 6 cylinder engine in his # 05! After a lap 22 yellow bunched the field, a multi car pile up on the backstretch starting up front eliminated several contenders. Griffaw was in front of the mess, and he picked up his second QR win of the season ahead of Delonjay and Robbie Reed.
  The UMP late model feature ran next. The 30 laps went caution free. Scott Schmitt made the long tow to QR on Sunday, Scott was leading UMP Illinois state points, and was reportedly fourth in the national points battle. He saet quick time, picked up the dash win, and led the first three laps of the main event.
 Mark Burgtorf then took over the top spot, and held on for his third win of the year at his home track. Schmitt took home the second spot, with Rickey Frankel third.
  The IMCA sport mod main event hit the 25 minute time limit at about the lap nine mark, then clicked off 11 caution free laps.Point champion Tony Dunker led the distance, his ninth feature win in a row, Brad Holtmeyer and Trever Hagerbaumer followed.
  The final race of the 2013 season was the IMCA sport compact finale. The 2013 champion Austen Becerra staged a great duel with Kimberly Abbott until late in the race when Kim drifted up the track, turning the runnerup spot over to Jared Dunker.
  My wife is starting to ask how much longer the race season is, so my nights at the track may be numbered. But hopefully there is still a night or two remaining in 2013!