First Triple Header of the Season

 Last weekend there was no racing for me as Mary and I spent the weekend in an around a rainy Cape Girardeau,Mo., as we took grandson Keagan to the Hugh OBrien youth leadership event. We did make an attempt to get back to Quincy Raceways on Sunday, but the weatherman had already finished off an chance at racing. So this weekend, I was looking to get back to the track for my first Friday night race of the year, and then back to Quincy on Sunday. Friday night Keagan and I hitched a ride with  Darryl and Fred to the much anticipated return of late models to the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson,Iowa. The fairgrounds track in my hometown county is one of the tracks of my youth, and even though I live less than an hour away, a trip to Donnellson is like going home. Jeff has an excellent recap of the nights events on the " Backstretch, " so I will just add a few thoughts. No amount of praise would be enough to describe the nearly perfect track conditions all night long for the 90 plus cars in six divisions of racing. I was pleased to see such a big crowd on hand, especially with Toby Keith playing less than an hour away. It was equally exciting to see a total of 31 late models pitside for this first ever visit of the Midwest Late Model Racing Association to the 3/8 mile oval. Still, the most impressive thing at Lee County is the speed and precision with which they run off the show. A 7:30 Friday night start time, late model time trials, 13 heat races, one B-main, and six features, including 40 laps for the late models. With Darryl having a 4:30 wake up call Saturday, we regretfully left after the late model headliner, but the next to last feature was already half complete as we exited the parking lot before 11:00. And only a ten minute intermission - hint to other tracks - it can and should, be done! Congratulations to all the winners, the late model duel between John Anderson, Ryan Gustin, Chad Simpson, and eventual winner Terry Phillips will be talked about until hopefully the series returns in 2015. For my fellow late model fans, the open cars will be back on July 11 as part of the Lee County Fair show.
 I was committed to other activities on Saturday, but on the heels of the Friday experience and after viewing a few haulers headed south on highway 61, Mary gave me the go ahead for another night of racing. Keagan was on his way to Warrensburg,Mo for Boys State, but I rounded up Fred and Darryl and we headed for the final race of the MLRA swing at the Randolph county Raceway in Moberly,Mo.
If  we were surprised by the 31 car turnout at Donnellson, we were shocked to find 32 entrants at Moberly. The 4/10 ( or so ) Saturday night track does feature steel block ULMA late models, and several of the track regulars decided to try their luck against the traveling stars.
 A total of about 90 cars in five classes checked in for the night of racing.  While time trials set the field at Donnellson, Moberly was not equipped for timing, so the heats were determined by a draw, then passing points - my personal favorite format - set the feature line up. Only three heat races were contested with the top 16 in passing points qualifying for the 40 lap finale. In heat one, Skip Frey charged to a big lead before coming to a quick stop on the front stretch, ending his night. Friday runnerup Ryan Gustin then took the checkers. Heat two was plagued by multiple cautions. Tommy Weder Jr worked his way from a row five starting spot to second before contact with Chris Simpson sent him into the turn three concrete wall,ending his night. John Anderson took the checkers. The final heat saw Friday winner Terry Phillips advance from row four to the checkers, earning him the pole for the feature. Polesitter Mark Dotson, who suffered damage Thursday night in Oskaloosa and missed the Friday show, led all twelve laps to capture the B-main. And by the way, the B-main followed a quick 15 minute intermission...just sayin'.
 The first feature was the 21 car B-mod 15 lapper. Double duty driver Vance Wilson, who also wheeled the Dave Miller # 06 late model, started up front, and staged an edge of your seat duel with Galen Hasler. As the front two swapped slide jobs and traded a little paint, Tom Elson lurked mere feet behind the leaders, looking for an opening. One mid race restart saw Elson actually jump to the front, but another caution reset the field, and Wilson eventually pulled away for a win in the car he built for his son, who may be more of a fan of stick and ball sports! Hasler and Elson followed Wilson to the checkers.
 The 4 cylinder class was only ten strong - two heats, really? - but the feature race was another three car scrum the at saw Robert Winfrey prevail.
  The MLRA 40 lapper ran next, with 23 starters. The top two from Friday night sat on row one, and Gustin jumped to the lead with row two starter Anderson in tow. Top series rookie Scott Lewis went pitside on lap two, as Phillips charged to second. While Gustin opened a big lead, Phillips was beginning to close the gap when the yellow waved on lap twelve for Jon Melloway. On the restart, Jeremy Payne slipped past Phillips, and three laps later, Chad Simpson eased into third. Meanwhile Gustin stretched his lead while we watched Rick Kimberling ride the turn three and four wall, come back down on the track and keep going. One more yellow slowed the action on lap 28, but Gustin had the field covered. Phillips charged back to the runnerup spot, as the top two crossed the stripe in reverse order from the night before. Chad Simpson, Payne, and Chris Simpson completed the first five.
 We headed for the car with two features still on the docket, and apparently missed some fireworks in the USRA mod finale!
  Tired, but not ready to quit, it was back to Quincy Raceways Sunday night for UMP and IMCA weekly racing. The two nights of late model racing took a bite out of the late model car count, and a forecast of rain coupled with Fathers Day also held down the car count. Still the feature racing on Sunday was outstanding.
  Only six UMP late models checked in, so Denny Woodworth unloaded his second car, giving pit man Jason Oenning a chance to turn some laps. Denny sat outside Mark Burgtorf on row one for the 25 lap feature. Mark jumped to the lead, but Denny took over before the flagstand. The two veterans stayed glued to each other until lap 18, when Rickey Frankel joined the fray. Two laps later, Burgtorf slid high in turn four, and Frankel powered past for the runnerup spot. Woodworth continued to hit his marks on the super fast track, picking up his second win in a row at QR in the non stop event. Frankel,Burgtorf, Bill Genenbacher, and Jamie Wilson completed the top five.
  Jared Schlipman set quick time in UMP modifield qualifying then charged to the lead in the 20 lap feature. As Steven Delonjay dogged him lap after lap, Jared held serve until the two crossed the line in a near dead heat on lap 17. One lap later, with Delonjay holding a slight advantage, Schlipman went up in smoke, bringing out the caution., setting up a green, white, checkers finish. As the leaders came to the white, Delonjay bobbled ever so slightly, and Dave Weitholder charged past on the high side, holding on for his first win of 2014 at the Bullring. Delonjay held on for second followed by Keith Pratt and Russ Coultas.
 Aaron Brocksieck grabbed the early lead in the IMCA sport mod 18 lapper before he had a tire go down near the halfway mark. Brad Holtmeyer inherited the lead, with Tony Dunker, who won a last lap thriller on Friday in Donnellson, moving to second. Soon Dunker had Tanner Klingele to contend with for the second spot, and after some contact, Klingele grabbed the runnerup spot. As Holtmeyer took his second checkers of the season, Dunker put a fender on Klingele. Tony was credited with second, followed by Bobby Anders and Joey Gower.
  The UMP sport compact class had ten cars check in. Austen Becerra was looking to continue his double digit feature win streak, but he took his # 22 pitside during his heat race with mechanical woes. Mike Hornung Jr. loaned Austen his ride for the 15 lap feature, and Becerra showed his dribving prowess to move from row five to second behind Bryce Baker on lap one. Soon Kimberly Abbott, who is also Austens " significant other," joined the battle up front. On lap eight, Kim found a way around the leaders. Two laps later, Baker rolled to a stop, giving Becerra the runner up spot. He could advance no further, however, as Kim scored his first win of 2014. In her victory lane interview, she took a jab at Austen, saying it was good to beat him, but even better to pass him!  First time QR racer Cliff Spencer and young DJ Weisinger completed the top four.
  The IMCA stock cars had extra cash on the line, and ran the final feature of the evening. Seven cars took the green flag, as Beau Taylor watched from the trailer with a broken transmission. Jim Lynch took the early lead from the pole position, but as usual, the field was tightly bunched, lap after lap. Lap eleven saw Abe Huls emerge from the slicing and dicing to grab the lead. Following a lap 15 caution, Lynch and Brandon Savage made contact, appearing to get hooked, with Lynch stopping. One lap later, it was Jerry Jansen and Nathan Hayes hooked together, the caution setting up a green, white, checkers finish. Huls stayed in control for a hard earned win over Savage, Terry Houston, and Jake Powers.
Despite the car count, it was actually some of the best racing we have seen at QR this season.
 This week, we hope to check in on the UMP Summernationals tour, as the high powered late models check in Thursday at Quincy Raceways for a $5,000 to win show. Also on the card is the UMP modifield Summernational Tour racing for $1,000 to win, and IMCA sport mods for a $500 top prize.
 This is truly the best time of the year for a dirt race fan, so surely we will meet somewhere Racin' Down the Road!