Friday night was the highly anticipated opening night of the Kenny Pratt Memorial at Quincy Raceways. UMP type super late models, UMP crate/ IMCA late models, and open stock cars made up the three division card.
Things got off to a bit of a rough start, as issues with the transponder system led officials to finish off time trials for the three classes the old fashioned way. First time visitor Josh Calvert made the long tow from from Hallsville,Mo. to set quick time over the seventeen stock cars on hand. Track point champion Denny Woodworth was tops in the limited late models, and World of Outlaw late model standout Dennis Erb Jr. paced the supers with a lap of 13.490 seconds around the .29 mile oval.
Steve Dieckmann, John Ketterer, and another newcomer, Dennis Wernle opened racing with heat race wins for the stock cars. Woodworth and Buffalo, Iowa IMCA ace Andy Nezworski captured the limited heats, while Erb Jr., hometown favorite Jamie Wilson, and Festus, Missouri pilot Rusty Griffaw took home wins in the ten lap super heats.
Following a brief intermission, it was feature time, with all classes contesting 34 lap main events, as 34 was the number displayed on the cars Kenny Pratt raced during his career at the track.
Stock cars were up first, with the straight up starts putting Dieckmann and Ketterer on row one. Ketterer put his #90, which resembled an early 1990's late model out front ahead of the first of eight caution periods on lap two. As racing resumed with the Delaware restart, Galesburg, Il. driver Robert Cottom grabbed the lead with his UMP street stock after starting in row three. Michael Larsen had dropped out of his heat race, relegating him to a row eight starting spot, but he was charging through the pack when a mix up on the front stretch following a lap six yellow forced him and Rudy Zaragoza to take evasive action, ending the night for an unhappy Zaragoza and sending Larsen to the tail. As Cottom paced the field, Dieckmann and Ketterer swapped the runner up spot even as third starting Wernle stalked the front runners. For the second time, on lap fourteen, Cottom was just catching lapped traffic, but here came a yellow flag, and things seemed to be breaking his way. Larsen ducked to the hot pit, restarting at the back of the pack. Ketterer was applying heavy pressure to the leader when he spun in turn two just after the crossed flags by Blake Dotson signaled the halfway mark. The resulting pile up eliminated Ketterer, Dieckmann , and Kale Foster. The field was now realigned single file for the remaining laps. Wernle and Calvert were locked in a side by side battle for second while keeping Cottom close and fending off Jake Powers, who was looking for racing room behind them. A lap twenty seven yellow, and another hot pit visit for Larsen, things were getting good, as Cottom hugged the low line, Wernle ran one groove higher, and Calvert pounded the cushion. When the last caution came with four laps to go, Calvert had nosed ahead of Cottom, and with the single file restart he was able to hang on for the win. Cottom was the runner up followed by Wernle, Powers, and Shane Myers in his #15 station wagon. Pete Stodgel, Larsen, Cletus Coates, Alex Hatfield, and Brandon Boden completed the top ten. The win was worth a cool $500.
The Pro Crate/ IMCA feature was next, with a $1,000 awaiting the victor. Woodworth and Nezworski paced the twelve car field. Woodworth led early, running the top line around the track while Nezworski worked down low. Andy finally gained enough momentum to snag the lead coming off turn two at the lap eleven mark. Meanwhile, seventh starting Jose Parga worked his way to third one lap later. Woodworth and Nezworski swapped the lead again at lap seventeen, with Andy pulling off a crossover move to retain the top spot. As Parga moved in on the front duo, Dakota Ewing stayed close in fourth. Woodworth charged ahead once again with a strong move off turn two on lap twenty two, then caught slower traffic three laps later. Parga now powered to second, and charged to the lead as lap twenty six was scored. Parga was able to hold his line without being seriously challenged before the only caution came with five laps to go as Brandon Queen appeared to suffer a mechanical issue, backing his car off turn two. This set up a battle for second, allowing Parga to pull away for the win. Nezworski took second ahead of Woodworth. Ewing ran a steady fourth, while Luke Goedert came on strong after the caution to grab a top five slot. Sam Halstead, Chuck Hanna, and Mike Smith in the Barton Racing #7 were next. Keith Pratt returned to the track for the weekend honoring his late father, piloting the Weisinger Racing # 11 to a ninth place finish, and Tucker Finch completed the top ten.
Fourteen super late models lined up for a shot at the $2,000 payday. It was the pole sitter Erb Jr. jumping to the lead, but the start was called back as Brian Wolfmeier spun the Jacober Racing #5 in turns one and two. Erb again took the point, with Griffaw and Rich Bell in tow before Dylan Hoover brought out a lap three yellow, ending his night. Derek Fetter also headed for the trailer at this time. By the sixth circuit, Erb was opening a comfortable lead, while Bell powered to second. Meanwhile, Matt Bailey, Darrell Defrance, surprise entrant Brent Larson, and Jeremiah Hurst ran side by side and nose to tail for fourth, with Bailey finally grabbing the spot. The leader caught the back of the pack at lap fourteen, then came upon Mark Burgtorf and Wolfmeier locked in a side by side duel while fighting to stay on the lead lap. Scott Halley brought out the final caution at lap twenty one. With the help of the Delaware restart, Hurst, who is planning to run more open engine events in 2020, charged to fourth, with Bailey shuffled back several spots. All the while, Erb was on cruise control, leading all thirty four laps to earn the checkers. Bell came home second, besting Griffaw, Hurst, and Larson, the World of Outlaw late model regular from Lake Elmo, Minnesota. Defrance topped the second five ahead of Bailey, Wilson, Burgtorf, and Wolfmeier.
While the car count was less than hoped for, the racing was top notch in front of a well chilled group of hearty spectators. More cars are expected for the increased night two purses, as the fifty lap main events will pay $1,000 to the stock cars, $2,000 to the limited lates, and a whopping $5,000 to the supers! Action will once again kick off with hot laps at 7:00. With the possibility of rain, track officials have set Sunday as a rain date, with things kicking off at 3:00. Check the Quincy Raceways website or Facebook page for more info.
Also the Lee County Speedway roars back to action today, weather permitting, with Shiverfest, featuring five classes of cars. The program at the Donnellson, Iowa 3/8 mile fairgrounds facility begins with hot laps at 5:00. The clock is ticking on racing in the Tri State area, so dress warm and get to the track!
Update!!!
Racing for Saturday has been postponed until Sunday. Gates open at noon, qualifying at 1:30. See everyone at Shiverfest!
Update, part two!!!
Shiverfest also rescheduled to Sunday afternoon.
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