Saturday was night number two of the UMP Fall Nationals at the Lincoln, Illinois fairgrounds speedway. This end of year event originated at Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio, moved to I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri and for the past two seasons has found a home in Lincoln. A complete show for the DirtCar divisions on Friday featured Pro Crate late models, modifieds, Pro modifieds, and street stocks. For Saturday, the super late models and Hornets joined the show, with street stocks moving on down the road, as the UMP points season came to a close.
This would be our second visit of 2021 to the quarter mile bullring after part of the 2020 finale was moved to early April of this season and for the first time in quite a while rainy conditions threatened to disrupt our racing. In fact three other tracks within one to three hours of Lincoln pulled the plug due to rain, and as it turned out created the most compelling story of our evening.
The car count, like the crowd was likely less than promoters would have preferred, again with the drizzly conditions almost up to race time no doubt a major factor. With the super late model count hovering close to single digits, several of the crate late model teams decided to "double dip." The final count had eighteen super lates, fourteen crates, seventeen modifieds, twenty six crate mods, and only five hornets.
All five divisions did combined hot lap/qualifying sessions, but with as many as four cars at a time on the track, it was over in a flash. Mike Chasteen Jr. and Jose Parga topped the late model classes with times of 13.310 and 14.318 seconds. Kenny Wallace at 14.465 and Kyle Helmick at 15.320 paced the modified divisions, while the top hornet time was set by Allan Harris at 17.555 seconds.
Super late model heats ran first, with the UMP style lineups of fast qualifiers up front. But things got interesting when a black toter trailer rolled in as Ryan Unzicker, a refugee from Sycamore, completed the two hour twenty minute haul south. As Chasteen lead flag to flag in heat one, defeating Michigan driver Steve Fairbanks, Wisconsin's Jayme Zider, and local favorite Myles Moos, Unzicker quickly lined up at the back of heat two. When lap one was scored, he was in third, ahead of a caution flag. Back under green, Unzicker charged to the lead, outgunning pole sitter Jake Little, Jose Parga, and Greg Kimmons in the nine car, eight lap race.
Wallace topped Mike Harrison, Rick Conoyer, and Brandon Roberts in mod heat one, while Friday winner sixteen year old Hunt Gossum went flag to flag in heat two over Jake Griffin, Trevor Neville, and Dave Weitholder.
Pro Crate late model heat one saw double duty Parga take the win in front of Billy Knippenberg, Blaise Baker, and Cody Maguire. Outside front row starter Brandon Eskew was leading the second eight lapper when he suddenly slowed in turn three, collecting second running Aaron Heck. It was the end of the night for Eskew, while Heck rejoined the tail of the field. Heck then charged back to the front, winning over Brandon Sweitzer, Colby Sheppard, and Chuck Mitchell.
Pro mod heats went to Ryan Hamilton, Brian Vinson, and B.J. Deal, then Harris topped the hornet six lapper.
A quick ten minute intermission followed as the eighteen car super late model twenty five lap feature lined up. Unzicker shot to the point from outside row one, leading Chasteen and Little. Chasteen and Little staged a back and forth and side by side battle for second while Unzicker opened a straightaway lead. He caught the back of the pack about lap eight, and one lap later Chasteen finally secured the runner up spot. As Unzicker moved smoothly through slower traffic, the only caution flag came with three laps remaining for a Phil Taylor spin. By this time, Ryan had lapped up to seventh position, but the lapped cars were placed at the tail of the field, with the Delaware restart putting Chasteen and Little on his back bumper. Parga was running fourth, and he charged to second as the green flag waved. Unzicker again stretched his lead while Chasteen was able to work back around Parga for second at the checkers. Little came home fourth ahead of Blaise Baker. Moos crossed the line in sixth, besting Maguire, Kimmons, Colby Sheppard, and Chuck Mitchell. The win netted Unzicker a cool $3,000.
Fifteen modifieds lined up for twenty five laps, with Wallace and Gossum in row one. Gossum quickly pulled away from Wallace, even as the former NASCAR ace put distance on the battle for third. Evan Fink slowed to bring out the yellow with seven laps down, and on the restart Brandon Bollinger climbed from eighth into the top five. By the half way mark, Gossum was again well out front as Bollinger rode the inside line to fourth. The second generation driver slipped around Harrison for third on lap fifteen, then cleared Wallace three laps later. Harrison also drove past Wallace with three circuits to go, but the race belonged to Gossum. The youngster made the trip from his home in Mayfield, Kentucky a profitable one, as he picked up the win on both Friday and Saturday. Bollinger, Harrison, Wallace, and Neville completed the top five, followed by Weitholder, Conoyer, Fink, Roberts, and Griffin.
Pro Crate late models would be next, with all but one (Eskew) of the fourteen cars making the call for twenty trips around the quarter mile. Heck and Parga soon put distance on the field, as a four car scrum developed for third between Sweitzer, Baker, Knippenberg, and Sheppard. The caution flag waved seven laps in for a mix up between Michael Maestos and Eric Doran. The yellow waved again on the restart, with Baker exiting the track and Sheppard relegated to the back of the pack. Again the top two pulled out to an advantage, and as they caught slower traffic, the caution came a final time for a four car pile up with three laps to go. Following the single file restart, Heck secured the win over Parga, Knippenberg, Mitchell, and Roben Huffman. Ryan Miller led the second five in front of Sheppard, Maguire, Rockett Bennett, and Doran.
Crate modifieds would be next, and all twenty six cars made the call. Ryan Hamilton powered to the early lead ahead of a lap seven caution. Back under green, an unidentified car smacked one of the large tractor tires protecting the outside wall, sending it on to the track and creating a four car pile up. With the red flag displayed, cleanup was fairly swift, and we were soon back to racing. Another caution at lap thirteen was only a momentary obstacle for Hamilton, who picked up the win. Vinson out dueled Deal for third, followed by Owen Steinkoenig and Deece Schwartz. James Hileman, double duty Conoyer, Jake Montgomery, Tommy Gaither, and Billy Knebel filled out the top ten.
We were on the road as only four hornets lined up for the ten lap finale. Nick Johnson prevented a sweep by Harris, who ran second ahead of Brandy Burgett, and Cook Crawford.
The well run show had us in the car about 9:00. Thanks to the Lincoln Speedway staff for not only their hospitality, but for persevering on a night it would have been easy to pull the plug.
Next weekend we hope to stay close to home and take in complete shows on Friday and Saturday as Lee County Speedway presents the tenth annual Harvest Hustle. Check their ad on Facebook for details!
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