After three weather postponements in four tries, Adams County,Il. Speedway in Quincy was back at it Sunday night. Although the forecast was somewhat ominous, we were treated to sunny skies and a temperature of ninety degrees as race time approached, about fifty degrees warmer than the Sunday prior. Before the final feature race, however, Mother Nature came roaring back with dangerously strong winds, sending the gathered throng scurrying for the parking lot as the 4 Cylinder main event cars were sent pitside ahead of the green flag.
The night began in promising fashion as a solid field of seventy four race teams signed in, with all but the Street Stocks showing in the mid to upper teens. Somewhat surprisingly, the IMCA Sport Mod and 4 Cylinder classes were divided into three heat races each, half of those with only five cars scheduled. In fact, with an early evening scratch by Sport Mod driver Lucas Schieferdecker, we were treated to one qualifier starting just four cars.
UMP Modifieds are the only class to time trial qualify at the track, and Austen Becerra topped the eighteen car field with a lap of 14.316 seconds. With heat races for the five classes in the books and about a twenty minute intermission out of the way, we were ready for feature racing.
Crate Late Models would line up first with all fifteen cars set to battle for twenty laps around the .29 mile semi banked oval. Devin McLean made the long tow in from Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and he would redraw the pole position, with Darin Weisinger Jr. alongside. As the field headed into turn three on the opening lap, Tommy Elston checked up to avoid another car, and the result was a multi car pile up that eliminated Elston as well as Jeffrey Delonjay, Jason Oenning, and Jeff Dotzert. Following an original restart for the remaining eleven cars, McLean shot to the lead with defending track champion and week one winner Denny Woodworth on his heels. Returning hot shoe Jason Perry worked into third just ahead of a caution period at lap eight for James Dickerson. Back to racing, McLean was running a middle line while Woodworth moved from the low groove to the cushion and back, searching for a way to the front. The Racing Attorney was unable to keep pace as McLean gradually opened a several car length advantage, cruising to his first Adams County win. Woodworth, Perry, and Sam Halstead followed. Back racing after several seasons on the side lines, Jamie Wilson brought home his #56 in fifth. Cody MaGuire, Weisinger Jr., and rookies Derek Hollenstine, Austin Poage, and Christian Miles completed the top ten.
Street Stocks continue to struggle with car counts, with eight signing in for the night. All eight lined up for fifteen laps. It was Rudy Zaragoza and Jake Powers filling out row one. Rudy quickly claimed the seemingly faster inside line, while Jake did business on the high side. The front duo drove off from the field and just after the crossed flags signaled the halfway mark, Powers switched his line, nearly sneaking inside the leader. Zaragoza was able to hold him off until the final circuit when Powers drove to the inside and took the lead and the win, much to the delight of his considerable rooting section. Zaragoza settled for second, with the son and father team of Troy and Steve Grotz, and Kale Foster rounding out the first five. A flat tire in the closing laps ended a strong run for Beau Taylor, who fell to sixth.
The eighteen car UMP Modified field was filled with talent, Becerra and Rick Conoyer pacing the field for eighteen scheduled laps. As the pack exited turn two on the first trip around, Conoyer was shuffled back outside the top five with Becerra grabbing the lead. A multi car crash in turn two on lap two ended the night for Shawn Deering. Another quick yellow came on the restart ahead of a long green flag run. As Becerra drove off from the pack, row two starters Rick Stevenson and Jacob Rexing battled hard for second. By lap seven, Austen had opened a straightaway advantage, and even as he worked slower traffic, he increased his lead to a full half lap. With just three laps remaining, his lead evaporated with a final yellow flag. This proved to be just a minor inconvenience, however, as the #22 cruised to victory lane. Taking a ride in the Audrey Gerberding #66, long time Quincy fan favorite son Jake Griffin made a late charge to come home in second, slipping past Rexing. Mark Burgtorf recovered from the early pile up to claim fourth, and Dave Weitholder completed the top five. Stevenson slipped to sixth, Conoyer ran seventh, while Mike Vanderiet, Jr., Scott Bryant, and Russ Coultas filled out the top ten.
The wind picked up and the temperature dropped as all but Schieferdecker came trackside for eighteen laps of Sport Mod action. Jake Hunter and Adam Birck filled row one, and Birck quickly took command with fourth starting Reed Wolfmeyer in tow. As Adam put distance on the pack, a tight five car scrum developed behind him. Fifth starting A.J. Tournear and eighth starting Tanner Klingele waged a back and forth duel for second. With ten laps in the books, a spate of three yellow flags slowed the action. On the first restart the second running Klingele elected the outside row on the Delaware Style line up, but with no laps complete, he then moved to the inside behind Birck. Although he stayed close for a time, he could not mount a challenge for the lead. As the laps wound down, Josh Holtman was able to hook up his #5, charging to third at the checkers. Logan Cumby advanced five spots to fourth, while Dakota Girard cleared Tournear late for fifth.
As the 4 Cylinder feature came to the track, the strong breeze morphed into a gale force, and track officials wisely cleared the track with a quick announcement that the main event will be made up at a later date.
Thanks to Jim, Tammy, and the crew for an entertaining Sunday night, and thanks for reading!
No comments:
Post a Comment