Monday, May 26, 2025

A Full Night of Holiday Racing in Quincy

    Despite threatening skies throughout the day, Quincy Raceways was able to move forward with their holiday weekend racing program. In fact, the sun shone brightly just before dusk, treating another large crowd to a brief warm up. Track officials had added plenty of moisture to the racing surface, and the mostly cloudy conditions, light winds and continuous packing of the high side between races created an excellent racing surface with two distinct grooves. 

  Vintage cars were added to the other six classes and in fact turned out the top number of entries at fourteen. With the scoring loop not operational perhaps due to a lightning strike, there would be no time trials on the night, with the Pro Late Model and Modified drivers drawing for their heat race starting positions. The loss of the automatic scoring also created an issue as officials were looking for help with "old fashioned" hand scoring. I am not sure if that was a contributing factor in the DirtCar 4 Cylinder class contesting a pair of three car heat races, but I digress.

   With all preliminaries complete, the Vintage class was the first feature on the track. Long time local fans received a special treat, as Quincy Raceways Hall of Famer Terry Gallaher returned to the track with a familiar #0 machine. Unfortunately Terry was an early exit from the fifteen lapper which was won by Adam Parmeley, Cadet, Missouri in his #21P Ford Coupe. I am not certain if this is the same driver who competes in the Late Model class in southern, Missouri, but the name, hometown and number are the same, so... 

   Street Stocks would be the first of the regular classes in the feature lineup, racing for fifteen laps. Double duty Jacob Rexing would start on the pole position after his heat race win, and he would jump out front ahead of an early caution. Back to racing Jacob would drive away from the six car field. A second and final caution came with five laps remaining, but once again he would pull well ahead in his #59R for a flag to flag win. Only three cars would finish the event, with Jake Powers on top of a tight battle with Levi Long for second.

   Jay Kunce, who calls Coosada, Alabama home but races regularly at the Bullring jumped ahead in the 4 Cylinder fifteen lapper with Dyllan Bonk in hot pursuit. Kunce was able to steadily increase his advantage in the non stop event, scoring his first QR feature victory. Bonk held the runner up spot throughout while challenged by Devin Harrell. Landon Neisen and Kimberly Abbott rounded out the finishers.  

   First time visitor Jacob Doolen and multi time track champ Denny Woodworth brought the eight car Pro Crate Late Model field to green. Woodworth shot to the lead with Jackson Frankel close behind. The lone yellow flag of the twenty five laps came on lap two as Frankie Wellman stopped between turns one and two. As the laps clicked off, the racing attorney opened a commanding lead over Frankel. Darin Weisinger Jr. had lined up in row three, and as the race moved along he began to close on Frankel in what became a most entertaining duel. As the pair exited turn four just three circuits from the finish, Weisinger powered to second. But by now Woodworth held an insurmountable lead and cruised to the win, his second of the weekend after collecting a victory Saturday at Spoon River Speedway. Weisinger was second, matching his Saturday finish at Lee County Speedway. Frankel was third ahead of Aiden Perry and Jeffery Delonjay. Doolen came next, with Wellman credited with seventh. Jamie Wilson was the opening night winner this season, then badly damaged his #56 the following week. Returning after missing a couple of race nights he was a no show in the feature after discovering more broken parts on his ride. 

   The race of the night came in DirtCar UMP Modified action. A dozen drivers lined up for twenty laps. Heat winners Josh Harris, Utica, Kentucky, and Dave Weitholder filled out row one with Dave pacing the opening circuit. By lap four the front duo were battling side by side, and that duel allowed sixth starting Rick Conoyer to close in, making a three car breakaway. Meanwhile, Mike Vanderiet Jr., Justin Reed and Drake Stevenson were engaged a tight battle for fourth. There were no yellow flags to slow the action, and lap after lap Harris dogged the leader, looking for an opening. As flagman Richard Vandermaiden waved the green flag signaling two laps to go, Harris was able to duck inside Weitholder to grab the point. He then opened enough of a lead to hold off any last lap challenge from Weitholder in the hotly contested event. Conoyer had the best seat in the house in third, trailed by Reed, Stevenson and Vanderiet Jr. 

   Thirteen open B Mods were checked in, but only eleven were left to battle for fifteen laps at feature time. Weitholder and Chris Spalding would quickly climb from their modifieds and strap in for B Mod action. Dean Vickers and Weitholder would bring the field to green, but it was Weitholder and fourth starting Tyler Worley pacing lap one. A pair of yellow flags slowed the racing with three scored, and back to racing, the front two battled for the top spot. Behind them Tanner Klingele and Vickers fought for third. Around the half way mark Worley slipped back to fourth leaving Weitholder to pull away. With no more cautions, Dave completed a super successful evening with the win to go along with his Modified runner up finish. Klingele was fast all night and took second place honors ahead of Reed Wolfmeyer. My bleacher seat scoring did not match up with My Race Pass, which lists Worley in fourth followed by Vickers. But then it also lists only six starters, so I am not sure what happened there. But I am pretty sure I heard announcer Doug Mealy say that the remainder of the 2025 season would see open B Mods taking over the IMCA Sport Mod scheduled nights.

   The Crown Vics were on deck to finish the action, but as the clock ticked to 10:30 I needed to head for the parking lot. Congratulations to Jordon Zumwalt on the feature win. 

   Thanks to Jeff, Renee, Chance and the gang for their hospitality. Although I could not get confirmation, my schedule shows Quincy Raceways taking next Sunday night off, so I would encourage their many fans and drivers to double check before making plans. Update: Quincy Raceways Will Not have racing, Sunday, June 1.

   Racing season is in full gear, so turn off the television and get to the track, and maybe we will see you there!

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