After two weekends of family activities and unfortunate rain outs the last two Wednesdays, I eagerly planned to rejoin the UMP Summer National Late Models at Spoon River Speedway. The fast three eighths mile speed plant is nestled squarely in the middle of Nowhere, Illinois! The Wednesday night event would also be a stop on the Summit Racing Equipment Modified Tour, with three local classes, Pro Late Models, Compacts and B Mods filling out the card. While it looked like a lot for a week night, we were hoping the advertised early start time would still get everyone on the road at a decent hour.
Weather would not be a concern on this beautiful afternoon at the three eighths mile high banked speed plant. In fact, somewhat ominous looking clouds rolled through, giving us a nice breeze. Unfortunately, it was blowing the wrong direction and we were forced to eat a bit of dust.
Hot laps began about 6:00, and with all five classes qualifying, the first heat race would roll out about 7:10. The "Pink Panther", Bob Gardner set quick time for the thirty Super Late Models with a lap of 13.242 seconds, a few ticks off the track record. Cole Falloway paced the nineteen Summit Modifieds while Brandon Sweitzer topped the eight Pro Lates.
All three eight lap Super heats were captured from the pole position, with Rodney Melvin, Gardner, and Tyler Erb taking wins. Allen Weisser and Falloway grabbed Modified heats from the pole, while Tyler Nicely took the middle qualifier from outside row one. Sweitzer went flag to flag in the Pro Late eight lapper. Fast qualifier Jeremy Hancock and Spencer Coats topped Compact heats, with the six car B Mod field racing a feature only after Jake Allen topped time trials. Mike Spatola was the Late Model Last Chance winner, and with four provisional starters selected, we were ready for feature racing.
By now the track was black slick, and we thought perhaps they would do a bit of manicuring of the surface during the break, but only watering and packing filled the down time.
As is standard procedure for the series, the thirty lap $5,000 to win headliner would roll off first. Erb took off from the outside pole, dragging along Melvin, Gardner and Mark Whitener. He quickly put distance on the field with only Melvin staying close. The only yellow flag came with five laps scored when Dillon McCowan spun in turn two. Already the inside low line was the fast way around the track, and on the Delaware Style restart Gardner jumped to second as fifth running Tyler Millwood moved to fourth. With a burst of speed, Millwood charged to third on lap seven while Erb began to drive away from the pack. The leader caught the tail of the field about lap nineteen, and Gardner was able to make up ground fast. The bad news for Erb was that the cars directly in front were running his line, the good news they were nearly as fast as the front runners. So he wisely stayed in the inside groove all the way to the checkers with Gardner never getting close enough for a serious challenge. Millwood filled out the podium ahead of Melvin and Whitener. Weekly points leader Jason Feger was sixth in front of Haiden Cowan, Shannon Babb, Christian Hanger and Carson Brown. Twenty of the twenty two starters took the checkered flag.
With the television interview finished, all nineteen Modifieds came out for twenty five laps and a $1,500 payday. Nicely had drawn the pole position, and he shot to the front ahead of Falloway and row two starters Weisser and Josh Allen. Much like the Super Lates, the top two pulled away from the field as the cars lined up mostly single file on the bottom. Nicely dispatched the first slower car at lap nine, but as the race hit the half way mark he was facing a gaggle of cars in his groove. But before it became an issue, the caution flag waved for a spin by Ethan Boomsma. With the field finally reset, Zach Brandt brought out the second and final yellow before another lap was scored. Perhaps recognizing the disadvantage of the outside line, this restart was lined up single file. Once again Nicely and Falloway drove off all the way to the checkers, with Tyler crossing just a couple car lengths in front. Weisser, Allen and Mike McKinney came next, with all five finishing where they started. Michael Ledford, Mike Chasteen Jr., Ray Bollinger, Dave Weitholder and Mike Brooks completed the top ten. Only Daniel Adam and Mark Burgtorf failed to finish the twenty five circuits.
After waiting patiently for their chance, the B Mods now lined up for fifteen laps. Jake Allen grabbed the early lead with Brent Weaver close behind. the lone caution came with seven laps down, and sure enoughBlake Monroe used the Delaware restart to charge to the runner up spot. But there would be no catching Allen, who cruised to the win. Monroe, Weaver, Dakota Traver and Steve David would follow, with the 6 Pack of T. J. Bolen rounding out the field.
Seven of the eight Pro Lates on the line up board came track side for twenty laps. Sweitzer got the jump on Dakota Ewing, and along with Tommy Elston we soon had a three car battle. While holding his lead, Sweitzer was also having trouble keeping his car in the bottom groove, and Ewing took several looks inside. But at about the mid point of the caution free race, he pushed too hard in turn four, went up the track and fell back to fourth, eventually dropping out of the event. Elston was there to power to second, but he was unable to overtake Sweitzer. Jeff Dotzert won a tight battle with Jason Oenning for third followed by Michael Maestas.
With a two hour plus trip home and our driver working Thursday, we headed for the gate ahead of the Compact finale, which was captured by Hancock, topping Matthew Mackey Jr., Nick Johnson, Ryan Harbaugh and Barandon Cornwell.
Thanks to the promoters as well as the folks at UMP for a fun week night adventure.
Yours truly will be celebrating TWO family gatherings on Saturday, so slipping away for the free admission, increased purse event at 34 Raceway may not happen, but it should be a great night of racing! Then on Sunday it is back to Quincy Raceways where there will also be extra money on the line plus the 2025 Hall of Fame inductions at intermission will make for a special night. And next Thursday it is Lucas Oil Late Models making their yearly visit to 34 Raceway. Let's go racing!
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