Billed as the "Gem City Shootout" sponsored by Dennis G. Woodworth, Attorney at Law, the MARS Super Late Model series rolled into Quincy Raceways for their second 2025 visit on Sunday while wrapping up their three race weekend. UMP Pro Crate Late Models, UMP Dirtcar Modifieds, open B Mods and Dirtcar 4 Cylinders also raced on an atypically hot September evening with extra money on the line in several classes. The MARS turnout of nineteen was a bit lighter than expected, with the long weekend and the extreme heat no doubt taking a toll on drivers and equipment. Still there was plenty of high speed excitement as the goal seemed to be to test the integrity of the concrete wall, especially turns one and two!
The final car count would come in at seventy one, well balanced with a pair of heat races preceding the main event in each class. Three divisions would qualify through time trials. Sun River, Montana racer Michael Leach was the only driver to break the thirteen second mark with a lap of 12.994 seconds in the MARS division, while Denny Woodworth (Crates,) and Kenny Wallace ( Mods) also led their classes.
As mentioned, several competitors tried to knock down the wall in qualifying, including Jake Little, and Brennon Willard. Both however were able to make repairs although Willard missed his heat race. Keokuk, Iowa driver Brandon Queen was not as fortunate as he climbed the backstretch wall while attempting a pass in his heat race, sidelining him for the remainder of the evening with extensive damage to his #12 machine.
With heat race action and intermission complete, the headline class would come first in the feature order. Eighteen cars lined up for thirty laps and a shot at the $5,000 payoff. Heat race winners Jason Feger and Tony Jackson Jr. paced the field, with Jackson jumping ahead. The Lebanon, Missouri veteran opened a sizable lead before catching the back of the pack on lap seven. Ten laps in third starting Ryan Unzicker cleared Feger for second, and by this time Jackson was well ahead of the second place battle. As Jackson came upon slower cars racing for position around lap twenty, Unzicker began to close the gap. The first yellow flag came at lap twenty three as Chevy Boyer climbed the turn three concrete barrier. With clear track ahead for the restart Jackson again pulled away, but once more the caution came at lap twenty eight when Caden McWhorter lost a battle with that same wall. The field then restarted single file and Jackson Jr. cruised to a flag to flag victory. The top two in series points then ran side by side for second, with Feger slipping past Unzicker at the line to increase his points margin. Jeff Herzog started fourth, dropped to sixth, then rallied back to finish in fourth followed by Leach. Shannon Babb paced the second five ahead of Justin Duty, Daryn Klein, Little and Kolby Vandenbergh.
Modifieds would be up next, racing for twenty laps. There was a three car pile up in turn one on the initial start, then it was pole sitter and NASCAR veteran Wallace leading the way chased by double duty Justin Reed and Dave Weitholder. Two more quick cautions came with two laps scored, and when racing resumed Reed was shuffled back to fifth as Weitholder took up the chase. Following a lap four yellow, Shawn Deering eased past Weitholder in a tight battle for second before #05 regained the position. There was one more stoppage with nine laps scored, but Wallace remained in control, even though he would change lanes, moving up the track as the laps clicked off. Weitholder held the runner up spot while Reed recovered to finish third. Mike Vanderiet Jr. and Deering completed the top five.
The local Crate Lates lined up for twenty five laps with only Spencer Havermale missing from the fifteen car field. Twice the caution flag would fly before a lap was scored, but then it was Woodworth leading Dakota Ewing in a battle of heat race winners. Jamie Wilson would move to second following a lap four caution, then clear Woodworth for the lead three circuits later. Woodworth was out front of the three car battle as lap nine went in the books, and a final caution came in three more laps as Jackson Frankel crashed at the entrance to turn one. Ewing charged from the third to first on the Delaware restart and methodically pulled away from his challengers. When the checkers waved it was the Warrensburg, Illinois driver recording his third win in his first three QR visits in 2025. Woodworth would settle for second in front of Wilson and Darin Weisinger Jr. Sam Halstead started eleventh , languished near the back of the pack, then made a late charge to finish fifth. Robby Warner also gained six positions to sixth ahead of former track regular Braden Bilger wheeling a #25 car. Tommy Elston nursed his damaged ride home in eighth topping Jeffery Delonjay and visiting Jacob Doolen.
The B Mod field was once again a mix of travelers and local IMCA Sport Mod competitors. St. Louis racer Matthew Edler has been a force in his visits to QR this season, and this night would be no different. Starting on the pole, he would survive three caution periods in the fifteen lap event to dominate the proceedings. Reed Wolfmeyer would focus on the leader before a late race side by side challenge from Tanner Klingele which Wolfmeyer would win by a nose. Veteran Joey Gower, who has seemingly raced in about every class at QR over the years would come home fourth chased by Parker Smith.
A dozen 4 Cylinders would put a cap on the action. Dyllan Bonk would be behind the wheel of a #8P machine for the night while Michael Malaney piloted Bonks' familiar #2B. Bonk would charge to the early lead in a tight battle with Matthew Mackey Jr. When Bonk drifted a bit too high on lap five, Mackey powered to the lead just ahead of the yellow flag. Mackey was still out front when the only red flag of the night came as Bryce Baker rolled his #27B hard in turn three. Fortunately he appeared uninjured. Back under green the front pair took off, Mackey in front and Bonk racing against the wall searching for extra bite. On the white flag lap, he finally gathered the momentum to drive past the leader, crossing the stripe for a hard fought win in what may have been the race of the night. Mackey settled for second followed by Matt Mackey, Jaden Delonjay and Spencer Coats.
It was an exciting night of action, wrapping up sometime around 9:30. Thanks as always to Jeff, Renee and crew for their continued hospitality. QR will be idle next Sunday, but will return with racing on Sunday, September 28. The weather is fine, so lets continue to enjoy the racing!
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