Tuesday we made a return visit to Lincoln Speedway on the Logan County, Il. Fairgrounds for the completion of the Flo Racing Night in America program. The original event on May 7 was postponed as the second Super Late Model heat race came to the track. Thirty six Late Models had qualified, with Hudson O'Neal setting fast time then picking up the win in the first heat before the off and on showers finally created a situation where the show could not be completed by the town curfew. The twenty seven Modifieds in the pits had also qualified, but while the Late Models would pick up their program with heat two, the Modifieds would start over, beginning with time trial qualifying. Twenty seven Mods had turned out for the May show.
It was a beautiful afternoon and evening and the fans responded as a huge crowd filled the covered grandstands. Unfortunately the driver turnout was not quite as expected. A combination of factors were perhaps at work as an unusually high amount of mechanical issues with transport vehicles seems to be happening - including Sam Seawright who broke down enroute. Also being the same week as the Prairie Dirt Classic may have kept some away, although it would seem like perhaps a good test session before going to Fairbury. Lastly the fact of a poor qualifying position from the May time trials may have been a deterrent. As it was, thirteen of the original thirty six drivers failed to return, while local hot shoe Myles Moos was allowed to join the field and tag the tail of the final heat race. Keeping the original heat race lineups created an interesting situation, as heat two, the first of the night, would roll off with six cars, heat three would see only four starters, and with the addition of Moos and one subtraction, heat four would have nine starters. With just twenty four cars on hand, no B Main was needed, leaving just three heats and the fifty lap feature to entertain the paying customers, many of whom were not in attendance for the original show.
I am not sure what the excuse might be for the Modifieds, as only sixteen would sign in even though their portion of the night would be a complete new show with a $2,000 to win top prize. However the stellar announcing crew from Flo Racing did a bang up job of making one set of time trials, five heat races and two features seem like a full night of racing!
Hudson O'Neal had been the top qualifier and heat one winner back in May, earning him the pole start for the $20,000 to win Late Model headliner. Mike Spatola, Brandon Sheppard, and Bobby Pierce would also capture heat wins to set the first two rows of the main event. Curiously, Brandon Overton, who was locked in to a third row slot did not make the return trip, no explanation given.
The Late Model fifty lapper would roll out first. O'Neal would pace lap one ahead of Sheppard, but it was fifth starting Shannon Babb getting a good run on the start and charging to the front on lap two. Sheppard would make it three different cars up front as lap three was scored, and would stay there for forty seven more laps. But the drive would not be an easy one. After getting shuffled back a bit, O'Neal would take second on lap six, and one lap later Pierce would enter the conversation in third. One more time around and the "Smooth Operator" would climb to the runner up spot, just ahead of the first caution for a Moos spin. Austin Howes and Brian Shirley would call it a night at this point. Three more laps were scored before a crash involving Josh Rice and Jake Little would send both to the pits. As the green flag waved, fourth place O'Neal was shuffled back with obvious rear right side damage. Ricky Thornton Jr. was now the man on the move ahead of a yellow flag at lap fourteen for Kyle Bronson. As racing resumed Devin Moran began a march forward, even as Sheppard and Pierce turned the race into a classic two car battle while Babb and Thornton Jr. ran side by side for third. The leaders would close in on the back of the pack on lap twenty seven just as Moos slowed between turns one and two. Sheppard would clip the rear of the Moos ride and continue on, but with nowhere to go Pierce would lock up his brakes and slam into the #84. Pierce would then head for the hot pit to check for damage and take advantage of the misfortune to bolt on a new right rear tire, a very fortuitous decision. With the "choose cone" restarts used by Flo where each driver behind the leader can pick inside or out, Pierce would line up somewhere around fifteenth. Thornton would charge to second on the restart, but now all eyes were on Pierce. By the time the next stoppage came at lap thirty four for a Spatola spin, Bobby was back up to seventh. He would reenter the top five five laps later, but Sheppard was now well ahead of his nearest challenger. Moran jumped to second at lap forty three as Pierce gained another spot. With an ill timed flat, Thornton Jr. would bring out a final caution six laps from the finish, turning third over to Pierce. That would however be the best the controversial driver could do. "Sheppy" would once again drive off from the field while Moran stayed strong in the runner up position. Tyler Erb would climb six positions to finish fourth and through all the moves, Garrett Alberson would seemingly hold fifth throughout the race. Nick Hoffman came home sixth, topping Babb, the damaged car of O'Neal, and Ryan Gustin. Dennis Erb Jr. made a late charge to complete the top ten. An obvious crowd favorite, up and coming NASCAR star Carson Hocevar would hang around all race as he learns the tricks of the dirt world while moving up nine spots to finish fifteenth. Sheppard, who lives not far down the road in New Berlin emerged from his car to huge applause from the appreciative crowd.
With the T.V. hoopla complete and most of the crowd still around, all sixteen Modifieds came to the track for twenty laps. First heat winner Michael Ledford would shoot to the lead with his row one mate, heat two winner Ray Bollinger in tow. Overall fast qualifier Charlie Mefford would clear Bollinger on lap two. Ledford was clearly the class of the field on this night as he methodically increased his lead to a full straightaway on the black dirt quarter mile by the mid point of the race. With zero cautions slowing the action, Ledford cruised to the win, moving smoothly through slower traffic as needed. Mefford crossed in second while Cole Falloway cleared Bollinger for third. Torrance, California hot shoe Cody Laney rounded out the top five, chased by Kelly Kovski, Matthew Baker, Steven Brooks, Brandon Roberts, and Carter Sinkhorn. Fourteen cars were still around at the checkers.
It was just after 9:00 when the final checkers fell. For those who like to spend hours at the track, it may have been a disappointing night, but for those of us hours from home, it was a bonus! Thanks to the staff of Lincoln Speedway and Flo Racing for their help and hospitality. The Flo crowd moves on to Fairbury tonight, then it will be PDC time over the weekend. At this time I am still weighing several good options closer to home for the weekend, so don't forget to check back for more Racin' Down the Road.
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