January, 24, 2011

Past the Pit Gate
by Danny Rosencrans 

   Saturday night, January 22, Quincy Raceways help their annual awards banquet, officially closing out the 2010 season. A crowd upwards of 300 was on hand as the gathering was held for the first time at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Quincy. After the meal was served,

Co-owner Tony Rhinberger presented trophies for categories such as perfect attendance, most improved drivers, best appearing cars, etc. Finally, the top ten in each of the four divisions were honored. Hobby stock veteran Jim Powell, of Hannibal, Mo., survived his race car being caught in last year’s flash flood to record his 16th consecutive season of perfect attendance! Points champions honored included Denny Woodworth in IMCA late models, after a second half battle with Jason Perry. For the late model lawyer, it was his first late model title at QR. The Mendon, IL. driver also has a modified championship at QR in his resume. Second generation hotshoe Jared Schlipman took another first place trophy home to Mendon, as he edged out Michael Long for the UMP modified crown, the first of the youngsters' budding career. Mt Sterling, Il. pilot Terry Houston wheeled his Ford powered # 97 to his first IMCA stock car championship over veteran Abe Huls. Another Hannibal pilot, Steve "Tea Man" Carlin picked up championship number four over Bobby Anders in yet another down to the wire finish. Remarkably, all track champions were from outside Quincy. An award that has become a popular one is the Peoples Choice award, voted on at the track by the fans, and the 2010 winners for each class were Woodworth, Steven DeLonjay in the modifieds, Houston, and teenage Tanner Klingele in the hobby stocks.

   A look ahead to the upcoming season was given with the announcement that the Quincy Mall car show will be held the weekend of March 12 and 13. A full schedule, including practice nights will be available at that time, but several key dates are already in place and have been announced. Opening night is set for Sunday, April 3, with points starting then for UMP modifieds, IMCA stock cars, hobby stocks and

4 cylinder Wild Things. IMCA late models will be in action as well, but per IMCA rules, their points do not begin until April 24. The following Sunday, April 10 will feature the first visit by the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series. May 15 will bring the return of the USMTS touring modified series after an absence of several seasons. Memorial weekend, Sunday May 29 will showcase the touring 360 C.I. Sprint Invaders, while July 3 will be highlighted by the Titan Wheel classic, the second Deery Brothers late model show. A new touring crate late model series is scheduled for a July 31 appearance. And the month of September begins with the second visit of the Sprint Invaders on the day before Labor Day, Sunday the 4th. While the point season for late models ends on August 28, points for the other four classes will run until the final night of the season, which is scheduled for September 25. Late models are scheduled to be on the card each night of the 2011 season, with all circle track events held on Sunday nights. The UMP Summernationals have been dropped from the 2011 schedule. Rhinberger also reiterated the late model combo points fund set up with 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. This will be monies awarded over and above what is paid out by the individual tracks and by IMCA to the top point’s earners who participate in 75% of point’s nights at both tracks.

  As mentioned in a previous article, a great deal of dirt work has been done on the track, with more to be done after the snow cover is gone. There is also pit work to be done, but as of now, everything is on track for opening night, less than ten weeks from now!