Past the Pit Gate
by Danny Rosencrans

June 18, 2012) - Another good field of 87 cars in the six classes checked in Sunday night at Quincy Raceways. As might be expected this time of year, the late model count was down a bit at 16, due in part to the UMP Summernationals tour. QR will benefit from this on Friday July 6 when the tour invades the Broadway Bullring for a $ 7500.00 to win event which will also spotlight the UMO modifieds for $650.00 to win and the Quincy Raceway hobby stocks. The late models will take the night off on Sunday July 1 when the featured class will be the MOWA 410 winged sprint cars. What a week of racing that will be!

 Dewayne Kiefer made the long haul from St Genevieve, Mo. on Sunday for his second visit to QR. On his first trip here, his # 0 car was bad fast, but he picked the night that national star Dennis Erb Jr. dropped by, and so he collected a runner up finish. This time there was nothing to stop him, at least after Mark Burgtorf pulled out of the feature event in the early laps. Both Kiefer and Burgtorf won their heat races from the outside pole, and they started side by side on the front row of the six car dash. Kiefer captured the six lap affair over Mark, and the two filled the front row of the 30 lap finale. Burgtorf took the lead at the green, but Kiefer quickly took the top spot.

The only stoppage of the race was for Rickey Frankel, who looped his # 33F in turn one. Burgtorf headed pitside at this point, with Rickey retiring two laps later.   On the restart, Kiefer began to stretch out a big lead. Third running Michael Long broke on lap 12, but managed to exit the speedway under green.  As traffic became a factor, Justin Reed began to close in, and he was within striking distance with a couple laps to go before a wide swing in turn four slowed his momentum. Jason Perry took over the points lead with a solid third, while the most improved driver in the class, Clint Kirkham advanced six spots to grab fourth. Jake Griffin also picked up six spots to record a top five finish. The only multiple feature winner in the late models, Dustin Griffin was not in action after blowing an engine on Friday night. Kiefer turned in the fastest feature lap of the season, as the track was super fast for the main events.

  The reason for the fast surface was a regrading and repacking that took place during the third UMP modified heat race. The track had started out a bit rough after two nights of rain, and rookie driver Scott Cale rolled his # 22 a couple of times in turn three. With neck pain, Cale was transported to the hospital, and during the wait for another ambulance, track crews put the heavy equipment on the surface with excellent results. word came that Cale was released after being checked out.

  21 of the 24 mods took the feature green, and the action was intense. Steven Delonjay grabbed the early lead, as the race stayed green until lap 11. By then, top contender Jared Schlipman had retired to the pits. The yellow waved again one lap later, and on this restart, Michael Long took over the top spot. the caution flew on lap 19 for a less than pleased Jim Roach, and when action resumed, Long appeared to have something break in his # 18L as he spun in turn one and headed to the trailer. At the same time, Shawn Deering, who was fourth, left behind the wrecker. One more restart saw Dave Weitholder get by Delonjay, as he picked up the win, continuing his best ever season in the mods. Delonjay held second, with Derrick Carlson a season best third, followed by Jake Griffin, who recorded two top fives on the night. visiting Terry James nabbed fifth.

   Able Huls continued to dominate the IMCA stock car finishes with win number six. Aaron Brocksieck was absent last week, and then showed up with a “For Sale" sign on his # 40A. Aaron ran the heat race, but was loaded and gone before feature time. Michael Larsen led the first lap of the finale, with Ty Hill tops on lap two. after a caution for debris, Terry Houston took over, but Huls was not to be denied. Houston, Hill, Larsen, and Jerry Jansen completed the top five.

  The IMCA sport mod count was down to 11, but ironically the racing was much better. It was a quality field, and with only two cautions, the action was fast and furious. When the first yellow waved for Brad Holtmeyer's broken front end, Joe Bliven had his # xx out front with Vance Wilson second. On the restart, Vance slipped all the way to fifth. The only other caution came for Tanner Klingele on lap 10 and set up a five lap shootout. Bliven withstood heavy pressure from Tony Dunker and Jim Gillenwater, picking up his first feature of the year. Wilson and Bobby Anders rounded out the first five.

  With 16 IMCA sport compacts, there was action all around the oval. There seem to be feuds developing in what used to be, frankly, a somewhat boring division. But the 4 cylinders are quickly becoming a crowd favorite. Kim Abbott has been strong of late, but found herself missing her right side door after contact. On lap eight, Austin Becerra and Chuck Fullenkamp were battling up front when contact ended Austin’s good run and sent Chuck to the tail. A multi car incident one lap later helped Fullenkamp move up, and at the checkers he was back to third. Defending champion Seith Woodruff had issues in hot laps and his heat, but powered through the feature field for a runner up finish. but the night belonged to Macomb driver Robert Thompson, who picked up a hard fought win in his # 1B. Fullenkamp, Andrew Davis, and Bryce ' The Bullet “Baker trailed the top two to the flag.

  The hobby stocks closed out the card, with 12 cars starting. Jim Brown made it to staging, but his # 83 would not fire. Brian Hoener has been fast of late, and he opened up a nice lead before the caution closed the gap. Jake Powers, who came from last to first in his heat, moved up to challenge Hoener as the two swapped the lead. After a second caution, the leaders got together, with Hoener spinning, ending his night, and Powers going to the tail. Tanner Klingele then assumed the lead, with a final yellow on lap 14. By then Powers was back to fourth, and he moved up two more spots to trail Klingele at the checkers. Brandon Symmonds came home third, with Nathan Anders and Jeff Delonjay next in line.

  The only blotch on a good program was the unavoidable delay, which saw the final flag wave about 10:30. Count me as a fan of the 5:30 starts!

  See you at the races!