It is not often that I go more than two weeks without attending a race during a summer month, but after fifteen days I was once again with the Shottenkirk.com Sprint Invaders as they paid their annual visit to the "Bullring on Broadway", the Quincy Raceways. A weekend at the lake with friends and a business trip to New Jersey had filled my schedule since I last saw Ryan Jamison return to victory lane back on August 20th at 34 Raceway and it was good to see that the thrill of that victory fifteen days ago still had a big smile on "Flyin' Ryan's" face as he would once again be a contender here tonight.
On a warm and breezy sunny day the track conditions were too dry to begin with, especially for a full field of twenty-six Sprint Cars along with four of the track's weekly classes, but the track crew recovered nicely by adding some much needed a water a few times during the evening and, by feature time, with the sun now setting, the moisture came back to the surface and the dry slick conditions truly made for a driver's track.
Cagey veterans Jamison and John Schulz would bring the field to green for the 25-lap main event and they would swap the lead over the first two circuits before Schulz settled in setting the pace using the high line around the speedway. The driver on the move though was current series point leader Chris Martin who was making his way to the front using whatever line that he needed to gain a position. The 19-year-old speedster, under the tutelage of crew chief Dennis Moore Jr., thrilled the crowd with bold, but clean sliders and by lap fifteen he was up to second and closing on the leader.
One more slider on Schulz in turns one and two moved Martin to the lead and completed his march from the fifth row to the front. From there he still had to make some bold moves in traffic and the youngster closed the deal, and perhaps locked down the points title with just one race remaining as he took the checkers in the non-stop event. Jamison slipped past Schulz on the final lap to finish in second. Robbie Standridge made a cameo appearance in Jimmy Davies second car and, powered by a Matt Kinney engine, won the Budweiser King of Beers Shakeup Dash and finished fourth in the main event while Randy Martin closed out the top five. For the full race story along with the complete results check out Bill Wright's write up.
Obviously I am biased, but if there is a more improved Sprint Car driver other than Chris Martin in the country this year I would like to know who that is. The young man scored the opening night win at 34 Raceway back in April and it was like an injection of confidence that has carried on throughout the season. If the kid isn't winning, he is right there knocking on the door and "The Step Child" will have his chance to close out a Championship season with the Shottenkirk.com Sprint Invaders on Saturday night September 17th where it all began, 34 Raceway in Burlington.
I was thrilled with the car count Sunday night knowing that this was a busy weekend for Sprint Car racing in the Midwest. It was great to have Randy and Evan Martin joining us, Nathan Charron teamed up with Ben Wagoner for the night, Dustin Homan out of southeast Missouri was impressive in his Sprint Invaders debut as was Chris Campbell. McKenna Haase was also in the field, but a hard crash on the second lap of her heat race ended her evening. Well, at least the racing part of it, as the personable young lady came into the stands during intermission and signed autographs until she had to move back away from the fence when the Sport Mod feature came to the track. All in all it was a fun night of racing for the Sprint Car fans who may not frequent Quincy Raceways on a regular basis.
And for those fans who do enjoy their Sunday nights here on a regular basis they were also treated to some great action from the UMP Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods, Stock Cars and Sport Compacts.
Does a dominant driver make a difference in a track's weekly car count? Well, with Michael Long headed for a $5,000-to-win UMP Modified show at the Spoon River Speedway, a solid field of eighteen Mods filled the pits at Quincy, about twice as many as have been chasing Long here throughout the year and local favorite David Wietholder out dueled early leader Shawn Deering to take the win. Donovan Lodge came from eighth to finish third, Spencer Havermale was fourth and infrequent visitor Derrick Carlson was fifth.
Young Austin Howes has won the last two Sport Mod features here so some fans put up some extra money as an incentive for him to start at the back to make it worth his while to win his third in a row. Howes gave up his third starting spot to lineup thirteenth in the 18-lap main event and with five laps to go he made a nifty move to move into the second spot. Brandon Lennox had a straightaway lead at that point and Howes would cut into it each lap to close within a couple of car lengths as the white flag waved, but Lennox was too good to give away the bottom on that final lap and he took the win just ahead of Howes. It was my understanding though that those fans still put an extra $300 into his pocket to help pay his travel expenses to Boone this week for making the effort. Tony Dunker finished third, hometown driver Todd Reed scored his first top-five of the season in fourth and Kevin Tomlinson was fifth.
Abe Huls was dialed in once again with his IMCA Stock Car as he came from the fourth row to score the win and the driver who started next to him, Michael Larsen was second. Brian Hoener finished in third with Jake Powers and Beau Taylor next in line. The Sport Compact feature went to Austen Becerra who was driving Barry Taft's #57 in preparation for a trip to Boone this week. Craig Bangert was the runner up, Jeffrey DeLonjay did not make any friends in third while Darin Weisinger Jr. and Kimberly Abbott in a brand new car completed the top five.
Bill W and I had a great time working in the booth with Doug Mealy, Steve Eighinger, Brian Neal, Jack Walbring and Chris Miller, five gentlemen who definitely know a lot about racing here at Quincy and who do a great job of running and reporting on the show. Next Sunday I plan to be back down in the stands though when the Big Ten Late Model Series will be the headliner here on September 11th.
Another business road trip this week may land me in the vicinity of a race or two so check back in on the Back Stretch next weekend!
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