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Past the Pit Gate.......
by Danny Rosencrans
QUINCY, ILLINOIS (January 31) - The 2009 race season officially came to
an end on Saturday January 30 as the Quincy Raceways banquet was held at the
Quincy Senior Center. Honored champions included Steve Carlin in the hobby
stocks, Abe Huls in the IMCA stock cars, Justin Reed in the UMP modifieds,
and Lonnie Bailey in the IMCA late models.
Reed stole the show during the acceptance speeches, becoming the first
champion I know of to quote the poet Rudyard Kipling during his time at the
microphone. The young driver also took the brunt of the good natured ribbing
from his crewmen and fellow drivers, who were pointing at their watches as
he concluded his remarks. Bailey poked a bit of fun at himself in mentioning
the fact that he picked up two track titles, the other at 34 Raceway,
without benefit of a feature win. This was only the second time in the
history of the late model class at QR that this has happened.
As always at these events, there was plenty of bench racing, and separating
fact from rumor and speculation can be a dicey proposition, but I will
attempt to recap some of what I heard and overheard.
The 2010 season will begin with the annual car show at the Quincy Mall the
weekend of March 13 and 14. Although the schedule is not completely
finished, it is expected that several practice nights will follow, weather
permitting. The first racing of of the season will be on Easter Sunday,
April 4. Although not an ideal race day, co owner Tony Rhinberger mentioned
that he wants to see some laps on the track before the Deery Brothers IMCA
late model Summer Series comes to town the following Sunday, April 11. No
track points will be awarded on the April 4 date, but all applicable state,
region and national points will be awarded in the eligible classes.
The second visit of the Summer Series will coincide with the annual running
of the Titan Wheel classic, this year held on Sunday June 13. This event
will see an increase over the usual $2,000.00 to win series purse, with a
$3,000.00 top prize.
A visit by the month long UMP late model Summernationals will be on Sunday
July 11, with a winners check worth either $5,000.00 or $6,000.00 pending a
possible purse restructuring by UMP officials. The Labor Day Summer Series
event has been dropped from the schedule, as IMCA is attempting to make the
schedule more " user friendly " to the race teams, who have to be in Boone,
Iowa by the next afternoon. A couple of modified specials are still in the
planning stages, and there may be some exciting news coming on an IMCA stock
car special.
Among the driver news and notes, points runner up Jim Powell says he has a
new Cutlass body on his # 48 ride, however both he and stock car teammate
Michael Larsen were commenting on the hard time they are having finding
bodies for the hobby and stock cars.
Master builder Jerry Powers is putting a new hobby stock together for son
Jake, while also building cars for sale. Newlywed Bobby Anders has purchased
a new Dominator chassis for the hobby class. Bobby plans to run for the
track title in 2010, with hopes of moving up to stock cars in 2011.
While stock car track champ Abe Huls says he will be back to defend his
title this season, teenage veteran Sarah Woodhurst will likely sit out this
year. Sarah is in here first year of college at the University of Missouri
in Columbia, taking a heavy load of classes, and will wisely put her racing
career on the back burner for the time being.
The " Taz Man, " Wes Mayfield, who sold his hobby stock while in the middle
of last seasons points battle, has a stock car ready for the upcoming
campaign.
Veteran Dave Weitholder will be getting a jump on most of his UMP modified
competitors, as he will pull his # 05 to Florida this week to take part in
Speedweeks events at the Volusia race track.
Meanwhile, another veteran, Steve Grotz will be back in a mod full time
after purchasing a new Bob Pierce machine. Steve will join sons Trent and
Troy on the area tracks. Steven Delonjay has broken with family tradition a
bit by going with blue accents on the # 35 machine. For 30 years and more,
through several class changes, red and white has been the signature colors
on the Delonjay family ride, so maybe Steven thinks he can sneak up on the
field!
While the late model class will apparently have plenty of familiar faces,
there is still plenty of news.
Mark Burgtorf will be adding Caseys General Stores as a sponsor, while
Lonnie Bailey is working a deal with fellow racer Robbie Reed for a deal
through his Central Iron and Metals business.
Jason Frankel has sold his IMCA operation to Melvin Genenbacher and
Genenbacher Racing, which will now be a three car team, as Frankel and Jason
Perry will be driving for the team, as well as Bill " Wild Willy "
Genenbacher. Bill just returned home with a brand new GRT he will pilot this
season.
Nick Ingalls has purchased an IMCA machine from Dustin Griffin for the
upcoming year, and Dustin is putting together a new ride to run the full
Deery schedule in addition to his crate motor racing.
Terry Gallaher sold his IMCA late model to veteran Vance Wilson, who is
looking to compete weekly at QR, and Gallaher then acquired the Mastersbilt
machine owned by Jason Krigbaum and driven in 2009 by Jason and Vance
Wilson.
Clint Kirkham, fresh off a top ten points finish,has two cars ready to go,
and will likely be a fixture again at QR.
Robby Warner is hoping to add some open motor racing to his QR schedule in
2010.
While he skipped the banquest due to family commitments, Burgtorf is also
reportedly set to run the entire Deery schedule.
2009 was a challenging season for race tracks and drivers throughout the
country, and we should count ourselves fortunate to have such a talented and
dedicated group of drivers and a top notch facility to watch them race on.
The season opener is but nine weeks away, so dig out your racing shirts and
get ready for a super 2010!
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