The first feature to take to the track was the 18 lap IMCA Stock Cars, with Rodolfo Zaragoza and Jerry Jansen leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Zaragoza took advantage of his front row start to grab the lead on lap 1 over Jansen and Dean Kratzer. While Zaragoza started to pull away, the battle for the runner up spot was two and three wide between Kratzer, Michael Larsen, Abe Huls, and Brian Hoener, who started 7th. One thing that Zaragoza didn't want to see was a caution, as he had built up a full straight-away lead over the battle behind him. But Jake Powers would spin in turn 2 on lap 10 to bring out the yellow, and brought the field back to Zaragoza's back bumper. On the restart Zaragoza moved back out front, with Huls and Larsen close behind. Huls tried to get under Zaragoza going into turn 1 on lap 11, but clipped a tire and spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Once again Zaragoza jumped back out front on the restart, with Hoener and Larsen battling for the runner up spot. With Hoener and Larsen racing side-by-side for second, Zaragoza was able to pull away to pick up his first feature win. Larsen won the battle for 2nd, Hoener was 3rd, Kratzer was 4th, with Huls rounding out the top 5. Huls earned enough points last week to lock up his fourth IMCA Stock Car title at Quincy Raceways.
Up next was the 25 lap UMP Late Model feature, with McKay Wenger and Eric Spangler, who made the pull down from Lake City, Michigan, on the front row. Wenger used his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Denny Woodworth and Spangler. The fast pace that Wenger was setting, brought him to the back of the field by lap 7. But disaster almost struck Wenger on lap 8 when he tried to work under Trent Grotz going into turn 1, and then made contact with Grotz. Who spun in turn 2 to bring out the first caution of the race. On the restart Wenger jumped back out front, with Mark Burgtorf going to the top of the track to over take Woodworth for the runner up spot. Burgtorf then worked the top of the track to slowly reel in Wenger, who was on the bottom, for the top spot. Coming to complete lap 23 Burgtorf was able to pull up beside for Wenger for the lead. But a caution appeared to set up a two lap shootout for the win. Once again Grotz would spin down the front stretch off the front bumper of Alan Westling, who was trying to lap him, to bring out the yellow. On the restart Burgtorf used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to grab the lead away from Wenger on lap 24. Going into turn 1 Wenger went in low and then slid up in front of Burgtorf coming off turn 2. Who had to get on the brakes to avoid plowing into Wenger. Wenger then held on to claim the win. While in victory lane Wenger would propose to his girlfriend, who said yes. Burgtorf settled for 2nd, Alan Westling started 7th and finished 3rd, Spangler was 4th, with Clint Kirkham, who drove VanZandt's #21v Crate Late Model, coming home in 5th. Woodworth crossed the line in 6th to claim his third Late Model title at Quincy Raceways.
Brandon Herron and Darin Weisinger Jr. made up the front row for the 15 lap IMCA Sport Compact feature, with Weisinger Jr. jumping out front on lap 1 over Brandon Lambert and Kimberly Abbott. Weisinger Jr. then held the top spot until lap 5, when Lambert was able to work under him coming off turn 4 to take the lead. Lambert then held off Abbott over the final laps to pick up his fourth win of the season at the track. Abbott was 2nd, Weisinger Jr. was 3rd, Darin Weisinger was 4th, with Herron finishing 5th. With only 5 cars on hand all Abbott had to do was take the green flag to secure her second straight IMCA Sport Compact title at the track.
Up next was the 20 lap UMP Modified feature, with Dave Wietholder and Frankie Wellman on the front row. Wietholder would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Gary Bentley and Frankie Wellman. Wellman, who over took Bentley for the runner up spot before the midway point, couldn't catch Wietholder over the finals laps. As Wietholder had built up over a 3 second lead in a race that went non stop, to claim his second win of the season at the track. Wellman was 2nd, Shawn Deering came from sixth to finish 3rd, Bentley was 4th, with Joey Gower finishing 5th after starting in 11th. Going into Sunday nights action Wietholder held a 2 point lead over Michael Long in the season long battle for the title. When Long didn't show up, Wietholder would go on to claim his first ever Modified track title since joining the class back in 2003.
Probably the closest points battle that was going to be settled at the finish of the feature, was the IMCA SportMods. Nathan Bringer held a 5 point lead over Brandon Lennox, and was 9 points ahead of defending track champion Joey Gower. Justin Bartz and Todd Reed led the field to green in the 18 lap feature, with Bartz jumping out front to lead lap 1 over Justin Ebbing and Reed. Just after the completion of lap 1 the caution light would appear, as Spencer Coats spun in 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bartz edged out Ebbing to keep the lead. But Ebbing was able to get under Bartz coming off turn 4 to complete lap 3 to take the top spot away. Ebbing then started to pull away, as Austen Becerra, Reed, Lennox, and Tony Dunker, who started 9th, battled two and three wide for the runner up spot. The field was brought back to Ebbing's back bumper on lap 12, when Justin Todd spun in turn 4 to bring out the second caution of the race.
Ebbing jumped back out front on the restart, with Becerra and Dunker racing side-by-side for the second spot. The action up front was slowed for the third and final time on lap 16, as Craig Bangert spun in turn 2 to bring out the caution. This would set up a two lap shoot out for the win and the track title. Once again Ebbing moved out front on the restart, with Dunker using the top of the track to clear Becerra for the second spot. Coming to the white flag Dunker was able to pull up beside Ebbing in the battle for the lead. Going into turn 3 Ebbing went low, while Dunker used the middle of the track. Coming off turn 4 Dunker was able to edge out the win by half a car length to pick up his second win in a row at the track. Ebbing settled for 2nd, Reed was 3rd, Becerra was 4th, and Lennox came home in 5th. Bringer, who finished 9th, won his first ever track title by a mere 1 point over Lennox.
Notes from Quincy: Dugan Thye put UMP Hoosier tires on his IMCA crate Modified and raced in the UMP Modified class. He started 8th in the feature and finished 6th....Wesley Mayfield converted his IMCA SportMod car over to a UMP Modified for the night and finished 7th in the feature......Joey Gower started the SportMod feature in 11th and passed 5 cars to come home in 6th....Jacob Copley, who is second in IMCA Illinois State National Points, made the pull down from East Moline for the second week in a row. He started the feature in 16th and passed 6 cars to finish in 10th....Andrew Burk, who is leading the IMCA Illinois State National Points, also made the pull down from Donahue, Iowa to try and hold onto the lead in points. He would finish 11th in the feature.
Just before what was scheduled to be the final night of racing for 2016 at the Quincy Raceways, Ken Dobson announced a two day race between Jacksonville Speedway and Quincy. On Saturday, October 8th the Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, IL will hold the Danny Bangert Memorial. In action on the night will be the Big Ten Late Model Series, going for $1,200 to win. Also in action will be the Modifieds racing for $750 to win, the SportMods/B-Mods going for $500 to win, as well as the Street Stocks/Stock Cars racing for $500. A $100 bonus will be paid out to the highest finishing IMCA legal Stock Car, with Hoosier A40/A40S tires legal on all SportMods/B-Mods and Street Stock/Stock Cars. Plus the 4 Cylinders will be racing for $200 to win.
The following night, Sunday, September 9th, the action moves over to the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, IL. Where the 305 Sprint Cars will be racing for $500 to win. Also racing will be the Modifieds for $750 to win, SportMods/B-Mods going for $500 to win. Any SportMod/B-Mod using Hoosier A40/A40S tires and/or having a 4 bar must add 50 lbs. The Stock Cars/Street Stock will be going for a top prize of $500, with the 4 Cylinders racing for $200 to win.
A two night bonus money has also been put up, as the best combined finish both nights in the Modifieds gets a $250 bonus. The best combined finish both nights in the 3 link SportMod/B-Mod will earn a $250 bonus. Another $250 bonus will be awarded to the best combined finish on both nights to the Stock Cars, with a $100 bonus awarded to the best combined finish for the 4 Cylinders. There will be no entry fee on either night. For more information about these two events, please check out the tracks websites at www.jacksonvillespeedway.com and www.quincyraceways.com.
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