Feature victory inches DeLonjay closer to track championship in 4-Cylinder division

QUINCY — In all likelihood, a year from now Jeffrey DeLonjay will be well into his rookie season behind the wheel of a crate late model.

Before that, however, he hopes to close the book on his stay in the 4-Cylinder division with his first track championship at Adams County Speedway.

The 21-year-old DeLonjay moved a step closer to that goal when he won his fifth feature of the season Sunday night, holding off Jimmy Dutlinger, his chief nemesis for that would-be track title.

DeLonjay’s victory inched the Quincy hotshoe within one point (557-556) of Peoria-based Dutlinger with two weeks of points racing remaining. Track champs in all five weekly series will be crowned Aug. 28.

DeLonjay is grateful just to have a chance at what would be his first track title. He spent a couple of months in the middle of the season struggling.

“There were some problems with the fuel-injection system and some other things,” he said. “I kept (losing power).”

Those difficulties were especially frustrating after he had opened the season with three straight feature wins and looked to have that track championship wrapped up early in May.

That all changed in the second half of May and early June when DeLonjay’s sizable early points lead headed south because of the continued engine woes.

Eventually, the DeLonjay race crew, which includes 18-year-old brother Jaden, also a top 4-Cylinder driver, and his dad, Jeff, were able to reverse all the negativity.

“We were finally able to figure out what was wrong,” DeLonjay said.

That teamwork, especially with Jaden, has helped both of the brothers.

“We always work together if we need something,” Jeffrey said.

That includes his late model ride.

“I hope to be able to have it ready by next week, or the week after that,” he said.

DeLonjay plans on that being his primary ride in 2023. He bought the late model off fellow driver Spencer Coats, who, ironically, bowed out of the big-bodied series to pilot a 4-Cylinder.

Following DeLonjay and Dutlinger across the finish line Sunday night were Kim Abbott, Jaden DeLonjay and Austin Harris.

Abbott is the only other driver in the series to have a shot at the championship. She is 13 points out of first and is seeking her fourth series title, having won championships in 2019, 2016 and 2015. She also has three-runner-up points finishes since 2012.

Other feature winners Sunday evening included Tommy Elston in crate late models, Adam Birck in sport mods and Beau Taylor in street stocks. The modifieds had a scheduled week off.

Elston trailed Mark Burgtorf the first 16 laps of the 20-lap late model main event, but was able to finally reel in the 16-time track champ with the help of a slick track and some timely cautions. After the second of two late yellow flags, Elston was able to pull away for his third feature win of the summer.

Elston paid tribute to Burgtorf and his family afterward.

“Mark is a great guy, and I know he recently lost his mom,” Elston said. “I’m dedicating this win to his mom’s memory. (The Burgtorfs) are all great people.”

Burgtorf, Braden Bilger and Denny Woodworth made up the top four finishers. Woodworth continues to dominate the points race, leading Sam Halsted by a comfortable 738-623 margin.

Birck’s checkered flag in the sport mod feature was his third and ties him with Shane Paris, Logan Cumby and Tanner Klingele for the series lead. Birck’s victory also removed any doubts about the new hot rod he acquired earlier this month.

“This is one fine race car,” Birck said. 

Birck took over the feature lead from Reed Wolfmeyer halfway through the 18-lap finale and was not seriously threatened afterward. Wolfmeyer finished second, followed by Dakota Girard and Klingele.

Birck padded his series lead to 529-501 over Klingele. Cumby and Dakota Gird are tied for third at 484. The sport mods are the only weekly series at the track to not yet have a back-to-back feature winner this season and are the only division to have four or more drivers with two or more feature wins.

Taylor’s feature victory was his first of the season, holding off Jake Powers, Steve Grotz and Pete Stodgel.

Rudy Zaragoza, who finished fifth in the feature, moved one step closer to his first track title. Zaragoza leads Powers 489-437 in the points standings.