Deering dominates modified feature at Adams County Speedway

QUINCY — Admittedly, the start of the dirt-track racing season has been a challenge for modified driver Shawn Deering.

He’s hoping Sunday night’s feature victory at Adams County Speedway is a harbinger of better things to come.

Deering led flag-to-flag en route to collecting a $1,000 paycheck, holding off a stout field that included the likes of runner-up Mark Burgtorf, third-place Austen Becerra and fourth-place Jacob Rexing, who were all in his rear-view mirror the entire 20 laps.

“This was only my third time out this year, and it’s been a struggle,” said Deering, who collected the sixth feature victory of his career. “We finished 17th in (the May 21 feature), but we were able to find a couple of things (that were wrong with the car) afterward.”

Even though Deering led from start to finish, it was no cakewalk.

“It was tough. The cushion was tough, and I made some mistakes … but I buckled down and was able to get the win,” Deering said.

Deering, who missed the season opener in late April due to illness, moved into the top 10 in series points with the victory. Deering’s 109 points are well behind leader Rexing (200), runner-up Becerra (188) and third-place Burgtorf (180), but four months of racing remain. 

Deering was the fourth different feature winner in as many shows for the modified series. The victory moved Deering into fifth place in all-time series victories since the modifieds became sanctioned with UMP in 2009. Michael Long (76), Steven DeLonjay (41), Dave Wietholder (30), Becerra (7) and Deering (6) make up the top five in career victories,.

Deering climbed into third place in money earnings this season. His $1,375 trails Rexing ($1,975) and Becerra ($1,650).

Other Sunday night feature winners were Denny Woodworth in crate late models, Reed Wolfmeyer in sport mods, Rudy Zaragoza in street stocks, Jaden DeLonjay and Jimmy Dutlinger in 4-Cylinders and Domanic McNabb in the AIRS Vintage Car series.

Woodworth won a tight main event over Jason Perry, Tommy Elston, Sam Halstead and Jamie Wilson. Woodworth’s victory was by 0.899 of a second.

“That was some race,” Woodworth said. “If you didn’t like this (race), you’re either blind or Joe Biden.”

Woodworth also lauded the Memorial Day weekend turnout of about 2,000.

“We all love racing in front of crowds like this,” said Woodworth, who built his series points lead to 220-200 over Perry, with Halstead (180) and Elston (146) following.

Woodworth’s feature victory was his second of the year and 26th since the crate lates became a class at Quincy in 2017. That victory total is just two less than the 28 wins combined from all other crate late drivers in that span. Woodworth is gunning for his fifth straight crate late series championship.

Woodworth ($2,100) also upped his lead in money won. Perry ($1,350) is second.

Wolfmeyer’s sport mod victory, his first in the series, matched Deering’s in terms of dominance. He was in total control for most of the main event’s 18 laps.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Wolfmeyer said. “Hell yeah, baby, been a long time.”

Wolfmeyer did not race at Quincy until after the pandemic and the re-opening of the facility in 2022. His rookie season at 8000 Broadway saw him manage seven top-five finishes and a sixth place in points.

Sport mod points leader Tanner Klingele wound up second to Wolfmeyer, with Nicholas Profeta third and Logan Cumby fourth. Klingele (116), Cumby (113), A.J. Tournear (106), Dakota Girard (103), Wolfmeyer (101), Adam Birck (101) and Josh Holtman (100) are bunched together at the top of the points list.

Zaragoza, who won five stock features a year ago, claimed his first this season by leading all 15 laps. Robert Cottom was runner-up and Jake Powers third. 

Powers (109), Kale Foster (99), Bandon Boden (96) and Zaragoza (75) are the stock points leaders.

Jaden DeLonjay won the originally scheduled 4-Cylinder feature, while Dutlinger won a makeup. The 4-Cylinder feature was rained out May 7.

Jaden DeLonjay’s victory saw him lead all 12 laps ahead of brother Jeffrey DeLonjay. The brothers ran nose-to-tail the entire race.

“I didn’t see him the whole race, but I felt him a couple of times when he bumped me,” Jaden DeLonjay said.

Jeffrey DeLonjay (117), Jaden DeLonjay (115) Dutlinger (114) and Spencer Coats (110) are the series points leaders.

McNabb’s 12-lap win in the AIRS series introduced the vintage cars — from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s — to an appreciative crowd. Track promoter Jim Lieurance said afterward he will try and schedule a return performance from the series (headquartered in Iowa) for later this season.

McNabb was driving a 1965 Ford Fairlane.