Feature victory moves Rexing closer to securing track championship at Adams County Speedway

QUINCY — The grind is nearing an end, and Jacob Rexing can finally see a track championship awaiting him at next week’s finish line.

Rexing took an important step Sunday night toward his first Adams County Speedway stock car title when he emerged victorious following an 18-lap, slam-bang, back-and-forth battle with co-protagonist Robert Cottom.

Rexing and Cottom have dueled the majority of the spring and summer for the points lead, and following what wound up as a decisive final lap — in more ways than one — means next Sunday’s points feature finale is set up to decide a months-long struggle that began back on the first Sunday in May. 

Rexing owns a 422-419 points advantage, a margin that would have been even tighter if Cottom had not lost two positions on the backstretch of the final lap trying to make a last-gasp charge to get to the front. Cottom’s kamikaze effort to get past Rexing wound up causing him to fall behind eventual third- and fourth-place finishers Ricky Frankel III and Jake Powers.

“That was one of the best stock-car races I’ve seen in a long time,” co-promoter Jim Lieurance said.

There was no arguing that observation.

“I’m looking forward to next week,” Rexing said. “(Cottom) has made me bust my butt this year. I haven’t driven a car as hard as I did tonight in a long time.”

Rexing said his car “started skating” on him late in the race, but he was able to hang on to first place over the final four laps. Rexing and Cottom spent much of the second half of the 18-lap feature door-to-door, neither being able to establish a firm hold on the top spot.

“It feels good to win again,” Rexing said.

Rexing and Cottom, who is also seeking his first track title, each have won five stock-car features this season, but Rexing had not been to victory circle since July 5.

Heat-race wins went to Rexing and Levi Long.

Rexing’s $375 first-place check also solidified his hold on the series money lead. Rexing ($3,600), Cottom ($2,950), Rudy Zaragoza ($2,195) and Frankel ($2,150) are the top stock money-winners.

Other feature winners included Jason Perry in crate late models, Michael Long in modifieds, Logan Veloz in sport mods, Matthew Mackey in 4-Cylinders and Dakota Damron in the Crown Vics.

Perry moved closer to his first late model crown since 2012 with a second straight feature victory. Perry is the lone late model driver to win back-to-back features this season and now leads the series with four victories.

Perry led all 25 laps of the main event, upping his points lead to 653-638 over defending champ Tommy Elston, who was second in the feature. Jackson Frankel finished third and Jamie Wilson fourth.

“Lapped traffic was definitely a factor (late in the race),” said Perry, whose strongest challenger most of the event was Frankel, a rookie who figures to be a legitimate title threat in 2025. “(Frankel) is going to be a good one. He pressured me all the way.”

Perry earned $800 for his victory and moved into the series earnings lead with $5,570. Elston ($5,170) and Denny Woodworth ($4,945) complete the top three.

Prior to the start of the late model feature, the 15 qualifiers toured the track in a “missing man” tribute lap, leaving the pole position open in honor of the late Scott Bloomquist. Dirt tracks across the nation had similar tributes following the Friday death of Bloomquist, 60, in a plane crash. Bloomquist is regarded as the greatest-ever dirt late model talent.

“The missing man” lap brought the fans in the stands to their feet, most holding up a lighted cell phone in honor of Bloomquist.

“I was shocked when I heard of his death,” Lieurance said. “He always kind of lived on the edge … he did a lot for racing.”

Perry and Frankel also collected late model heat victories.

Long dominated the modified feature, winning by a whopping 3.9 seconds (the equivalent of nearly a straightaway) over Dave Wietholder, Austen Becerra and Kenny Wallace.

Long led the final 17 laps of the 20-lap feature, overtaking early leader Trevor Neville, who bolted to a quick and sizable lead but exited near the end of lap four because of a flat tire.

“I didn’t get a jump (at the start) like I wanted,” said Long, who has enjoyed a banner season on multiple regional fronts. “It’s been a really good year.”

Long’s first-place payoff of $800 put him over $70,000 in career earnings at Quincy, even though he has not been a track regular since 2016. Wietholder ($75,810) is the all-time modified earnings champ.

Long, Neville and Kenny Wallace won modified heats.

Becerra (731) leads Wietholder (723) heading into next Sunday’s points finale. Becerra also leads modified drivers with $12,370 in earnings this season. Wietholder ($7,420) is runner-up.

In the modifieds’ 10-lap King of the Bullring shootout, Drake Stevenson pocketed the $200 top prize. Rexing was second and Russ Coultas third.

Logan Veloz of Colona, Ill., won his first sport mod feature in Quincy in convincing fashion, turning back the series’ big three of Tanner Klingele, Logan Cumby and Reed Wolfmeyer, who filled out the top four finishers. Veloz won $600 for his effort.

“This was my first time here this year, but I was here three times last year,” Veloz said. “This place is a lot of fun. I didn’t expect the track to come in like it did.”

Veloz led the closing nine laps of the 18-lap feature. Veloz and A.J. Tournear won heat races. Tournear and Rexing (stock cars) are tied for a track-best seven heat-race wins in a single series, although Rexing has won 11 overall heats, counting his successes in the both stocks and modifieds.

Klingele (345), Wolfmeyer (342) and Cumby (342) sit atop the sport mod points. Klingele ($4,285), Wolfmeyer ($4,145) and Cumby ($3,995) also pace the money leaders.

Mackey won his third 4-Cylinder feature, surviving a race-long duel with Spencer Coats. Jeremy Hancock and Landon Neisen rounded out the top four.

Mackey and Travis DeMint were heat winners.

Jaden DeLonjay, who bowed out of the feature in 12th place after losing a tire in turn one, has the series title wrapped up. DeLonjay (742) and Kim Abbott (597) are the top two in points. DeLonjay ($2,340) is also the leading money-winner.

Damron’s feature win in the Crown Vics was his second in a row and kept him in the championship hunt with one week remaining. Jacob Jones (254), Brian Kaylor (253) and Damron (252) are the top three in points. Jones ($920) and Damron ($780) are leading the money.

Damron and Kaylor won heat races.

Speedway notes

• Third-generation driver Trent Wilson of Bowling Green, Mo., made his debut Sunday night in a crate late model. He is the grandson of former Quincy regular Gary Wilson and son of current driver Terry Wilson. 

• Modified driver Hunter Breland made the 702-mile haul from Hattiesburg, Miss., to compete Sunday night. He finished 11th in the feature.

• Michael Long (14.029 seconds) was the top modified qualifier and the fourth quickest of the season.

• Modified driver Austen Becerra has led more feature laps (121) than any other driver in any series, but Jacob Rexing has led more total laps (179), counting heats. Rexing competes in both the modified and stock series.

• The speedway season will officially end Sept. 15. There had been talk of extending the schedule with a special event or two, but co-promoter Jim Lieurance confirmed Sunday night that Sept. 15 will be the closing date.