‘There’s a new vibe around here’: Hall of Fame inductees feel energy surrounding Quincy Raceways

QUINCY — Fittingly, the past provided the perfect accent on the here and now Sunday night at Quincy Raceways.

The track’s seventh Hall of Fame class — the first since 2016 — was introduced at intermission before an appreciative crowd of about 2,100. The inductees all spoke of not only the years they were active, but how important honoring past accomplishments are for the future of the track that has stood at 8000 Broadway since 1975.

Tony Dunker, one of six new inductees and a five-time track champ in the modified and sport mod divisions, spoke in great detail about how he hopes his sons will one day be able to enjoy what he did while competing at the Bullring.

“Racing is a great thing for a lot of people,” said Dunker, who retired following the 2017 season. “I’m just worried about a lot of the young drivers coming up these days. Racing has become so expensive. I don’t know how a lot of them will be able to do it.”

Dunker was one of four former racers inducted, joining the late Brent Slocum, Jim Gillenwater and Mike Dyche. Also inducted were Jeff Carter, owner of longtime racing sponsor Summy Tire and a member of 16-time late model champ Mark Burgtorf’s pit crew, and photographer Wayne Walbring.

Echoing others, Dunker said he is excited about the track’s new direction under first-year owners Jeff and Renee DeLonjay.

“There’s a new vibe around here, and it’s exciting,” Dunker said. “It’s more like ‘wow,’ and Jeff and Renee deserve all the credit.”

Carter made a plea to all local race fans.

“Support your local racers and your local tracks,” he said.

Dyche, known as the “Flying Farmer from Frederick” when he raced his late model, emphasized he had more fun on a race track than a combine, but “I made more money on the combine.”

Gillenwater talked about his career, one that has included “driving a little bit of everything.”

“And at 60 years old, I’m still racing,” Gillenwater said.

Slocum, a former late model track champion who died in an accident in the pits at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, in 2005, was represented by several members of his southeast Iowa family.

Bob Gough, a former track announcer who served as emcee of Sunday’s ceremonies, talked about Slocum, who was 28 years old when he died.

“I was announcing when Brent raced here,” Gough said. “He lost his life doing what he loved. He was one of the best guys who ever raced here.”

Gough entertained the crowd with numerous anecdotes about both the track and the inductees.

“I spent a lot of Sunday nights with a lot of these (inductees),” he said. “This is one of the best damned race tracks in the Midwest, and if you haven’t been here for a while, the DeLonjays have brought it back to life.”

Another honoree was Jeff Scott, who was representing the Scott Family, who founded the track and oversaw it until selling the 28.5-acre site in 2007. The Scotts were presented a specially made plaque honoring their contributions to local racing, particularly founder Albert Scott and his son, Bob Scott. Albert Scott died in 2000 and Bob Scott passed earlier this year.

“We love seeing what Jeff and Renee are doing with Quincy Raceways,” Jeff Scott said. “I still see a lot of fans from more than 20 years ago. If not for the fans, the track would not be here. The fans were like a second family for me when I was growing up.”

Among the past Hall of Fame inductees in attendance was Steve Fraise, who was part of the inaugural class in 2011. The nine-time late model track champ, who won his first title in 1976 and his last in 1990, spoke on the contributions of Walbring in helping make Quincy Raceways the success it grew to be.

On the track Sunday evening, eight drivers registered feature victories, including Justin Reed in the modified main event. There were a season-high 84 cars in the pits, the most since there were 84 on May 5, 2024.

Reed, a former track champion in both the modifieds (2009) and late models (2011), capitalized on a last-lap stumble between turns three and four from race-long leader Dave Wietholder. Reed shot past Wietholder coming out of turn four to take over the lead and win his first main event of the season. 

Reed also pocketed $1,600 for the victory. Winners of the crate late model modified, sport mod, 4-Cylinder and Crown Vic features all earned a bonus $1,000 Sunday night.

Modified heat wins belonged to Wietholder and Reed.

Denny Woodworth collected his first late model feature victory of the campaign, plus $1,600, by leading flag-to-flag over Jeffrey DeLonjay, Jamie Wilson and Darin Weisinger Jr. Woodworth and Benet Duesterhaus won heats.

Tanner Klingele dominated the sport mod feature for his first checkered fag of the season, turning back Reed Wolfmeyer, Logan Cumby and Kyler Girard. Klingele’s payday was $1,450. Klingele and Wolfmeyer garnered heat wins.

Jay Kunce won his second 4-Cylinder feature, leading the final seven laps over Dyllan Bonk, Kim Abbott and Aden Watkins. Kunce earned $1,225 for the victory. Travis Hawkins and Michael Grossman were heat winners.

Jake Etter won his first Crown Vic feature, with Brian Kaylor, Jacob Jones and Glen Wiley completing the top four. Etter earned $1,150 for the win. Garrett Austin and Jordan Zumwalt notched heat victories.

Rudy Zaragoza was the stock feature winner over Jake Powers, Levi Long and Eddie Dieker. Jacob Rexing, who had won the first four features of the season, was forced from the race with mechanical issues. Zaragoza won $285 for his performance. Zaragoza also won the heat race.

Allen Guthrie of Raymore, Mo., and Ronny Bunn of Nevada, Mo., were victorious in the vintage car features, a series making its second appearance of the year at the track. Heat victories belonged to Missouri drivers Kasey Buckley of Farmington, Bunn and Marshall Skaggs of Bonne Terre.