Racing notebook: Mealy back behind microphone at Adams County Speedway

QUINCY — That friendly, almost folksy voice that permeates the grounds of Adams County Speedway is always a welcome greeting for fans and drivers alike.

When the deep, baritone sounds of announcer Doug Mealy are first heard Sunday evenings, everyone knows racing is not far behind at the dirt track tucked away off the entrance to 8000 Broadway.

“I feel like I’m back home again,” said the 53-year-old Mealy who has been the man behind the microphone since 2005 at the speedway.

At this time a year ago, Mealy was pretty sure his announcing days at the Quincy track were kaput. The facility had been closed since the end of the 2019 season and there was no potential operators on the horizon.

“It was a definitely a sad situation,” Mealy recalled.

But over the course of late 2021, a deal was brokered between Jim and Tammy Lieurance and property owner Paul Holtschlag that would allow the track to open in the spring of 2022. The rest, as they say, is history. The first month since the track  reopened has been an overwhelming success in terms of both car counts and attendance.

And punctuating that rebirth has been the voice of Mealy, who occupies the west end of the press box every Sunday night between late March and early October. Mealy calls the action in an excitable and inviting fashion, while interacting with fans and throwing out hilarious one-liners.

“I have no doubts this place will succeed with Jim and Tammy running things,” Mealy said. “It’s so enjoyable to look forward to Sunday nights again. The last couple of years before the track shut down were … difficult.”

Low car counts, a skeleton working crew and a feeling of impending doom gripped the track most race nights. That, however, has been replaced with a sense of optimism that is ever-present in Mealy’s voice.

Mealy has a great connection, not only with the fans, but the sport itself. He was a driver for about 10 years, starting in bombers and ending in late models. A herniated disk problem in his back shut down his driving career, but opened up an entirely different world behind the mic. That has allowed him to stay close to the sport he loves.

Mealy has also worked at several Missouri tracks, getting his start almost by accident. He filled in one night for an announcer at Callaway Raceway in 2001 and discovered how much he enjoyed that part of the sport.

“It just felt natural,” Mealy said of sitting behind the mic, entertaining the listeners and offering insight about the sport he knows first-hand.

Currently, Mealy also announces at Callaway Raceway on Friday nights and Lake Ozark Speedway. He has also had a history behind the mic at Montgomery City and Randolph County speedways.

The resident of Ham’s Prairie, Mo., however, makes no secret that his favorite place to announce is Quincy. It has become his home away from home.

“Quincy has always been a great race town, and in the back of my mind I was always hoping something would work out so the track could reopen,” Mealy said. 

Mealy is hoping the late models can make a comeback at the speedway. The one-time marquee class across West-Central Illinois, Northeast Missouri and Southeast Iowa has fallen on hard times because of exorbitant costs involved with that division. Quincy promoters are still holding out hope the crate model class can take off, but so far it has been a struggle, which is a contrast to the speedway’s other four divisions which, for the most part, are flourishing.

Whatever shakes out regarding the weekly lineup of classes, Mealy is confident about one thing.

“I definitely feel good about the future of Adams County Speedway,” Mealy said.

MARS cars on tap Sunday

Adams County Speedway’s first major show of the season is Sunday when the MARS (Mid-America Racing Series) super late models come to town. Officials are expecting at least 20 cars, with many big names from the region and beyond expected to file into the pits.

The feature pays $7,000 to win. Racing should start around 6 p.m. 

The series will be in Kankakaee, Ill., on Friday and Charleston, Ill., on Saturday.

Bobby Pierce, Brandon Sheppard and Hudson O’Neal were the top three finishers at the MARS event last Saturday at Fairbury, Ill. Pierce earned $30,000 for the victory.

Tyler Erb won the season-opening event last Friday, finishing ahead of Rick Thornton, O’Neal and Pierce. Erb earned $15,000.

The MARS series is headquartered in Menomonie, Wis.

The lineup

Along with the MARS cars, Sunday night’s lineup will include sport mods, street stocks and 4-Cylinders. The crate late models and modifieds will be idle.

All five weekly classes are back on the schedule May 29 as part of the Gene Patrick Memorial Race card.

The Leaderboard

Our weekly stat package is taking the week off after three of last Sunday’s features got rained out. The numbers will return next week. In the meantime, here is some racing food for thought:

• The season high car count to date remains 85 on May 1. A weekly average of 72 cars have been on hand through the first four race dates.

• The class with the highest weekly average is the 4-Cylinders at 24.3.

• Sport mods have drawn the most caution flags with 28.

• Current feature winning streaks belong to Denny Woodworth in the crate lates, Robert Cottom in street stocks and Jeffrey DeLonjay in 4-Cylinders — all working on a stretch of three straight checkered flags.

• Illinois drivers have won 13 features, with Missouri and Iowa hotshoes owning two apiece. Illinois drivers also lead the way in heat wins (30), followed by Iowa (9) and Missouri (6).

• Top money earners by division are: Woodworth $2,300 (crate lates), Dave Wietholder $1,600 (modifieds), Adam Birck $1,025 (sport mods), Cottom $1,125 (street stocks) and DeLonjay  $800 (4-Cylinders).