Pierce cements Hell Tour lead with convincing win at Broadway Bullring

June 23, 2022 | By Steve Eighinger

Bobby Pierce was the big winner Wednesday night at Adams County Speedway — Photo by Lacy Norgaard

QUINCY — Early in his career, The Smooth Operator was an admitted bottom feeder. He returned to those roots Wednesday night.

Bobby “The Smooth Operator” Pierce, the 25-year-old dirt-track wunderkind from Oakwood, further cemented his status as one of the nation’s premier super late model drivers when he ran away from the UMP Summer Nationals Hell Tour field at Adams County Speedway. Pierce’s 43rd career Hell Tour victory came in resounding fashion when he hugged the low line for most of the final 27 circuits of the 40-lap feature in front of a standing-room-only crowd at the Broadway Bullring.

Pierce, starting fifth in a 22-car field, opened the main event riding the cushion while trying to track down early leader Max Blair of Centerville, Pa. Once Pierce moved low, it quickly became obvious it would only be a matter of time before he gained the upper hand.

“I was able to start picking off the cars (in front of me),” Pierce said. “I really didn’t want to see that late caution. Luckily, we got through those final laps without any problem.”

The four-time Hell Tour champ’s only problem during the final 20 laps was a late yellow flag that bunched the field for a two-lap dash to the finish.

Pierce also secured a Hell Tour win in Quincy in 2016 and has raced at the track numerous times over the years in big-money shows. He won $5,800 Wednesday night.

“I really like racing in Quincy,” Pierce said.

***Bobby Pierce*** | Photo for Muddy River News by Lisa Wigoda

Shannon Babb of Moweaqua finished second, 1.13 seconds behind Pierce. Pierce had owned the better part of straightaway lead over Babb prior to the caution. Babb pocketed $2,500. Blair was third, followed by Illinois drivers Ryan Unzicker of El Paso and Brian Shirley of Chatham.

The Hell Tour race drew 37 super late models from 12 states and two foreign countries (Australia, New Zealand).

“The Hell Tour is a good chance to get in a lot of racing for decent money — if you do well,” Pierce said. “But it’s also a grind.”

Pierce currently leads the Hell Tour with 559 points, followed by Unzickler (516) and Shirley (502). The eventual Hell Tour champ earns $25,000. The grueling 32-race, six-week Hell Tour trek back and forth across the midwest can make or break a racer.

“It’s a lot of work trying to race (almost) every day,” Shirley said. “Things you would normally take two to three days to do, you have to try and do in two to three hours … but it’s better than a 9-to-5 job.”

***Brian Shirley of Chatham*** | Photo for Muddy River News by Lisa Wigoda

The 41-year-old Shirley, however, may be in the final years of his career as a fulltime racer.

“My kids are getting older and play a lot of sports,” he said. “I live in the right place, though, to be able to return home most nights” in the seemingly never-ending commute from one UMP stronghold to another.

Unzicker, 40, agrees with Shirley.

“It’s pretty hard, especially with all the travel (that is required),” he said. “It’s just a grind. I had originally planned on just racing one week (of the Hell Tour) this year … We decided to go a second week and see what we had.”

Unzicker may also be looking to step back in the not-too-distant future. He owns his own business, which makes the lengthy hauls even more of a problem. At this point in his life, Pierce has no plans to tone down his schedule, although he admitted he may not run the complete Hell Tour schedule. He said he may break away to catch other big-ticket shows.

Click here to see more Hell Tour photos by Lisa Wigoda

“I’ve never really thought about doing anything else (but racing),” said Pierce, who raced 98 nights in 2021. “Racing was always in my blood.”

Pierce said he played a lot of football and basketball growing up, but eventually cast his lot fully with racing. He said it got to the point where the other sports “were getting in the way of racing.”

Pierce has raced since he was 8 years old and owned his own team since 2019. He’s the son of Bob Pierce, a former late model driver known as “The Tall Cool One” who won the 1995 and 1992 Hell Tour titles. The two Pierces have long been familiar faces at dirt tracks across the country.

“Most of the time, we’re on the same page,” the older Pierce said — with a smile.

***Quincy’s Mark Burgtorf finished 21st in the Hell Tour feature***. | Photo for Muddy River News by Lisa Wigoda

Burgtorf claims consolation race

Mark Burgtorf of Quincy, a 16-time track champ when the speedway was known as Quincy Raceways, made his 2022 late model debut on his home track with a win in a 10-lap consolation that helped him earn a spot in the feature field. Burgtorf finished 21st in the feature, but it was the top showing of any local entrant.

Other late model winners were Cade Dillard of Robeline, La., in the Last Chance Showdown, plus Blair, Babb, McKay Wenger of Fairbury, Ill., and Blaze Burwell of Mount Vernon, Ill., in the heats.

***Nick Hoffman (2) leads a modified heat race but Kelly Kovski (10) of Springfield is right behind.*** | Photo for Muddy River News by Lisa Wigoda

Hoffman continues to roll

Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., won his sixth straight UMP Summit Modified Tour feature, the support series that accompanies the UMP Summer National late models. Kyle Steffens of St. Charles, Mo., who raced earlier this year in Quincy, finished second 2.49 seconds behind Hoffman. Tyler Nicely of Owensboro, Ky., was third.

Quincy regulars Austen Becerra of Carthage and Dave Wietholder of Liberty rounded out the top five. Hoffman pocketed $1,500 for the victory. Hoffman holds a huge points lead (420-310) over Steffens.

Grossman takes 4-Cylinder feature

Michael Grossman of Keokuk, Iowa, led the final 19 laps to earn the $1,000-to-win 4-Cylinder feature. The big payday drew 28 entries from Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. Kim Abbott of Camp Point was third and Jeffrey DeLonjay of Quincy fourth.

Car counts

The 37 late models, 22 modifieds and 28 4-Cylinders produced the highest speedway car count of the season to date: 87.

Wednesday Results

UMP Hell Tour Super Late Model

1. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill., $5,800
2. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill., $2,500
3. Max Blair, Centerville, Pa., $2,000
4. Ryan Unzicker, El Paso, Ill., $1,600
5. Brian Shirley, Chatham, Ill., $1,400
6. Jason Feger, Bloomington, Ill., $1,200
7. Kyle Beard, Trumann, Ark., $1,000
8. Frank Heckenast Jr., Frankfort, Ill., $800
9. Logan Martin, West Plains, Mo., $700
10. McKay Wenger, Fairbury, Ill., $600

Other notable 21. Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Ill.

Summit Modified

1. Nick Hoffman, Mooresville, N.C., $1,500
2. Kyle Steffens, St. Charles, Mo., $700
3. Tyler Nicely, Owensboro, Ky., $400
4. Austen Becerra, Carthage, Ill., $300
5. Dave Wietholder, Liberty, Ill., $275

Other notables: 8. Kenny Wallace, St. Louis, Mo. 11. Shawn Deering, Quincy, Ill. 18. Frankie Wellman, Quincy, Ill., 20. Levi Long, Payson, Ill.

4-Cylinders $1,000 to win

1. Michael Grossman, Keokuk, Iowa
2. Jimmy Dutlinger, Peoria, Ill.
3. Kim Abbott, Camp Point, Ill.
4. Jeffrey DeLonjay, Quincy, Ill.
5. Joe Zrostlik, Long Grove, Iowa

Other notable 11. Chance Bailey, Quincy, Ill. 14. David Harrell, Hannibal, Mo. 15. Kyle Weisenberger, Liberty, Ill. 16. Matt Dade, Quincy, Ill. 18. Michael Watkins, Warsaw, Ill. 27. Landon Neisen, LaGrange, Mo. 28 . Jaden DeLonjay, Quincy, Ill.