Adams County Speedway promoters push back season opener to avoid weather-related issues with track condition

QUINCY — The Adams County Speedway season will start a bit later than scheduled.

Track officials have postponed Sunday night’s scheduled opening until April 16. The track was scheduled to be off April 9 in honor of the Easter holiday.

“The track is extremely soft, and with more bad weather likely this week we felt the best thing to do was postpone,” track promoter Jim Lieurance said. “We’ll be scheduling some practices prior to April 16. We apologize and thank everyone for understanding. We can’t wait to get the season started.”

Social media response to Lieurance’s announcement was overwhelmingly in favor of the decision.

“Good move!” 4-Cylinder driver Kim Abbott of Camp Point said. “I’d rather have a good racing surface, rather than rushing into it.”

Quincy modified driver Matt Diaz agreed.

“A great track is always better than a rushed one,” Diaz said.

Longtime racer Jim Powell of Hannibal, Mo., who is coming out of retirement, will make the most of the situation.

“I totally understand the decision,” said Powell, who has raced hobby stocks and modifieds during his career. “It will give a little more time to get the cars ready.”

The speedway will be featuring crate late models, modifieds, sport mods, stocks and 4-Cylinder cars as its weekly classes. Defending track champs are Denny Woodworth (crate lates), Austen Becerra (modifieds), Adam Birck (Sport mods), Rudy Zaragoza (stocks) and Jeffrey DeLonjay (4-Cylinders).

The two major dates on this season’s calendar that will include super open late models will be June 28 (UMP Summer Nationals) and July 2 (MLRA).