Adams County Speedway ready to drop flag on racing season with Sunday night showcase

QUINCY — Admittedly, Jim Lieurance had his fingers crossed.

That’s about all he could do as he monitored the weather in anticipation of the Adams County Speedway season opener, scheduled for Sunday evening at the venerable Broadway Bullring dirt track. 

The Lucas Oil MLRA Super Late Models tour will headline the opening night schedule.

“The forecast is calling for rain on Saturday, so we’re hoping there isn’t a whole lot so we can get the track ready,” said Lieurance, who with wife Tammy are beginning their season operating the .29-mile semi-oval that sits about a half-mile east of Quincy.

Rain washed out last week’s scheduled opener, which means the track will open its campaign with one of the major dates on the 2024 schedule.

Lieurance said the $5,000-to-win MLRA race is expected to provide “between 20 and 30” cars, and will be supported by the weekly modified, street stock and 4-Cylinder classes. The sport mods and weekly crate models will begin their seasons May 12.

Track points will be awarded Sunday in the modified, street stock and 4-Cylinder divisions.

Hot laps are scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. The gates open at 3:30, the pits at 2:30.

“There seems to be a real good vibe abut this season,” Lieurance said. “I know everyone is anxious to get the season started, including the ones working at the track. They’re all great people and have worked hard to get ready for the season. We just need the rain to hold off.”

MLRA cars back in Quincy first time since 2019

The MLRA cars will be making the first of two appearances in Adams County this season, and their first since 2019 when the series came to Quincy twice and Bobby “The Smooth Operator” Pierce won both events. Pierce is no longer with the series.

The MLRA has had seven of nine events rained out during the first month of the season, with only April 12-13 races in Wheatland, Mo., having been run. Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., won both of those main events, pocketing a combined $27,000.

Mark Burgtorf has had the most success of any local driver in the two MLRA events in Quincy. Burgtorf finished seventh and ninth, respectively, in the 2019 races. 

Gundaker returns to Quincy

One of the MLRA names to watch will be Gordy Gundaker, who has raced at Quincy in the past and is quite familiar with the area. Gundaker, a native of St. Charles, Mo., played baseball at QU 2012-15.

Gundaker describes Adams County Speedway as “a racy joint,” and a track he enjoys.

“Quincy is like my second hometown,” Gundaker said. “I played college baseball in Quincy for four years and I’ve raced there a ton and won a couple of races up there. I’ve always loved going there, the people are great and it’s a great race track … every time you go there it always races really good.

“It’s fun when you get into lapped traffic, that’s how you catch guys,” Gundaker said. “I think if you asked anybody across the country what my cup of tea was, they would tell you it’s bullrings. I love the little places where you have to be up on the wheel and you have to be 110 percent focused in. At a place like (Quincy) you never know what can happen. You make one mistake and next thing you know you lose two or three spots,”

Gundaker isn’t worried how Quincy’s relatively late start to the season may affect the race.

“Even with the rain they have had the last few weeks I expect it to be really good and be a normal Quincy,” he said. “That place usually gets real slick, has a good bottom, has a very good top, and you can usually race two to three lanes all over it. Even in situations where the weather might bite them a little and it gets a little choppy, it still races good.”

Becerra begins quest for third straight title

All modified eyes will be on Austin Becerra, who is eyeing a third straight modified and fifth overall track championship. Becerra also won back-to-back bomber championships in 2013-14.

Over the past two seasons, Becerra has won a commanding 15 features, including nine a year ago. No other driver won more two main events in 2024, and only Dave Wietholder (5) has won as many as five mod features since the track resumed racing in 2022.

Ticket prices

Admission for the MLRA special will be $25 for adults (16-59), $23 for seniors and military and $10 for kids 11-15. Kids 10-under will be admitted free.

Pit passes are $45 for adults and $25 for kids.