Perry gets grip on lead on final lap, powers past Woodworth to win crate late model feature

QUINCY — Fittingly, the difference on a hot, dry and dusty Sunday night proved to be moisture.

Jason Perry said it was no accident he was able to maneuver a backstretch pass on Denny Woodworth with a half-lap left, leading to the crate late model feature win on midseason championship night at Adams County Speedway. 

Perry chased Woodworth for 19 of the previous 24 laps, waiting for an opening. And when it materialized on lap 25, Perry seized it, then held off Woodworth with a kamikaze-esque run through turns three and fourth en route to the finish line.

Perry said he could feel the track surface changing as the feature wore on, which often happens on a dirt track after the sun goes down. Moisture — compliments of Mother Nature and multiple track waterings earlier in the evening — normally begins to make its way toward the surface after the sun sets, creating more grip for cars, especially the big-bodied late models.

“I could tell moisture had come up,” Perry said. “That allowed racing all over the track.”

And Perry did just that, especially when Woodworth and he got into lapped traffic over the closing laps.

After Perry had gotten around Woodworth on the backstretch, he was able to keep Woodworth at arm’s length over the final quarter of a mile, thanks to that extra grip he was using as he squeezed through a number of backmarkers that also served as a deterrent to Woodworth.

The victory was Perry’s second in three weeks and padded his points lead over Woodworth to 345-314. Perry is pursuing his first track title since 2012.

Sam Halstead, who led the first five laps of the feature, finished third. Defending track champ Tommy Elston was fourth in a 19-car field.

Darin Weisinger Jr., Christian Miles and Halstead won heat races.

In other midseason championship features, Austen Becerra won his first modified main event since May 12, Logan Cumby dominated the sport mod field, Jacob Rexing claimed his third stock feature of the season and Jaden DeLonjay rolled to an easy checkered flag in 4-Cylinder competition.

Becerra, the two-time defending track modified champion, led flag to flag in turning back Dave Wietholder, Rexing and Mike Vanderiet Jr. The victory put an end to some recent struggles on his home track.

“We got some things figured out over the last couple of weeks,” he said. “The car was really good tonight, and we were able to race all over the track.”

Becerra leads all modified drivers with 17 feature victories since racing resumed at the track following its two-year closure (2020-21). No other series driver has more than five in that time frame.

Rexing and Becerra added heat wins to their night’s success.

Becerra holds a 381-378 points lead over Wietholder.

Cumby crossed the finish line more than a straightaway ahead of his closest sport mod pursuers — Tanner Klingele, Reed Wolfmeyer and A.J. Tournear. The feature win was his first of the season.

Four drivers remain lumped together atop the sport mod points standings: Klingele (155), Cumby (151), Wolfmeyer (151) and Tournear (147).

Tournear and Quinn Shelton won the sport mod heats.

Rexing, who led all 18 laps of the stock feature, also took over the series points lead. Rexing is holding on to a 194-193 advantage over Robert Cottom, who finished second in the feature. Jake Powers and Rudy Zaragoza rounded out the top four.

“We fixed some things Saturday, and I felt we had a pretty good hot rod,” Rexing said. “We’ve got the points lead, and we’ll see what we can do the rest of the year.”

Powers and Zaragoza garnered the stock heats.

Jaden DeLonjay continued to build his points lead in the 4-Cylinder division via his second feature victory of the year and fourth of his career. 

Jaden DeLonjay led all 15 laps, outdistancing older brother and two-time defending track champ Jeffrey DeLonjay. Spencer Coats and Kim Abbott filled out the final four.

Jaden DeLonjay (353) owns more than a 100-point lead over runner-up Abbott (249).

“The car is feeling amazing,” Jaden DeLonjay said. “I changed a couple of things today and I could tell it helped.”

Coats and Abbott won the 4-Cylinder heats.

Adams County Speedway
Midseason champions

Crate Late Models

2024 — Jason Perry, Payson, Ill.

2023 — Jason Perry, Payson, Ill.

2022 — Denny Woodworth, Mendon Ill.

Modifieds

2024 — Austen Becerra, Carthage, Ill.

2023 — Austen Becerra, Carthage, Ill.

2022 — Kenny Wallace, St. Louis, Mo.

Sport Mods

2024 — Logan Cumby, Quincy

2023 — Tanner Klingele, Quincy

2022 — Shane Paris, Muscatine, Iowa

Stocks

2024 — Jacob Rexing, Brighton, Ill.

2023 — Jake Powers, Plainville, Ill. 

2022 — Rudy Zaragoza, Jacksonville, Ill.

4-Cylinders

2024 — Jaden DeLonjay, Quincy

2023 — Jeffrey DeLonjay, Quincy

2022 — Derrick DeFord, Canton, Ill.