Racing notebook: Adams County Speedway exceeds expectations in first half of season

QUINCY — So far, so good.

That more or less sums up the first half of the dirt-track season at Adams County Speedway.

“I think we’ve probably already exceeded all expectations in the first year back,” race director Blake Dotson said.

The track set vacant and overgrown for two years before promoter Jim Lieurance and his wife, Tammy, worked out a deal in late 2021 with property owner Paul Holtschlag. The Lieurances took over the facility on a rent-to-own basis.

One of the first moves the Laurences made was to bring in Dotson as race director. Dotson, who lives north of Quincy, is a well-known name in regional dirt-track circles. Dotson’s overall expertise, plus his long list of contacts — particularly racers — was the piece de resistance that was needed in re-establishing Quincy as the epicenter of racing in West-Central Illinois, Northeast Missouri and Southeast Iowa.

“We’re about a year ahead of where I originally thought we would be,” said Dotson, referencing car counts, re-establishing spectator interest and attracting sponsorships. “The community support in and around Quincy has been unreal. What has happened in Quincy would not have happened at a lot of tracks.”

What’s next?

The remainder of 2022 will be spent further strengthening what has been re-established over the first three months of the season, most notably:

• Four of the five weekly classes have been solid since day one, particularly the sport mods (which are arguably now the No. 1 series at the track). The modifieds and 4-Cylinders have also been steady, if not spectacular, when it comes to car counts. The stock cars are not far behind.

• The biggest concern remains the crate late models. Although the class is now averaging in double figures car count-wise, it has been a struggle. Increasing the purse early in the season helped and track operators are doing all they can to revitalize what was once the flagship series at 8000 Broadway. As always, cost is the most prohibitive factor when it comes to the late models. In addition, there are simply not as many late models as there used to be. Many of the former late model drivers have either retired or moved on to a another class where it is cheaper to compete.

• Watch for some second-half experimentation with classes. At least one out-of-town series has contacted Dotson about a full-time spot in the 2023 lineup, largely because word about the success story at Quincy is spreading.

Gas prices

The high price of fuel is hampering racing nationwide, and local dirt tracks are no exception.

Car counts may take more of a hit in the second half of the season at the Broadway Bullring without some relief from the pain at the pump. For example, the 4-Cylinders class had been averaging 25 cars a night before last week when just 10 showed up, by far a season low. 

Counts were down in all weekly series except the sport mods.

By the middle of July, we should have a better grasp on what the counts may look like as summer unfolds. Probably half of the overall weekly average of 70.5 cars comes from an hour or more away from Quincy, and as we all know, driving (and hauling) is quite expensive these days.

The mod squad

Modified lovers should be in dirt-track heaven Sunday at the speedway.

Of the six classes scheduled to race, three are modified derivatives — IMCA sport mods, UMP “A” mods and Hart Series Open “B” modifieds.

Also on the docket are stock cars, 4-Cylinders and D2 midgets. The late models are off this week.

Some increased purses are being finalized for Sunday night, including $1,000 to win for the “A” mods.

New starting time

Sunday night begins summer hours at the track with a 7 p.m. start that will last until school begins.

Looking down the road

We’ll have more information later in the season, but get ready for a major two-day show Sept. 16-17, spotlighting the “A” mods and paying more than $4,400 to win. That same weekend the 4-Cylinders will be racing for $3,000 to win.