Racing Notebook: Five memorable events highlight first third of Adams County Speedway season

QUNCY — We’ve reached the equivalent of the one-third mark in the dirt-track season at Adams County Speedway.

With no racing scheduled Sunday — the track is off to allow race fans to attend the Grand Prix of Karting at South Park — it’s a good time to sit back and reflect. Here’s one man’s opinion on five of the most memorable events, accomplishments and situations tied to the 2022 season so far:

1. Becerra’s memorable run: Austen Becerra’s victory in the modified feature last Sunday is still a hot topic. The 28-year-old, whose own modified was sidelined with mechanical issues, hopped in a sport mod borrowed from friend Adam Birck and won the modified main event in exciting, late-lap fashion. This accomplishment has a chance to stand the test of time this season. It’s hard imagining anything more exciting — or unpredictable — than what Becerra did on the night of June 12 at ye olde Bullring.

2. Cottom is The Man: Robert Cottom enters the break in the schedule with six straight street stock feature victories. Not only victories, but in the majority of the races, dominating victories. To say he is the man to beat for the track championship would be a major understatement.

3. Increased purses: The early season turnout of both fans and cars allowed track operators Jim and Tammy Lieurance to bump all purses quite substantially, which should make for even more cars in the pits and butts in the seats.

4. New kids on the block: With the track having been closed for the previous two years, we had missed the arrival, rise and (in some cases) dominance of a new generation of drivers in all five of the weekly classes. Here’s a snapshot of who the next local superstars just might be:

Modifieds — Becerra’s future success looked obvious from his beginning in the old sport compact series. And obviously, he has not let anyone down. Becerra and Dave Wietholder already have a great rivalry going in this series.

Sport mods — Logan Cumby looks like a natural talent and should be part of a longstanding rivalry with such established drivers in this division as Birck, Tanner Klingele and a handful of others. Also keep an eye out on Reid Wolfmeyer, who does nothing but get stronger week by week.

Street stocks — Could Cottom threaten that 12-feature unbeaten streak Michael Long put together in the modifieds more than a decade ago?

Crate late models — Darin Weisinger Jr. He just keeps getting better and better, and I don’t think any driver at the track enjoys being behind the wheel more than this guy.

4-Cylinders — Both of the DeLonjay brothers, Jeffrey and Jaden, look like they are well on their way to dominance in this class, plus Michael Grossman.

5. Crate late model numbers: There’s no way to sugar-coat how disappointing the numbers have been most of the season in this class. Hopefully, the increased payouts will entice more familiar names back to the track from southeast Iowa. Race director Blake Dotson remains confident the weekly average of crate lates will be around a dozen. Dotson has an excellent feel on the overall state of the industry, so I’m putting my confidence in him. 

Hell Tour Right Around The Corner

The UMP Summer Nationals Hell Tour, considered by most to be the ultimate duel in the dirt, begins its six-week grind Tuesday in Kankakee. That will begin a wild ride through six states, featuring more than 30 races.

That demanding schedule includes a June 22 stop at Adams County Speedway, the eighth spot on the tour. It’s the earliest ever Hell Tour race in Quincy, which means local fans will have the opportunity to see all the major hotshoes in action. In past years, by the time the Summer Nationals made it to Quincy many of the big names had dropped off the tour when they had dropped out of contention.

This will be the 37th Hell Tour and the favorite to win will likely be the driver who won the 36th installment: Bobby Pierce. Pierce’s 2021 championship was his fourth in the legendary series, having previously captured crowns in 2017, 2016 and 2015. One of Pierce’s 40 career victories came in 2016 at Quincy.

Also expected to be on hand in Quincy are the other drivers who have accounted for every Hell Tour title since 2005: Brian Shirley, Dennis Erb Jr., Brandon Sheppard, Shannon Babb and Jason Feger.

Here’s a look back at past Hell Tour dates in Quincy:

Feature race winners

2021: No race, track closed

2020: No race, track closed

2019: Mike Marler, Winfield, Tenn.

2018: Brian Shirley, Chatham Ill.

2017: Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.

2016: Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.

2015: Rained out

2014: Rained out

2013: Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill.

2012: Brian Shirley, Chatham Ill.

2011: No race scheduled in Quincy

2010: Jeep Van Wormer, Pinconning, Mich.

2009: Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill.

2008: Rained out

2007: Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, Ill.

2006: Randy Korte, Highland, Ill.

Top Adams County Speedway Finishers

2021: No race, track closed

2020: No race, track closed

2019: Ricky Frankel, 8th

2018: Mark Burgtorf, 17th

2017: Justin Reed, 11th

2016: Mark Burgtorf, 9th

2015: Rained out

2014: Rained out

2013: Jason Perry, 6th

2012: Mark Burgtorf, 9th

2011: No race scheduled in Quincy

2010: Mark Burgtorf, 5th

2009: Bill Genenbacher, 15th

2008: Rained out

2007: Mark Burgtorf, 7th

2006: Mark Burgtorf, 5th

First-place prize money

2021: No race, track closed

2020: No race, track closed

2019: $5,000

2018: $5,000

2017: $5,000

2016: $5,000

2015: Rained out

2014: Rained out

2013: $5,000

2012: $7,500

2011: No race scheduled in Quincy

2010: $5,000

2009: $10,000 ($42,500 purse)

2008: Rained out

2007: $6,000

2006: $6,000