Racing notebook: Motley brings calming presence to chaotic action as Speedway’s flagman

QUINCY — Allen Motley has experienced just about every aspect involving the world of racing, especially at the grassroots level.

Motley, a Pittsfield resident, is in his eighth season as the senior flagman at Adams County Speedway. He’s also been a track owner and driver.

It’s as a flagman, however, where Motley may have truly found his niche when it comes to racing. He would be the first to admit possessing a fiery personality, but once in the flagstand he is a controlling, yet calming presence. That kind of combined influence over the weekly sheet-metal mayhem at the Broadway Bullring has proved invaluable.

“I’ve been involved in some capacity for about 20 years at local dirt tracks, and I take my job very seriously,” the 53-year-old Motley said.

Safety is first and foremost for Motley.

“I take the safety of the drivers into consideration probably a lot more than they do,” Motley said. “They are at the track to put on a show and make a little money. My job is to make sure they do that safely.”

Motley also flags on special occasions at different tracks across the region, including Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Ill., and Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa.

Motley and his wife, Cathy, owned and operated Pike County Speedway from 1998 through 2007. The Motleys drew attention region-wide and beyond to the track during their final year.

“We ran a show called the Heartland Challenge,” he said. “It was the biggest race we ever had — a $10,000-to-win feature.”

That $10,000-to-win event unofficially matches the largest check ever paid to a race winner in West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri. Quincy Raceways, which was the former name of Adams County Speedway, paid $10,000 to win its 2009 UMP DIRTCar Summer Nationals Hell Tour event.

Motley, who owns Pittsfield-based construction business CNA Home Services, has driven micro sprints and street stocks in years past, but has most recently been involved with karting. His 25-year-old son, Austin, is a former state champion and is a rising star in the sport. His dad serves as his crew chief.

Austin, who played football at Culver-Stockton College, is also learning the ropes as flagman at Adams County Speedway under the watchful eye of his dad.

“Austin is just getting re-started with his karting,” Allen said. “He stopped when he was 11 years old to concentrate on playing football.”

The younger Motley’s racing is done for the season. He’ll soon be heading west for a few months on personal business, but a year from now, both he and his dad should be back in the thick of both karting and flagging.

When asked if he’s already looking forward to that reunion, the elder Motley stopped, smiled and nodded his head in definitive “yes” fashion.

“We’ll be doing it all again,” he affirmed.  

Midseason championships

Midseason championships? Already?

Well, that’s what the Adams County Speedway calendar says.

Some early season rainouts, coupled with scheduled down time for some of the regular weekly classes have left some of the divisions rather short of actual on-track competition.

Here’s a class-by-class breakdown of the six weekly disciplines:

Crate late models

The crates are one of two classes to have run all six dates this season. Not only has there yet to have been a back-to-back feature winner, no local crate driver has more than one feature victory period. While this class remains wide open, two names have started to emerge: defending champ Tommy Elston and Jason Perry. And it also looks like Denny Woodworth has found something. Oh, and also throw in Jamie Wilson and Spencer Havermale. The final two-plus months of the points season should be a treat for those ever-increasing crowds at the Bullring.  

Modifieds

The mods are the other division that has raced all six dates this spring, and while he has not dominated like did during the early and middle portions of 2023, I still think Austen Becerra is the man to beat in this highly competitive grouping. If Becerra can secure a third straight mod crown, he will have five overall track titles and become just the ninth driver in track history to win that many championships.

Sport mods

The biggest question at this point of the season is whether or not more sport mods are going to start showing up. The season-high car count has been 13 for a class expected to start 18 to 20 cars most weeks. As far as the title is concerned, if any driver other than Tanner Klingele, Logan Cumby or Reed Wolfmeyer claims the big iron, it will be a huge surprise. At the moment, Wolfmeyer, who won the feature last Wednesday during Hell Tour night, appears to be the hottest driver in the series.

Stocks

This class has not raced since June 2, but when it resumes Sunday night, look for the usual guys to be at the front of the pack — Robert Cottom, Jacob Rexing and Rudy Zaragoza.

4-Cylinders

Barring some sort of unexpected four-banger meltdowns, one of two DeLonjays will reign as champion. Jeffrey has won 23 features (and two titles) since 2022, but is currently well behind younger brother Jaden in the points race.

Crown Vics

More cars keep making their way into this class, but until there is consistently 10 or more cars running, I’m holding off on any major predictions. What we’ve witnessed from this division so far has been quality entertainment, but more cars are still needed.

Next big dates

Don’t forget July 3 is the next big date on the local dirt-track agenda. 

That’s the makeup for the fourth annual Chad McCoy Memorial Races that will pay $4,545 to the modified feature winner. More than 120 cars were in the pits for the 2023 event, which was won by Trevor Neville of Mackinaw, Ill.

Not long afterward, the MARS cars will be in town for a July 21 showdown involving the super late models. Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., was the 2023 winner.