Racing notebook: Tournear shares excitement over rebirth of Adams County Speedway

QUINCY — A.J. Tournear mirrors the feelings of most drivers and fans alike who have found their way back to Adams County Speedway, which in its former lifetime was known as Quincy Raceways.

Tournear’s emotions can be felt through his responses.

“Dirt-track racing is everything to me,” said the driver behind the wheel of the No. 14 sport mod every Sunday night at 8000 Broadway.

Admittedly, the past two years were rough for Tournear, who was used to spending his late springs, summers and early falls at the track many members of his family have called home for decades. When the track closed after the 2019 season and did not reopen until this spring under new ownership, there was an emotional vacuum left in the lives of Tournear and many others.

“Dirt-track racing has been in my family as long as I can remember,” Tournear said. “Growing up, it was our summer vacations. That’s where we always were on the weekends. There are no greater friends than the ones made at a dirt track.

“It’s great to see dirt-track racing back in Quincy. I don’t think people realized just how bad it was missed.”

Tournear is optimistic about what the future holds for the speedway.

“I think the great thing is that we finally have people willing to put in the work and make the place great again,” Tournear said of the management group headed by Jim and Tammy Lieurance.

Tournear is also realistic. He realizes there will be bumps in the road in re-establishing Quincy as the beacon it once was for the sport.

“It will be tough, and I’m sure there will be many more downs than ups — but there is a hell of a group of people willing to battle the downs and make the ups happen,”

said Tournear, who enters Sunday night eighth in points in what is a highly competitive sport mod series that has drawn 27 different drivers over the first three weeks of the season.

“Jim and his family have done a lot already, and the season is just starting. I think the crowds say a lot,” Tournear said.

The first three weeks of the season have drawn more than 5,000 fans and an average of 73.7 cars.

“It’s great having the home track back,” Tournear said.

ZZ Top Sharp-Dressed Man Awards returns

Obviously, the following selections were made by a committee of one, so take that into consideration. The ZZ Top Sharp-Dressed Man/Woman Awards were always a lot of fun in the old days of Quincy Raceways, but we discontinued the rankings when the car counts dwindled prior to the track’s 2019-20 closing.

But just like the track, the ZZ Top Sharp-Dressed Man Awards are back.

We’ll revisit these rankings a few times during the season as more cars find their way to the Bullring. At the end of the season, we’ll crown the ZZ Top Sharp-Dressed Man (or Woman) of the Year in each of the five weekly series.

To be eligible for this first listing, a car had to have made a minimum of two appearances to date or had been a regular in years past.

Modifieds

Gold medal: Brandon Lennox, No. 17.

Silver medal: Kenny Wallace. No. 36.

Bronze medal: Dave Wietholder, No. 05.

Sport Mods

Gold medal: Quinton Shelton, No. 54.

Silver medal: Dakota Girard, No., 0.

Bronze medal: A.J. Tournear, No. 14AJ.

4-Cylinders

Gold medal: Michael Watkins, No. 17W.

Silver medal: Jeff DeLonjay, No. 32.

Bronze medal: Jaden DeLonjay, No. 3.

Street Stocks

Gold medal: Sage Martin, No. 8.

Silver medal: Robert Cottom, No. 1.

Bronze medal: Robert Thompson, No., 3T

Crate Late Models

Gold medal: Sam Halstead, No. 84.

Silver medal: Denny Woodworth, No. 45DW.

Bronze medal: Darin Weisinger Jr., No. 11.

All-Dirt Teams

Another item that we’ll be reinstituting is the year-end Drivers of the Year and All-Dirt Teams for each of the five classes.

The award-winners will be named following Pepsi Season Championship Night, Aug. 28.

This Week’s Lineup

Crate late models, modifieds, sport mods, street stocks and 4-Cylinders are all on the Sunday night schedule. Hot laps will be at 5:15 p.m, racing at about 6 p.m.

The first major show of the season is approaching. The MARS late model series will be in town May 22. The special night is sponsored by Heartland Auto Body and Towing.

The Gene Patrick Memorial Race will be May 29, showcasing modifieds, sport mods, street stocks, 4-Cylinders and D2 midgets.

This Week’s Leaderboard

Stevie Dirt Dirty Thirty rankings

Sport Mods

1. Logan Cumby: Right now, he still appears to be the man to beat.

2. Adam Birck: He’s the only series driver with three top-five finishes.

3. Michael Goodwin: No. 63G has quietly worked his way into title contention.

4. Nicholas Profeta: The Keokuk Comet has been steady with three straight top-10 performances.

5. Tanner Klingele: He’s my pick to click this week.

6. Shane Paris: Missing last week proved costly in the rankings — and the points standings. 

Modifieds

1. Dave Wietholder: Last week I said my pick for the top rivalry this summer was Wietholder vs. Austen Becerra. After last week, nothing has changed.

2. Austen Becerra: Kenny Wallace will not be on hand Sunday night, which means the feature will likely find Austen battling Wietholder for the checkered flag, instead of Wietholder AND Wallace. 

3. Mike Vanderiet Jr.: Three straight top-five feature finishes.

4. Jace Gay: Looks like the Farber, Mo., driver is going to be a regular.

5. Levi Long: Will try and rebound from last week’s DNF.

6. Brandyn Ryan: Still holding on to sixth in track points.

Late Models

1. Denny Woodworth: The late model lawyer has led 52 of 54 feature laps.

2. Sam Halstead: The pride of New London, Iowa, has struggled the past two weeks after that terrific opening night.

3. Darin Weisinger Jr.: His sister sings a pretty mean national anthem.

4. Rick Coats: Who will be the first driver between Coats and Weisinger to win a heat race or lead a feature lap?

5. Braden Bilger: That orange and white No. 17 was one sharp-looking car.

6. Ray Raker: Hopefully, he’s back on the grid Sunday night.

4-Cylinders

1. Jeffrey DeLonjay: He’s one of two drivers to already own three feature victories.

2. Jimmy Dutlinger: He’s quietly driven himself into title contention.

3. Kim Abbott: She’s one of three drivers to have finished in the top 10 of all three of the opening features.

4. Nick Johnson: No. 30J looks like he’s going to be a consistent threat.

5. Justin Stevenson: He’s another of those southeast Iowa drivers making at home at 8000 Broadway.

6. Jaden DeLonjay: How long until we have a DeLonjay-DeLonjay one-two feature finish?

Street Stocks

1. Robert Cottom: Cottom has led 40 of 45 feature laps and won all three main events. Yep, he’s No. 1.

2. Leremy Jackson: He’s off to a great start, but just happens to be in the same class as the unstoppable Cottom.

3. Rudy Zaragoza: My pick to click this week in the street stocks.

4. Jake Powers: Like the rest of the class, The Snake is hoping to catch up with Cottom.

5. Robert Thompson Sr.: He’s part of a solid top five in this division.

6. Sage Martin: The pride of Perry, Ill.

Dis-N-Data

Average car counts

All classes: 73.7 (high of 85, May 1)

4-Cylinders: 25.3 (high of 28, May 1)

Sport Mods: 19.0 (high of 24, May 1)

Modifieds: 14.3 (high of 19, May 8)

Street Stocks: 9.7 (high of 10, May 1, April 24)

Late Models: 5.3 (high of 7, May 1)

Muddy River Sports Performance Points

Points are awarded on a 25-20-15-12-10-8-6-4 for top eight finishers in feature, 3-2-1 in heats.

Late Models: Danny Woodworth 79, Sam Halstead 62, Darin Weisinger Jr. 41, Rick Coats 35.

Modifieds: Dave Wietholder 78, Austen Becerra 54, Kenny Wallace 50, Mike Vanderiet Jr. 41.

Sport Mods: Shane Paris 59, Adam Birck 56, Logan Cumby 53, Dakota Girard 35. 

Street Stocks: Robert Cottom 82, Rudy Zaragoza 52, Leremy Jackson 45, Jake Powers 38.

4-Cylinders: Jeffrey DeLonjay 81, Jimmy Dutlinger 40,  Cyle Hawkins 39, Jeremy Reed 36.

Victory Leaders

Late Models

Total: Denny Woodworth 5, Sam Halstead 2.

Feature: Denny Woodworth 2, Sam Halstead 1.

Heats: Denny Woodworth 3.

Modifieds

Total: Dave Wietholder 4, Kenny Wallace 2.

Feature: Dave Wietholder 2, Kenny Wallace 1.

Heats: Dave Wietholder 2.

Sport Mods

Total: Logan Cumby 3, Adam Birck 2, Shane Paris 2.

Feature: Logan Cumby 1, Shane Paris 1.

Heats: Logan Cumby 2.

Street Stocks

Total: Robert Cottom 4.

Feature: Robert Cottom 3.

Heats: Rudy Zaragoza 2.

4-Cylinders

Total: Jeffrey DeLonjay 4, Michael Grossman 2.

Feature: Jeffrey DeLonjay 3.

Heats: Michael Grossman 2.

Money Earned

Late Models: Denny Woodworth $1,700; Sam Halstead $1,450, Darin Weisinger Jr. $1,125, Spencer Coats $1,000.

Modifieds: Dave Wietholder $1,600, Kenny Wallace $1,300, Austen Becerra $950, Mike Vanderiet Jr. $675.

Sport Mods: Logan Cumby $775, Adam Birck $725, Shane Paris $600, Dakota Girard $400, Michael Goodwin $400, Nicholas Profeta, $400.

Street Stocks: Robert Cottom $1,125, Rudy Zaragoza $650, Jake Powers $525, Leremy Jackson $475.

4-Cylinders: Jeffrey DeLonjay $800, Jimmy Dutlinger $355, Cyle Hawkins $250, Jeremy Reed $250, Jaden DeLonjay $240.

Feature Improvement Points

Sport Mods: Adam Birck 17, Tanner Klingele 12 Quinn Shelton 12, Justin Bartz 11, Austin Poage 11.

Street Stocks: Robert Cottom 6, Jake Powers 6, Rudy Zaragoza 5, Leremy Jackson 4.

4-Cylinders: Jaden DeLonjay 20, Justin Stevenson 16, Austin Harris 12, Kyle Weisenberger 11.

Late Models: Ray Raker 4, Darin Weisinger Jr. 2, Sam Halstead 1, Rick Coats 1.

Modifieds: Brandon Lennox 10, Levi Long 5, Brandyn Ryan 5, Ben Huff 5.

Feature Laps Led

Late Models: Denny Woodworth 52, Sam Halstead 2.

Modifieds: Dave Wietholder 26, Kenny Wallace 20, Michael Long 9, Rick Connoyer 4, Austen Becerra 1.

Sport Mods: Logan Cumby 27, Shane Paris 12, Adam Birck 8, A.J. Tournear 1.

Street Stocks: Robert Cottom 40, Rudy Zaragoza 5.

4-Cylinders: Jeffrey DeLonjay 21, Brady Reed 16, Michael Grossman 8.

Caution Flags

All classes: 58, 19.3 average (high of 20, May 8, April 24)

Sport Mods: 24, 8.0 average (high of 11, April 24)

Modifieds: 15, 5.0 average (high of 7, May 1)

4-Cylinders: 10, 3.3 average (high of 5, May 8)

Street Stocks: 8, 2.7 average (high of 4 May 1, April 24)

Late Models: 1, 0.3 average (high of 1, April 24)