Adams County Speedway promoters expect weekly car counts to top 100 during upcoming season

QUINCY — The numbers never lie.

That’s why Jimmy Lieurance is anxious for the Adams County Speedway racing season to get underway.

“We’re pretty sure we’ll have more than 100 cars in the pits most Sunday nights this season,” said Lieurance, who with his wife, Tammy, are close to beginning their third year as co-promoters of the .29-mile dirt track at 8000 Broadway. 

Opening night is April 28.

Buoying the expected car count is the much-talked-about new class at the track, the Crown Vics, which will roll into the pits on Memorial Day weekend. That division’s average car count is expected to eventually push the weekly norm to more than 100.

“Once the Crown Vics get established, we’re expecting that class to average around 20 a week,” Lieurance said.

The projected numbers say the weekly average for all divisions will run at about 110 to 120 cars. Would that be correct, Jim?

Lieurance did not formally answer the question. He only smiled and nodded his head in approval.

At this point, Lieurance said the average weekly counts are expected to be around 20 each for the crate late models and modifieds, 18-20 for the sport mods, 16-20 for stock cars and 12-15 for the 4-Cylinders.

“We’ve also had an all-time high request for (paid) pit reservations, which is another great sign,” Lieurance said.

Roughly 70 teams have already paid for space reservations.

“That’s an all-time high,” said Lieurance, who has ties to the track going back more than 40 years.

The Lieurances took over operation of the facility prior to the 2022 season, following a two-year shutdown, initially to the pandemic and then abandonment by former operators that forced the cancellation of the 2021 schedule.

If the track were to average 100 cars, it is believed that would be an all-time high. Car count averages are only available from 1991. The track opened in 1975.

New starting time

With the expected increase in cars and classes, the track will be pushing its starting time up to 5:30 p.m. Pit gates will open at 2:30 p.m., the grandstands at 3:30 p.m.

New automated scoring

Lieurance hopes to have a new automated scoring system up and operating by opening night. Installation of the necessary equipment, much of which will be underground, will be dependent on weather conditions, he said.

When finished, fans will see immediate updates on the scoreboard involving the top four positions. The new scoring loop is being positioned about 16 inches beneath the track’s racing surface near the flag stand.

Technological assistance is being provided by Westhold Corporation, headquartered in Denver, Colo.

Other changes

A new Victory Lane is also being constructed at the edge of the infield area, and should be ready by opening night or shortly thereafter.

Improvements at the karting track, which sits behind the northeast corner of the main grandstand area, are also underway. The karts are scheduled to run again on Saturday evenings. A year ago, the average kart count was “18 to 20,” according to Lieurance.

Drivers and car owners will be greeted by some new structures in the pits, plus a new entrance to the pit area designed to reduce the congestion of previous years. The principal entrance has been moved to the southwest corner (from the northwest corner) of the pits.

Town Center show was ‘huge success’

The recent Adams County Speedway car show at the Quincy Town Center (formerly the Quincy Mall) was a “huge success,” Lieurance said. Among the estimated 7,500 who attended were dirt-track fans from as far away as three hours.

“There were tremendous vibes about the coming season,” Lieurance said.

About 40 cars and karts — plus drivers — from all divisions were on hand.