Wallace considers Adams County Speedway to have ‘best modified drivers in the U.S.’

QUINCY — Kenny Wallace has long had a love affair with Quincy in general and Adams County Speedway in particular.

That relationship was never more evident than Sunday night.

Not long after he had outdueled four-time modified track champion Dave Wietholder for a hard-earned checkered flag in an 18-lap midseason championship feature, Wallace wanted the world to know what the victory meant to him.

“This is one of my best wins of the season because Dave Wietholder is the best modified driver in the country,” said Wallace, a former NASCAR Cup driver who spent many of his summers as a teenager and young adult pitting for his older bother, Mike, who was a late model regular at what used to be Quincy Raceways.

Wallace was not finished.

“The race fans at Quincy are so fortunate to have some of the best modified drivers in the nation,” said Wallace, also singling out Austen Becerra and Michael Long. “The best modified drivers in the U.S. are right here in Quincy.”

Wallace’s victory was his second of the year at Quincy, having also won on May 1. The 58-year-old Wallace, who did not begin driving modifieds until he was in his 40s, has raced at Quincy six times this season and sits fifth in points (340) behind Becerra (531), Wietholder (519), Mike Vanderiet Jr. (408) and Levi Long (367).

Wallace leads the modified series in feature laps led with 44. Wietholder (32) is second, Becerra third (23).

Other midseason championship feature winners Sunday evening were Denny Woodworth in crate late models, Shane Paris in sport mods, Derrick DeFord in 4-Cylinders and Rudy Zaragoza in street stocks.

Woodworth led the final eight laps of the main event to continue his domination of the crate lates. Tommy Elston, Sam Halstead and Jeremy Pundt rounded out the top four.

Woodworth’s victory was his fourth of the season and upped his points lead to 505-413 over Halstead. 

“I’ve got a milkshake for a stomach,” Woodworth said. “That (race) shook the heck out of me.”

Paris claimed his third sport mod feature of the season, making the long haul from Muscatine, Iowa, worth the trip. Paris led the final nine laps of the feature.

“It takes us 2 1/2 hours to get here, but each and every time we come here the track is great and we (plan on) helping to support (Adams County Speedway),” said Paris. whose earlier wins came on April 24 and June 5.

Following Paris across the finish line were Dakota Girard, Logan Cumby and Tanner Klingele.

Adam Birck still holds a comfortable points lead despite an eighth-place finish. Birck (342), Klingele (323), Cumby (320) and Girard (308) are atop the points standings. 

DeFord’s late charge in the 4-Cylinders overcame Jaden DeLonjay. DeFord led the final two laps after DeLonjay had commanded the first 13.

DeFord said he felt he was finally able to secure the lead after DeLonjay had “worn out” his tires earlier in the race.

Jimmy Dutlinger, who finished third in the feature, took over the series points lead at 372. Jeffrey DeLonjay (365) and Kim Abbott (353) are right behind.

Zaragoza powered to his second straight street stock feature victory, leading the final 11 laps to hold off Steve Grotz, Beau Taylor and Robert Thompson.

Zaragoza, a Jacksonville, Ill., resident, also took over the points lead, moving 30 ahead (303-273) of Thompson.

“I love racing in Quincy, and to be first in points is great,” said Zaragoza, who is deaf and a mute, through an interpreter. “It doesn’t matter if you hate me or love me, I love racing in Quincy.”

World of Outlaws

Sunday’s World of Outlaws super late model tour stop in Jacksonville was won by four-time series champ Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill. Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill., was second.