All in the family: Weisingers celebrate Darin Jr.’s first-ever crate model feature victory

QUINCY — For the Weisinger family, dirt-track racing is a family affair.

Always has been, always will be.

When Darin Weisinger Jr. won his first-ever crate late model feature Sunday night, the celebration in victory lane at Quincy Raceways was special — and emotional.

The 25-year-old Weisinger grew up around the dirt tracks of West-Central Illinois, watching and helping his dad, Darin Sr., who drove modifieds and late models until he stepped back to become crew chief for his son. And make no mistake about it, Sunday night was special for dad, too.

“He works so hard at this,” Darin Sr. said of his son. “He works at his insurance job all day, comes home and works on the (late model) until 1 a.m. most nights. I am so very proud of him.”

Many other members of the Weisinger clan were also part of the post-race hugs and hand shakes, including Darin Jr.’s older sister, Lee Ann, who often sings the national anthem at the track. Lee Ann never tires of talking about her little brother she refers to as “D.J.” Lee Ann and many other family members were then joined in a World Series-caliber celebration back in the pits.

“We do this as a family,” Darin Jr. said. “(This feeling) is the best there is.”

Weisinger led the 25-lap feature flag-to-flag, withstanding numerous charges from rival and good friend Denny Woodworth, a nine-time track champ, plus Jackson Frankel, whose late burst turned the battle for first into a three-car dash to the finish over the closing two laps. Woodworth, Jaxson Frankel and Ricky Frankel III formed the top four feature finishers.

Weisinger talked of being able to hold off Woodworth’s charges from both the high and low grooves.

“I knew Denny would race me clean,” said Weisinger, who with a smile then added, “I didn’t even know Jackson was back there.”

Another special moment also engulfed the Weisinger family celebration. Darin Sr. won his lone feature at Quincy in a “B” mod about 25 years ago (he also won three late model features in Macomb in the mid-2000s). Darin Sr. remembered the night of his feature win at 8000 Broadway like it was yesterday, and Darin Jr. will never forget Sunday night.

“This is a big weight off my shoulders,” Weisinger said. “We had been so close so many times before.”

Weisinger also won a late model heat race. Woodworth won the other preliminary race.

Other feature winners were Paul Nienhiser in the visiting Sprint Invaders 360 winged sprint car series, Reed Wolfmeyer in sport mods, Jacob Rexing in stock cars and Brent Weaver in Open “B” modifieds. “A” modifieds, Crown Vics and 4-Cylinder cars had the night off.

The Sprint Invaders cars, which first appeared in Quincy in 2006, saw Nienhiser tie the 24-year-old series record for career victories when he overtook Colton Fisher of Mediapolis, Iowa, shortly before the halfway mark of the 25-lap finale. Nienhiser, a native of Chapin, Ill., is now even with Khaley Gharst of Decatur, Ill., with 22 career wins. Gharst is not racing with the series this season.

“Tying Khaley is a great honor,” said Nienhiser, who earned $2,000 for the win and said being able to do it in Quincy made it even more special. “I consider Quincy as my kind of home track (it’s 61 miles from Chapin), and I’m looking forward to racing here more in the future. I hope we can get some more races here.”

Nienhiser also won last year’s Sprint Invaders race at the Bullring.

Rounding out the top five finishers in the 19-car feature were Terry McCarl of Altoona, Iowa,Fisher, Tasker Phillips of Pleasantville, Iowa, and Jamie Ball of Knoxville, Iowa. The 61-year-old McCarl is a legend in the sprint car world, having been inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2017.

Wolfmeyer led all 15 laps of the Sport mod main event, pulling away from rival Tanner Klingele for his second feature win of the season. Wolfmeyer also won the lone sport mod heat race.

Rexing collected his fourth straight stock feature, leading all 15 laps in outdistancing Rudy Zaragoza and Jake Powers. Rexing also won his fourth straight heat race.

Brent Weaver, a first-time track visitor from Godfrey, rallied to win the Open “B” mod feature. Weaver led the closing three circuits of the 20-lap main event, holding off Brandon Lennox and Chris Spalding.

There is no racing next Sunday at Quincy Raceways, designed not to conflict with the Grand Prix of Karting at South Park. Racing resumes at the track July 6, followed by a special Friday night date on July 11 that will pay $1,000 to the crate late model winner.