Racing notebook: DeLonjay continues work to turn Quincy Raceways into dirt-track destination

QUINCY — Admittedly, Jeff DeLonjay says his first season as owner of Quincy Raceways has been a learning experience.

DeLonjay, who with his wife, Renee, bought the track shortly before the end of the 2024 season, said the first year of ownership has been a combination of enjoyable, demanding and learning to expect the unexpected.

“Owning a race track is a whole new deal,” DeLonjay said. “No one left us a master plan book.”

That doesn’t mean all the challenges — expected and otherwise — have dampened DeLonjay’s spirits. He’s fully committed to transforming the site into a dirt-track destination.

“It’s all what you make it,” he said.

Racing resumes Sunday night at 8000 Broadway following a scheduled week off for last Saturday’s battle of the bands at the track, an event that drew 17 different styles of rock and country groups to the track for a day-long music fest. 

While special events like the concert will likely become part of the track’s overall game plan, DeLonjay says immediate tasks will be concentrating on more racing-related items.

So far, the new ownership has altered both the cosmetic and physical look of the facility. A concrete wall now encloses the racing surface, the race track itself has been widened and lengthened (circuit times are about two seconds longer than previous years), the old concession stand was gutted and refurbished, spectator areas have been sectioned off where fans can sit/stand and enjoy the environment and be covered by an awning, restrooms were refurbished and any standing structure was repainted and repaired.

Fans have seemingly responded. Average crowd counts have been around 2,000, about triple from a year ago.

“I like the way it’s going,” DeLonjay said.

Despite what he terms “growing pains,” DeLonjay said he and his staff remain focused on developing the fastest-possible racing surface. The continued addition of more service equipment, he said, should also help the track surface evolve at a faster pace. An entirely new supply of dirt was applied in the months leading up to the current season.

The next major goal is to improve the weekly car counts. The current weekly car counts since the track reopened in 2022 have been:

2025 — 71.2

2024 — 68.1

2023 — 69.2

2022 — 78.1

So far this season, three classes in particular have been disappointing. The numbers for the sport mods, 4-Cylinders and stocks have been lower than expected.

The sport mods, which averaged 21.6 cars in 2022 and have been around since 2011, have dwindled to less than half (10.3) that average.

The 4-Cylinders, which averaged 22.2 cars per week in 2022, have gradually dropped to 10.3.

The stocks have averaged around 10 cars per week over the last 3-plus years, but have never grown as originally anticipated. The class record of 14 cars aperweek came back in 2009 and 2008. 

This year’s weekly averages by class (not all classes have raced each week):

Crate late models — 14.2

Modifieds — 15.4

Sport mods — 10.3

“B” mods — 16.0

Stocks — 7.0

4-Cylinders — 10.3

Crown Vics — 12.2

No racing June 15

There has been a change in scheduling for this month. The June 15 Sunday night races have been canceled to allow track crews the needed extra preparation time for the June 18 UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals “Hell Tour” stop. 

DeLonjay said the additional time will allow the track to be in pristine condition for the Hell Tour’s 14th appearance in Quincy. The Summer Nationals first started coming to Quincy in 2006 and have not been rained out since 2015.

Another Sunday night special will be June 22. That’s when the Iowa-based Sprint Invaders come to town.

Points leaders

Here’s a look at the points leaders in the various classes heading into Sunday’s competition:

Crate late models — Jackson Frankel 275, Darin Weisinger Jr. 233, Denny Woodworth 219, Braden Bilger 190.

Modifieds — Rick Conoyer 258, Justin Reed 245, Dave Wietholder 241, Mike Vanderiet 202.

Sport mods — Kyler Girard 114, Logan Cumby 110, Tanner Klingele 109, Reed Wolfmeyer 108.

“B” mods — Tanner Klingele 135, Reed Wolfmeyer 100, Matthew Edler 75, Dave Wietholder 75.

Stocks — Jacob Rexing 225, Jake Powers 210, Levi Long 190, Eddie Dieker 175.

4-Cylinders — Jay Kunce 238, Devin Harrell 226, Landon Neisen 219, Kim Abbott 212.

Crown Vics — Jordan Zummalt 263, Jake Etter 255, Alex Hatfield 245, Glen Wiley 243.