Rain, rain, stay away: Adams County Speedway proprietors hoping to drop flag Sunday night

QUINCY — Jimmy Lieurance has his fingers crossed.

And so do about 100 racers and a few thousand dirt-track fans.

“If we don’t get any more rain, we’ll be able to race Sunday,” said Lieurance, the 62-year-old first-year promoter at Adams County Speedway.

Realistically, that might be a big “if.”

“There’s a 38-percent chance of rain Sunday,” Lieurance said late Friday afternoon.

The .29-mile track at 8000 Broadway has been pelted with bad weather in recent weeks, but Lieurance and his staff have worked overtime to keep the racing surface viable in anticipation of the facility’s 46th opening night. 

If the rain holds off, or there is minimal precipitation, hot laps are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Sunday, with racing to follow at approximately 5 p.m. Pits open at 2 p.m., grandstands at 3 p.m.

Lieurance said the race staff is starting the weekly schedule about two hours earlier than in years past in an effort to get families home at an earlier time on Sunday evenings.

The 28.5-acre site has sat idle since the end of the 2019 season, due in part to both pandemic restrictions and the inability to find a new operator once former promoter Jason Goble left town.

Lieurance said “about 20 to 25 drivers” showed up for practice one night earlier this week, plus a “couple hundred of fans.” He said that was encouraging, because the only notice of the session was put on social media less than 24 years earlier.

The track was originally scheduled to open April 10, but bad weather pushed the lid lifter back to this Sunday.

Lieurance said fans should monitor the Adams County Speedway Illinois Facebook site on Sunday if weather raises questions. Information is also scheduled to be available at the adamscountyilspeedway.com website.

This season is Lieurance’s first in a track ownership type of role, but he has more than 40 years of experience in helping run tracks. Most recently, the Hannibal, Mo., resident operated Randolph County Speedway outside of Moberly, Mo. He also has a long history at Quincy, having worked for all former owners, including the late Albert Scott, who founded the track in 1975. 

Adams County Speedway ticket prices will remain the same as they were when its predecessor, Quincy Raceways, closed down in 2019.

Admission prices will be $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for kids. Those children under-5 will be admitted free. Season passes are also available for $250, a price that includes all special events at the track. There are currently 24 nights of racing scheduled at the speedway.

Among the nights to circle on this year’s schedule include:

• April 24, opening night.

• May 22, Midwest Auto Racing Series (MARS).

• June 22, IMCA Summer Nationals Hell Tour.

• July 3, Open Wheel Madness.

• Aug. 21, Sprint Invaders.

• Aug. 28, Season championship races.

• Sept. 18, Chad McCoy Memorial

• Sept. 25, Sprint Invaders.