After winning second late model feature, Becerra plans to split time at Quincy Raceways in modified as well

QUINCY — Enjoy him while you can.

Austen Becerra is not in search of any track championship this season. This year it’s all about wins, in both a late model and modified.

Unfortunately for local race fans, not all of that expected success will be at Quincy Raceways and the immediate surrounding area. An expanded schedule will see the Carthage-based driver showcasing his talents across Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and beyond.

But for at least one Sunday night in early May, Becerra left an exclamation point on his home track.

Becerra absolutely wowed another sizable Sunday night crowd at 8000 Broadway when he managed a late-race pass of Braden Bilger in the crate late model feature. Becerra shot beneath then-leader Bilger coming out of turn three on lap 18, and after securing the top spot, he managed to pull away for a relatively easy victory over the closing circuits of the 25-lap main event. Becerra started eighth in a 14-car field.

“I managed to make the bottom work and got around (Bilger),” said Becerra, whose feature victory was his second in a late model at the Broadway Bullring, but likely not his last. 

Becerra, whose first checkered flag in a late model at Quincy came in the final race of the 2024 season, is planning to split his time this season between the crate lates and modifieds. He said he won’t be on hand every Sunday night at the track, where he owns five championships, including the last three in a modified.

“We don’t have a real exact plan. We’re just gonna do it,” Becerra said of what promises to be a hectic schedule splitting his time between the two rides.

Becerra plans to be back at Quincy next Sunday, but in his modified. He’ll likely race his late model at the Bullring May 16 when the MARS late model touring series comes to town. He likes the new layout of the track at Quincy, plus the upgraded racing surface.

“It was different than what I expected it would be (Sunday),” he said. “It was a lot different than last week. I’m just glad to see all of the improvements being made (by new owners Jeff and Renee DeLonjay).”

Finishing out the top four in the crate late feature were Jackson Frankel and Jason Perry. Heat winners were Darin Weisinger Jr. and Kruze Miles.

Other feature winners on the first night of points racing were Dave Wietholder in modifieds, Reed Wolfmeyer in sport mods, Matthew Edler in Open “B” mods, Michael Grossman in 4-Cylinders and Jordan Zummalt in Crown Vics. The Open “B” mods replaced the stock cars in this week’s lineup. The stocks were not scheduled to run.

Wietholder dominated the mod lineup with a flag-to-flag, 20-lap feature victory, turning back Rick Conoyer, Justin Reed and Mike Vanderiet. For the night, Wietholder bagged the track’s second hat trick in as many weeks, posting a top qualifying time and then winning both a heat and the feature. The week before, Jamie Wilson mirrored Wietholder in the late model division. 

“The track was in pretty good shape,” Wietholder said, who noted the drivers “appreciate all the work” put into the ongoing upgrade of the facility that dates to 1975.

Track workers had battled on-again, off-again rainy conditions late in the week leading up to Sunday night, but Wietholder said the finished product provided an entertaining racing surface.

“The track was racy and had some character,” said Wietholder, who the week before never got to run a lap in the feature after being involved in a five-car pileup at the start of the main event.

The other modified heat winner was Conoyer. Wietholder’s qualifying time was 15.095.

Wolfmeyer led all 15 laps of the sport mod finale to hold back Kyler Girard, Tanner Klingele and A.J. Tournear.

“The track was a little choppy in the middle,” said Wolfmeyer, who said he took an aggressive approach en route to winning his first feature since Aug. 11.

Wolfmeyer is eyeing his first track title after finishing runner-up in both 2024 and 2023. His determination to reach that goal was evident in his post-race thoughts.

“I’ll be here every week,” he emphasized.  

Sport mod heats went to Girard and Wolfmeyer.

Matthew Edler breezed to the Open “B” mod feature ahead of Darren Bennett, Klingele and Waylon Dimmit. Edler and Brayden Bennett collected heat wins.

Grossman, who hails from Keokuk, Iowa, was the first 4-Cylinder feature winner from Iowa since 2022. Rounding out the top four were Jaden DeLonjay, Dyllan Bonk and Jay Kunce. Heat wins went to Grossman and DeLonjay.

Zummalt led only one lap in the Crown Vic feature — the last. Zummalt edged Dakota Damron, Jake Etter and Glen Wiley. Etter and Wiley were heat winners.