Jackson Frankel’s first feature win at Quincy Raceways sees him following in footsteps of championship father

QUINCY — The apple — or more appropriately, lug wrench — does not fall far from its origin.

Jackson Frankel, the 17-year-old son of 2008 Quincy Raceways late model track champion Jason Frankel, won his first feature at the Broadway Bullring in spectacular fashion Sunday night.

Jackson Frankel headed the 25-lap crate late model main event in flag-to-flag fashion, finishing half of a lap ahead of the rest of the feature field.

“I grew up around racing, and it has always meant a lot to me,” said Jackson Frankel, a junior at Quincy High School. “I have always loved the atmosphere.”

Surprisingly, another sport had actually been the first athletic love of the younger Frankel.

“I played basketball in school, but after ninth grade I gave it up,” he said. “I knew I wanted to concentrate on racing.”

As excited as Jackson Frankel was about his victory, his dad was over the moon.

“This kid just wants it so bad,” Jason Frankel said. “He’s so confident, and he has the mentality that’s needed to succeed in (late model racing).”

Jackson Frankel’s Sunday night win was actually his second of the weekend. He won the feature at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa, on Saturday night.

Jason Frankel, 48, could not help but smile when learning his son has said he once dreamed of concentrating on basketball.

“Yeah … I thought he was going to be a basketball player, too,” Jason Frankel said. “But he just fell in love with racing.”

Maybe it was the Frankels’ family environment that eats, sleeps and drinks racing that eventually swayed the youngster’s mind. Jason’s brother, Rickey, is one of the top late model drivers in the region and their dad, Rick, is a highly regarded engine builder and technician. Rickey’s son, Rickey Frankel III, is another teenager in the family who is in the early stages of pursuing a late model career.

“Our family has been a big part of this,” Jason Frankel Said. “My dad and my brother have done so much to help. This night is huge for all of us.”

Finishing behind Jackson Frankel were Denny Woodworth, Braden Bilger and Darin Weisinger Jr. The heat win was also earned by Jackson Frankel. 

Other Sunday night feature winners were Rick Conoyer in modifieds, Logan Cumby in sport mods, Jacob Rexing in stocks, Spencer Coats in 4-Cylinders and Glen Wiley in Crown Vics.

Conoyer led the final 14 laps of the 20-circuit mod main event, withstanding numerous challenges from Austen Becerra and Chase Holland.

Conoyer found the top line to his liking.

“It was a little slimy up top, but when I got up there I was able to turn it loose,” Conoyer. “Austen and Chase also did a helluva job.”

Becerra, Holland and Dave Wietholder rounded out the top four feature finishers. Holland and Shawn Deering won the modified heats.

Cumby secured the sport mod feature lead on lap six and held on to the finish of the 15-lapper. 

“I didn’t think the bottom would stick until I got down there — and it did,” said Cumby, who finished .44 of a second ahead of Kyler Girard.

Dakota Girard and Reed Wolfmeyer garnered third-and fourth-place sport mod feature finishes. Tanner Klingele and Kyler Girard were heat winners.

Rexing won his second straight 15-lap stock feature over Jake Powers, Levi Long and Eddie Dieker. Rexing worked both the top and bottom lines en route to overcoming what he said were some “engine gremlins” that plagued his team this weekend.

Rexing also won the stock heat.

Coats’ feature win was his first ever at the Bullring after being able to turn back a big-time challenge from Kim Abbott over the closing laps. Coats’ margin of victory in the 15-lapper was .247 of a second.

“I have been coming to this track since I was in my mom’s belly, and this is my first feature win in Quincy,” the 27-year-old Coats said.

Devin Harrell and Landon Neisen completed the top four in the 4-Cylinder finale. Heat wins belonged to Abbott and Coats.

Wiley led all 15 laps of the Crown Vic feature for a relatively easy checkered flag, finishing ahead of Jake Etter, Alex Hatfield and Austin Johnson. Heats wins went to Dakota Damron and Jordan Zummalt.

MARS cars invade Friday

Quincy Raceways will host the MARS late model and modified series Friday evening so there will be no racing next Sunday. “B” mods and Crown Vics will also be racing Friday evening.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m., with racing scheduled to start at 7:15.