Pushin’ the cushion: Birck takes high road to victory at Adams County Speedway

QUINCY — Adam Birck will readily admit the top groove at Adams County Speedway is not necessarily his pursuit of choice.

Sunday night, however, was different.

Birck found the fastest way around the track — and to catch Logan Cumby — was by pushin’ the cushion.

Birck took to the top relatively early in the sport mod feature and managed to reel in Cumby, who led the first 10 laps and was coming off a May 1 feature victory. Birck then held off Cumby over the final eight laps to secure the victory.

Birck admitted there was more than the usual motivation heading in the main event.

“I had gotten my ass kicked Saturday night at (Lee County Speedway) in Donnellson (Iowa),” said Birck, who started the feature 11th in a 15-car field. “I started out Sunday night running the bottom, but wasn’t really gaining any ground, so I went up top.

“They’ve done a great job on the track here. There are two nice racing grooves. I think you’ll continue to see more and more cars coming here.”

Birck, who won the final two sport mod titles (2018-19) at Quincy Raceways before it closed for two years and reopened this spring under new management and a new name, systematically picked off the field after moving high on the .29-mile racing surface. Reed Wolfmeyer, Michael Goodwin and Nicholas Profeta rounded out the top five.

Birck took over the series points lead at 114, followed by Profeta (107), Goodwin (107) and Cumby (104). Birck is the only sport mod driver who has notched a top-five feature finish in each of the first three weeks of racing.

“It should be a good (points) race this season,” Birck said. “Logan looks like he’s going to have a good year and Shane (Paris) will also be tough. (Paris) had some trouble Saturday night, though, in Maquoketa (Iowa) and didn’t make it here.”

Other week-three winners included Dave Wietholder in modifieds, Robert Cottom in street stocks, Denny Woodworth in crate late models and Jeffrey DeLonjay in 4-Cylinbders.

Wietholder outlasted a three-car struggle for the top spot in the modified feature that saw Kenny Wallace and Austen Becerra combine to provide one challenge after another during the second half of the 20-lapper. Wietholder led the final 16 laps, but none were easy.

“I had a good time racing Kenny and Austen,” said Wietholder, who won the last four modified titles (2016-19) when the track was Quincy Raceways.

Wietholder warded off rushes from Wallace on the low side and Becerra on the high. which worked out perfectly for his defensive tactics.

“I prefer running the middle of the track,” said Wietholder, who did exactly that. “The track was just awesome. I hope they keep up the good work. This track has a lot of character.”

Wallace ended up second after winning the May 1 feature, with Becerra a close third. Steve Myers completed the top four in the 19-car lineup.

“I had a blast,” said Becerra, who repeatedly threatened to overtake Wietholder, but could never quite get past him. 

Becerra, who is good friends with Wietholder off the track, praised his rival and acknowledged his talent, too.

“I knew I had some (good runs), but catching him and passing him are two different things,” Becerra said.

Wietholder leads the mods with 220 points, followed by Becerra (200), Mike Vanderiet Jr. (180) and Wallace (145).

Woodworth dominated the late models for a second straight week, leading all 18 feature laps to easily outrun Braden Bilger, Darin Weisinger Jr., Sam Halstead and Spencer Coats.

Woodworth (220), Halstead (205), Weisinger Jr. (185) and Coats (170) lead the points. Woodworth is working toward an eighth late model title and ninth overall in Quincy. He won the final five late model championships at Quincy Raceways, including all three previous crate late model seasons (2017-19).

Jeffrey DeLonjay continues to dominate the 4-Cylinder division, rallying late for a third straight checkered flag. DeLonjay pursued Brady Reed for the first 16 laps of the 18-lap feature, but a late crash took out Reed, opening the door for DeLonjay.

Jeremy Reed, Jimmy Dutlinger and Jaden DeLonjay made up the rest of the top four.

“There were some fast cars,” Jeffrey DeLonjay said. “I didn’t  think I was going to get that third (feature victory).”

Jeffrey DeLonjay (120), Dutlinger (111), Kim Abbott (100) and Justin Stevenson (98) are setting the points pace.

Cottom’s victory in the street stock feature was his third in a row and he has now led 40 of 45 feature laps this season. Rudy Zaragoza, Leremy Jackson and Jake Powers rounded out the top four.

Cottom (118), Jackson (110), Zaragoza (110), Powers (107) and Robert Thompson (106) are atop the points.  

There were 71 cars in the pits. The three-week average is 73.7.