(Today continues a week-long look at different aspects of competition at Quincy Raceways as we head toward opening night on Sunday.)

Steve Blickhan, the longtime flagman at the Bullring who retired at the end of last season, was conspicuous by his presence Wednesday at 8000 Broadway during the first night of practice.

“Couldn’t stay away, could you?” a friend asked.

“Nope,” Blickhan said, shaking a his head with a smile.

Ironically, the T-shirt he wore more or less summed up a lot of things: “Guilty Pleasure.”

I knew how “Blick” felt. It was only a warm Wednesday night in March, and it was only practice, but there they were. Late models, modifieds, stock cars and hobby stocks. It was time for racing season.

About 300 fans filtered in and out of the grandstands watching little more than a test and tune session, but each and every one had a smile on his or her face. There was a recognized sense of anticipation, a feeling the offseason was almost over.

In the pits, about 35 drivers and their crews turned wrenches, checked air pressures and compared notes. There were familiar local names and some long-distance visitors. Some of the regulars on hand included Dave Wietholder, Steven DeLonjay, Terry Gallaher, Denny Woodworth, Ron Elbe, Ben Huff and Nick Ingalls. Making the trek from outside the area were Iowa hotshoes Tommy Elston of Keokuk and Greg Kastli of Waterloo. Donovan Lodge of Moline also made the haul.

The only downside of the night — besides no concession stand! — was the dust. Track official Jack Walbring said there were problems with the water truck and some of the pumps, but when he started getting technical I lost him. Bottom line was little or no water and a lot of dust, but I’m sure things will be fixed before Sunday night when the season begins in earnest.

I left practice in time to get home in time to watch American Idol, but I was smiling the entire ride back to Midlan Drive. Racing season is almost here.

(Today continues a week-long look at different aspects of competition at Quincy Raceways as we head toward opening night on Sunday.)

A storyline from each of the classes I’m extremely interested in watching unfold early this season includes:

Late models: I find it fascinating that two of the households names from the modified series, Tony Dunker and Vance Wilson, will also be turning the wheel in a late model. It’s no secret both have histories as aggressive drivers in a modified, so I’ll be curious to see how that transfers to the big-bodied cars, especially the first few weeks of the season. What’s equally compelling is both are accomplished drivers (with a combined three track titles between them) and used to success, so I wonder how patient they will be in their new surroundings? It will only be a matter of time until they are successful in a late model, but I’ve got a hunch that learning curve is going to be interesting.

Jeff Mueller

Modifieds:  There have been quite a few names thrown around in the offseason as favorites for the mod championship. Think about who we have discussed at great length: Justin Reed, Steven DeLonjay, Tony Dunker, Vance Wilson, Robbie Reed, Shawn Deering, Dave Wietholder, Jared Schlipman and a handful of others. Who has slipped under the radar? How about Donovan Lodge? Lodge led the series in second-half points and was fifth in improvement points en route to a strong fourth-place finish in the overall standings. Don’t forget about the guy from the Quad Cities.

Stock cars: Same thing in this class. There’s a name that has kind of gone unnoticed in all of the preseason title chatter, and he’s probably the one stock car driver who can legitimately say he has the Bullring figured out. Track officials have indicated Jeff Mueller will be returning to run for the title he won in 2008, and if so he will definitely be the guy to beat. In the few times Mueller was on hand in 2009 it was obvious he still knew how to get around the track quicker than anyone else in the division. If Mueller does make a run for the crown, he’ll be tough to stop. And don’t panic if he’s not in hand Sunday night, points racing does not start until April 11 for all classes except late models.

Hobby stocks: What is forgotten about this series a year ago is how much veteran Jim Powell dominated, but did not win the championship. A late-season penalty for rough driving, which cost him dearly in points ultimately cost him his first track title. Powell won more features, heats and total races than any other driver, but that one night he could not control his temper cost him the championship. He might very well be the driver who should be favored when this year’s points start to count.

(Today continues a week-long look at different aspects of competition at Quincy Raceways as we head toward opening night on Sunday.)

It’s always fun to speculate when it comes to sports, and racing is no different. We’ve spent a lot of time in the last year breaking down who the top drivers were in each class during the just-completed decade. Well, what about the decade coming up, starting Sunday night? Between now and the final checkered flag of 2019, who are the most likely candidates to rule their respective series at the Bullring? Here are my picks:

Late models: The coming decade might very well belong to Justin Reed, who is not yet even close to reaching his peak. He eats, sleeps and breathes racing, especially the late  model variety, and establishing his (championship) presence on his home track is extremely important to him. He’ll obviously have to deal with the usual suspects like Mark Burgtorf and a few others, but Burgtorf, in particular, seems intent on spreading his wings at other venues a bit more in the years to come. That could open the door for a likely successor to the throne at 8000 Broadway, and I think it could very well be Reed.

Tanner Klingele

Modifieds: When I whittled down my list in this class, I kept coming back to one name — Steven DeLonjay. He appears to have the talent and desire to make a run at his dad’s modified accomplishments. “Little Crank” has already started to leave his own mark, changing the longstanding color scheme of the No. 35 ride to a blue-and-goldish look, rather than his dad’s familiar red and white. You know what the scariest aspect — from his opponents’ perspective – of about a possible DeLonjay Era II is? At the end of the coming decade, Steven won’t yet be 30 years old. The modified record book is likely to take a serious beating in the coming years.

Stock cars: Honestly, this division is almost impossible to project, with the series only entering its third season. But again, just like in the modifieds there was one name that I kept coming back to — in this case, Aaron Brocksieck. Examining what he has already accomplished in a relatively young career, I think the proverbial stock car sky could be the limit for him.

Hobby stocks: I always hate to split anything like this between two drivers, but I have to make an exception with this series. I see no reason for Steve Carlin to slow down in his pursuit to be considered the No. 1 all-time driver in this division. He’s an easy pick among the young veterans who figure to race (at least most of) the next 10 years. But I also have to pick young Tanner Klingele, the teenager who burst onto the scene in 2009 and earned the respect of drivers, fans and officials alike. Klingele reminds me a lot of a young Eddie Dieker, and we all know what he accomplished in this class.

Quincy Raceways officials have postponed Tuesday night’s scheduled practice session, but have announced the track will be open for testing and tuning Wednesday, Thursday and Friday starting at 5 p.m. each day. The opening races are scheduled for Sunday when the Bullring opens for its its 36th season.

Track spokesman Jack Walbring said turns three and four were still trouble spots today, plus the pits posed a problem with areas of standing water. Both the track and pits should be ready to go by Wednesday night, Walbring said.

“One more day and everything should be fine,” Walbring said. “The weather looks good for the rest of the week.”

Extended forecasts call for no rain through the weekend.

(Today starts a week-long look at different aspects of competition at Quincy Raceways as we head toward opening night April 4.)

Part of the appeal of any sport is how its success is measured. Normally, that comes in the form of numbers, all sorts of them. Statistics define the kind and amount of success an athlete has enjoyed. In that respect, dirt-track racing is no different than any of the stick-and-ball sports.

Michael Long

Opinions can vary and be at opposite ends of the spectrum, but the numbers — as they say — do not lie. With that in mind, here is a look at five of some of the more unusual milestones that Bullring hotshoes will be chasing this season:

Chasing 100: No driver has ever won 100 races over the course of any four-season span, but two-time modified track champ Michael Long has an opportunity, even though he will not be running full-time at 8000 Broadway. Long has won 87 races in the past three seasons, including “just” 16 in 2009 when he missed about one-third of the Bullring schedule. So unless No. 18 falls off dramatically, I think it’s a good bet he’ll win at least 13 times this summer on his home track. Ironically, Long also needs 13 victories to become the first modified driver to reach 100 wins since the mods became one class in 2006. Long (87), Hank DeLonjay (49), Robbie Reed (36) , Tony Dunker (32) and Dave Wietholder (29) are the top five in total wins in the four years of single-class mod races.

Chasing 100, part deux: A pair of drivers have the chance to join some rather select company. Tony Dunker and Lonnie Bailey look to be in prime position to be the fourth and fifth drivers, respectively, to reach 100 victories since such starts started being tracked in 1999. Dunker sits with 94 overall wins (all in modified action) and Bailey has 88 (all in late models). Mark Burgtorf (181), Michael Long (150) and Hank DeLonjay (138) are the only current members of the Century Club.

Terry Gallaher

Chasing 200: As you probably just noticed, Mark Burgtorf is zeroing in on 200 wins since 1999. Can he do it this season? Realistically, probably not. For starters, Burgtorf will not be at the track every Sunday night. Secondly, only twice in the 11 years of record keeping has a late model driverwon  the 19 (or more) races that Burgtorf would need to accomplish the feat this year.

Mr. Close Call: No driver since the inception of the “Electronic Era” in late 2007 has more close feature finishes than late model/modified driver Justin Reed. Reed has been either first or second in five of the 12 closest finishes in the last 2-plus years. Reed edged Steven DeLonjay by 0.087 of a second in the May 31, 2009 modified main event, the closest finish on record. Reed has four runner-up finishes in which he finished 0.116, 0.178, 0.212 and 0.252 of a second off the pace.

Consistency counts: Tony Dunker has run nine straight seasons in the top five in modified points (four in the one-class series, three in the old “B” mods) and is now two such finishes from Hank DeLonjay’s track record of 11. Steve Carlin has finished in the top five seven straight seasons in the hobby stocks/bombers, one off Eddie Dieker‘s track record of eight. In the late models, Terry Gallaher‘s track mark of 21 straight seasons in the top five is safe. Mark Burgtorf has a run of seven straight years going, which is tops among active drivers. (Burgtorf, however, holds the track mark of 25 straight seasons in the top 10, a record that will probably never be challenged. Not only will Burgtorf likely up that figure to 26 in a row this summer, but the next closest active streak is nine, belonging to Lonnie Bailey.)

Quincy Raceways has canceled practices for Saturday and Sunday and rescheduled them for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The track is still too wet to be used, so keep your fingers crossed for some extended warm weather in the next few days.

Opening night at 8000 Broadway is April 4.

Justin Reed holds his trophy high after winning the Sept. 21 feature last season at Quincy Raceways

Several interesting late model topics come to mind as the April 4 start of the season draws closer.

• Will we have an unprecedented fourth different champion in as many years? I’d say the chances are extremely good of that occurring, and I think the name to look for is Justin Reed. The 23-year-old Reed has gotten stronger each season — he’s been at this since he was a teenager — and his time could finally arrive in 2010. Reed finished second by six points to Lonnie Bailey a year ago.

Reed won the modified title in 2009 in his first full year in that series, and as nice of an accomplishment as that was he told me his heart remains tied to the late models. He wants a track championship in that division in the worst way. I think the stars might be aligned for a Reed title run this summer.

Bailey will, of course, be at or near the top of the points, too, but as difficult as it is to repeat in this series — Mark Burgtorf, Steve Fraise and Terry Gallaher are the lone drivers to do so — the law of percentages will undoubtedly be working against him. A tremendous irony this season would be for Bailey to win features at both Quincy and West Burlington, Iowa, and not win either track title. He captured both championships last season without the aid of even one feature checkered flag. That has to be some kind of record.

Vance Wilson

• Are you ready for some new faces? Both Vance Wilson and Tony Dunker will be trying their hands in late models, plus working double time with their regular modified gigs. Vance had his late model at the recent Quincy Mall show, a car he purchased from Gallaher. The familiar No. 1 will be how you find him opening night. I’m not sure what number Dunker will be using for his late model, which he is in the pocess of finishing up as you read this.

Although not a new face, look for Nick Ingalls to play more of a challenging role this year. He’ll be unveiling a new No. 5 with considerably more horsepower. I have from a very good source he could be one of the season’s real sleepers.

• Who will be the other title contenders? Along with Reed and (Lonnie) Bailey, my picks going into the season are Jason Perry, Keith Pratt, Matt Bailey and Bill Genenbacher, probably in that order, too. Perry has proven he is steady and knows how to points race, Pratt will near the top if he can keep all four wheels on the track, (Matt) Bailey has the equipment and savvy if he is able to make all the points races and Genenbacher gets stronger each season.

But what about Burgtorf, Jason Frankel and Denny Woodworth? They’ll be around a lot, but will not be attending all points races because of plans to test the waters in some big-money, out-of-town events. Burgtorf has led the late models in total wins the past five years and has won the most features every season but one (2004) since 1999 when such statistics started being tracked.

CLIMBING IN THE RANKINGS

Reed’s runner-up finish in this year’s late model points race allowed him to climb to No. 7 in the The Herald-Whig’s IMCA era (since 1998) track rankings. Reed still has a ways to go to crack the track’s all-time top 10 rankings, a place that is still largely reserved for the historical names who helped build 8000 Broadway.

Lonnie Bailey, the No. 4-ranked all-time driver, continued his assault on the big three of Burgtorf, Gallaher and Fraise. Bailey has moved within 40 points of No. 3 Fraise, who with No. 2 Gallaher and No. 1 Burgtorf show a combined 27 track championships.

A driver earns 15 points for finishing first in points and 10 for a second-place spot. The rest of the top 10 gets points in 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 fashion.

ALL-TIME LATE MODEL RANKINGS
(bold face indicates driver was active in class in 2009)
1. Mark Burgtorf, 275 points (14 titles)
2. Terry Gallaher, 232 (4)
3. Steve Fraise, 178 (9)
4. Lonnie Bailey, 138 (2)
5. Dick Crane, 104.5 (1)
6. Jim Swank, 73.5 (1)
7. Sonny Findling, 70.5
8. Brent Slocum, 64 (1)
9. Denny Woodworth, 61
10. Tom Long, 49

Other active notables
Jason Frankel, 43
Ron Elbe, 38
Jerry Weisenberger, 32
Joey Gower, 26
Jason Perry, 15
Bill Genenbacher, 13
Keith Pratt, 13
Dustin Neese, 11
Matt Bailey, 9
Robby Warner, 5
Nick Ingalls, 1
Clint Kirkham, 1

LATE MODEL RANKINGS SINCE 1998 (IMCA era)
(bold face indicates driver was active in class in 2009)
1. Mark Burgtorf, 147 points (8 titles)
2. Lonnie Bailey, 88 (2)
3. Brent Slocum, 64 (1)
4. Denny Woodworth, 52
5. Terry Gallaher, 40
6. Jamie Wilson, 36
x-7. Justin Reed, 32
8. Jerry Weisenberger, 32
9. Ron Elbe, 24
10. Joey Gower, 23
x-Reed is No. 7 on strength of more second-place points finishes

Other active notables
Jason Frankel, 15
Jason Perry, 13
Bill Genenbacher, 13
Keith Pratt, 13
Dustin Neese, 11
Boone McLaughlin, 10
Matt Bailey, 9
Robby Warner, 5
Nick Ingalls, 1
Clint Kirkham, 1

LATE MODEL TRACK CHAMPIONS
IMCA era 1998-2009
2009: Lonnie Bailey
2008: Jason Frankel
2007: Mark Burgtorf
2006: Mark Burgtorf
2005: Mark Burgtorf
2004: Lonnie Bailey
2003: Mark Burgtorf
2002: Brent Slocum
2001: Mark Burgtorf
2000: Mark Burgtorf
1999: Mark Burgtorf
1998: Mark Burgtorf
Previous
1997: Mark Burgtorf
1996: Mark Burgtorf
1995: Mark Burgtorf
1994: Mark Burgtorf
1993: Mark Burgtorf
1992: Mark Burgtorf
1991: Terry Gallaher
1990: Steve Fraise
1989: Steve Fraise
1988: Terry Gallaher
1987: Terry Gallaher
1986: Dick Crane
1985: Terry Gallaher
1984: Steve Fraise
1983: Steve Fraise
1982: Steve Fraise
1981: Steve Fraise
1980: Steve Fraise
1979: Steve Fraise
1978: Jim Swank
1977: No LM division
1976: Steve Fraise
1975: Larry Pipes

Mark Burgtorf

Those hoping 14-time late model track champ Mark Burgtorf might try for No. 15 will likely be disappointed this season. Mark told me at the recent Quincy Mall show his attendance at Quincy this season would be “sporadic.”

Mark has not openly campaigned for a track title since 2007. The back-to-back years without a Quincy championship are the first time since he won his initial track title in 1992 that he has gone two straight seasons without a championship on his home track.

Part of Burgtorf’s focus this summer will be winning another Deery Brothers Summer Series title. He said the way the 16-race tour schedule is set up he will only have to miss about four days of work, which was a big part of his decision. Burgtorf has won three Deery titles (2003, 2001, 1998) and one IMCA national championship (1998).

Of the 22 Deery races at the Bullring, Burgtorf has won seven, including the April 2009 run. The Deery tour’s first of two 2010 stops in Quincy comes April 11. The first night of racing this season at 8000 Broadway is April 4. Practice dates are March 27, 28, 31 and April 2.

What’s your favorite special event at the Bullring? Here’s your chance to vote.

We’ve posted what I think are probably the four top in-season specials with the UMP Summernationals and Deery Brother Summer Series tour stops for the late models, plus the Tri-State Shootout for stock cars and River City Rumble for the modifieds. Each has its own strong following, so I’m anxious to gauge the online response.

In the just-completed balloting, Lonnie Bailey was picked as the most likely to defend his (late model) track championship over Justin Reed (modifieds), Steve Carlin (hobby stocks) and Abe Huls (stock cars).

Jason Malone, center, and Scott Smith, right, check out late model driver Matt Bailey's slick-looking 2010 ride at Saturday's Quincy Raceways show at the Quincy Mall. The show continues Sunday.

(The following will also appear in Sunday’s print edition of The Herald-Whig. We’ll also have more in “Stevie Dirt” in the coming days from Quincy Mall show.)

Hundreds of Quincy area dirt-track racing fans were able to get their first glimpse of the 2010 season Saturday.

Quincy Raceways’ annual stock car show drew such a huge turnout to the Quincy Mall that even long-time track official Jack Walbring was impressed.

“I think this was the busiest we have ever been on a Saturday morning,” said Walbring, whose affiliation with the track goes back more than 30 years.

The show continues Sunday during regular mall hours. Roughly 40 cars are on the hand, a nice mixture of late models, modifieds, stock cars and hobby stocks — all with sharp, new looks.

Many of the drivers were on hand, from 11-year-old Jake Griffin of Quincy to 60-ish Terry Gallaher of New London, Mo.

“It’s definitely been a long winter,” said Griffin, who will be driving both a modified and late model this season. “It feels like forever since I’ve raced.”

Griffin will be running a modified Sunday nights at Quincy, plus a late model on Friday evenings in Lincoln, Ill., and Saturday nights in Canton, Ill., which on the surface seems like a big load for such a little guy.

“I’m up for it,” Jake assured.

Gallaher, a four-time late model track champ, planned on retiring after 2009, a year that saw him involved in a violent, early season crash at Quincy that sidelined him much of the season.

“I sold all my stuff, everything I had, to Vance (Wilson, who for the first time at Quincy will be running a late model this year),” Gallaher said.

Gallaher said it was not too long after he sold his inventory he got the itch back, and with his family’s support, decided to change his mind about retirement.

“I knew (the retirement) wasn’t going to work,” he said. “My wife said, ‘Well then, we better get a (another) car!’”

When the season opens — weather permitting — April 4, many of the familiar color schemes will have changed for some of the track’s top talents. For instance:

• Modified driver Wyatt Lantz has gone to a purple theme for his No. 22 after wearing his familiar combinations of black, gray, white and red for so many years.

• Late model hotshoe Jason Frankel will be sporting a basic blue look after his recent back-in-black themes.

• Steven DeLonjay’s blue-and-orange approach is completely different from the red-and-white look he and his dad, 13-time track champ “Hank the Crank” DeLonjay, have used in the past for their No. 35 modified.

• Matt Bailey also has gone to an orange theme for his No. 52 late model.

• Mark Burgtorf also has stepped outside the familiar look for his No. 7 late model. Traditionally, Burgtorf had raced in a red or white ride, but in 2010 there is a distinct orange flavor and some neatly packaged trim that gives the car more of a NASCAR type of appeal.

• Trent Grotz will be sporting an entirely new blue look for his No. 2 and might offer a challenge to Tony Dunker for The Herald-Whig’s annual “ZZ Top Sharp Dressed Man Award” for the best-looking car among the modifieds. Dunker was not on hand at this year’s mall show because his 2010 entry is not yet finished.

Race fans will get their next look at some of the cars during four scheduled practice sessions on March 27, 28, 31 and April 2.