Steven DeLonjay

 (This is the third of a four-part series involving the 2011 Stevie Dirt championship picks for Quincy Raceways. The season begins Sunday, April 3.)

Let’s cut right to the chase. Two-time champ Michael Long probably will miss a week of  points racing here and there, so that eliminates him from the discussion of who will win the modified track title. If Michael is in the house every weekend this season, he is the clear-cut choice, but he probably won’t be.

Justin Reed, who won the 2009 championship in his rookie season in a mod, won’t win the title either. Reed was part of the Team Four compound, which is now down to one ride, the No. 4 of boss man Tony Dunker, who recently sold the other team cars and may do more traveling this season. (More about that in a minute.)

So who is the favorite?

HOW WE SEE THE MODIFIEDS FINISHING

1. Steven DeLonjay: I think we are about to see the beginning of the second era of DeLonjay dominance at the Bullring. This will be Steven’s fourth year as a modified regular. In his first three he never finished lower than third in points. Steven’s dad, Hank, won 13 track titles, including 10 in a modified. This should be No. 1 in a mod for the second generation.

Why he will win: He may only be a year removed from high school, but his time seems to have arrived. He’s come oh-so-close three straight years, and the law of percentages, of which I am a subscriber, seems to be leaning in Steve-O’s direction. 

Why he won’t win: Because there are about a dozen other drivers in this class also capable of holding the big iron come late August. 

2. Dave Wietholder: Dave’s highest series points finish is third in both 2006 and 2005, and he’s never finished farther back than seventh. That consistency is due to move him very, very close to that first mod championship.

3. Jared Schlipman: Jared is the defending champion, but being able to go back-to-back in this series at this point in time might be next to impossible. It’s that law of percentages thing.

Dark horse: Shawn Deering has never finished outside the top 10 in points in his first five years in this division, but has yet to climb higher than fifth. This might be the year.

Comeback of the year: Tony Dunker. I have no knowledge or inside information, just a gut feeling. But I am predicting No. 4 will compete full-time, or close to it. Last year’s  seventh-place finish in points was an aberration, especially considering he finished in the top four in points nine consecutive years before that.

2010 POINTS LEADERS

Jared Schlipman, 869
Michael Long, 819
Steven DeLonjay, 816
Dave Wietholder, 786
Justin Reed, 770

MODIFIED TRACK CHAMPIONS

2010: Jared Schlipman
2009: Justin Reed
2008: Michael Long
2007: Michael Long
2006: Robbie Reed

“A” Modifieds
2005: Hank DeLonjay
2004: Hank DeLonjay
2003: Hank DeLonjay
2002: Hank DeLonjay
2001: Vance Wilson
2000: Sam Burgtorf
1999: Sam Burgtorf
1998: Sam Burgtorf
1997: Hank DeLonjay
1996: Mark Van Winkle
1995: Hank DeLonjay
1994: Hank DeLonjay
1993: Denny Woodworth
1992: Hank DeLonjay
1991: Ryan Fierge
1990: Hank DeLonjay
1989: Darin Walker
1988: Hank DeLonjay

“B” Modifieds
2005: Wyatt Lantz
2004: Tony Dunker
2003: Tony Dunker
2002: Marty Hull Sr.
2001: Gary Dreyer
2000: Kelly Bartz
1999: Greg Uppinghouse
1998: Gary Dreyer
1997: Greg Uppinghouse
1996: Lonnie Carter
1995: Lonnie Carter
1994: Lowell Short
1993: Chuck Carter

Here are some snippets from the opening night of practice at the Bullring. The boys are back in town — here is a look at a few of them.

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Jim Powell

Jim Powell’s smile said it all.

“The track is back like it was when I started racing here in 1994, back like it was when my dad — Ol’ Snoopy — was racing in the 1970s,”  said Powell, one of the contenders to win this year’s hobby stock championship.

Powell’s words had to be music to the ears of promoters Paul Holtschlag and Tony Rhinberger. There were long, hard hours put into reshaping and restructuring the .29-mile oval starting way back in October.

Track officials took considerable grief last season for the condition of the track and the “one-groove racing”. It appears those complaints, which were well-founded, are a thing of the past.

Judging from the feedback I got Wednesday night during the first practice, the consensus was a major thumbs-up for all of the offseason work done at 8000 Broadway. I was only there for the first couple of hours of a scheduled four-hour session (I had to get home to watch American Idol), but I hope to get a feel from more drivers Thursday and Friday nights at additional practice sessions.

There are still a couple of rough spots that need to be ironed out – modified driver Vance Wilson called them “whoop-tee-dos,” pulling out a motocross reference — but it is obvious by just looking at the track it is a brand new Bullring. Or should that be a brand new-old-new Bullring?

The corners are much, much flatter and wider, and the amount of surface removed on the straightaways, especially on the front straight, is eye-popping. You can see the line on the front straight wall concerning how much dirt was removed.

“I could feel the corners again, I wasn’t (leaning),” Powell said.

Wilson called the wider, flatter, racier track “much improved.”

“It looks a lot better than last year,” he said. “There’s been a lot of improvement.”

The pits are also in much better shape. The grounds have been filled in, leveled off and cleaned up.

“(The facilities) really look nice,” said one of the veteran workers at the track.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” said another. “It really looks great.”

Gates open at 5 p.m. both Thursday and Friday nights for the final practices of the spring.

The season begins Sunday night with late models, modifieds, stock cars, modifieds and wild things. Racing starts at 6:30.

Word arrived today that UMP modifieds and IMCA stock cars will be running for national and regional points Sunday night at the Bullring. Track officials said both sanctioning had bodies OK’d the request from Quincy Raceways.

Track points for all classes except late models will not begin until April 10, which is also the night of the Deery Brothers Summer Series tour stop. Late model track points begin April 24.

All five weekly classes will be in action Sunday, including the debut/return of the four-cylinder wild things.

Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m., grandstands at 4:30, driver registration ends and drivers meeting are both at 5:30, hot Laps at 5:45 and racing action at 6:30.

Quincy Raceways is trying to help race fans stretch their discretionary dollars this season by restructuring its concession menu and lowering prices in light of the current tough economic times.

Track officials will also be offering what they feel will be a popular “Speedway Combo” special — any sandwich, fries and large fountain drink for a 75-cent savings over the regular combined menu price for all three items.

The new menu pricing will be in effect starting Sunday when the track opens its 37th season. Budweiser IMCA Late Models, Miller Lite UMP Modifieds, IMCA Stock cars, KRNQ Pepsi Inside Track Hobby Stocks and the Summy Tire and Auto Center Wild Things will all be in action beginning at 6:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.quincyraceways.com or call the track hotline at (217) 224-4100.

Aaron Brocksieck

 (This is the second of a four-part series involving the 2011 Stevie Dirt championship picks for Quincy Raceways. The season begins Sunday, April 3.)

Without question, the most difficult series to handicap is the stock car class. We simply don’t know who is going to run full-time and who is not, which morphs into the real story this season. Will the stock cars draw enough entries to survive?

Track officials seem confident we’ll have a season average in double figures. I’m keeping my fingers crossed about that because I simply have no idea. By my count, I see eight full-timers that I’m pretty confident about, and one of those likely won’t be there opening night. That does not count drivers I have not heard from or know about yet.

My best guess is there will be an average about 10-12 drivers each week, including 2-4 coming from drivers such as defending champ Terry Houston (who is not going to campaign every week, at least at this point) and Jeff Mueller. Mueller and a few other Iowa drivers will probably be there on more of a regular basis in 2011 if they like the “new” track.

We’ll probably have to give this class a month or so to shake out to see who we have — and who we don’t.

HOW WE SEE THE STOCK CARS FINISHING — AT THIS POINT

1. Aaron Brocksieck: If Brocksieck, who won the 2008 hobby stock championship, can keep that new pink ride on the track he’ll probably be tough to keep out of victory lane. Brocksieck was beset by all sorts of misfortune in 2010 after a promising rookie season the year before. We look for his luck to change, and if that happens he’s guaranteed to be in the title hunt.

Why he’ll win: Brocksieck has had two full years in this series. He’s seen the best of times and the worst of times. I think the pendulum swings back toward the positive this summer.

Why he won’t: More bad luck.

2. Kevin Tomlinson: No. 49′s fate might be decided in the first month of points racing. If Tomlinson gets off to a fast start and can avoid having to play catch-up all season he can win his first track title. Patience is not necessarily one of his strengths, so keep an eye on him in traffic.

3. Steve Steinkuhler: “Scuba Steve” has finished in the top four in points twice in the series’ first three years. What he needs to take the next step is finding the podium a bit more often. He’s won “just” four points features in those three seasons.

Dark horse: Andrew Griffin. I think this is the year he figures out how to win on Sunday nights that are not Mother’s Day. (Both of his main event victories have come on Mom’d Day.)

Comeback of the year: Brocksieck.

2010 POINTS LEADERS

Terry Houston, 448
Abe Huls, 436
Steve Steinkuhler, 432
Jerry Jansen, 424
Andrew Griffin, 416

STOCK CAR TRACK CHAMPIONS

2010: Terry Houston
2009: Abe Huls
2008: Jeff Mueller

Steve Carlin

(This is the first of a four-part series involving the 2011 Stevie Dirt championship picks for Quincy Raceways. The season opens Sunday, April 3.)

What could be the best start-to-finish points race at the Bullring this season might be in the hobby stock series where Steve Carlin, Bobby Anders and Jim Powell figure to go hammer-and-tong from April through September.

Carlin is trying for a record fifth championship and the first three-peat in hobby stock/bomber history. Both Anders and Powell are chomping at the bit in anticipation of their first title.

Here’s how we see this playing out in the summer of of 2011:

HOW THE HOBBY STOCKS WILL FINISH

1. Steve Carlin: A fifth track title would not only break the series tie with Eddie Dieker, but make him just one of four drivers in track history to win five or more championships. The others are Mark Burgtorf (14), Hank DeLonjay (13) and Steve  Fraise (9). That fifth title would also bode well if talk about a Quincy Raceways Hall of Fame would ever become a reality.

Why he will win: With four titles, Carlin has been through this before. All four of his championships have been close battles, winning the titles by 13, 9, 11 and 10 points. He’ll be ready for the war.

Why he won’t win: The law of percentages. You can’t win ‘emall.

2. Bobby Anders: He’s got a new car and he’s going for the gold. He told me in the offseason he’s also determined to keep his temper in check. He made great strides in that area in 2010 and he vows to worry only about the on-track pursuit of his first track championship. Anders finished second to Carlin a year ago.

3. Jim Powell: Here’s another driver with a new mindset. Jim also admitted his temper got the best of him in the past, probably costing him at least one — and maybe as many as three — track titles. Like Anders, he’ll be unveiling a new car, too.  He was third in 2010 points.

Dark horse: Jake Powers. Never underestimate a hobby stock that carries the “Powers” name. Powers finished eighth last season.

Comeback of the year: Adam Scott. There’s no way he will finish 11th in points again.

2010 POINTS LEADERS

Steve Carlin, 543
Bobby Anders, 530
Jim Powell, 488
Jeremy Buss, 483
Brian Hoener, 478

HOBBY STOCK TRACK CHAMPIONS

2010: Steve Carlin
2009: Steve Carlin
2008: Aaron Brocksieck
2007: Todd Reichert

Bombers
2006: Steve Carlin
2005: Eddie Dieker
2004: Eddie Dieker
2003: Steve Carlin
2002: Eddie Dieker
2001: Dave Wietholder
2000: Bill Genenbacher
1999: Eddie Dieker
1998: Bill Genenbacher
1997: Jim Gillenwater
1996: Jim Gillenwater
1995: Virgil Hatfield
1994: Sam Burgtorf
1993: Bob Uppinghouse
1992: Harold Ketchum
1991: Junior Tuggle
1990: Danny Bevill
1989: Jerry Poor
1988: Mike Parsons
1987: Kenny Williams

Overall weekend weather conditions have officially wiped out Sunday night’s practice at Quincy Raceways. They’ll try again at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Pratice will last until 9 p.m. All classes are welcome.

The season opener is Sunday, April 3.