Mark Burgtorf

For as long as the Bullring has been in existence, it’s surprising there have no more runaway championship races than there have been. Only 10 titles in the track’s first 36 seasons have been decided by more than 70 points.

What comes as no surprise, however, is 14-time late model champ Mark Burgtorf has three of the top eight margins of victory. Thirteen-time track champ Hank DeLonjay has two of the top five, including the most lopsided championship victory of 124 points over runner-up Ron Gough in the 1992 modified competition.

Year, class, drivers
1992, modifieds, Hank DeLonjay def. Ron Gough by 124 points
1987, bombers, Kenny Williams def. Jim Turner by 118 points
2006, late models, Mark Burgtorf def. Denny Woodworth by 117 points
1994, “B” modifieds, Lowell Short def. Mike Bowen by 112 points
1994, “A” modifieds, Hank DeLonjay def. Mike Karthoff by 104 points
1995, late models Mark Burgtorf def. Terry Gallaher by 98 points
1983, late model, Steve Fraise def. Mike Wallace by 98 points
2007, late models, Mark Burgtorf def. Lonnie Bailey by 97 points
1997, “B” modifieds, Greg Uppinghouse def. Bob Dale by 88 points
1997, bombers, Jim Gillenwater def. Bill Genenbacher by 73 points

red year indicates current scoring method was in place

(From Dewain Hulett, Lee County Speedway)

For the first time in 2011 Mother Nature didn’t threaten Friday night racing action at Lee County Speedway, which kicked of this year’s campaign with a late model feature victory by Ray Guss, Jr. highlighting the schedule.
Other feature winners included Dan Wenig in hobby stocks, Dylan Book in sport mods, Darin Smith in wild things, Jeff Mueller in stock cars and Josh Foster in modifieds.
Mark Burgtorf and Guss started side-by-side on the front row of the 25-lap late model main event, Guss took the lead into turn one and never trailed, although he was pressured through lapped traffic by Burgtorf in the green-to-checkered event. Jason Perry finished third, while Justin Reed took the fourth spot, followed by Jeff Aikey in fifth.
Foster survived a couple late cautions and use the high side of the racetrack to pick up his first modified feature win of 2011. Dennis LeVeine pressed the leader through the last two-thirds of the race but couldn’t find a way past before settling for second. Brandon Rothzen came from the sixth row to finish third, while Tyler Cale moved from the fifth row to fourth. Jim Roach rounded out the top five.
Mueller was the class of the stock car field, posting a relatively easy victory. Jim Redman and others were in a heated battle behind the leader before he finally secured second. Jason Cook, who fell to sixth at one point, rallied to take third. Matt Greiner was fourth and Cale Samberg finished fifth.

Michael Long edged Tony Dunker by one point for the 2008 modified track championship.

There appears to be a much better forecast now for the weekend, one that might allow some Sunday night action at the Bullring. If that materializes, all five classes will be involved in points racing for the first time this season. The late model points opener was washed out last week, but the other four classes all have some numbers next to the names.

There’s always a little extra buzz when points are involved, and in recent years has there been a more exciting track for close championship races? There have been 19 track titles in the past 36 years at Qujincy decided by 9 points or less — and nine have come in the last two years. Here’s a look at those close calls:

Year, class, drivers
2008, stock cars, Jeff Mueller def. Chris Wibbell by 0 points (title decided my most features won when Mueller and Wibbell tied in points).
2008, modifieds, Michael Long def. Tony Dunker by 1 point.
2008, hobby stocks, Aaron Brocksieck def. Wes Mayfield by 1 point.
2007, hobby stocks, Todd Reichert def. Steve Carlin by 1 point.
1998, “B” modifieds, Gary Dreyer def. Joe Hooper by 1 point.
2006, hornets, Steven DeLonjay def. James Leffew by 2 points.
2004, “A” modifieds, Hank DeLonjay def. Michael Long by 2 points.
1983, pure stock, Jeff Klingele def. Hal Roach by 2 points.
2007, hornet, Steven DeLonjay def. Levi Long by 3 points.
1998, “A” modifieds, Sam Burgtorf def. Hank DeLonjay by 3 points.
2004, late model, Lonnie Bailey def. Brent Slocum by 4 points.
2009, stock cars, Abe Huls def. Kevin Tomlinson by 5 points.
2009, late models, Lonnie Bailey def. Justin Reed by 6 points.
1989, “A” modifieds, Darin Walker def. Sonny Smyser by 6 points.
1984, sportsman, Hank DeLonjay def. Lonnie Bailey by 6 points.
2006, modifieds, Robbie Reed def. Hank DeLonjay by 7 points.
2010, late model, Denny Woodworth def. Jason Perry by 8 points.
1985, street stock, Junior Tuggle def. Johnnhy Juette by 8 points
2009, hobby stocks, Steve Carlin def. Jim Powell by 9 points.

blue year indicates current scoring method was in place

Craig Courty captures gold for the first time in the two-year history of the “This Week’s Medal Winners” awards for contributions to this blog. I almost got misty-eyed when I read his comment about never wanting to lose his hometown race track.

Here’s a look at this week’s other medal winners, with the key parts of their comments in bold face:

Gold medal: craig courty

i actually went out to the track last sunday at about noon and just what i seen knew there was no way possible to get trucks and trailers back to the pits but there actually was someone on a tractor back in the pits making an attempt at getting the show going i can only imagine that it was much worse this weekend especially if the pits were part of the creek banks come on give the promoters a break better yet check out heartland newstories and see that nearly all local tracks cancelled shows this weekend i dont agree with a lot of the procedures or decisions at qr but i never forget how lucky i am to have a hometown racetrack and i dont ever want to lose that.

Silver medal: Jansen06

Joe I don’t know about Terry and Mark and their program, But I have to say that the Ford’s make great power and from what I under stand from the engine builders and dyno test that the Ford makes more power than a bow tie. I have one of the strongest engines under the hood that I have ever had. Racing in my opinion can be split into thirds. 1/3 car, 1/3 driver, and 1/3 luck. Right now I have the best car that I have ever had, I have had pretty good luck, so right now I’m working on the loose nut behind the wheel getting it all figured out.

Bronze medal: Just A Fan

Maid Rite they got rocking chilly dogs. Bunch of dudes wrestling in Jello- I’ll bring gallons of Martini’s and a video cam. Enough with the doom and gloom chance of percerp is 30% or less except for Sat which is 70% and sunday is only 30%. We’re gonna race I believe I believe I believe. We just have to or I’ll just die I know I will I’ll just die, or at least go into a jello decline.

Tony Stewart ... Tony Dunker?

If our drivers at the Bullring were part of the NASCAR scene, what Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series stars might they be? Here are a few ideas … (and, yes, I’ll be anxious to hear yours, too):  

Denny Woodworth: Ryan Newman. (Newman, with an engineering degree, is always regarded as the smartest guy in the NASCAR pits. And D.W. is the only lawyer I know of that races at 8000 Broadway.)
Justin Reed: Kevin Harvick. (Justin, like Harvick, is not afraid to apply the chrome horn when needed.)
Bobby Anders: Kyle Busch. (OK, Kyle Busch from a couple of years ago when he was a bit more “Rowdy”.)
Steve Carlin: Jimmy Spenceer. (Spencer no longer races, but can be seen each week on the Speed Channel. I think Jimmy and Steve were separated at birth.)
Tony Dunker: Tony Stewart. (Same black cars. Both have a “4″ on the side — I know, Stewart has a “1″, too). Both have the same … ummm, temperaments.)
Michael Long: Jimmie Johnson. (Does this really need any explanation?)
Lonnie Bailey: Mark Martin. (The quiet veteran.)
Steven DeLonjay: Joey Logano. (Both on the fast track to success.)
Justin Jennings, Jake Griffin, James Leffew: Justin Allgaier. (Ditto)
Vance Wilson: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Both are likable, good ole boys) 

Juan Pablo Montoya ... Jim Powell?

Keith Pratt: Carl Edwards. (Carl does that flip after he wins a race, Keith does that flip between turns one and two.)
Mark Burgtorf: Jeff Gordon. (Gordon became the face of NASCAR in the 1990s and early 2000. Same with Burgtorf at Quincy Raceways during the same period.)
Terry Gallaher: Michael Waltrip. (They both pick and choose what races they want to run at this point in their careers.)
Dave Wietholder: Denny Hamlin. (Similar driving styles, similar outlooks and both come across as soft spoken — until they get behind the wheel.)
Terry Houston: Clint Bowyer. (Both are quiet guys from the country who do nothing but run up front.)
Jim Powell: Juan Pablo Montoya. (Both have been known to have anger issues, and both say they have now turned over a new leaf.)
Jerry Jansen: Kurt Busch. (At the end of most races, both tend to surprise by being found near the top of the leaderboard and points standings.)
Shawn Deering: Matt Kenseth. (Both are quiet, unassuming and don’t command much attention — until they always wind up in the top five.)

Albert Pujols

The forecast is rather difficult to even begin to try and figure out this far away from the weekend, but the reports at this point of the week do not look promising, do they? With that in mind, here are our weekly predictions for Sunday night at 8000 Broadway:

1. Storm clouds: I’d say our chances of seeing a checkered flag Sunday night are about the same as seeing Albert Pujols in a Cardinals uniform next season. Just not going to happen. I’ve been keeping track of rainouts since 2004 and I don’t believe we’ve had three washouts in a row in that period. I think — the key word is think — the last time that happened was 2001, but I would not bet my restrictor plate on it.

2. Welcome back: But if we do race, I predict we’ll see late model hotshoes Dustin Neese and Ron Elbe. I wonder how long (if ever?) it has been since the first time those guys raced in a season would be in May?

3. In this corner … : Rain or shine, I’m for seeing blog contributor Dave “The Blue Oval” Moore and all of his Chevy buddies wrestle for the manufacturer’s championship in a vat of Jell-O in front of the concession stand.

4. Can we get a hug?: According to pal “flyby” Keith Pratt and Matt Bailey were mixing it up in the feature last Saturday at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. Keith says “flyby” is nuts, but I think we need a group hug just to make certain everything is OK.

5. Bottoms up: Some say hobby stocker Steve Carlin’s nickname will always be “Tea Man,” while others seem to like the Randy “Macho Man” Savage thing. I say we have Steve chug a gallon of raspberry Snapple at the start-finish line and tell us which one he prefers.

6. Moving up the charts: I say if there is a rainout, announcer “Pretty Doug” Mealy entertains us with that deep baritone of his, singing the greatest hits of Charlie Rich and the Statler Brothers.

7. Car count: If — there’s that word again, “if” — we run, my prediction for number of late models is 24.

8. Over/Under: If there’s racing, I think because of the two week-layoff there will be a little rustiness getting the cars lined up, etc … so I look for an 8-minute delay. And what does Kenny Pratt think?

9. Sandwich of the week: Whether we race or not, I’m getting a chili dog somewhere. Is Team Four cooking out?

10. Modified cautions: The track will be slick if there’s racing, so I’m shooting high — 13.

What else can you say? Michael Long has been the 800-pound gorilla in the room for a few years now. “King Kong” is absolutely perfect. Thanks to Travis for that one.

Jason Perry was tabbed “Catfish” by bullringfan because No. 27 is a “bottom feeder” and runs the “low line.” Classic. Simply classic. He is now Jason “Catfish” Perry.

When I first saw Lonnie Bailey referred to as “The Godfather” I thought it was perfect. After all, he is the patriarch of the Bailey racing clan. Good call by HIGHSIDE.

This might be most appreciated by pro wrestling fans, but TEAM4FAN’s call of Mark Burgtorf as “The Nature Boy” was tremendous, especially when he wrote “14-time, 14-time, 14-time” champion. Those who follow the squared circle will understand that the best.