If pressed, Tony Dunker will eventually cave.
Dunker will grudgingly admit — albeit with a smile — that he and his No. 3 sport mod team probably have a distinct advantage over the competition at Quincy Raceways.
Much of that advantage is psychological, which stems from Dunker’s complete and thorough domination of the sport mod series since early last season.
Dunker, who won Sunday night’s feature, has finished no worse than second in 17 consecutive main events, dating to early June 2012. Thirteen of those features during that stretch have been victories. Factor in all of last year and the first month of this season and the math says Dunker has won 17 of 24 possible checkered flags.
Tony Dunker
It’s no wonder his nickname is OMG — as in One Man Gang.
“Our team spends a lot of time in the shop,” he said. “The importance of preparation and pre-race set-up can never (be overrated). Knock on wood, we haven’t had a breakdown yet.
“To finish first, first you have to finish.”
HELPING OTHER TEAMS
Dunker makes a point to emphasize his organization also tries to reach out to other teams in an effort to help strengthen the still-evolving sport mod division. The sport mods did not debut at the track until late 2011.
Dunker said his operation is an open book.
“We offer everything we have to the other teams,” he said. “We try to help everyone.”
Dunker’s team keeps meticulous books on track conditions and car preparation, much like a NASCAR conglomerate. Having Brandon Brown involved is a major plus, an intangible Dunker cannot say enough about. Brown owns Pentagram Engineering and is a former driver at the Bullring. Brown was one of the top “B” modified hotshoes in the early 2000s.
Make no mistake about it, the No. 3 team is a well-honed operation that leaves no stone unturned during the week. By the time the weekend rolls around, the car is more than ready for Friday nights at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa, Saturday evenings at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, and Sunday nights at 8000 Broadway.
“Once the car gets on the track, it’s my deal,” Dunker said. “I judge the track, because I’m the one who drives the car. I know my car, I know what it can do.”
Dunker will report findings to the rest of the team, and between all of its members a game plan will emerge.
TO GO FASTER, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GO SLOWER
The 40-year-old Dunker also works with some of the younger drivers at the track. He says he is able to use the knowledge of his team, coupled with what he has learned himself over the years. He says one of the most difficult thought processes to instill in a younger driver is that, at times, it is necessary to go a little slower to go a little faster.
“I think 90 percent of the drivers think you have to go as fast as you can, then slam on the brakes in the corner,” he said.
There’s much more to driving a race car than that, he tries to emphasize. Judging by his record, it’s tough to dispute his claims. He’s one of only 11 drivers in the 39-year history of the track to win three or more track titles, and one of just eight to win 30 or more features in the last 15 years.
The bottom line?
“I come to win,” he said. “I come to win for my guys.”
Brandon Sheppard
Sunday night saw Dunker lead the final 12 laps of a 16-lap feature that was cut short by time restraints. Jeff DeLonjay finished second — 5.7 seconds behind Dunker — followed by Joe Bliven, Chandler Owens and Bucky Gallaher.
Dunker unofficially leads Bliven by five points (119-114) in the driver standings.
SUNDAY NIGHT ROUNDUP
Other feature winners were Brandon Sheppard in the late models, Steven DeLonjay in the modifieds, Jim Lynch in the stock cars and Pat Dunker in the sport compacts.
– Sheppard led the closing eight laps of the late model feature to hold off Dustin Griffin by 1.6 seconds. Jim Moon, Denny Woodworth and Jared Schlipman completed the top five. Woodworth (164), Jason Perry (150) and Clint Kirkham (147) lead the points.
– DeLonjay overtook Dave Wietholder with 13 laps remaining and then pulled away for a 3.7-second victory, his third win in four shows. Jake Griffin, Wietholder, Kenny Wallace and Michael Long rounded out the top five. DeLonjay (265), Wietholder (251) and Long (234) are atop the points list.
– Lynch got past Beau Taylor late in the final lap to register his first-ever win at Quincy. Jerry Jansen, Darin Lambert and Jake Powers were the rest of the top five. Powers (113) is the new points leader over Abe Huls (108), Jansen (106) and Lambert (105).
– Pat Dunker’s second victory was a flag-to-flag effort that saw Craig Bangert finish second. Kim Abbott, Lane Van Zandt and Matt Pepmeyer were the rest of the top five. Bangert (155), Abbott (15t3) and Dunker (150) are bunched atop the points standings.
SUNDAY NIGHT RECAP
FEATURE WINNERS
Late models: Brandon Sheppard (1st)
May 5: Rained out
April 28: Ricky Frankel
April 21: Chad Simpson
April 14: Jerry Lierly
Modifieds: Steven DeLonjay (3rd)
May 5: Rained out
April 28: Steven DeLonjay
April 21: Michael Long
April 14: Steven DeLonjay
Sport mods: Tony Dunker (2nd)
May 5: Rained out
April 28: Bobby Anders
April 21: Did not race
April 14: Tony Dunker
Stock cars: Jim Lynch (1st)
May 5: Rained out
April 28: Abe Huls
April 21: Did not race
April 14: Terry Houston
Sport compacts: Pat Dunker (2nd)
May 5: Rained out
April 28: Austen Becerra
April 21: Pat Dunker
April 14: Craig Bangert
FAST FEATURE LAPS
Late models: Brandon Sheppard 70.881 mph
April 28: Ricky Frankel, 64.754 mph
April 21: Chad Simpson, 65.426 mph
April 14: Jerry Lierly, 67.095 mph
Modifieds: Michael Long 67.377 mph
April 28: Steven DeLonjay, 62.941 mph
April 21: Michael Long, 63.678 mph
April 14: Steven DeLonjay, 63.396 mph
Sport mods: Tony Dunker 64.901 mph
April 28: Tanner Klingele, 60.846 mph
April 21: Did not race
April 14: Bobby Anders, 63.884 mph
HEAT WINNERS
Late models: Jim Moon (1st), Michael Long (1st).
Modifieds: Jake Griffin (1st), RFobbie Reed (1st).
Sport mods: Joe Bliven (2nd), Tony Dunker (3rd).
Stock cars: Michael Larsen (1st), Abe Huls (3rd).
Sport compacts: Austen Becerra (2nd), Pat Dunker (3rd).
QUALIFYING
Late model top qualifier: Brandon Sheppard (time not available)
April 28: Dewayne Kiefer, 70.727 mph
April 21: Chad Simpson, 71.326 mph
April 14: Clint Kirkham, 74.748 mph
Modified top qualifier: Kenny Wallace (time not available)
April 28: Steven DeLonjay, 64.881 mph
April 21: Steven DeLonjay, 65.838 mph
April 14: Michael Long, 68.626 mph
Late model dash winner for pole position: Jerry Lierly (2nd).
Previous 2013 winners
April 28: Ricky Frankel
April 21: No dash.
April 14: Jerry Lierly
Modified dash winner for pole position: Michael Long (2nd).
Previous 2013 winners
April 28: Steven DeLonjay
April 21: Steven DeLonjay
April 14: Michael Long
Jake Powers
SUNDAY NIGHT STARS
10 stars: Steven DeLonjay, the two-time defending modified track champ who became the first driver to win three features this season. DeLonjay has run 82 feature laps this year and led 48 of them.
9 stars: Tony Dunker, who continues to overwhelm the sport mod series. He also had the fastest (sport mod) feature lap of the season.
8 stars: Pat Dunker, the “other” Dunker, who blew away the sport compact field Sunday night.
7 stars: Brandon Sheppard, whose late model feature victory was his first at 8000 Broadway.
6 stars: Jim Lynch, whose stock car feature win was also his first in Quincy.
5 stars: Jake Griffin, who finished second in the modified feature and won a heat race. Not bad for a 14-year-old, eh?
4 stars: Jeff DeLonjay, who ran a strong second in the sport mod main event. Not too shabby for only his third night in the series.
3 stars: Dustin Griffin, who led the track in late model wins and money earned in 2012, made his debut Sunday night and ran an impressive second to Sheppard in the feature.
2 stars: Jake Powers, who survived a couple of stock-car feature mishaps to wind up fifth — and take over the points lead when drivers like Abe Huls and Terry Houston bowed out early with mechanical issues.
1 star: Craig Bangert, whose runner-up position in the sport mod feature gave him four straight finishes of third or higher.
CAR COUNTS
Late models: 18 (22.0 season average; last time track averaged 20 late models was 2008.)
Modifieds: 17 (16.3)
Sport mods: 12 (12.0)
Stock cars: 15 (12.3)
Sport compacts: 14 (12.8)
CAUTIONS
Late models: 7 (6.0 season average)
Modifieds: 7 (5.5)
Sport mods: 8 (7.7)
Stock cars: 8 (5.3)
Sport compacts: 3 (3.5)
Steven DeLonjay’s third modified feature victory of the season powered the driver of the No. 35 car to the top of this week’s Dirty Thirty rankings at the Bullring. Tony Dunker and his 17-race streak of not finishing any lower than second are sitting in the No. 2 spot.
