Stevie Dirt

Justin Reed

In a way, it’s kind of a shame Justin Reed won the modified track title at the Bullring in his first full season in the series. Why? Because there’s no place for the 22-year-old to go but down.

Reed’s 58-point margin of victory in the modified series helped earn him Stevie Dirt Driver of the Year in that series.

Reed’s most important strength proved to be his consistency. He “only” won four points features, but no other driver matched him in top-five and top-10 performances.

“Justin’s just a natural,” said rival Tony Dunker, a second-row selection on this year’s all-Dirt team, and also Reed’s car owner.

A driver’s success at the Bullring, combined with success in the Stevie Dirt Regional Rankings and at Lee County and West Burlington were all weighed. To be eligible for a Driver of the Year award, a driver must be at least a semi-regular at Quincy.
 
Reed follows Michael Long as Stevie Dirt Modified Driver of the Year. Long is a first-row selection this season.

MODIFIED DRIVER OF THE YEAR

JUSTIN REED

WHY: In his first full season in a modified, “Forrest” won the track championship with relative ease … Reed had the most top-five points finishes among mod drivers … Stevie Dirt Regional Ranking  (No. 7) was hurt by only running at Quincy … Reed formed one half of the popular and always-controversial Team 4 that includes two-time track champ Tony Dunker … Extremely consistent, finishing 419 of 440 feature laps to lead all mod drivers … Only Donovan Lodge (478) had more second-half points than Reed (474).

NOTEWORTHY: Can Reed repeat in 2010? Mod history seems to say he has a good chance. Seven times in the 11 preceding years there was a repeat winner in this series.

FIRST ROW

MICHAEL LONG

WHY: Only a 12th-place finish in points at the Bullring kept Long from winning back-to-back Driver of the Year accolades … Long still won 16 races, including seven features, to lead all drivers in all classes … No. 18 was runner-up to Josh Foster in the SDRR after winning the 2008 championship. 

NOTEWORTHY: Long’s totals at Quincy this season were accomplished while running in just 10 of 17 points races.

STEVEN DeLONJAY

WHY: “Little Crank” was runner-up in the points race after finishing third in 2008 — and he’s still a teenager … DeLonjay was a runaway leader in improvement points, the only driver at the track to top the century mark with 102 … DeLonjay has been racing for four years and never finished lower than third in points in any series … Finished No. 8 in the SDRR.

NOTEWORTHY: DeLonjay has already won 45 races in his Bullring career, which ranks 15th among all drivers at the track since such statistics started being charted in 1999.

SECOND ROW

TONY DUNKER

WHY: Dunker has been one of the most successful drivers at the track during the past decade, and 2009 was no different, finishing third in points … He enters 2010 six wins away from becoming the fourth driver to reach 100 victories since statistics started being kept in 1999 … Strangely enough, Dunker has not won a Bullring feature since 2005 or title since 2004, but has climbed to No. 2 in all-time mod rankings and is No. 1 since 2006 when the “A” and “B” classes were combined.

NOTEWORTHY: “Bone” was the winner of the inaugural DIRTy online voting award for Driver of the Year.

VANCE WILSON

WHY: Wilson, who returned to Quincy full-time for the first season since winning the 2001 “A” mod championship, finished fifth in points … Wilso also finished No. 5 in the SDRR, which represented the top performance by a Missouri driver … Nine overall wins were his most in Quincy since earning 13 in 1999.

NOTEWORTHY: Wilson led modified drivers in Herald-Whig Performance Points to win his first HWPP championship since 1999.

STEVIE DIRT MODIFIED DRIVERS OF THE YEAR
2009: Justin Reed
2008: Michael Long

Abe Huls

When Abe Huls won the stock car track championship on the final night of points racing at the Bullring, it was arguably just icing on the cake en route to his winning the Stevie Dirt Driver of the Year award in this series.

Huls’ resume was pretty complete prior to that accomplishment, having dominated the Stevie Dirt Regional Rankings much of the season on the way to winning the track title at West Burlington and finishing third at Lee County.

While Huls managed just two feature victories at the Bullring, he was tops in top-five and top-10 finishes. He was one of the most improved drivers at the track in any class after having finished 10th in points in 2008.

A driver’s success at the Bullring, combined with success at Lee County and West Burlington were all weighed in selecting the second annual Driver of the year and all-Dirt team.
 
Huls follows Jeff Mueller as Stevie Dirt Stock Car Driver of the Year. Mueller did not earn a spot on this year’s all-Dirt team, opting not to race at Quincy full-time this season.

STOCK CAR DRIVER OF THE YEAR

ABE HULS

WHY: He not only won the championship at the Bullring, but was a force throughout the region … Completely dominated the Stevie Dirt Regional Rankings … Fittingly capped his points season in Quincy with a victory in the season championship race … Led the Dependable Drivers Leaderboard (DDL) for stock cars, completing 329 of 340 feature laps for a .938 percentage … Was second to Kevin Tomlinson in improvement points.

NOTEWORTHY: Huls has won more money ($5,965) at the Bullring than any other stock car driver the past two years.

FIRST ROW

KEVIN TOMLINSON

WHY: Finished runner-up to Huls in the title race when he was disqualified on season championship night over not having a muffler on his car … No. 5 in the SDRR … finished second in Herald-Whig Performance Points … won seven overall races, tying for second behind Terry Houston (10).

NOTEWORTHY: Tomlinson led the series in improvement points (80), eight more than Huls.

TERRY HOUSTON

WHY: No driver won more stock car races (10) than Houston … No. 97 also won the most features (5) … finished No. 8 in the SDRR … Houston was the hottest driver in the series down the stretch, leading in second-half points … Led class in money earned ($3,115) and was first Herald-Whig Performance Points.

NOTEWORTHY: Houston led the most feature laps (108) of any stock car driver, almost double his closest challenger Aaron Brocksieck (56).

SECOND ROW

AARON BROCKSIECK

WHY: Brocksieck’s rookie season in stock cars was memorable, finishing sixth in points despite missing one  feature … Brocksieck’s improvement was obvious in the second half, totaling 222 points after the midseason break, which was just two behind leader Terry Houston (224).

NOTEWORTHY: Brocksieck did not win a heat race all season, but won three features, including the $1,000-to-win Tri-State Shootout on July 3.

CHRIS WIBBELL

WHY: The Dallas City driver had a rough final month of the season or he would have likely been a first-row pick … Still finished seventh in points despite missing one  feature … No. 9 in SDRR. 

NOTEWORTHY: Wibbell is the career stock car points leader at the Bullring, racking up 1,189 in the first two years of the series. Steve Steinkuhler (1,117) and Abe Huls (1,117) are tied for second.

STEVIE DIRT STOCK CAR DRIVER OF THE YEAR
2009: Abe Huls
2008: Jeff Mueller

Steve Carlin

 
STEVIE DIRT NOTE: The following is the first of four Driver of the Year and all-Dirt team awards. Coming up in the following days will be the Stock Car, Modified and Late Model honors.
 
Probably the toughest decision among this year’s Driver of the Year awards came in the hobby stock division, where Steve Carlin gets the nod over Jim Powell.

I felt Carlin’s consistency and stronger second half of the season outweighed that of Powell, resulting  in the nine-point difference in the points standings between the two veterans. Powell had better-looking victory numbers, but Carlin had a few more points — and his third track title.

Powell led in feature victories, both drivers were tied in top-five showings and Carlton had an advantage in top-10 performances. What gave Carlin an advantage were two other important categories — he led all series drivers in second-half and feature points.

Carlin follows Aaron Brocksieck as Stevie Dirt Hobby Stock Driver of the Year. Brocksieck moved to stock cars this season, where he was a second-row selection.

In the other three classes, a driver’s success at the Bullring, combined with performance in the Stevie Dirt Regional Rankings, plus success at Lee County and West Burlington were all weighed in making all-Dirt team selections. There are no Stevie Dirt Regional Rankings for hobby stocks. Hobby stock drivers at Quincy drive only at 8000 Broadway.

HOBBY STOCK DRIVER OF THE YEAR

STEVE CARLIN

WHY: Carlin, who has now won three track titles, showed his talent down the stretch and his understanding of “points racing.” … Carlin has always had a knack of coming up big at crunch time. He leads all hobby stockers in feature and second-half points earned over the past three years — that is no accident, or coincidence … Carlin was the first hobby stock hotshoe to reach 700 track points since 2005.

NOTEWORTHY: Carlin will be trying to tie Eddie Dieker’s all-time series record of four track titles in 2010.

FIRST ROW

JIM POWELL

WHY: One of three Hannibal, Mo., drivers — Carlin and Mike Wiley are other others — on this year’s team … Was a second-row selection in 2008 … Led series in feature (6) and total (11) victories … Won three straight main events in late April and early May … First in Herald-Whig Performance Points … Also first in imporvement points.

NOTEWORTHY: Powell led all hobby stock drivers in money earned ($2,590).

MIKE WILEY

WHY: Wiley enjoyed his finest overall season with a third-place finish in points … Struggled somewhat in last two months of the season, which showed in his seventh-place standing in second-half points … Wiley was a perfect 370-for-370 in feature laps run … Finished in the top 10 in 17 of 18 points fatures.

NOTEWORTHY: Wiley is now 12th all-time in career series points, and has second-most points over the past three years (trailing only Carlin).

SECOND ROW

JAKE POWERS

WHY: Powers finished a strong fourth in his first season in the series … Was one of two drivers to finish in the top in all 18 points features (Carlin was the other) … Powers won back-to-back features in August, accenting his strong stretch run that saw him wind up third in second-half points … Was fourth in Herald-Whig Performance Points.

NOTEWORTHY: Powers was third in feature laps run, which translates into his avoiding the all-important DNFs.

TRAVIS BOOHER

WHY: Booher may have enjoyed his finest overall campaign with a fifth-place finish in points and six total victories … Finished in the top six in second-half, feature, improvement and heat points … Booher’s successful season moved him into the top 10 of career, feature and heat victories since 1999.

NOTEWORTHY: Booher has finished in the top 10 in points seven straight seasons. That ties him with Carlin for the top active streak in this class and is only two off Eddie Dieker’s series record.

STEVIE DIRT HOBBY STOCK DRIVERS OF THE YEAR
2009: Steve Carlin
2008: Aaron Brocksieck

The streak is over.

For the first time since 2004, the late model car count at the Bullring did not average 20 or higher per show, falling just short at 19. That average was still considered healthy, just not in the same neighborhood as, say, 2006 when the per-show norm was 25.

Modifieds continued their growth spurt since combining as one class prior to the 2006 campaign. ThIn theirr first year being sanctioned by UMP, the Bullring mods averaged 25 cars per show. Hitting an average of 30 in 2010 might seem a reach, but it wouldn’t surprise me, considering those wild-and-crazy modifieds averaged 28.7 cars in the pits over the final six weeks of the season, including back-to-back-to-back counts of 34, 34 and 30 between Aug,. 2-16. Over the finall 11 shows the season, the mods drew no fewer than 24 cars on any given night.

The stock cars’ per-show average of 14 matched their 2008 inaugural season. The hobby stocks’ 16-car norm was their highest since 21 in 2006, the final year they carried the “bomber” name tag.

AVERAGE CAR COUNTS

LATE MODELS

2009: 19
2008: 20
2007: 22
2006: 25 TRACK RECORD
2005: 20
2004: 17
2003: 16
2002: 16
2001: 16
2000: 16
1999: 18
1998: 15 (first year as an IMCA track)
1997: 13
1996: 14
1995: 16
1994: 13
1993: 17
1992: 16
1991: 15
(before 1991 not available)

MODIFIEDS

2009: 25 TRACK RECORD  (first year as a UMP track)
2008: 23
2007: 22
2006: 19

Last five years of “A” Modifieds
2005: 14
2004: 15
2003: 15
2002: 17
2001: 18 (”A” Mod track record)

Last five years of “B” Modifieds’
2005: 13
2004: 18
2003: 22
2002: 24 (”B” Mod track record)
2001: 22

STOCK CARS

2009: 14
2008: 14

HOBBY STOCKS (last 10 years)

2009: 16
2008: 14
2007: 15
2006: 21 (final year known as “bombers”)
2005: 20
2004: 23
2002: 30
2001: 31 TRACK RECORD
2000: 31 TRACK RECORD
1999: 22

Justin Reed came up short in his bid for the late model track championship, but has emerged as the first DIRTy Driver of the Year following a week-long online vote among race fans.

Reed captured 38.4 percent of 352 votes cast to finish ahead of closest challengers Mark Burgtorf (24.7 percent) and track champ Lonnie Bailey (11.1 percent).

Here’s a breakdown of the ballots when voting ended at midnight Friday (the poll remained up after midnight, but votes stopped being counted after 12):

Justin Reed, 38.4 percent
Mark Burgtorf, 24.7 percent
Lonnie Bailey, 11.1 percent
Keith Pratt, 9.9 percent
Clint Kirkham, 4.8 percent
Jerry Weisenberger, 4.0 percent
Jason Perry, 3.4 percent
Matt Bailey, 1.7 percent
Bill Genenbacher, 1.1 percent
Joey Gower, 0.9 percent 

Reed joins Tony Dunker in modifieds, Steve Steinkuhler in stock cars and Adam Scott in hobby stocks as voting champs.

Up next will be the second annual Stevie Dirt postseason awards, which feature Drivers of the Year in each of the Bullring’s four classes, plus first- and second-row selections. Will any, all or none of the online DIRTy winners also walk away with a Stevie Dirt Driver of the Year award, too?

Consistency is the mark of a champion, at the very least a contender. With that in mind, examine the following:

LONGEST ACTIVE STREAK(s) OF FINISHING IN THE TOP 5 IN TRACK POINTS

(Drivers who have won a track championship are in bold face)

LATE MODELS
Mark Burgtorf, 7 years
Lonnie Bailey, 3
Justin Reed, 3
Jason Perry, 2
 
MODIFIEDS
Tony Dunker, 9 years
Steven DeLonjay, 2

HOBBY STOCKS
Steve Carlin, 7 years
Jim Powell, 2

(Stock cars have only been a weekly series for two years)

ALL-TIME TOP 5 STREAKS

LATE MODELS
Terry Gallaher, 21 years
Steve Fraise, 13
Mark Burgtorf, 11
Mark Burgtorf, 7-active
Sonny Findling, 7
Dick Crane, 6

MODIFIEDS
Hank DeLonjay, 11 years
Tony Dunker, 9-active
Sam Burgtorf, 7
Bob Dale, 6
Hank DeLonjay, 6

HOBBY STOCKS
Eddie Dieker, 8 years
Bill Genenbacher, 7
Steve Carlin, 7-active
Harold Ketchum, 5
Junior Tuggle, 5

LONGEST ACTIVE STREAK(s) OF FINISHING IN THE TOP 10 IN TRACK POINTS

LATE MODELS
Mark Burgtorf, 25 years
Lonnie Bailey, 9
Jerry Weisenberger, 5
Jason Perry, 3
Justin Reed, 3

MODIFIEDS
Tony Dunker, 10 years
Dave Wietholder, 6
Robbie Reed, 5
Shawn Deering, 4
 
HOBBY STOCKS
Steve Carlin, 7 years
Travis Booher, 7
Mike Wiley, 3
Jim Powell, 2
Wes Mayfield, 2
 
(Stock cars have only been a weekly series for two years)

ALL-TIME TOP 10 STREAKS

LATE MODELS
Mark Burgtorf, 25 years-active
Terry Gallaher, 21
Steve Fraise, 16
Dick Crane, 15
Tom Long, 13
Denny Woodworth, 12
Lonnie Bailey, 9-active
Mark Holtmeyer, 9

MODIFIEDS
Hank DeLonjay, 11 years
Tony Dunker, 10-active
Hank DeLonjay, 8
Sam Burgtorf, 7

HOBBY STOCKS
Eddie Dieker, 9 years
Brent Chapman, 8
Bill Genenbacher, 7
Bob Hightower, 7
Steve Carlin, 7-active
Travis Booher, 7-active
Harold Ketchum, 6
Bruce Hatfield, 6

So who should be favored to win the 2010 stock car title at the Bullring?

Defending champ Abe Huls? Kevin Tomlinson? Terry Houston? Aaron Brocksieck? Steve Steinkuhler? Chris Wibbell? What if Jeff Mueller returns to race full-time? Or Dave Wietholder? And I think you can easily add a handful of other names into that mix, too.

That’s exactly why the stock car class  is quickly beocming the most unpredictable of the four weekly series at Quincy. It’s easily the most wide open in terms of potential champions, and that’s why five years from now this will be an awesome, awesome division.

The stock cars are still undergoing some growing pains, and that’s to be expected. During the inaugural 2008 season the series depended heavily on the Iowa drivers to come down and help get the class up and running. Last season there was a solid core of a dozen or so drivers from Illinois and Missouri that proved to be the heart of the class. Whenever the Iowa hotshoes showed up, it was simply icing on the cake. I would think 2010 will be the first year we see some definitive growth in the division.

Personally, I think Houston is going to be extremely strong next summer and may deserve the favorite’s nod before before the stock cars’ third season gets under way a little more than five months from now. But if you “forced” me to take Huls, Brocksieck, Scuba Steve or Tomlinson I would not argue.

I’m sure this subject will be discussed more than once between now and that first green flag in April. (Is winter over yet?)

TOTAL VICTORIES
Since 2008

(drivers in bold face were active in stock car class in 2009)
1. Jeff Mueller, 15
2. Terry Houston, 10
3-tie. Steve Steinkuhler, 9
3-tie. John Oliver Jr., 9
5-tie. Doug Huls, 8
5-tie. Sarah Woodhurst, 8
7-tie. Abe Huls, 7
7-tie. Kevin Tomlinson, 7
7-tie. Dave Wietholder, 7
Andrew Griffin, 6

Other notable active drivers
Chris Wibbell, 4
Michael Larsen, 4
Aaron Brocksieck, 3
Levi Long, 3
Jerry Jansen, 2

FEATURE VICTORIES
Since 2008

(drivers in bold face were active in stock car class in 2009)
Jeff Mueller, 10
Terry Houston, 5
Kevin Tomlinson, 4
Dave Wietholder, 3
Aaron Brocksieck, 3
John Oliver, 3
Steve Steinkuhler, 2
Chris Wibbell, 2

Other notable active track regulars
Andrew Griffin, 1

HEAT VICTORIES
Since 2008

(drivers in bold face were active in stock car class in 2009)
Doug Huls, 8
Sarah Woodhurst, 8
Steve Steinkuhler, 7
John Oliver Jr., 6
Terry Houston, 5
Andrew Griffin, 5
Abe Huls, 5
Jeff Mueller, 5
Michael Larsen, 4
Dave Wietholder, 4
Rusty Tobias, 4

Other notable active track regulars
Kevin Tomlinson, 3
Levi Long, 3
Jerry Jansen, 2
Chris Wibbell, 2

The hobby stock series has gradually morphed its way back into what it was originally designed be — an entry level type of division.

Outside of No. 2-ranked  Steve Carlin, who won his third series championship this season, none of the track’s all-time top 10 drivers were in action this year. That spells transition.

Younger drivers such as Tanner Klingele, Adam Scott, Travis Booher, Jake Powers and Bobby Anders began to carve out their niches. Actually, Booher continued to carve out his presence, but I think you get the point.

Two other youngsters, James Leffew and Andrew Griffin, continued to flash their developing star prowess, but neither may be back in this division in 2010. Leffew will likely concentrate on his modified effort next season, with Griffin nixing the hobby stocks to concentrate full-time on his stock car operation.

TOTAL VICTORIES
Since 1999

(drivers in bold face were active in hobby stock class in 2009)
1. Eddie Dieker, 91
2. Steve Carlin, 79
3. Adam Birck, 64
4-tie. Jim Powell, 40
4-tie. Bill Genenbacher, 40
6. Larry W. Powell, 32
7. Bruce Hatfield, 26
8-tie. Dave Wietholder, 23
8-tie. Bobby Uppinghouse Jr., 23
10-tie. Aaron Brocksieck, 22
10-tie. Travis Booher, 22

Other notable active drivers
James Leffew, 21
Bobby Anders, 17
Wes Mayfield, 12
Steve Watkins Jr., 11

FEATURE VICTORIES
Since 1999

(drivers in bold face were active in hobby stock class in 2009)
Eddie Dieker, 39
Steve Carlin, 28
Adam Birck, 24
Jim Powell, 14
Bill Genenbacher, 12
Bobby Uppinghouse Jr., 10
Dave Wietholder, 9
James Leffew, 8
Travis Booher, 7
Aaron Brocksieck, 7
Brandon Wear, 6

Other notable active track regulars
Wes Mayfield, 5
Larry W. Powell, 5

HEAT VICTORIES
Since 1999

(drivers in bold face were active in hobby stock class in 2009)
Eddie Dieker, 51
Steve Carlin, 50
Adam Birck, 38
Jim Powell, 24
Bill Genenbacher, 23
Larry W. Powell, 22
Bruce Hatfield, 22
Todd Reichert, 18
Aaron Brocksieck, 15
Bobby Anders, 14
Travis Booher, 14

Other notable active track regulars
James Leffew, 13
Steve Watkins Jr., 10

Are you kidding me?

Who saw this coming? A whopping 5,328 votes cast in the Stevie Dirt “DIRTy” Modified Driver of the Year Award.

I’m still shaking my head.

Tony Dunker edged Dave Wietholder, 52 percent to 44.9 percent, in the final tally after votes stopped being counted at midnight Thursday. Fans of both drivers obviously figured out how to stuff the ballot box in what wound being a tense battle for No. 1 over the final two days of voting.

Dunker backers took the lead for good Thursday afternoon and then turned back repeated bids from Wietholder supporters as the evening progressed. I have to admit, it was exciting to watch. I monitored the voting for much of the final seven or eight hours.

Here’s the final breakdown:

Tony Dunker, 52.0 percent
Dave Wietholder, 44.9 percent
Justin Reed, 1.5 percent
Steven DeLonjay, 0.4 percent
Robbie Reed, 0.3 percent
Jared Schlipman, 0.2 percent
Donovan Lodge, 0.2 percent
Shawn Deerng, 0.2 percent
Vance Wilson, 0.2 percent
Trent Grotz, 0.1 percent

Dunker joins Steve Steinkuhler in stock cars and Adam Scott in hobby stocks as voting champs.

Late model voting is now under way. It will remain open until midnight Oct. 23.

Once again, a reminder: the second annual Stevie Dirt postseason awards, which feature Drivers of the Year in each of the Bullring’s four classes, plus first- and second-row selections, will be revealed in the near future. Will any, all or none of the online DIRTy winners also walk away with a Stevie Dirt Driver of the Year award, too?

At this writing, there are about 27 hours left to vote on the Stevie Dirt “DIRTY” Modified Driver of the Year. Voting ends at midnight Thursday.

The mod drivers have received almost 700 votes at this juncture, meaning they have a shot at reaching last week’s 782 the stock car drivers earned.

So far it was been a two-man race between Dave Wietholder and Tony Dunker. A week ago, Scuba Steve Steinkuhler saw a massive vote-in for his cause during the final days, elevating him past several early frontrunners with ease.

The next 24 or so hours will be fun to watch. 

Late model voting will begin shortly after midnight Thursday and will last through midnight Oct. 23.