HEAD TO STEVIE DIRT FOR MORE INFO ON THE ACTION AT QUINCY RACEWAYS

By STEVE EIGHINGER

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

The Cool Cat may not have run a perfect race, but he was mighty close.

Keith "Cool Cat" Pratt fought Mark Burgtorf for 50 laps Sunday night -- and won all 50 -- en route to registering what he deemed the biggest victory of his racing career.

Pratt repeatedly held off charges by the 14-time track champion -- and the closest thing to a living legend in this area of dirt-track nation -- to pocket the $3,000 first prize in the Titan Wheel and Tire topless late model shootout.

Afterward, Pratt admitted he could not have driven more tactically correct race and his No. 33 ride could not have been better.

"This is my biggest win -- ever," the 29-year-old Pratt said. "The money's nice, but this is about the victory ... but the money doesn't hurt.

"Lately, our car had not been fast enough to win, so we tried to do a few different things this week (on the set-up) and they all worked perfectly."

The fourth annual $3,000-to-win race had been dominated by Iowa drivers the first three years, but the one-two finish of Pratt and Burgtorf set the table for Illinois hotshoes to take the first seven positions this time around.

Outside of Friday night's upcoming $10,000-to-win UMP Summernationals tour stop, the Titan race is the richest of the season at the .29-mile Bullring, and the prestige that comes with the victory meant more to Pratt than the paycheck and the track points.

Pratt is chasing his first-ever track title and currently sits third behind Justin Reed and Lonnie Bailey.

"Winning races is the most important thing," Pratt said. "The points come when you run well. I'm not worried about the points. They'll take care of themselves if I'm running well."

Pratt got the jump on Burgtorf he needed at the drop of the green flag. The two started on the front row, with Pratt on the outside lane. He shot past Burgtorf at the start-finish line and never trailed.

"The high groove has been fast at Quincy all season," Pratt said. "I felt if I could get out front I had (a strong enough car) to keep the lead."

When "Superman" Sam Halstead kissed the wall on the front straight and brought a caution with five laps to go, Pratt felt confident. Burgtorf had made several charges at Pratt while the two were negotiating lapped traffic, but the caution brought a nose-to-tail restart, and the clean air and open territory in front of Pratt worked to his advantage.

Burgtorf's final opportunity to get past Pratt came coming out of turn four on lap 47. Burgtorf got under Pratt's left rear and drew almost even, but Pratt was stronger down the front side and into turn one to keep his challenger at arm's length.

The victory was Pratt's second this season at Quincy, the first coming on April 26. On both occasions, he led flag to flag.

Burgtorf earned $1,750 for second place and Jason Frankel $1,250 for third. Rounding out the top 10 finishers in the 22-car feature were Lonnie Bailey, Justin Reed, Denny Woodworth, Jason Perry, Matt Ryan, Jay Johnson and Tommy Elston.

Reed (338), Bailey (330), Pratt (316), Perry (305), Burgtorf (302) and Jerry Weisenberger (299) are leading the late model points.

Reed also protected his points lead in the modified series by winning his second feature with a relatively easy 1.72-second victory over Vance Wilson, Steven DeLonjay, Shawn Deering and Jared Schlipman.

Reed led all 25 laps after being in front just one other feature lap all season -- the final lap of his May 31 victory. Reed (575), DeLonjay (558) and Tony Dunker (494) are setting the pace in mod points.

Terry Houston rolled to his second stock care feature victory and was Sunday's third winner to lead flag to flag. Steve Steinkuhler, John Oliver Jr., Chris Wibbell and points leader Abe Huls rounded out the top five.

Hull leads Wibbell by 11 points (365-354) in the championship chase, followed by Kevin Tomlinson (351), Andrew Griffin (333), Michael Larsen (333) and Houston (329).

Jim Powell tied Burgtorf for the most features won at the track this season when he reeled in his fifth hobby stock checkered flag. Adam Scott, Larry W. Powell, Jake Powers and Mike Wiley made up the rest of the top five.

Powell pulled into a tie with Steve Carlin for the hobby stock points lead at 373. James Leffew (359), Wes Mayfield (355), Wiley (355), Travis Booher (349) and Powers (347) are close behind.

--seighinger@whig.com/221-3365