May 15
Quincy Raceway,
Quincy, IL
Sanction: MARS Late Model Championship Series (Gem City Showdown) - $5,000
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated May 15, 11:34 pm)
Bauer nips Thornton for first MARS triumph
Gem City Showdown
- Jordan Bauer
- Dylan Thornton
- Ryan Unzicker
- Daniel Adam
- Caden McWhorter
- Jason Feger
- Bob Gardner
- Austin Howes
- Tanner English
- Jake Little
- Kolby Vandenbergh
- Trevor Gundaker
- Myles Moos
- Chevy Boyer
- Mitch McGrath
- Jeffrey Ledford
- Christian Miles
- Rusty Griffaw
- Derek Fisher
- Justin Reed
- Mark Voigt
- Rickey Frankel
- Jason Oenning
presented by
Mike Ruefer/mikerueferphotos.photoreflect.com
Jordan Bauer (10J) holds off Dylan Thornton (38T) at Quincy.
What won the race: Holding off a furious last-lap bid from Dylan Thornton, Jordan Bauer of St. Jacob, Ill., completed a flag-to-flag victory in Friday’s 30-lap MARS Late Model Championship Series-sanctioned Gem City Showdown at Quincy Raceway. Bauer beat Thornton by a mere 0.107 of a second to earn $5,000 for his first-ever triumph on the MARS circuit.
Key notes: Making his first career start at Quincy, Bauer maintained a roughly 1-second edge for most of the distance until a caution flag with six laps remaining changed the race’s complexion. Thornton kept Bauer within striking distance and mounted a final-lap charge, shooting to the inside of Bauer off turn four but coming up just a half car length short at the checkered flag. … Bauer, who was victorious on his son’s sixth birthday, had one top-five finish in his 19 previous MARS feature starts: a fifth on May 17, 2025, at Highland (Ill.) Speedway. … Ryan Unzicker picked up two spots following the lap-24 restart to finish third. … Daniel Adam settled for fourth after running in third for the race’s first 25 laps. … Two caution flags slowed the A-main: on lap two for Mark Voigt’s stopped car and lap 24 for Christian Miles slowing. … Bauer was the third winner in as many MARS features this season and became the seventh different winner in as many MARS events contested at Quincy.
On the move: Ryan Unzicker of El Paso, Ill., started seventh and finished third.
Winner's sponsors: Bauer’s Longhorn Chassis carries a Clements engine and sponsorship from Brian Thompson Roofing, Certainteed, Porter’s Auto Body, SRS Building Products, Tyler Breashears Performance, Tye Twarog Racing and Penske Racing Shocks.
Points chase: Before Quincy: 1. Ryan Unzicker (132); 2. Frank Heckenast Jr. (130); 3. Dennis Erb Jr. (108); 4. Tanner English (104); 5. Jake Little (100).
Current weather: Clear, 77°F
Car count: 23
Fast qualifier: Jordan Bauer
Time: 13.017 seconds
Polesitter: Jordan Bauer
Heat race winners: Jordan Bauer, Jason Feger, Austin Howes
Next series race: May 16, Highland Speedway (Highland, IL) $5,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.
