Brancecum wins with recently-repaired No. 89 car

While Bob McCoy watches from the pace car, Dan Brancecum crosses the finish line in first place during the late model semi-feature race. EMILY OLSON | For the Daily Chronicle

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SYCAMORE - Dan Brancecum didn't know what to expect from his No. 89 car going into the late model races at Sycamore Speedway on Saturday night. After a blown out transmission just two weeks ago that kept him from racing until this weekend, he certainly couldn't have expected this result. Brancecum won his heat, then came back and won the late model semi-feature later Saturday, which prompted his friends to leave the spectator area and race out onto the track to celebrate with him after he won. “This is probably the best the car has looked,” Brancecum's friend, Kenny Slayton said. Brancecum credited Slayton for helping him fix the car so quickly and getting it on the track and in racing condition just two weeks after the blown transmission. “He's half the reason this car even made it to the track,” Brancecum said. Brancecum jumped out to a quick lead in his semi-feature race and didn't slow down. He built up a lead and wasn't even close to being caught, living up to the phrase on his bumper that reads ‘I don't wanna stop.' “Winning my heat and my feature, that's pretty cool,” Brancecum said. “I'd say that was (the best race of the season). I couldn't tell you the last time I won a feature so I don't know how much money I'll get. But this is just a hobby for me.” Even with the best race of the year and a car rebuilt so quickly, Brancecum's car still encountered problems. Luckily for him, Brancecum's problems with the car occurred after the race. While Brancecum, Slayton and friends were taking a picture after the race with the checkered flag and the car, the car began leaking hot fluid from the bottom right corner of its windshield. The fluid landed on a few people, much to their surprise and dismay. Brancecum said the problem hasn't been a one-time thing. “It's been overheating all year,” Brancecum said. “It's been fine when I've been racing but it overheats when you slow down.” Everyone was just fine, too happy for Brancecum winning to care about fixing the leak right away. As a bonus, with Brancecum winning the semi-feature he got to park in the middle of the track to celebrate. That just happened to coincide with the start of a 20-minute fireworks show, which Brancecum and his friends watched from the track's infield. They didn't know the fireworks show would be starting because of some last-minute changes to the schedule. “It's a bit of a strain on my neck, but yeah, it's a good seat,” Brancecum said.