Mullen wins another Super Stock, now Quincy Derby’s all-time victories leader; Robison wins Masters Elite bracket

QUINCY — Kalli Mullen continued her assault on the Quincy Derby record book and has no plans to remove her foot from the throttle.

Hopefully, that is. 

“I plan on being back next year, if I can fit into the car,” said the 16-year-old from Bluffs, who became the event’s all-time victory leader on a sun-splashed Saturday on the 18th Street Hill near Bob Mays Park.

Mullen won her third straight Super Stock championship and fifth overall derby title, compiling an 11-3 combined mark that also included competition in the Masters Elite division. Mullen’s career victory total now stands at 72, eclipsing the former record of 66 held by Jadyn Vogel that many thought might stand forever only a few years ago. Vogel retired from the Grand Prix of Gravity following 2022 with a 66-20 lifetime record. Mullen now stands 72-20 with a career winning percentage of .783, which also is No. 1 in derby annals.

“This day was so exciting,” Mullen said. “When I knew I had broken the record, I think I was able to relax a little.”

Mullen also talked of more than her own personal success in the 21st edition of the Grand Prix of Gravity.

“The best overall part of the day was watching the joy on the faces of the other drivers when they would win, too,” she said.

Audrey Robison of Quincy shared the marquee with Mullen by earning a trio of top-three finishes, including a championship in the Masters Elite bracket. Robison established event records for most overall victories (18-5) and total races (23) in a derby that took 8 1/2 hours to complete.

Robison’s dad, Will, explained following the derby how important his daughter’s performance was — to her. Audrey’s grandfather, Rod Uppinghouse, had died less than a week ago.

“Every time I raced I was thinking about (him), every time I was going down the hill,” Audrey said. “This day was probably more than I could have hoped for.”

Robison’s championship was her second in three years. The 13-year-old had won the Stock title in 2023.

Like Mullen, Robison already is eyeing 2026.

“Oh yes … I’ll be returning,” she said.

Robison’s big day vaulted her up the career victory board into a tie for fourth place. Her 47-14 career standard ties her with retired Kaelyn Hess for fourth place all-time, trailing only Mullen, Vogel and Tanner Wisely (54-27). Wisely, from Coatsburg, also is expected back next spring.

Capturing Saturday’s other champion was Payton Oliver, 7, of Danville, Iowa, who drove to victory in the Stock Division.

The top four finishers in the 70-driver Super Stock competition saw Mullen (7-1) down Robison (6-1) in the finals, with Riley Grant (8-2) taking third and Rowan Salmons (8-3) fourth.

Oliver (7-1) bested Ivan Wood (7-2) in the 54-car Stock finale. Robison (6-2) was third.

Robison (6-1) downed Mullen (4-2) in the 11-entry Masters Elite title run. Lanie Fesler (3-2) ended up third.

Dis-n-data

• Mullen’s five derby championships are one behind Vogel’s six. She is the only person besides Vogel to win three or more consecutive division titles. Mullen’s three straight in Super Stock trail only Vogel’s six in a row (2016-2021) in Stock.
• Oliver’s championship in Stock ended nine consecutive years of a girls driver winning that event.
• Girls have now own a 26-22 advantage in championships won since the derby’s inception in 2005.
• Girls have won the last five Masters Elite championships.
• Fourteen different towns have produced championship drivers, led by Quincy (26), Bluffs (5) and Danville, Iowa (4).
• This year’s derby had drivers from four different states: Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and Kansas. The most recent champ outside of Illinois was Addison Buckley of St. Louis, Mo., in 2018.
• Mullen (92), Vogel (86), Tanner Wisely (82), Cooper Kleinkopf (66), Kaelyn Hess (61), Robison (61) and Lizzy Blickhan (60) are the career leaders in derby races run.
• Following Mullen’s career-best .783 winning percentage (72-20) in the derby are Robison (47-14, .771), Hess (47-14, .741), Vogel (66-20, .767), Tyler Wisely (40-14, .741) and Maddie Maas (33-14, .702). Hess, Vogel, Wisely and Maas are retired.
• In the derby’s two marquee divisions, Super Stock and Stock, Vogel (8) and Mullen (7) have the most final-four finishes.
• Gabe Zehnle’s 6-4 weekend boosted his career record to 32-20, becoming the 11th derby driver to reach 30 victories.