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JANKOWIAK HEADS UP LARGE FIELD OF ENTRIES FOR SYRACUSE INDOOR RACES MARCH 8-9
Posted by: | CommentsNEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2018-2019 INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
Event Promoter: Len Sammons @609.888.3618
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ATLANTIC CITY GAMBLER’S CLASSIC WINNER ANDY JANKOWIAK LOOKS FORWARD TO RACING IN FRONT OF HOME STATE, NEW YORK, CROWD THIS WEEKEND, MARCH 8-9, IN SYRACUSE EXPO CENTER INDOOR AUTO RACING SERIES TWO DAY FINALE; SERIES TITLE IS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY
SYRACUSE, NY March 6, 2019. . . Andy Jankowiak is among the contenders for the 2019 Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Racing Fuels championship. The Buffalo, N.Y. racer will have two shots at gaining in the standings this weekend when the series finale is held inside the New York State Fairgrounds Exposition Center in Syracuse, NY.
With feature events for the headline Three Quarter (TQ) Midgets being held on both Friday and Saturday night March 8-9 in events sponsored by RPM Raceway, Andy J. has a shot to move up to the top spot in the standings.
Though his focus is clear, to win both features and the championship, Jankowiak admits that he is still savoring the last Indoor Series race, on January 26, 2019.
That’s the night in Atlantic City, N.J. he won the Gambler’s Classic inside Boardwalk Hall for the first time.
“Nothing will ever take the place of winning the Gambler’s Classic in Atlantic City,” Jankowiak declared. “But a win in Syracuse would be almost as good. There are a lot of my friends who couldn’t make the other races because they couldn’t take a weekend off from their work.”
This weekend will be the fourth and final fifth round of the 2019 season. On the line will be time trials, qualifying events and a 40 lap feature event both nights with the overall season champion crowned following Saturday’s event.
Jankowiak, 30, admits the raw excitement he felt in the Atlantic City victory was all consuming. But the opportunity to race in front of many of his racing friends in a TQ indoors for the first time is something he savors in a different way.
One person who will be at Syracuse to see Jankowiak is Vinny Christiano who is a long time Buffalo, NY area driver and car owner who gave Jankowiak his first ride in a TQ Midget.
“He put me in his car at Holland one night and I fell in love with the cars,” Jankowiak, 30, said. “Vinnie and I were very successful. We won a lot of TQ races at Holland and at Lancaster. He gave me a shot and I’ve been racing these cars ever since.”
Jankowiak has also wheeled TQ Midgets for two other legendary northwestern New York drivers and car owners, Harry Macy and John Casey.
Casey put Jankowiak in one of his cars at Holland one night. At the checkered, Andy J beat Casey’s regular driver, Kyle Hutchinson. Hutchinson is a late entry in the Syracuse TQ field in Casey’s car this weekend.
“I hope to be able to do well in front of all of these guys, for myself and to showcase the Series. This is one of the best deals going,” the affable Jankowiak shared.
The biggest prize in Syracuse will be the crowning of the 2019 Indoor Auto Racing Series championship. North Carolina resident Ryan Flores leads the standings, with 290 after the first three races. But Flores, who works full time for Roger Penske’s Ryan Blaney NASCAR Monster Energy Cup team, will not be in the Syracuse field because of his work commitment.
Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, NY, 260, and Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, LI, NY, 239 lead Jankowiak who has 220. A maximum of 210 points are available, 100 for a feature win and five points for quick time each night, meaning that 210 markers can be picked up by any TQ competitor over the Syracuse race weekend. Non-qualifiers earn 10 points for each night, a minimum of 20 points for the weekend. Thus the most points any driver can gain is 190.
Andy J knows a lot will have to fall into place him to win the crown. “The Series title would be nice to win. I missed it by two points one year. We have been in contention but I always seem to have one bad race. The best way to win the championship is to run well both days. I have to finish better by a couple of spots in both race than (Erick Rudolph, Justin Bonsignore) do to win the Series.”
Syracuse is, of course, unknown territory for all of the nearly 60 TQ drivers and teams.
“It’s a new track and none of us will know how to set the car up until we practice,” Jankowiak. “That doesn’t bother me. The shape of the track will mean a lot. I set the car up the same way for Atlantic City this past year as I did last year for Albany and I won. Albany was a lot shorter but the turns were about the same.”
Round 3 and Round 4 for the companion Slingshots and Champ Karts is also on the Syracuse card. Each of the two nights of racing will consist of complete programs as well for these two divisions.
Dr. Williams Lowe, a long-time supporter of TQ Midget racing, has posted $200 to the fast qualifier both nights. N.Y.’s Oswego Speedway, the home of SuperModified racing, has signed on to sponsor the TQ Midget heat races. The winner of each of the six Oswego Speedway heat races on both Friday and Saturday night will receive not only a spot in the A-Main but a $50 bonus. Bob Hilbert Sportswear is offering a $150 bonus to the driver that leads lap 20 during both TQ Midget feature events.
Doors open at 6 PM on Friday night with racing beginning at 7:30. Doors open at 5:30 PM on Saturday with racing at 7 PM. Fans will be able to visit the pit area to see the cars and meet the drivers each night until 30 minutes before the racing begins.
A link to purchase tickets in advance is available at www.indoorautoracing.com or calling E-Tix directly at 1-800-514-3849.
Tickets will also be available each day of the event starting at 2 PM at the Expo Box Office, but prices increase by $5 each on the days of the event. Pit passes, which do not guarantee a seat, are on sale on the backside of the building on Friday from 9 am to 2 PM and Saturday 11:30 to 2 PM. After 2 PM, pit passes will be available at the box office at the front of the building. Parking on the fairgrounds is free.
Race fans can enjoy a double header weekend at the Fairgrounds with the 33rd annual Syracuse Motorsports Expo and Trade Show being held at the Center of Progress Building. This show opens on Saturday at 10 am giving everyone plenty of time to enjoy that show then walk over to the nearby Exposition Center for the races that night. The Trade show reopens on Sunday from 11 to 4 pm.
OPEN WHEEL STANDOUT LOU CICCONI, JR. READY FOR SYRACUSE INDOOR RACING ACTION, MARCH 8-9
Posted by: | CommentsNEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2018-2019 INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
Event Promoter: Len Sammons @609.888.3618
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LONG TIME OPEN WHEEL FAVORITE LOU CICCONI, JR. LOOKS TO GET BACK IN THE WINNERS’ CIRCLE IN SYRACUSE INDOOR RACES MARCH 8-9
SYRACUSE, NY March 4, 2019 . . . When the Indoor Auto Racing Series TQ Midget drivers take their first green flag over the March 8-9 weekend inside the new Exposition Center on the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, Lou Cicconi, Jr., will rank among the favorites.
Cicconi, of Aston, PA, brings into the Syracuse event sponsored by RPM Raceway a singular distinction among all 58 entrants. The 50 year old Cicconi won the 58th and last race held at N.Y.’s Niagara Falls Convention Center, on March 9, 2002 before the building was transformed into a casino.
Shortly thereafter Len Sammons brought back indoor racing to Atlantic City, N.J. after a 24 year absence. This led to the formation of the Indoor Auto Racing Series which has promoted events headlined by the TQ Midgets the past 17 years. The Syracuse venue this weekend becomes the eighth different location hosting an event. Last year an event at Albany Times Union Center made New York the fifth different state to host a Len Sammons promoted event.
This Friday and Saturday night the cars and stars of the Indoor Auto Racing Series fueled by VP will be taking part in the fourth and final fifth round of the 2019 season. On the line will be time trials, qualifying events and a 40 lap feature event both nights with the overall season champion crowned following Saturday’s event.
Cicconi, a four-time winner at both Niagara Falls and Atlantic City over the years, is making a comeback this winter after conquering some personal health issues.
“It got to the point where I was short of breath and couldn’t breathe,” Cicconi related. “The doctor told me I was overweight and out of shape.”
As a result, Cicconi kept a low profile for the past three seasons, running a very limited schedule while fielding cars for other drivers. But for this year’s Indoor Auto Racing Series schedule Cicconi returned in a big way. He not only returned to the cock-pit full-time but also fielded other neon yellow and red No. 75 TQs for the Allentown and Atlantic City races.
“I know I will never get back to where I was,” said Cicconi, a two-time winner of Atlantic City’s Gambler’s Classics (2006, 2010). “But I want to be able to give it my best effort. You lose something by not racing regularly but I am getting my confidence back.”
Cicconi is well known in Central New York racing circles for his Supermodified and ISMA achievements. He won one Oswego Speedway Supermodified feature, in 2013, and has 20 ISMA wins as well as a championship (2013) and two runner-up title chase placings (2001, 2012).
Cicconi will field a second car for Syracuse, being driven by young Damon Paul of Stony Point. NY.
“Damon’s a nice young kid. I like him and his father (Tim) too. I want to give him a shot. But two cars is all I want to go to Syracuse with. I need to focus on my own deal.”
Though Cicconi is not in the hunt for it, the biggest prize in Syracuse will be the crowning of the 2019 Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels. North Carolina resident Ryan Flores leads the standings, with 290 after the first three races. But Flores, who works full time for Roger Penske’s Ryan Blaney NASCAR Monster Energy Cup team, will not be in the Syracuse field because of his work commitment.
Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, NY, 260, and Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, LI, NY, 239, Andy Jankowiak, Tonawanda, NY, 220, and Eddie Strada, Lake Ariel, PA, 213, who are second through fifth thus become the pre-race title favorites.
A maximum of 210 points are available, 100 for a feature win and five points for quick time each night, meaning that 210 markers can be picked up by any TQ competitor over the Syracuse race weekend. Non-qualifiers earn 10 points for each night, a minimum of 20 points for the weekend. Thus the most points any driver can gain is 190.
The points chase with the TQs is so close that any one of the top 26 drivers in the standings could, in theory, win the championship.
Round 3 and Round 4 for the companion Slingshots and Champ Karts is also on the Syracuse card. Each of the two nights of racing will consist of complete programs as well for these two divisions.
Dr. Williams Lowe, a long-time supporter of TQ Midget racing, has posted $200 to the fast qualifier both nights. N.Y.’s Oswego Speedway, the home of SuperModified racing, has signed on to sponsor the TQ Midget heat races. The winner of each of the six Oswego Speedway heat races on both Friday and Saturday night will receive not only a spot in the A-Main but a $50 bonus.
Doors open at 6 PM on Friday night with racing beginning at 7:30. Doors open at 5:30 PM on Saturday with racing at 7 PM. Fans will be able to visit the pit area to see the cars and meet the drivers each night until 30 minutes before the racing begins.
The building has a different seating configuration than other venues the series stops at in that grandstand patrons enter at track level, then walk up to seating areas.
A link to purchase tickets in advance is available at www.indoorautoracing.com, at this location, spectators may select choice seats from three sections located on both the front and the backstretch. Tickets can also be purchased by calling E-Tix directly at 1-800-514-3849. Tickets will also be available each day of the event starting at 2 PM at the Expo Box Office, but prices increase by $5 each on the days of the event. Pit passes, which do not guarantee a seat, are on sale on the backside of the building on Friday from 9 am to 2 PM and Saturday 11:30 to 2 PM. After 2 PM, pit passes will be available at the box office at the front of the building. Parking is free.
Race fans can enjoy a double header weekend at the Fairgrounds with the 33rd annual Syracuse Motorsports Expo and Trade Show being held at the Center of Progress Building. This show opens on Saturday at 10 am giving everyone plenty of time to enjoy that show then walk over to the nearby Exposition Center for the races that night. The Trade show reopens on Sunday from 11 to 4 pm.
LATEST EDITION OF MOTORSPORTS SPONSORSHIP MARKETING NEWS HOT OFF THE PRESS
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NEWS FROM ERNIE SAXTON’S MOTORSPORTS SPONSORSHIP MARKETING NEWS
Contact: Ernie Saxton @ 267.934.7286 or Esaxton144@aol.com
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“HOW TO FIND TIME FOR SPONSORSHIP WORK” AND MORE IN THIS EDITION OF ERNIE SAXTON’S MOTORSPORTS SPONSORSHIP MARKETING NEWS
LANGHORNE, PA March 2, 2019 . . . Often times we hear racers tell us that the reason they are not successful at securing sponsorship is because they just don’t have the time needed to devote to it. In the latest edition of Ernie Saxton’s Motorsports Sponsorship Marketing News Kristin Swartzlander, considered an expert in sponsorship marketing, shares some ideas on “How to Find Time for Sponsorship Work”. We are sharing a few of the ideas but you will have to sign up for a subscription to see the rest of the article.
When working with clients, answering questions in our sponsorship success group, fielding emails or talking to racers at events, one of the biggest barriers teams feel in finding sponsorship is: "I don't have enough time."
It's a legit concern, but it's a claim that we make probably every day.
Think about the conversations you just had over the holiday season. When someone mentions what they're up to or their goals for the next year, we've all said we don't have time for things that we legitimately want to do. It might be finding sponsors for the upcoming season. It might be starting a side business or working out or cooking home-cooked meals or taking the kids to a trampoline park. (<- That's what you do with children, right? 'Trampolines' seems accurate.) We've never been - or felt - busier. There's never enough time. But here's the hard truth: if you don't have time to find sponsorship, you don't have time to have marketing partners because you don't have time to serve them. Sad, but true. And the Swartzlander article goes on. Also in this edition of Motorsports Sponsorship Marketing News is the finish of a two part article by Attorney M.K Spotts on “Social Media Management”. Kym Oberauer offers some great sponsorship help with his article titled “How to Attract Sponsors Using Irresistible Opportunities”. And there is some help with public relations efforts including an article from Mickie Kennedy’s eReleases that offers great tips on producing news releases that will be used plus a load of news on successful sponsorship deals that have recently been announced. A one year subscription to the newsletter, now in its 35th year, is priced at $29.99 while a two year subscription is just $39.95. That is quite a savings. And if you sign up by April 1st we will include the issue which has the first part of the Spotts article at no charge. Send check payable to ESC at 1448 Hollywood Avenue, Langhorne, PA 19047 or have your MasterCard or VISA ready and telephone 267.934.7286. Publisher Ernie Saxton, with more than 45 years’ experience in sponsorship and public relations, offers his services in sponsorship marketing, public relations and consulting. Telephone 267.934.7286 or email Esaxton144@aol.com to have some questions answered or just find out how we can help you. Or check out our website at www.saxtonsponsormarket.com.
JOEY PAYNE, TYLER THOMPSON AND HOST OF OTHERS SET FOR SYRACUSE INDOOR RACES, MARCH 8-9
Posted by: | CommentsNEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2018-2019 INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
Event Promoter: Len Sammons @609.888.3618
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OSWEGO SUPERMODIFIED ONE LAP RECORD HOLDER JOEY PAYNE, 2018 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR TYLER THOMPSON, READY FOR FIRST SYRACUSE RACE WEEKEND MARCH 8-9
SYRACUSE NY February 7, 2019 . . .When the green flag drops on Friday and Saturday, March 8th and 9th at the New York State Fairgrounds Exposition Center in Syracuse, N.Y., two of Oswego Speedway’s most popular and accomplished Supermodified drivers, Joey Payne of Fairlawn, NJ and Tyler Thompson of Oswego, will be ready to hit their throttles full blast.
Nicknamed ‘The Jersey Jet”, Payne, has won four career Supermodified features at Oswego in his career, three non-wing events and one ISMA race. More importantly, Payne is the all-time one lap non wing track record holder, setting the standard at 15.802, in 2014.
At Syracuse, Payne will be driving a car that is a proven winner. His son Anthony drove the same No. 45 to a win the first ever Indoor Auto Racing Series event inside Albany, N.Y.’s Times Union Center last February.
Thompson, who just turned 17, is a throwback to the “race anything, anywhere” mentality that was the rule rather than the exception in racing years ago.
Thompson raced a DIRTcar Sportsman Modified, a wing and non-wing Supermodified, a go-kart and an ultra-quick TQ Midget in 2018. The past season was a breakout campaign for Thompson, who won the DIRTcar All-Star Invitational Sportsman Championship at the Dirt Track in Charlotte, N.C. He also claimed both the Oswego and ISMA Supermodified Series Rookie of the Year titles; the first driver since 1992 to accomplish that dual feat.
“Driving the TQ for the full Indoor Auto Racing Championship schedule last season was great experience,” said Thompson.
“The TQ is extremely quick and it is tight racing with some of the best drivers in the country.”
Thompson will be in the Simmons Racing No. 98T he has run throughout the 2019 Series at what will almost be a hometown event for him. He’ll also be coming off a trip to Florida where he made his DIRTcar big-block Modified debut at Volusia Speedway Park.
The two-day Syracuse event will include two complete programs with qualifying and feature races each night for the TQ Midgets, Slingshots and Champ Karts. Doors open at 6 PM on Friday night with racing beginning at 7:30. Doors open at 5:30 PM on Friday with racing at 7pm. Fans will be able to visit the pit area to see the cars and meet the drivers each night until 30 minutes before the racing begins.
The first Indoor Auto Racing Series event in Central New York will be the fourth and fifth legs of the series. Both races will offer equal points in helping decide a tight point race between former champions Erick Rudolph and Justin Bonsignore. Rudolph was the 2018 point champion at the nearby Land of Legends Raceway in Canandaigua, N.Y. and he finished second in the Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified series. Bonsignore first won the Indoor TQ Midget title than the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship.
Three upstate New York powerhouses, recent Atlantic City Gambler’s Classic winner Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, 360 Sprint ace Scott Kreutter of Alde, and Modified dirt and paved track ace Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, are all contenders for a win.
Another all Empire State team drawing attention in the recent Atlantic City race was 2017 Albany-Saratoga Speedway dirt Modified champion Marc Johnson of Guilderland. Driving an all new car owned by Ken Sebring of Albany, and built by Kluth Motorsports of Holley, Johnson was extremely competitive.
Three other highly regarded TQ chauffeurs, Eddie Strada of Hamlin, PA, Matt Janisch of Nazareth, PA, and Tim Buckwalter of Royersford, PA are among the top ten in Series points.
Exposition Center opened during the recent Labor Day Fair. The huge, state of the art $33 million project was built without obstructing poles. Grandstand seating will be available on both the front and backstretch. From their seats, fans will able to be able to see the entire speedway plus the pit area which will be located on the far side of the building. The building has a different seating configuration than other venues the series stops at in that grandstand patrons enter at track level, then walk up to seating areas.
Information including a direct link to E-Tix for advance tickets is available at www.indoorautoracingseries.com. At this location you’ll be able to pick your choice seat from three sections located on both the front and the backstretch. Tickets can also be purchased by calling E-Tixs directly at 1-800-514-3849. Tickets will also be available each day of the event starting at 2 PM at the Expo Box Office, but prices increase by $5 each on the days of the event.
Event sponsorship packages to meet every budget are available by calling the series office at 609-888-3618 or by dropping Danny Sammons an email at danny@aarn.com.
ATLANTIC CITY INDOOR RACE WINNER’S TIRES CERTIFIED CLEAN BY INDEPENDENT TESTING LAP
Posted by: | CommentsNEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2018-2019 INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
Event Promoter: Len Sammons @609.888.3618
MEDIA INFORMATION: Ernie Saxton Communications – Esaxton144@aol.com -267.934.7286
Release created by Steve Barrick
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ANDY J’S GAMBLER’S CLASSIC ATLANTIC CITY INDOOR AUTO RACING SERIES WIN CERTIFIED AS OFFICIAL AFTER TIRE SAMPLES CERTIFIED AS ‘CLEAN’ BY INDEPENDENT TESTING LAB
TRENTON, NJ February 4, 2019 . . . Indoor Auto Racing Championship Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels officials announced late Friday afternoon that the results of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Atlantic City Gambler’s Classic race held inside Boardwalk Hall on Saturday, January 26th have been certified.
Hoosier Tires off several TQ Midgets were tested by Blue Ridge Laboratories in North Carolina, a firm that specializes in chemical analysis and the detection of chemical alternations and all were deemed legal. The results are now official with Andy Jankowiak of Buffalo, N.Y. the race winner. A check of $5,950, which includes bonus awards, was mailed to him on Friday.
Jankowiak’s right rear and right front tire was sampled after his Saturday night victory and after he set the third fastest time trial on Friday afternoon.
Samples were also taken from fast time trialer Erick Rudolph and second fast time trialer Anthony Sesely. Also sampled was the car of Friday night A-Qualifier winner Tommy Catalano who was randomly selected after setting the 28th fastest time.
Series officials tested tires for the first time this year after making chemical alterations in advance illegal. Tires tested from the series opener in Allentown, Pa. also passed. Results of the testing will be posted on indoorautoracing.com as per series rules. Along with samples being taken, a durometer test was made of tires on each car prior to time trials to check for irregularity.
The 2019 series wraps up in Syracuse, NY with the fourth and fifth round. The event will be held inside the recently opened New York State Fairgrounds Exposition Center with two complete shows on Friday and Saturday nights, March 8th and 9th. Tickets for this first time event are now on sale at www.indoorracetickets.com
TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR FIRST INDOOR SYRACUSE RACE WEEKEND MARCH 8-9
Posted by: | CommentsNEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2018-2019 INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
Event Promoter: Len Sammons @609.888.3618
MEDIA INFORMATION: Ernie Saxton Communications – Esaxton144@aol.com -267.934.7286
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TICKETS ON SALE FOR FIRST INDOOR SYRACUSE RACE WEEKEND MARCH 8-9; ERICK RUDOLPH, JUSTIN BONSIGNORE, ANDY JANKOWIAK PRE-RACE FAVORITES FOR SERIES TITLE; THREE QUARTER MIDGETS, CHAMP KARTS, SLINGSHOTS RACE COMPLETE SHOWS BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT
SYRACUSE, NY February 1, 2019 . . . Flush with the success in venues in Allentown, PA, and Atlantic City, NJ, the Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels wraps up the 2019 season in Syracuse, NY. The first time event will be held inside the recently opened New York State Fairgrounds Exposition Center on Friday and Saturday, March 8th and 9th.
The first Indoor Three Quarter (TQ) Midget car event in Central New York in 17 years will be the fourth and fifth legs of the series and help decide a tight point race between former champions Erick Rudolph and Justin Bonsignore.
The Syracuse program will include two complete programs with qualifying and feature events for the three division program which includes the TQ Midgets, Slingshots and Champ Karts each night. Doors open at 6 PM each night with racing beginning at 7:30 on Friday and 7pm on Saturday.
“The new building is perfect for our Indoor Racing Series and in just the right spot for many of our competitors,” said promoter Len Sammons. “Many of the teams that competed in Niagara Falls back in the day, now have an event closer to their home. Those events were also very popular with the fans so a big crowd is expected.” Ticket sales for the Syracuse event, which were available for the first time on January 29th, were considered brisk.
Rudolph, a three-time series champion from Ransomville, N.Y. enters the Syracuse event second in points. Current leader Ryan Flores of Troutman, N.C. however will be working his full-time job on the Syracuse race weekend. Flores will be in Phoenix, AZ, changing front tires on the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series No. 12 Penske Ford driven by Ryan Blaney.
That will put Rudolph, the 2018 dirt Modified track champion at Canandaigua, N.Y.’s Land of Legends Raceway, on top of the points before a lap is turned in Syracuse. The 2018 series champion, Justin Consignor will have two point shows in Syracuse to make up the current 21 point difference between them. Consignor, the 2018 NASCAR Whelan Modified Tour champion, sold his No. 51 TQ Midget after the most recent event in Atlantic City, but he’ll now drive the car for new owner Bob Webber Jr. who owns N.H.’s Star Speedway.
Recent Atlantic City Gambler’s Classic winner Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, N.Y. will enter the final two points races third in the standings just 40 points behind Rudolph.
Two drivers familiar to N.Y.’s Oswego Speedway Supermodified fans, Tyler Thompson, of Oswego, 2018 Supermod and ISMA Series Rookie of the Year, and Joey Payne, of Fairlawn, NJ. four time career Supermodified winner and the all-time Oswego non-wing Supermodified one lap track record holder are entered for the TQ Midget events.
Thompson will be in the Simmons Racing No. 98T he has run throughout the Series while Payne will suit up in his own No. 45 that his son Anthony drove to his first victory in last year’s weekend finale in Albany, N.Y.
Two well-known N.Y. state Modified talents will be seeking their first ever TQ Midget Indoor Series victory. Asphalt Modified ace Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park will be driving the Baker No. 31, a car he made his debut in during the Atlantic City race weekend. Marc Johnson of Guilderland, the 2017 Albany-Saratoga Speedway DIRTcar Modified champion, will be driving a new car owned by Ken Sebring and built by Kluth Motorsports. This car was very fast in its debut in Atlantic City.
Four other highly regarded TQ chauffeurs Eddie Strada of Hamlin, PA, Anthony Sesely of Matawan, N.J., Matt Janisch of Nazareth, PA, and Tim Buckwalter of Royersford, PA are among the many pre-race favorites to win the inaugural races.
The headline three-quarter midgets annually competed inside the Niagara Falls Convention Center from 1984 through 2002 when the building was made into a casino. The Indoor Auto Racing Series made its debut in New York last year with an event held inside Albany’s Times Union Center.
More than 30 of the Slingshot and Champ Karts are expected to compete for starting spots and feature wins both days.
The New York State Fairgrounds Expo Center opened during the recent 2018 Labor Day Fair. The huge state of the art $33 million project was built without obstructing poles and state-of-the-art LED lighting.
Grandstand seating will be available on both the front and backstretch. From their seats, fans will able to be able to see the entire speedway plus the pit area which will be located on the far side of the building.
The Exposition Center has a different seating configuration than the Allentown and Atlantic City venues in that grandstand patrons enter at track level, then walk up to seating areas as they do at most outdoor speedways.
“Because of the way the Expo Center is configured, the best seats would appear to be higher up in the arena rather than on the front-row which is usually our premium seats,” Sammons explained. “There isn’t a bad seat in the house, but if I was picking one I’d sit from the middle to the top if I had a choice.”
Entries for all three divisions are limited, but a few slots remain in all three divisions.
Information including a direct link to E-Tix for advance tickets is available at www.indoorautoracingseries.com. At this location you’ll be able to pick your choice seat from three sections located on both the front and the backstretch. Tickets can also be purchased by calling E-Tixs directly at 1-800-514-3849. Tickets will also be available each day of the event starting at 10 am at the Expo Box Office, but prices increase by $5 each on the days of the event.
Event sponsorship packages to meet every budget are available by calling the series office at 609-888-3618 or by dropping Danny Sammons an email at danny@aarn.com
NEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2018-2019 INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
Event Promoter: Len Sammons @609.888.3618
MEDIA INFORMATION: Ernie Saxton Communications – Esaxton144@aol.com -267.934.7286
MEDIA NOTE: Our thanks for your support of the A.C. Indoor racing events. Much appreciated. Ernie Saxton
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ANDY JANKOWIAK WINS NAPA KNOW HOW WEEKEND GAMBLER’S CLASSIC AT A.C. BOARDWALK HALL; DOUG STEARLY TAKES CHAMP KART WIN AND DANNY BUCCAFUSCA IS TOPS IN SLINGSHOTS
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ January 26, 2019 . . . Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, NY took the lead from fellow front row starter Anthony Sesely on lap six of Saturday night’s Gambler’s Classic Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels 40-lap Three Quarter Midget feature and held off successive challenges from Ryan Flores and Tim Buckwalter to win.
Buckwalter and Flores swapped second with Flores taking the runner-up spot from Flores for keeps nine laps from the finish. Flores held for third with Justin Bonsignore fourth and Erick Rudolph fifth.
Eddie Strada, early leader Sesely, Matt Janisch, Briggs Danner and Midwesterner Billy Wease completed the top ten.
Jankowiak earned $5,000 for the victory, then promptly donated half his winnings to Mike Tidaback and family. Tidaback suffered serious injuries in this race one year ago and was present at the track.
Doug Stearly raced to the 20-lap win in the Champ Kart co-feature with Cole Neibert, Todd Crenshaw, Mike Perry and Ryan Kendall rounding out the top five.
Danny Buccafusca raced his way to the 20-lap Slingshot victory which represented the tenth Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels win for car owner Randy Smith. Craig Whitmoyer, who had won an Indoor Series so on dirt in December in Trenton, NJ, was second in this one with Tyler Truex, Danny Spellmon and Nick Shaw completing the top five.
Saturday night TQ heat winners were Eddie Strada, Anthony Payne, Ryan Tidman, Anthony Payne, Shawn Nye and John Ivy. B Main winners were Tim Nye, Briggs Danner and Billy Wease. Anthony Sesely won the Dash that set the running order for the top eight in the Classic.
Champ Kart Saturday qualifier winners were Gabbie Olender and Dominic Roselli. Scott Adams and Brett Bieber won Slingshot B Mains.
The Indoor Auto Racing Series concludes its 2018-2019 season in Syracuse, NY at the New York State Expo Center. The inaugural event takes place over the weekend of March 8-9, 2019. Series champions will be crowned at the end of the weekend for TQ Midgets, Champ Karts and Slingshots.
TQ Midget Gambler’s Classic (40 Laps): 1. Andy Jankowiak, 2. Tim Buckwalter, 3. Ryan Flores, 4. Justin Bonsignore, 5. Erick Rudolph, 6. Eddie Strada, 7. Anthony Sesely, 8. Matt Janisch, 9. Briggs Danner, 10. Billy Wease, 11. Anthony Payne, 12. Matthew Roselli, 13. Timmy Catalano, 14. Earl Paules, 15. Randy Cabral, 16. Shawn Nye, 17. Andrew Molleur, 18. Jonathan Reid, 19. Kyle Lick, 20. Tim Nye, 21. Ryan Tidman, 22. John Ivy, 23. Tommy Catalano, 24. Marc Johnson, 25. Lou Cicconi, 26. Tyler Thompson.
Champ Kart Feature (20 Laps): 1. Doug Stearly, 2. Cole Neibert, 3. Todd Crenshaw, 4. Mike Perry, 5. Ryan Kendall, 6. Brandon Rusczek, 7. Dominic Roselli, 8.JJ Pacovich, 9. Jonathan Keister, 10. Joey Bruning, 11. Tyler Brown, 12. Cody Crenshaw, 13. Zachary Asklar, 14. Jake Nelke, 15. Frank Hodge, 16. Ryan Woolsley, 17. John Berger, 18. TJ Reed, 19. Gabbie Olender, 20. Eric Zeh, 21. DJ Doyle, 22. Dalton Rovira, 23. James Shutts, 24. Tyler Catalano.
Slingshot Feature (20 Laps): 1. Danny Buccafusca, 2. Craig Whitmoyer, 3. Tyler Truex, 4. Danny Spellmon, 5. Nick Shaw, 6. Seth Spayd, 7. Kurt Bettler, 8. Daniel Morgiewicz, 9. Alex Lizotte, 10. Austin Silfee, 11. Damon Paul, 12. Damon Paul, 13. Dakota Kessler, 14. Jared Silfee, 15. Neil Rutt III, 16. Scott Adams, 17. Chris Grbac, 18. Dylan Hoch, 19. Cody Kline, 20. Brett Bieber, 21. Alex Tardiff, 22. Cody Kohler, 23. Austin Bellemare, 24. Al Gerhart.
