Author Archive
OSWEGO SUPERMODIFIED STARS CHASE INDOOR SERIES GLORY AT SYRACUSE MARCH 13-14
Posted by: | CommentsNEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2020 BELFOR INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
ALLENTOWN, ATLANTIC CITY, TRENTON, NJ AND SYRACUSE
Event Promoter: Len Sammons @609.888.3618
MEDIA INFORMATION: Ernie Saxton Communications – Esaxton144@aol.com -267.934.7286
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OSWEGO SUPERMODIFIED STARS TO CHASE INDOOR SERIES GLORY AT NEW YORK STATE FAIRGROUNDS EXPOSITION CENTER MARCH 13-14
SYRACUSE, NY March 8, 2020 . . . Michael Barnes and Tyler Thompson, two highly regarded Supermodified drivers from Oswego Speedway, have entered the 2020 Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels events being held inside the New York State Fairgrounds Exposition Center on Friday and Saturday nights March 13-14.
Two days of action will feature complete programs for TQ Midgets, Slingshots and Champ Karts with overall BELFOR “Concrete Series” champions to be crowned on Saturday evening.
Barnes, Oswego’s Supermodified 2016 track champion, and Thompson, the 2019 Oswego Speedway Classic winner, are Jason Simmons Racing (JSR) teammates on the Indoor Series this season. After three events, JSR’s TQ team of Barnes and Thompson rank 11th and 12th respectively in points, after each qualified for the prestigious Gambler’s Classic inside Atlantic City, NJ’s Boardwalk Hall back on February 1st as well as the two early January races inside Allentown, PA’s PPL Center.
Barnes, who was the first driver in Oswego Speedway history to run a sub-17 second lap around the venerable oval in a non-winged car, was immediately impressed with the TQ Indoor discipline his first time out in Allentown. “It’s quick around here,” Barnes deadpanned. “Things happen fast in these cars, just like the Supers at Oswego.”
Barnes, 36, of Mexico, NY, finished tenth and ninth in Allentown and eleventh in Atlantic City. He was a bit more reflective after the Atlantic City race. “I never figured this place out at all,” Barnes remarked. “I was confident coming in but am leaving scratching my head. We could never get the car hooked up.”
Thompson, 17, of Fulton, NY became the youngest driver in Oswego Speedway history to win a Supermodified feature this past summer then, in one of the greatest upsets in racing history won the 63rd Budweiser International Classic 200. “When I won for the first time this summer, to be honest, I realized that winning the Oswego Classic wasn’t a dream, it was a possibility. That win was a huge boost of confidence,” Thompson shared.
Thompson, a rookie on the 2019 Indoor Series, finished a disappointed 20th in both of the Allentown races after early race problems. In Atlantic City, Thompson led the field to the green flag from the pole position and managed an eighth place finish, a total change from his teammate’s result. “Just tried to stay out of trouble in Atlantic City,” Thompson said. “Survive and finish.”
Oswego Speedway has stepped up as a sponsor of the event. The winner of each of the four TQ Midget Car heat races on both Friday and Saturday night will receive not only a spot in the A-Main but a $50 bonus thanks to Oswego, the home of SuperModified racing. Dr. Williams Lowe, a long-time supporter of TQ Midget racing, has also posted $200 to the fast qualifier both nights.
N.Y.’s JSR also has fielded a two car Champ Kart team for the 2020 Indoor Series. Allentown, PA winner, Tyler Brown, is in command of the Champ Kart standings following a third place finish in Atlantic City. After finishing 12th in both Allentown and Atlantic City, Dan Kapuscinski is tied for 11th in the Champ Kart order with two events remaining in Syracuse.
The race for the Indoor BELFOR Concrete Series championship will be decided between point leader Andy Jankowiak, Matt Janisch, defending champion Erick Rudolph and Tim Buckwalter after qualifying and feature events are held both nights in Syracuse.
Doors open on Friday at 5:30 and Saturday at 5 pm. Fans are allowed pre-race access to the pit each night for one hour after the doors have opened. Racing will begin nightly with heat races for all divisions with the first green flag on Friday at 7:30. On Saturday, action begins a half-hour earlier at 7 pm.
Tickets are available in a range of different prices through links on www.indoorautoracing.com and the venue box office. Tickets will be available each race night starting at 2pm at the Exposition Center Box office.
Race fans can enjoy a double header weekend at the Fairgrounds with the 34th annual Syracuse Motorsports Expo and Trade Show being held at the Center Of Progress Building on the Fairgrounds. 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.
Sponsorship at a variety of levels to meet every budget is available for the Syracuse event. Interested parties should contact Danny Sammons at 609-888-3618 or e-mail danny@aarn.com.
Grandview Speedway
.
.
.
.
.
NEWS FROM ROGERS FAMILY GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY, Bechtelsville, PA
Presenting Saturday night NASCAR stock car racing plus a variety of special events. Our 58th consecutive season.
Track office: General Manager: Tina Rogers @ 610.754.7688 - Public relations: Ernie Saxton Email: Esaxton144@aol.com – Cell phone: 267.934.7286
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOBBY GUNTHER WALSH SEEKS THAT ELUSIVE FIRST FEATURE WIN; WILL KICK OFF HIS 26TH SEASON IN THE VP RACING FUELS BRUCE ROGERS MONEY MAKER MEMORIAL AT GRANDVIEW APRIL 4
BECHTELSVILLE, PA March 6, 2020 . . . Close but no cigar just may describe Bobby Gunther Walsh’s stock car racing career. Though he has won a number of qualifying events he has not grabbed a win in a main event.
The popular, very popular, racer will be giving it another try in 2020 when he goes racing with the NASCAR T.P.Trailers Modifieds at Grandview Speedway. This will be his 26th year of racing and he is looking forward to it.
The WAEB-790 AM radio personality continues to be the number one on air personality at the Allentown in the Lehigh Valley area. He has been behind the microphone for close to 40 years and his show can also be seen on Service Electric Cable TV and Blue Ridge Cable.
And he continues to be one of the most popular racing talents seen in action on the one-third-mile, banked clay track each Saturday night throughout the season. When the events are over it is not difficult to find Walsh in the pit area as there is always a long line of fans visiting with him and collecting some of the free stuff provided by his many sponsors that he gives away.
The veteran racer would love to earn that first feature win this season at the NASCAR sanctioned racing facility. “I get a great deal of personal satisfaction out of racing, driving the race car, the challenges there are and just being out there racing against so many great talents, “said the Allentown resident.
When asked his age, Gunther responded with, “I graduated with Fred Flintstone so that should give you an idea of how old I am.” In other words he did not want to share that secret information with us.
His charity work continues to be very important to Bobby. He is actively involved with Allentown Rescue Mission (Helping homeless Men and their families) $155,000 raised in 2019 serving Gunther’s homemade meatballs. I have known Bobby for years and I am still waiting for him to ship me a few meatballs.
Animals In Distress (No Kill Shelter) $160,000 raised in 2019 with the Radiothon
Children’s Home of Easton (Helping abused/abandoned children) $170,000 raised plus Christmas presents with the WAEB Children’s Home Christmas Party
The Center For Animal Health and Welfare (No Kill Shelter) $115,000 raised with the annual Bowl-A-Thon held at one of his sponsors (Jordan Lanes) locations.
The Blue Star Mothers was Bobby’s veterans charity in 2019 (It is switched every couple of years). They average around $50,000 each year.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Student of the Year MC/PR and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Man and Woman of the Year MC/PR
And there are a host of other smaller events.
ResQ Natural Supplements, Dr. Eric Lebby & Dr. Thomas Dibenedetto, Orthopedic Specialists, Agentis Kitchen and Bath, Eden East, Paul Wright Roofing, Zongora Comfort Solutions, Just Born/Mike and Ike and Hot Tamales top the list of almost three dozen sponsors.
This season Bobby will be driving a 2019 Bicknell powered by Outlaw Engines. The always sharp looking racer will be prepared and housed by Rick Fenstermaker and his crew.
At the track, the crew is headed by Greg “Speedy” Saeger supported by Paul Rupert, Randy Miller, Joe Walsh and newcomer Travis Boyer. As Bobby is quick to point out none of the racing is possible without great efforts by the crews and great support from sponsors.
Bobby Gunther will be kicking off his 26th season of racing with the Third Annual VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Money Marker Memorial at Grandview which rewards the winner with $7,500 and the prestige of winning a race named after the late popular track owner.
Adult admission for the Rogers Memorial is $28 while pit admission is $40.
Grandview Speedway will kick off their regular season schedule of NASCAR racing on Saturday, April 11th featuring T.P.Trailer Modifieds and T.P.Truck Equipment Sportsman. Racing will start at 7 p.m.
Enduro and Vintage racing is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 21.
And there is the annual free-to-the public practice session, open to all divisions, set for 12 noon on March 28th. Pit admission is $30.
The complete schedule of Grandview events for 2020 can be found at www.grandviewspeedway.com. The track telephone number, for information, is 610.754.7688.
MIKE CHRISTOPHER JR. SET FOR SYRACUSE INDOOR RACING MARCH 13-14
Posted by: | CommentsNEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2020 BELFOR INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
ALLENTOWN, ATLANTIC CITY, TRENTON, NJ AND SYRACUSE
Event Promoter: Len Sammons @609.888.3618
MEDIA INFORMATION: Ernie Saxton Communications – Esaxton144@aol.com -267.934.7286
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOUNG MIKE CHRISTOPHER, JR. TO DEBUT NEW TREY HODDICK TQ MIDGET AT SYRACUSE INDOOR RACES
SYRACUSE, NY March 6, 2020 . . .The late entry of young Mike Christopher Jr. has added even more intrigue to the March 13-14 Indoor Auto Racing Championship Series Fueled By VP events to held inside the Exposition Center on the grounds of the New York State Fairgrounds.
Christopher, 20 years old from Wolcott, CT, is set to suit up to drive a yet-to-be-completed TQ Midget being constructed by Trey Hoddick of Buffalo, NY. Hoddick has fielded winning TQ Midgets for drivers Scott Kreutter, Andy Jankowiak and Christopher’s late uncle in past years.
Ted Christopher won eight Indoor Series features and two championships in his career before being killed in a plane crash in 2017.
While Mike Christopher will be making his first start in the Indoor Series, the drivers he will be competing against will be vying for the TC Cup, named in the honor of his late uncle, which is awarded annually to the TQ Midget Indoor Series champion.
The race for the 2020 Indoor Auto Racing Series BELFOR Concrete Series championship will be decided between point leader Andy Jankowiak, Matt Janisch, defending champion Erick Rudolph and Tim Buckwalter after qualifying and feature events are held both nights in Syracuse.
Mike Christopher, however, knows very little about TQ Midget car racing. He did watch his late uncle win Indoor events in Atlantic City, NJ and Providence, Rhode Island. He also attended the most recent series event in Atlantic City as an interested spectator in the pit area.
“I know from watching Uncle Ted this is a totally different form of racing than I am not used to,” Christopher said. “Way different. I do have some past experience in Legends Cars and Go-Karts besides Asphalt Modifieds but I don't think any of that will mean anything much. This is a whole new venture for me.”
Mike’s father, a twin to brother Ted, was a successful asphalt Modified racer himself. Mike Jr. followed in the footsteps of both in recent years winning SK Modified events at Ct.’s Stafford Motor Speedway.
Less than ten days before the start of practice on Friday afternoon March 13th in Syracuse, Christopher had not yet see his ride. This past weekend, he headed to Hoddick's western New York shop to be fitted for a seat.
“Trey had to build the roll cage and position the seat just for me. I'm six foot-two, so he wanted to build the roll cage longer and higher and put the seat back further than in the other cars he has built. I remember when Uncle Ted raced for Trey his cars were always fast, good equipment,” said Mike Jr.
Christopher and Hoddick talked about the possibility of an Indoor TQ effort not long after Ted was killed with a car that was in the planning stages for him to drive.
The two reconnected when the 2019 outdoor season was over and talked out Hoddick's plans to build a second car, initially as a back-up. At first, Hoddick hoped to have the car done for the late January Atlantic City Indoor race but wasn't able to finish it in time.
To aid his advance preparation even further, Mike Jr. has conferred with past series winner and champion Ryan Flores, who will not be in the Syracuse field, owing to his NASCAR Cup Team Penske commitments.
“Ryan and I talked at Atlantic City about Indoor TQ racing,” Christopher noted. “He told me some of the things he learned the first year he ran the Series.”
Christopher confirmed with Hoddick that he will be able to run his Stafford SK Modified number, the digital No. 82, on the TQ Midget.
At the end of the 2018 Stafford SK season, Christopher was being touted as a star of the present and future after winning the last three features. This past year, in the same equipment, he was winless.
“My father told me, 'racing is 90 percent down and 10 percent up,” Christopher related. “Last year the car was fast but it didn't produce good results. I had motor problems, power steering problems, couldn't finish races. I had never gone through the kind of struggle I did last year.”
Tickets are available in a range of different prices through links on www.indoorautoracing.com and the venue box office. Tickets can also be purchased by calling the Area Auto Racing News office at 609-888-3618. Tickets will be available each race night starting at 2pm at the Exposition Center Box office.
Race fans can enjoy a double header weekend at the Fairgrounds with the 34th annual Syracuse Motorsports Expo and Trade Show being held at the Center Of Progress Building on the Fairgrounds. 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.
NY MODIFIED ACE RYAN BARTLETT FOR FOR INDOOR AUTO RACING ACTION IN SYRACUSE MARCH 13-14
Posted by: | CommentsNEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2020 BELFOR INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
ALLENTOWN, ATLANTIC CITY, TRENTON, NJ AND SYRACUSE
Event Promoter: Len Sammons @609.888.3618
MEDIA INFORMATION: Ernie Saxton Communications – Esaxton144@aol.com -267.934.7286
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEW YORK STATE DIRT MODIFIED ACE RYAN BARTLETT READY FOR INDOOR AUTO RACING SERIES FINALE IN FRONT OF SYRACUSE, NY HOME CROWD ON MARCH 13-14
SYRACUSE, NY March 4, 2020 . . . Ryan Bartlett, a versatile and experienced dirt Modified racer, is hoping that a home town crowd advantage is the boost he will need to win his first career Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels TQ Midget feature in the New York State Exposition Center in Syracuse. NY. over the March 13-14 weekend.
“Other than Tyler Thompson who lives in Fulton, I'm the home town guy for the Syracuse Indoor races,” Bartlett, 37, said.
The 2020 BELFOR Property Restoration TQ Midget, Champ Kart, and Slingshot Indoor Series Concrete championships will be determined after two complete shows are held on Friday and Saturday, March 13-14. Both nights will include qualifying and feature events for not only the headline TQ Midgets but the Slingshots and Champ Karts as well.
Since purchasing a new TQ Midget in the off-season, Bartlett has emerged from a mid-pack runner to a contender in the three feature races held so far this season.
Bartlett left the Atlantic City Gambler’s Classic racing weekend on February 1 sitting seventh in points; he had been second following the first two races, run back to back in Allentown, PA.
Bartlett and his father David bought the TQ from Lenny and Donna Boyd. It has made a huge difference.
“The car was race ready. Lenny (Boyd) had the motor freshened and the car was set up for the Allentown race when he sold it to us,” Bartlett said. “He shared the last two years of Indoor racing notes with me. It really only took me a couple of laps to get the feel for the car,” Bartlett said.
Bartlett brings a wealth of experience to Syracuse. His father and his team have Indoor TQ Midget roots that date back to 1998 at Niagara Falls Convention Center.
“I raced in that building until it closed and that's when Len (Sammons) started this Series. “I've entered every single one of his races except for the year when they raced over New Year's Day weekend in Providence (Rhode Island),” Bartlett said.
Bartlett says the Syracuse track was similar in size to the Allentown track where he ran so well in January. But that's as far as the comparison goes.
“The new concrete in Syracuse made the floor a lot more slippery than Allentown last March. With the dirt track experience I have, slippery is fine with me,” shared Bartlett.
Bartlett anticipates a cheering section of at least 50 people from Watertown, N.Y. who will be in the arena rooting for his No. 93. With the new equipment have come greater expectations.
“In years past, I was just happy to qualify for the feature. Now, we all expect a top ten finish at the minimum and a top five is realistic.,” he predicted.
In the two Allentown races in early January, Bartlett registered a fifth and seventh place finishes in the two features.
“In the second race on Saturday, the track started to get real slippery. That's when my dirt track experience kicked in. I hope Syracuse gets that way,” Bartlett summed.
The race for the 2020 BELFOR Concrete Series TQ championship has become essentially a four driver race with the two features in Syracuse this weekend to determine the outcome.
Buffalo. NY area driver Andy Jankowiak, the Atlantic City race winner the last two years, leads the standings with 256 points. Matt Janisch, of Nazareth, PA, who has been consistent in the first three races but hasn’t won, is just two points behind Jankowiak - a virtual dead heat.
Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, NY, a four time Series champion (2012, 2015, 2016, 2019), lurks just 14 points off the leader’s place. Rudolph, the 2019 DIRTcar 358 Modified champion, won one of the two races in January held in Allentown, PA. Tim Buckwalter, Douglassville, PA, a teammate of Rudolph, sits fourth just 21 points off the pace.
The point award differential between finishing first and second is ten points. The spread between first and last in a feature is 83 markers. With a complete show including a 40 lap feature both nights in Syracuse, one bad night by any of the front runners could torpedo their bid for the title.
The points chase in both the Slingshot and Champ Kart classes is more sharply defined.
Scott Neary, Columbia, NJ is atop the leaderboard with a 35 point margin over Brett Bieber and Cody Kline.
Tyler Brown has a 44 point bulge on Todd Crenshaw and a 54 point margin over Ron Midford, Jr. in the Champ Kart division. Brown, of Richfield, PA, the hired gun of Jason Simmons’ multi-car race team out of Fulton, NY, won the Saturday night
Tickets are available in advance at a range of different prices through a link on www.indoorautoracing.com and the venue box office the day of the events.
VP RSCING FUELS ROGERS MEMORIAL SET FOR GRANDVIEW APRIL 4; NEW CAMPING RULES IN PLACE
Posted by: | Comments- Grandview Speedway
.
.
.
.
.
NEWS FROM ROGERS FAMILY GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY, Bechtelsville, PA
Presenting Saturday night NASCAR stock car racing plus a variety of special events. Our 58th consecutive season.
Track office: General Manager: Tina Rogers @ 610.754.7688 - Public relations and marketing: Ernie Saxton @ 215.752.7797: Email: Esaxton144@aol.com – Cell phone: 267.934.7286
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HIGHLY ANTICIPATED VP RACING FUELS BRUCE ROGERS MEMORIAL MONEY MAKER CLASSIC AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY OFFERS $7,500 TO WIN AND $1,000 TO MAKE THE FIELD FOR THE 50 LAPPER
NEW ON SPEEDWAY GROUNDS CAMPING RULES IN PLACE
BECHTELSVILLE, PA March 1, 2020 . . . One of the most talked about and most anticipated race events to be presented at Grandview Speedway each season marking the start of the 58th consecutive season of racing is set to happen when the Third Annual VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Memorial Money Maker Classic is presented on Saturday, April 4.
The race, a 50-lapper on the one-third-mile, banked clay oval, will feature the Small Block Modifieds going up against Big Block Modifieds (Combined Modifieds) with the winner walking off with at least $7,500.
Pits will open at 2 p.m. while grandstand gates will be ready for business at 5 p.m. The green flag falls at 7 p.m.
New Yorker Matt Sheppard was the big winner over a field of more than 50 entries in 2019.
Both Duane Howard, Grandview’s NASCAR track champion in 2019, and Craig Von Dohren, winner of many events and championships at the Bechtelsville clay track, like the fact that the race pays $7,500 to win. And they like that every racer that makes the main event will go home with at least $1,000.
The Rogers Memorial, as in the past, is expected to attract quite a few outsiders as they seek the big bucks for the win and the prestige of winning the Classic named in memory of the late track owner. But of course the weekly regulars joining Howard and VonDohren is expected to include Doug Manmiller, Brett Kressley, Jared Umbenhauer, Kevin Hirthler, Ray Swinehart, and Kenny Gilmore along with many others.
Also attracting a lot of attention will be a strong field of the popular TP Truck Equipment Sportsman stock cars making up the second part of this special doubleheader event.
Those wishing to enter the race, there is no license required and no entry fee, can do so at www.grandviewspeedway.com.
The rain date is set for Saturday, April 11th.
As in the past campers will be allowed on the speedway grounds on race days. However the campers must be removed by the day following the event. No longer will campers be allowed to stay on the speedway grounds all season. If campers are not removed they will be towed off the property.
If the rain date is not needed the first of the weekly series of NASCAR sanctioned championship events will be presented with the TP Trailers Modifieds and TP Truck Equipment Sportsman taking part. This will be the regular Saturday night attraction throughout the season plus added attractions from time to time. Adult admission for the regular Saturday night events will be $15 while youngster under 12 being admitted for FREE.
The annual free-to-the-public practice session, open to all divisions of racing, is set for Saturday, March 28th at noon.
Enduro and Vintage cars will be featured in action on Sunday, March 21 at 1 p.m. Rain date is March 22.
Fans are reminded that season passes remain available for $350 and cover all the Saturday night events during the 2020 season. Checks may be mailed to Grandview Speedway, 87 Wilt Road, Bechtelsville, PA 19505. Please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope to speed delivery.
Grandview Speedway, a one-third-mile banked clay oval, is located on Passmore Road, Bechtelsville, PA, just off Route 100, 10 miles north of Pottstown. For information check in a www.grandviewspeedway.com or on Facebook. Telephone 610.754.7688.
****
MEDIA NOTE: Those who have requested 2020 media credentials and have not heard from us your credential will be on the way in mid-March. The credential is reserved for media planning to be regular visitors to Grandview. Requests, including contact info, affiliation and mailing address should be sent to Ernie Saxton at esaxton144@aol.com. Thank you.
NEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2020 BELFOR INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
ALLENTOWN, ATLANTIC CITY, TRENTON, NJ AND SYRACUSE
Event Promoter: Len Sammons @609.888.3618
MEDIA INFORMATION: Ernie Saxton Communications – Esaxton144@aol.com -267.934.7286
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FROM E-MAIN TO VICTORY LANE: JON KELLER SCORES HUGE UPSET VICTORY IN THIRD ANNUAL EAST COAST INDOOR DIRT NATIONALS 600 SPRINT FEATURE SATURDAY NIGHT IN TRENTON’S CURE INSURANCE ARENA;KENNY MILLER III, BILLY PAUCH, JR. SECOND AND THIRD IN WILD COME-FROM-BEHIND FINISH
Jon Keller : From a flip in practice early in the day, and from last in the E Main to victory in the A Main East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals.
(Mike Calla / Wheels of Speed Photos)
TRENTON, NJ February 22,2020 . . . Bridgeport Speedway Micro Sprint regular Jon Keller of Salem, NJ raced to a thrilling victory Saturday night in the East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals 600 Sprint race held inside Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton, NJ. The race was a 50-lap event and paid $5,000 to win.
“I can’t believe I even made it into the A-Main all the way from the E-Main let alone win the race,” Keller, 33, said. “I got run into the wall during the feature and rode along it and flipped in Saturday afternoon practice. On Friday, I got black flagged for spinning out three times in my heat and that put me in the back of the E-Main,” Keller related.
“I was discouraged enough after Friday that I actually went home. But as the crew told me the next morning, we’ve come all this way, now’s not the time to give up. They were right, and here we are.”
Keller started the feature dead last, from the thirteenth row, sidestepped several multi-car crashes, and took the lead with two laps to go, bringing Kenny Miller, III, who had started from the twelfth row, with him.
Billy Pauch, Jr., finished third. He led the first ten laps, then was involved in a six-car crash that affected several other front runners including Eddie Strada and Tim Buckwalter. All restarted, but at the back of the field.
Brenden Bright picked up the lead after the big tangle with the remarkable run of Keller first becoming apparent when he moved into the top three on lap 20.
Erick Rudolph, defending race winner, took the lead with 11 laps left as Bright faded. Keller grabbed second, closed on Rudolph and then, on the final restart of the race, shot by Rudolph on the high side of the multi-groove course to complete his shocking ride.
Miller was second, Pauch third, Rudolph fourth and Strada fifth.
“I don’t believe any of this. Winning this race against these top guys from the back of the field,” Keller said. “I don’t belong here, but here I am.”
Larry Wight, who worked his way through from the D Main into the A was sixth after running as high as third at one point. Kyle Spence, Mike Bednar, Bright and Jesse Maurer completed the top ten.
Two B Mains, from which the top six transferred to the A Main, were won by Joey Amantea and Pat Bealer.
C Main race winners were Brandon Pavel and Kyle Spence. Sammy Martz, Jr. and James Morris captured the pair of D Mains. Mike Mahaney and Matt Warner won the two E Mains.
The Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels concludes its 2020 season with the final ‘Concrete Series’ event at the New York State Fairgrounds Expo Center in Syracuse, NY on March 13-14, 2020 at which time the Series 2020 champion will be crowned.
For more information, visit www.indoorautoracing.com.
East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals Feature Finish (50 Laps): 1. Jon Keller, 2. Kenny Miller III, 3. Billy Pauch Jr., 4. Erick Rudolph, 5. Eddie Strada, 6. Larry Wight, 7. Kyle Spence, 8. Mike Bednar, 9. Brenden Bright, 10. Jesse Maurer, 11. Mike Thompson, 12. Gary Bozowski, 13. Pat Bealer, 14. Christian Bruno, 15. Tyler Lindsay, 16. Doug Snyder, 17. Whitey Kidd, 18. Tim Buckwalter, 19. Brian Carber, 20. Alex Bright, 21. Joey Amantea, 22. Brett Altemose, 23. Jim Radney, 24. Aiden Bordan, 25. Wayne Scott.
BRIGHT, TIM BUCKWALTER, SCOTT AND BOZOWSKI IN SATURDAY TRENTON INDOOR DIRT NATIONALS
Posted by: | CommentsNEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2020 BELFOR INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
ALLENTOWN, ATLANTIC CITY, TRENTON, NJ AND SYRACUSE
Event Promoter: Len Sammons @609.888.3618
MEDIA INFORMATION: Ernie Saxton Communications – Esaxton144@aol.com -267.934.7286
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALEX BRIGHT, TIM BUCKWALTER, WAYNE SCOTT AND GARY BOZOWSKI ARE ‘IN THE SATURDAY SHOW’ WITH WINS IN FRIDAY A-MAIN QUALIFIERS; TRENTON EAST COAST INDOOR DIRT NATIONALS GOES TONIGHT, SATURDAY
TRENTON, NJ FEBRUARY 21, 2020 . . . Alex Bright, Tim Buckwalter, Wayne Scott and Gary Bozowski punched their tickets into the third annual East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals Saturday night inside Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton, NJ by winning the four 20-lap A-Main Qualifier 600 Sprint races Friday.
Bright is an open wheel specialist, Buckwalter is a versatile open wheel and stock car racer; Scott and Bozowski are full time Micro Sprint competitors.
The four heat winners as well as the second and third place finishers locked themselves into the 50-lap main event Saturday.
In heat one, won by Bright, Eddie Strada and Brendan Bright, the race winner’s brother and teammate, followed him into Saturday’s A-Main as qualifiers.
“The top was the place to be in this race,” Bright said. “I wasn’t moving down from there even though it got a little slicker in the last few laps.”
The second heat, won by Buckwalter, saw Billy Pauch, Jr. and Brian Carber transfer into the A-Main as second and third place finishers.
“I like the track,” Buckwalter, who like Bright used the high groove throughout the race. “I hope it holds up just like it did tonight for the A-Main Saturday.”
Wayne Scott won heat three. He outran Doug Snyder and 2018 East Coast Dirt Nationals winner Erick Rudolph to take the victory.
Scott won in a car owned by his uncle that he had never driven before. “I lost two engines at home putting my car together and missed practice,” Scott said. “We didn’t finish working on this until this morning.”
In the final 20-lapper, apparent winner Billy Koch came six pounds light in post-race inspection. Indoor Auto Racing Series officials provided Koch with several opportunities to weigh the car but it failed to make Jesse Maurer second and third.
“I don’t like to win this way, but I’ll take it,” Bozowski said.
Among the notable drivers who failed to qualify and will need to race their ways into the A-Main Saturday include Volusia Speedway Park Modified Point Champion Larry Wight, 410 Sprint ace Brian Montieth, 2017 race winner Whitey Kidd, recent New Smyrna Modified standout Anthony Nocella, Hyper Racing standout Austin Quick, and unfortunately, Koch.
Ten 12-lap heat races preceded the four Qualifiers. They were won by Billy Koch, Nick Groff, Erick Rudolph, Tim Buckwalter, James Morris, Austin Quick, Billy Covert, Dan Lane, Alex Bright and Kyle Spence.
Two Friday afternoon practice sessions for the drivers and teams entered in the third annual East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals saw 74 teams on the clay. Brett Altemose (9.386) of Pocono Summit, PA and Aiden Bordan (10.167) of Jackson, NJ paced the fields.
The clay track, which had proven to be challenging in Thursday night’s optional practice sessions, remained table top smooth and yielded multi-groove passing opportunities throughout a night consisting of 14 races totaling 180 green flag laps of racing.
Saturday, the gates to Cure Insurance Arena open at 4:00 pm with racing beginning at 6:00 pm, starting with a pair of 10-lap F-Main with the top four finishers advancing to two 10-lap E-Mains. The E-Mains promote the top four from each into a duo of 10-lap D-Mains, which in turn advance the top four in each forward into the C-Mains. The top four in each C line up behind the two B-Main eligible drivers.
The top six finishers from each B-Main (12 drivers and cars) will transfer into the 24-car, 50-lap A-Main paying $5,000 to win.
The A-Main will also convey the Bob Hilbert Hard Charger Award to the driver who advances the most spots at the finish from their starting spot.
Precision Engine Oil is the designated sponsor of the B, C, and D alphabet main events.
Other event sponsors include Freiberger Excavating, Hoosier Tires, VP Race Fuels, Hyper Racing and Racing.
For race day information, including time schedule of events and ticket purchases, contact www.indoorautoracing.com.
First A Qualifier (20 Laps): 1. Alex Bright, 2. Eddie Strada, 3. Brendan Bright, 4. Pat Bealer, 5. Chris Locuson, 6. Christian Bruno, 7. Brandon Pavel, 8. Dakota Kessler, 9. Adrianna Dellaponti, 10. Whitey Kidd III, 11. Anthony Nocella, 12. Nathan Smith, 13. James Morris, 14. Jason Rochelle, 15. Nick Groff.
Second A Qualifier (20 Laps): 1. Tim Buckwalter, 2. Billy Pauch, Jr., 3. Brian Carber, 4. Aiden Bordan, 5. Rob Pajaulis, 6. Dominick Buffalino, 7. Collin White, 8.Brian Kramer, 9. Joey Amantea, 10. Billy Covert, 11. Josh Conover, 12. Austin Quick, 13. David Burns, 14. Larry Wight 15. Lavar Scott.
Third A Qualifier (20 Laps): 1. Wayne Scott, 2. Doug Snyder, 3. Erick Rudolph, 4. Brian Montieth, 5. Matt Riggs Carr, 6. Mike Thompson, 7. Tyler Lindsay, 8. Kyle Spence, 9. Dan Lane, 10. Billy Murphy, 11. Joe Dopke, 12. Andrew Hannula, 13. Scott Smith, 14. Andrew Locuson, 15. Briggs Danner.
Fourth A Qualifier (20 Laps): 1. Gary Bozowski, 2. Brett Altemose, 3. Jesse Maurer, 4. Kenny Miller III, 5. Mike Bednar, 6. Tommy Kunzman, 7. Cody West, 8. Jim Radney, 9. Jimmy Glenn, 10. Jason Swavely, 11. Carl Locuson, 12. Sammy Martz, 13. PJ Williams, 15. Geordan Marrero. DQ: Billy Koch (From First – Weight)
