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RUDOLPH AND BROWN WIN INDOOR RACE FEATURES AT ALLENTOWN, ACTION CONTINUES SATURDAY NIGHT
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
ERICK RUDOLPH RACES TO FRIDAY NIGHT ALLENTOWN THREE QUARTER (TQ) INDOOR WIN WITH LATE RACE PASS OF SHAWN NYE, TYLER BROWN TAKES CHAMP KART FEATURE WIN; TQ MIDGETS RETURN WITH SLINGSHOTS FOR SATURDAY NIGHT FINALE
ALLENTOWN, PA January 4, 2020 . . . Four time Indoor Auto Racing Series TQ Midget season champion Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, NY ducked under Shawn Nye with 25 laps complete in Friday’s 40-lap TQ Midget Indoor Auto Racing Series feature and kept Nye at bay for the remaining laps to win.
Rudolph won in a car built by Mark Lafler that was fielded with ten inch tires as opposed to the thirteen inch tires all of Lafler’s cars have used previously.
“The smaller tire took a little getting used to,” Rudolph admitted. In fact Rudolph spun on his first lap of time trails but brushed it off to post a sixth fastest time on his second lap.
“The car really didn’t drive that much differently. I was able to make the same kind of passes I was making before,” Rudolph added. Rudolph started fifth
Nye was driving an all new car completed just days earlier by his brother Tim and that TQ was also on ten inch tires.
“I really thought I might win the race,” Nye said. “The problem I was having was with brakes going away. But finishing second to Eric (Rudolph) in an Indoor TQ race with a totally new car is like a win for us.”
Matt Janisch, who had won the Friday Allentown race a year ago, was a solid third at the checkered, ahead of Andy Jankowiak and Jon Reid.
Tim Buckwalter, who started 22nd, Ryan Bartlett, Briggs Danner, Matt Roselli, from 24th and last, and first time Series starter Michael Barnes, from 21st were sixth through tenth. Potential race contenders who were taken out in crashes included Scott Kreutter, Ryan Flores, and Timmy Solomito.
Jankowiak out-qualified 44 other TQ Midget drivers in time trials posting a 7.425 clocking, just ahead of Anthony Sesely at 7.462 and Ryan Flores at 7.512.
Ryan Tidman, Rudolph, Ryan Flores, and Scott Kreutter won the four the lap TQ Midget heat races. Ryan Bartlett and Timmy Solomito won the two ten lap Midget B-Mains.
Tyler Brown was the fourth and final leader of the Champ Kart co-feature, winning over Jeremy Tuttle, Mike Perry, TJ Reed and Dan Marsden.
Marsden led the first six laps before Doug Stearly took over, pacing the pack up to lap ten. Tuttle then picked up the pace bringing Brown with him.
Brown gained control the race for good on lap 13 with Tuttle settling for second. Mike Perry, who had started 12th, gained several positions in the last five laps to run third with TJ Reed fourth and Marsden fifth.
“You can’t give anybody an inch in these races because if you do, four more guys are going to pass you,” Brown said. “I learned that from racing karts on dirt at Selinsgrove.” Brown shared that this race was the first one he had ever driven on concrete.
Champ Kart eight lap heat races for the 34 kart field were won by Marsden, Reed, Kendall and Brown. James Shutts and Seth Whitney won the two Champ Kart B-Main races.
Night Two of the Ironton Telephone Indoor Auto Racing Series events at PPL Center in Allentown, PA on Sat., Jan. 4 will feature a second TQ Midget program coupled with the unpredictable Slingshot division. Doors open at 5:00PM with racing beginning at 7:00PM sharp. An on-track Fan Fest is available at no extra charge to ticket holders who chose the option when making ticket purchases.
TQ Midget A-Main (40 Laps): 1. Erick Rudolph, 2. Shawn Nye, 3. Matt Janisch, 4. Andy Jankowiak, 5. Jon Reid, 6. Tim Buckwalter, 7. Ryan Bartlett, 8. Briggs Danner, 9. Matt Roselli, 10. Michael Barnes, 11. Tommy Catalano, 12. Tyler Thompson, 13. Timmy Catalano, 14. Jeremy Haudricourt, 15. Earl Paules, 16. Anthony Payne, 17. Pat Bealer, 18. Kyle Lick, 19. Mike Bednar, 20. Anthony Sesely, 21. Timmy Solomito, 22. Ryan Tidman, 23. Ryan Flores, 24. Scott Kreutter.
Champ Kart A-Main (20 Laps): 1. Tyler Brown, 2. Jeremy Tuttle, 3. Mike Perry, 4. TJ Reed, 5. Dan Marsden, 6. Todd Crewnshaw, 7. Ron Midford Jr., 8. Ryan Kendall, 9. Seth Whitney, 10. Cale Ross, 11. Alex Colasato, 12. Dan Kapuscinski, 13. Brian DaCosta, 14. James Shutts, 15. John Berger, 16. Gene Gregoric III, 17. Dalton Rivera, 18. Doug Stearly, 19. Dominic Roselli, 20. Brandon Tiezzi.
INDYCAR STAR MARCO ANDRETTI TO SHAKE DOWN TQ MIDGET AT ALLENTOWN ON SATURDAY
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
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INDYCAR STAR MARCO ANDRETTI TO RETURN TO PPL CENTER SATURDAY TO SHAKE DOWN THREE QUARTER (TQ) MIDGET; FAN FEST AUTOGRAPH SIGNING TO FOLLOW
ALLENTOWN, PA January 1, 2020 . . . Marco Andretti, a third generation driver, son of Michael Andretti and grandson of legendary Mario Andretti, will demonstrate his driving talents inside Allentown, PA’s PPL Center this Saturday, January 4 when he shakes down a TQ Midget.
Andretti, a 14-time Indianapolis 500 qualifier, will sign autographs for fans during the on track Fan Fest between 5:30 and 6:30 PM followed by some hot laps around the arena floor speedway prior to the start of the racing program at 7 PM.
Those with free Fan Fest tickets will be allowed on to the racing floor of the arena to get a close up look at all the race cars competing that night as well as collect autographs. These free Fan Fest tickets are available by clicking the “Fan Fest Option” when ordering tickets on-line or when purchasing them at the box office.
Andretti drove friend Kyle Lick’s TQ Midget for the first time two years ago inside the PPL Center and impressed onlookers. He’ll be back behind the wheel of Lick’s No. 8 on Saturday prior to him driving it in the competitive program that will follow.
“I didn’t know what to expect but the car was very comfortable once I got it up to speed,” Andretti remarked after the January 5, 2018 test. “I’d like to drive in one of these races but I have contracts that don’t allow me to do that.”
Andretti noted at the time that the power-to-weight ratio of a TQ to an IndyCar is approximately the same.
Andretti is a veteran of 14 Indianapolis 500 mile races with his best finish coming in his rookie year, 2006 when he was second. He was third in 2008, 2010 and 2014. Marco has two career IndyCar Series victories, at Sonoma in 2006 and at Iowa Speedway in 2011.
TQ Midget racing and Indoor Auto Racing competition are nothing new to the Andretti family. Marco’s grandfather Mario won a TQ event inside N.J.’s Teaneck Armory in 1962. He also won in the TQ Midgets outdoors at N.J.’s Pine Brook Stadium before embarking on his legendary, internationally known Hall of Fame career.
Marco began racing in Go-Karts at the former Flemington, N.J. Speedway, on an infield road course. He quickly advanced to become the youngest ever IndyCar driver at the age of 19 as a teammate to his father Michael.
The Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels opens its 2020 season this weekend, Friday and Saturday, January 3-4 inside the PPL Center in downtown Allentown, PA.
Tickets for the fifth annual Ironton Telephone sponsored Queen City two day event are on sale at the PPL Center box office. Tickets are also available at www.pplcenter.com or by calling 610-347-TIXX.
The Allentown Indoor schedule calls for doors opening at 6:00PM with racing getting underway at 7:30 PM on Friday. On Saturday, doors open at 5:00PM with racing beginning at 7:00PM sharp. The on-track Fan Fest is available at no extra charge to ticket holders who chose the option when making their purchase.
Matt Janisch of Nazareth, PA and Ryan Flores of Mooresville, NC, won the Friday and Saturday PPL Center TQ Midget features in 2019.
The Allentown race is the first of four events that comprise the Indoor Auto Racing Series.
After the two race event opener in Allentown, the “Concrete Series” presented by BELFOR Property Restoration, the series moves to Atlantic City, N.J.’s Boardwalk Hall on Friday and Saturday, January 31st and February 1st for the 18th annual NAPA Auto Parts Classic.
The “Concrete Series” season finale us on Friday and Saturday March 13th and 14th in a second year return to the brand new Exposition Center located on the grounds of the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. N.Y.
A special non-point event will be held on a banked clay oval. The third annual East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals will return to CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, N.J. with a new date. This race meet, held the last two years in December, has been moved to Friday and Saturday, February 21st and 22nd featuring nearly 100 Wingless 600cc Sprints kicking up the clay. Erick Rudolph. four time Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels champion, is also the defending winner of this event, proving his indoor racing skills span both dirt and concrete events.
Tickets for all four venues can be obtained now through information available on the series website: www.indoorautoracing.com along with special host hotel rates.
The event in Allentown is supported by great sponsors Ironton Telephone, BELFOR Property Restoration, Future Homes, Ironton Auto Body and E. Schneider & Sons Inc. Additional support is provided by Action Track USA, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Pocono Raceway, Aqua Duck Water Transport, Miller Motorsports, Doggy Style Hot Dogs & More, Pioneer Pole Buildings, All American Property Maintenance and Area Auto Racing News.
Join these companies in supporting the event in Allentown or at any of the future events by contacting Danny Sammons at the series office at danny@aarn.com or 609-888-3618. Corporate sponsorship packages are available to fit every budget.
RYAN TIDMAN SEEKING FIRST INDOOR RACING SERIES FEATURE WIN AT ALLENTOWN, JANUARY 3-4
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
RYAN TIDMAN TO RACE FOR RICHIE TOLERICO FOR FIRST TIME IN INDOOR RACING SERIES; MULTI-TIME OUTDOOR THREE QUARTER (TQ) CHAMP HAS TWO CHANCES TO SNARE FIRST INDOOR A-MAIN WIN AT ALLENTOWN
ALLENTOWN, PA December 30, 2019 . . . ‘Flyin’ Ryan Tidman has done everything in Indoor Auto Racing Series TQ Midget racing action over the years except win one. The Holland, PA driver hopes to accomplish that goal when the Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels opens its 2020 season this weekend, Friday and Saturday, January 3-4, 2020 inside the PPL Center in downtown Allentown, PA.
“I’ve come close lots of times, won some 20-lap qualifying races and set fast time, but still am looking for my first big Indoor race win. I hope this year will be different,” said the 32 year old driver.
Tickets for the fifth annual Ironton Telephone sponsored Allentown two day event are on sale at the PPL Center box office, on-line at pplcenter.com or by calling 610-347-TIXX.
Tidman’s assault in 2020 will be with a new team. After spending most of his TQ Midget racing career racing for Lenny and Donna Boyd, Tidman will be driving Indoors for Richie Tolerico of Pompton Lakes, NJ.
The car, a Mark Lafler engineered chassis powered by a Dave Pippard engine, was formerly wheeled by Tony DiMattia. That’s the same engine and chassis combination Erick Rudolph used to win last year’s Indoor Auto Racing Series title, his fourth in the Series.
“Lenny and Donna (Boyd) decided to step away from Indoor racing this year and when they did, I had to either find a ride or sit out the Series,” Tidman explained. “I called Richie when I found out his car might be available and we struck a deal.”
Tidman stressed that he will still be driving the Boyd TQ in 2020 on the outdoor circuit. As a team, the pairing has won five ATQMRA series title.
Tidman is coming off a 2019 outdoor TQ season that saw him finish a close second in points with one win in 12 races, at Bethel, NY.
Tidman will have the capable assistance of John Smith in the pit area. Smith has worked on Tolerico’s cars previously. Tidman’s parents, Albert and Linda, Mike Glaser and Tidman’s girlfriend Erica Weinelt also will be in the pit area assisting.
To put it all together, Tidman enlisted the support of several sponsors.
They include Insinger Machine Company of Philadelphia, Anes Construction, a business operated by fellow race entrant Mark Yoder, and Small Business Funding Group, Inc.
Tidman, a York College graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering, brings his own skills set to the table as well.
The one thing Tidman was unable to do was practice the Tolerico No. 83 in advance.
“The first laps I get in Allentown will be my first in the car,” Tidman revealed. “I wanted to try to have the car ready for one of the Wall Stadium Turkey Derby practices but ran out of time.”
The untested car in Tidman’s hands should be mitigated by the fact among the three Indoor Auto Racing Series tracks, the PPL Center in Allentown is among his favorites.
“Allentown is one of the best tracks we go to,” Tidman said. “There is more passing there and at Atlantic City. I like tracks that have the most passing opportunities.” he shared.
Though Tidman has never won a Series A-Main, he did come close, in the 2016 Gambler’s Classic in Atlantic City, NJ.
“I was behind (Anthony) Sesely, pushing him. But I was using the brakes so much that the brake pads were pushed back inside the calipers which then flared up in a fireball,” Tidman lamented.
Tidman has a long history with Indoor racing, dating back to a 2004 start in a Badger TQ Midget. He then followed it up with two more Indoor starts, all of them in Atlantic City, NJ, inside Boardwalk Hall, before taking several years off to campaign a diverse group of vehicles, including a Dirt Modified and a NEMA Midget.
The Allentown Indoor schedule calls for doors opening at 6:00 PM with racing getting underway at 7:30 PM on Friday. On Saturday, doors open at 5:00PM with racing beginning at 7:00PM sharp. An on-track Fan Fest is available at no extra charge to ticket holders who chose the option when making their purchase.
Matt Janisch of Nazareth, PA and Ryan Flores of Mooresville, NC, won the Friday and Saturday PPL Center TQ Midget features in 2019.
The Allentown race is the first of four events that comprise the Indoor Auto Racing Series.
After the two race event opener in Allentown, the “Concrete Series” presented by BELFOR Property Restoration, the series moves to Atlantic City, N.J.’s Boardwalk Hall on Friday and Saturday, January 31st and February 1st for the 18th annual NAPA Auto Parts Classic.
The BELFOR “Concrete Series” season finale is on Friday and Saturday March 13th and 14th in a second year return to the brand new Exposition Center located on the grounds of the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. N.Y.
A special non-point event will be held on a banked clay oval. The third annual East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals will return to CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, N.J. with a new date. This race meet, held the last two years in December, has been moved to Friday and Saturday, February 21st and 22nd featuring nearly 100 Wingless 600cc Sprints kicking up the clay.
Rudolph is the defending winner of this event, proving his indoor racing skills span both dirt and concrete events.
Tickets for all four venues can be obtained through information available on the series website: www.indoorautoracing.com along with special host hotel rates.
The event in Allentown is supported by great sponsors Ironton Telephone, BELFOR Property Restoration, Future Homes, Ironton Auto Body and E. Schneider & Sons Inc. Additional support is provided by Action Track USA, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Pocono Raceway, Aqua Duck Water Transport, Miller Motorsports, Doggy Style Hot Dogs & More, Pioneer Pole Buildings, All American Property Maintenance and Area Auto Racing News.
Join these companies in supporting the event in Allentown or at any of the future events by contacting Danny Sammons at the series office at danny@aarn.com or 609-888-3618. Corporate sponsorship packages are available to fit every budget.
ERICK RUDOLPH KICKS OFF INDOOR RACING SERIES TITLE DEFENSE AT ALLENTOWN JANUARY 3-4
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
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FOUR TIME AND DEFENDING INDOOR AUTO RACING SERIES CHAMPION ERICK RUDOLPH IS POISED TO START FIFTH TITLE RUN IN ALLENTOWN JANUARY 3-4
ALLENTOWN, PA December 20, 2019 . . .The most prolific championship winning driver in the history of the Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels, Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, NY, will begin his quest for a fifth TQ Midget Series title on Friday and Saturday, January 3-4, 2020 inside the PPL Center in downtown Allentown, PA.
Rudolph, also one of the winningest dirt Modified drivers during the 2019 outdoor season, is the defending Indoor Series champion. Rudolph clinched the title by winning the 2019 series finale in Syracuse, N.Y.
Rudolph, who will turn 28 during the month of January, also won the Series title in 2016, 2015 and 2012 and is the only driver to win more than two titles.
“I'll be driving the same car as last year,” Rudolph said. “Mark Lafler will be with me.”
The Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels will open its 2020 season in the Allentown, Pa. Tickets for the fifth annual Ironton Telephone sponsored event are on sale at the PPL Center box office. Tickets are also available at www.pplcenter.com or by calling 610-347-TIXX.
Rudolph will be using the two race Allentown Indoor race meet as a springboard toward his quest for a second straight title. Rudolph won each of his four titles driving Lafler-built cars. Lafler has built nearly two dozen of the rugged, fast, remarkably simple cars but he has chosen not to build any more for new customers.
“His cars haven't changed very much at all over the years,” Rudolph said. “Subtle differences, but very little. Same with the Dave Pippard's engines we run.”
Rudolph is coming off a very successful 2019 season. In addition to winning the Indoor Auto Racing Series title in March, he was the 358 Modified season champion at his home track, Ransomville Speedway, and at N.Y.’s Utica-Rome Speedway. He also won the prestigious 358 Modified Super DIRTcar Series title giving him four titles in one outstanding season.
Matt Janisch of Nazareth, PA and Ryan Flores of Mooresville, NC, who won the Friday and Saturday Allentown TQ Midget features in 2019 will both be in competition on January 3rd and 4th hoping to keep Rudolph out of victory lane.
The Allentown Indoor schedule calls for doors opening at 6:00PM with racing getting underway at 7:30 PM on Friday. On Saturday, doors open at 5:00PM with racing beginning at 7:00PM sharp. An on-track Fan Fest is available on Saturday at no extra charge to ticket holders who chose the option when making their purchase.
After the two-race event opener in Allentown, the “Concrete Series” presented by BELFOR Property Restoration, the series moves to Atlantic City, N.J.’s Boardwalk Hall on Friday and Saturday, January 31st and February 1st for the 18th annual NAPA Auto Parts Classic.
The “Concrete Series” season finale is on Friday and Saturday March 13th and 14th in a second year return to the brand new Exposition Center located on the grounds of the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. N.Y.
Rudolph ended the 2018 season with an Indoor victory in December at a special non-point event held on a banked clay oval. The third annual East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals will return to CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, N.J. with a new date. This race meet, held the last two years in December, has been moved to Friday and Saturday, February 21st and 22nd.
Rudolph will be back to defend the $5,000 to win race honors again driving a dirt wingless 600 Sprint owned by Pennsylvania car owner Tom Fraschetta.
“I kind of like Atlantic City more than the other tracks but only because of where it is and what there is to do there after the races,” said Rudolph.
“Syracuse was nice because there were a lot more people I know personally who were there watching me race, the dirt race was really cool too.”
Though Rudolph missed out on also winning the Super DIRTcar big-block Modified Series title – he was a contender until late in the season - he was pleased with his overall results from 2019 which included 24 wins, third among northeast drivers.
Rudolph admits that he will campaign vigorously, as he has in the past three years, for the Super DIRT Series Big Block title, which is a 30-race grind that stretches into November.
Short term, he's fully focused on the four Indoor Auto Racing Series events. Tickets for any or all the venues make great Christmas gifts. They can be obtained now through information available on the series website: indoorautoracing.com along with special host hotel rates.
The event in Allentown is supported by great sponsors Ironton Telephone, BELFOR Property Restoration, Future Homes, Ironton Auto Body and E. Schneider & Sons Inc. Additional support is provided by Action Track USA, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Pocono Raceway, Aqua Duck Water Transport, Miller Motorsports, Doggy Style Hot Dogs & More, Pioneer Pole Buildings, All American Property Maintenance and Area Auto Racing News.
Join these companies in supporting the event in Allentown or at any of the future events by contacting Danny Sammons at the series office at danny@aarn.com or 609-888-3618. Corporate sponsorship packages are available to fit every budget.
JANISCH SEEKS ALLENTOWN INDOOR SERIES VICTORY AND 2020 INDOOR SERIES TITLE
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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PLEASE WITH OUR THANKS
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MATT JANISCH SEEKS SECOND ALLENTOWN TQ MIDGET WIN AND 2020 INDOOR SERIES TITLE
ALLENTOWN, PA December 17, 2019 . . . Matt Janisch comes into the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa. for the Indoor Auto Racing Series, January 3-4, fueled by VP Racing Fuels 2020 season opener with an avowed goal: to get as many championship points as he possibly can.
“I’m going to do whatever I can do to be in contention to win the Series title. I’ve had some shots, was second one year by one point to Anthony Sesely. With five features in the Series, you can’t win if you have one bad finish,” Janisch reasons.
He certainly had one great finish last year at the PPL Center in the Ironton Telephone sponsored event.
The highlight of Janisch’s Indoor TQ Midget car driving career came on Friday, January 4, 2019 when he won his first Indoor Auto Racing Series main event in Allentown, in front of hometown Lehigh Valley fans. He lives in Nazareth, PA.
“That win was very relieving. I knew I was capable, and I had been close a few times and had been doing this long enough to get a win,” said Janisch. “I can’t say I did anything differently that night. And it wasn’t my first TQ win indoors, I had won one a few years ago at Fort Wayne (Indiana),” he shared.
The hometown aspect was special.
“There were a lot of my friends and family there. Winning close to home is always a great feeling,” Janisch admitted.
“There’s no reason why I can’t win the championship. There’s an element of luck in it like there is in all of racing. But I think it’s less than people think.”
Janisch will be driving the same Lafler chassis TQ owned by Roger Mahan that he drove to victory one year ago.
“The Lafler is a well-built car. It’s fast, the short wheelbase makes a rugged car, which is important indoors,” Janisch stated.
“The work on the car is pretty much maintenance,” Janisch said. “It’s a pretty basic car that ran well last year. I was happy to be the driver that got Roger his first Indoors win.”
Janisch will also be fielding, as a car owner, a TQ he built and maintains for hometown Allentown, PA teenager Briggs Danner.
Janisch. 33, offers great praise for Danner.
“Briggs has natural talent. He had some good races the last couple of years and didn’t get some of the finishes he deserved. He was running second here on the second night with five to go when he got taken out. He doesn’t have the indoor experience most of us have but you can’t tell that by watching him race,” Janisch lauded of Danner, a dirt Modified and SpeedSTR racer.
The Allentown event, January 3-4, which has support from local companies including Ironton Telephone, BELFOR Property Restoration, Future Homes and Ironton Auto Body, will include complete racing programs including qualifying and feature events on back-to-back nights headlined by the TQ Midgets. They will be joined by the Champ Karts on Friday night’s card and the Slingshots on Saturday.
Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, N.Y., one of the winningest dirt Modified drivers during the 2019 outdoor season, is the defending Indoor Series champion. Rudolph clinched the title by winning the 2019 series finale in Syracuse.
Janisch became the first Lehigh Valley resident to win a TQ Midget race in Allentown last January during the Friday night program. Ryan Flores of Mooresville, NC, the 2017 series champion, won Saturday’s main event.
Doors open at 6:00PM with racing getting underway at 7:30 PM on Friday. On Saturday, doors open at 5:00PM with racing beginning at 7:00PM sharp. An on-track Fan Fest is available at no extra charge to ticket holders who chose the option when making their purchase.
After the two race event opener in Allentown, the “Concrete Series” presented by BELFOR Property Restoration, the series moves to Atlantic City, N.J.’s Boardwalk Hall on Friday and Saturday, January 31st and February 1st for the 18th annual NAPA Auto Parts Classic.
The “Concrete Series” season finale us on Friday and Saturday March 13th and 14th in a second year return to the brand new Exposition Center located on the grounds of the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. N.Y.
A special non-point event will be held on a banked clay oval. The third annual East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals will return to CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, N.J. with a new date. This race meet, held the last two years in December, has been moved to Friday and Saturday, February 21st and 22nd featuring nearly 100 Wingless 600cc Sprints kicking up the clay.
Tickets for all four venues make great Christmas gifts. They can be obtained now through information available on the series website: www.indoorautoracing.com or at the box offices the day of the event.
Corporate sponsorship packages to fit every budget and group sales information is available by email or call Danny Sammons at the series office at danny@aarn.com or 609-888-3618.
49TH EDITION OF GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAYS FREEDOM 76 HAS MIKE GULAR WINNING $25K PLUS
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NEWS FROM ROGERS FAMILY GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY, BECHTELSVILLE, PA—THE 57TH CONSECUTIVE SEASON OF RACING
Presenting Saturday night NASCAR stock car racing plus a variety of special events. Track office: 610.754.7688
PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MARKETING: Ernie Saxton @ 215.752.7797: Email: Esaxton144@aol.com – Cell phone: 267.934.7286
Race results provided by Vicki Gehris
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MIKE GULAR RETURNS “HOME” FOR A $25K WIN IN FIRST FREEDOM 76 VICTORY AT GRANDVIEW
49TH EDITION OF THE CLASSIC DRAWS MORE THAN 60 MODIFIEDS AND BIG CROWD
BECHTELSVILLE, PA. September 22, 2019 . . . Veteran racer Mike Gular returned to his “home track” of Grandview Speedway on Saturday night to participate in the running of the 49th Annual Freedom 76-lap T.P. Trailers 358 Modified feature which netted him $25,000 plus lap money as the winner.
The 2018 defending point champion accomplished the goal he set out to achieve last year which was a point title. The 2019 season saw the Sassamansville, PA speedster venture to other tracks as a learning experience in which he did quite well despite the long haul to New York.
Gular, who started seventh in a field of 31 competitors, moved into third on the fourth lap and made a bold move when Frank Cozze and Rick Laubach running first and second got bottled up behind lap traffic. T.J. Lily broke right at the finish line causing the top three to scramble. Gular saw an opportunity open and shot into the lead just as the yellow came out on the 19th lap. Gular maintained the lead on the restart and held off the challenges of Cozze and later eventual runner-up Laubach on the three restarts needed once he was in front. When the checkered unfurled Gular proved he still knew his way around the 1/3-mile oval and pulled into victory lane for a well-earned triumph. It was a “dream come true” for Gular and the team since it was something he wanted to win for several years.
In addition to monetary awards from T.P. Trailers and product certificates from VP Fuels provided he sported the proper decals, Gular received the Dan’s Deli ½-way hoagie award and a Bob Hilbert Sportswear jacket. Craig Von Dohren, who finished sixth after starting 29th having to get into the field via the Minuteman 20, received $500 from fellow driver Bobby Gunther Walsh and his sponsors as the Hard Charger of the race.
Through the luck of the draw Cozze, a guaranteed starter by finishing second in the Forrest Rogers Memorial a race won by 2019 point champion Duane Howard which also earned him guaranteed position, grabbed the early lead trailed by Laubach, Billy Pauch Jr., Ryan Beltz and Gular.
Beltz, while running fourth, spun into the backstretch infield for the first yellow on the third lap. The previous lap Pauch Jr., third place runner, pulled out of competition. Cozze held onto the lead when action resumed with Laubach trying every which way to get around him.
The top there comprised of Cozze, Laubach and Gular, scrambled on the 19th lap yellow when Lilly broke on the homestretch. Gular saw an opening just before the yellow was thrown to overtake the lead as the trio crossed the line. Second through fifth with Gular at the head of the pack when action went green again was now comprised of Cozze, Jared Umbenhauer, Laubach and defending race winner Howard. Trying to get into the top five was Brett Kressley and he did that on the 30th lap.
By the half-way marker Gular distanced himself from the competition with Cozze, Laubach, Brett Kressley and Umbenhauer in tow having a four-way battle for second. Right in the thick of the action was Doug Manmiller in sixth and by the 56th lap he overtook Kressley for fifth.
Kressley, in sixth, spun in the second turn with a flat tire for the 68th lap yellow, but Gular still maintained the number one position on the restart.
A multi-car tangle between turns three and four brought out the yellow with 69 laps in the books. Gular wasted no time pulling away on the restart as he knew now Laubach, Manmiller, Cozze, Howard and Von Dohren wanted to change the order.
Gular stuck to the bottom trek while Laubach attempted to overtake him running the top lane.
Gular never gave up the lead and went on to claim the biggest win of his career. Chasing him across the line were Laubach, Manmiller, Cozze and Howard. Rounding out the top ten were Von Dohren, Jeff Strunk, Umbenhauer, Mike Lisowski and Bobby Varin.
Kressley, Colt Harris, Nick Rochinski, Beltz, Ray Swinehart and Umbenhauer won the six 12-lap qualifying heats. The two consies in which three from each advanced to the Schaeffer’s Motorsports Minuteman 20 were won by Von Dohren and Glenn Strunk. Bobby Varin won the non-stop Minuteman Man 20 with Billy Osmun III, Richie Pratt, Ryan Watt and Von Dohren also getting into the Freedom 76.
Howard also picked up an additional $1,000 and a Penske Shocks certificate by winning the 10-lap Cash Dash.
Tire certificates were also awarded by Lias Tires.
Coming up next at Grandview Speedway is Enduro and Blast from the Past Vintage racing. It all happens on Saturday, September 28th at 6 p.m. and features Big Cars, Small Cars, Junk Yard Cars, Mechanics Race, Xcel 600 Modifieds along with two features for the Vintage racers. A lot of action for just $10 (adults) and youngsters under 12 free.
Then on Saturday, October 19th, 6 p.m. Thunder on the Hill Halloween Party featuring 358/Big Block Modifieds in a 40-lap main event plus Sportsman and MASS Sprinters.
RACE RESULTS
49TH FREEDOM 76 T.P. Trailers Modified Feature (76-Laps): 1. Mike Gular, 2. Rick Laubach, 3. Doug Manmiller, 4. Frank Cozze, 5. Duane Howard, 6. Craig Von Dohren, 7. Jeff Strunk, 8. Jared Umbenhauer, 9. Mike Lisowski, 10. Bobby Varin, 11. Danny Erb, 12. Brandon Grosso, 13. Kenny Gilmore, 14. Briggs Danner, 15. Richie Pratt Jr., 16. Jimmy Reppert, 17. Billy Osmun III, 18. Ray Swinehart, 19. Brett Kressley, 20. Richie Hitzler, 21. Dylan Swinehart, 22. Neal Williams, 23. Ryan Lilick, 24. Alex Yankowski, 25. Nate Brinker, 26. Colt Harris, 27. T.J. Lilly, 28. Ryan Watt, 29. Billy Pauch Jr., 30. Matt Stangle, 31. Ryan Beltz. DNQ: Ryan Grim, Clay Butler, Timmy Buckwalter, John Willman, Kyle Weiss, Kevin Hirthler, Glenn Strunk, Ron Kline, Don Norris Jr., Dave Dissinger, Keith Hoffman, Ryan Anderson, Mike Laise, Dave Dissinger, Danny Bouc, Frank Yankowski, Louden Reimert, Craig Whitmoyer, Kyle Lilick, Bobby Gunther Walsh, Dominic Buffalino, Jesse Leiby, Steve Swinehart, Ron Myers, Joe Funk III, Justin Grim, Kory Fleming, Brian Hirthler.
Schaeffer Motorsports Minuteman 20: 1. Bobby Varin, 2. Billy Osmun III, 3. Richie Pratt Jr., 4. Ryan Watt, Craig Von Dohren
Cash Dash (10 Laps): 1. Duane Howard, 2. Ray Swinehart, 3. Jared Umbenhauer, 4. Colt Harris, 5. Frank Cozze, 6. Brian Kressley, 7. Ryan Beltz. DNS: Rich Rochinski.
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NEWS FROM ROGERS FAMILY GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY, BECHTELSVILLE, PA—THE 57TH CONSECUTIVE SEASON OF RACING
Presenting Saturday night NASCAR stock car racing plus a variety of special events. Track office: 610.754.7688
PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MARKETING: Ernie Saxton @ 215.752.7797: Email: Esaxton144@aol.com – Cell phone: 267.934.7286
RESULTS PROVIDED BY RANDY KANE
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GRANDVIEW SPORTSMAN CHAMP BRAD BRIGHTBILL WINS FREEDOM 38 SPORTSMAN FEATURE AND JOE KAY EARNS HIS FIRST CAREER MID-ATLANTIC SPRINT SERIES FEATURE WIN; FREEDOM 76 TAKES PLACE TONIGHT
BECHTELSVILLE, PA September 21, 2019 . . . Brad Brightbill and Kevin Hirthler thrilled the fans in the stands Friday night at Grandview Speedway with a spirited battle for the top spot in-and-out of heavy lapped traffic over the final dozen laps or so in the sixth annual “Night Before The Sixer” Freedom 38’er, with Brightbill coming out on top to earn the $2,000 payday at the checkered.
For Brightbill, who just a week earlier earned his first career Sportsman track championship at the Bechtelsville, PA dirt track, it was career win number 10 and Brightbill’s fifth win of the 2019 racing season. The popular triumph was his first since August 17 of this season. The Sinking Spring, PA second-generation chauffeur became the sixth different winner in six Freedom 38’er events overall to date at the high-banked third-mile oval.
Brightbill captured checkered flags in his heat race and the feature to give him a clean sweep for the evening.
Also on the card were the Delaware Auto Exchange Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series winged 305 Sprint Cars, with Dublin, PA based self-employed electrician Joe Kay powering out on top with the drop of the green after starting from the pole position and leading every lap in the 25-lap feature to earn his first career MASS victory by a safe margin. Kay was never seriously challenged in the fray, leading by nearly a full straightaway through much of the event.
“I can’t really put it into words,” revealed Brightbill afterwards. “I am so thankful for all the guys who helped me this season. To go out on a high note like this, it really means a lot.”
Nate Brinker, 24, of Allentown, PA started on the pole in the 38-lap Sportsman main event as the 26-car starting field took the green and was the race leader until Kenny Bock, who started outside row one, grabbed the top spot on lap 4.
By lap 8, Brightbill, who started from fifth by the luck of the draw, climbed into the runner-up role, followed by Brian Hirthler and Brinker. The 26-year-old Birdsboro, PA resident, Bock, remained out in from as the laps clicked off, with Brightbill closing the gap by lap 14.
Laps 15 and 16 saw Bock and Brightbill in a fan-pleasing battle, with Brightbill exiting turn 4 on lap 17, driving under Bock to become the new race leader.
“Kenny was running me pretty good there and I just couldn’t shake him on the outside,” explained Brightbill. “As the track started to get slicker our car just started to come around and we were lucky to prevail there at the end.”
Kevin Hirthler, 39, of Boyertown, PA, who won the event in 2018, started from eleventh-place and hustled his way up to fourth-place by lap 9. Ten circuits later, Hirthler advanced into second-place and lap 20 saw the only caution of the night as Ryan Beltz spun out in turn 2.
When racing resumed it was Brightbill rocketing out in front of Kevin Hirthler, as Bock battled wheel-to-wheel with 27-year-old Jared Umbenhauer for third for a lap, prior to Umbenhauer eventually taking the spot on lap 22.
With 26 tours complete, Kevin Hirthler closed in on the rear of Brightbill’s homebuilt mount and the battle for first was on. Hirthler challenged Brightbill racing in-and-out of lapped traffic, but Brightbill fought off every challenge with ease.
“I didn’t know how close anyone was,” Brightbill was saying. “I just tried to pick and choose very carefully where I went without getting tangled up with anyone else in lapped traffic. Things just turned out in our favor.”
“It was a tough track, being so narrow,” offered Kevin Hirthler. “I understand the lapped cars are out there racing for position too and I wished we could have had some good side-by-side racing for the lead, but that’s not how it turned out. Everyone was running clean and it is what it is.”
Brightbill brought home the victory over Kevin Hirthler, who earned an additional $100 as the first Crate powered car to cross the line, with Jared Umbenhauer finishing third, after starting thirteenth, with 37-year-old Brian Hirthler of Perkiomenville, PA fourth, after starting from eighth, and Bock rounding out the top five finishers in that order.
“We were fighting the car all night and finally figured it out before the feature,” announced the third-place finisher from Richland, PA, Umbenhauer. “I couldn’t tell who the race leader was racing in all that lapped traffic. I had to look up at the leader’s board to see just who was where at one point. It feels good to finally finish a feature race for once.”
Heat race victories with a total of 42 Sportsman on hand went out to Brightbill, Jesse Leiby, Brad Grim and Brian Hirthler, with consolation wins earned by Brad Arnold and Mike Toth.
In the MASS Sprint Car feature, Kay started on the pole and immediately jumped out on top over 29-year-old Eddie Wagner, of Franklinville, N.J., who started outside of row one. Dominic Melair of Jamison, PA followed as the third-place car.
Christian Rumsey, 21, of Middletown, N.Y. advanced to fifth-place on lap 10, just behind 36-year-old Jon Haegele out of Rockledge, PA, and climbed to fourth at the halfway point, just prior to Wagner spinning out all alone in turn 2, bringing out the only caution of the event that started 20 cars.
With the new green Kay again powered out in front and by lap 17 he was nearly a full straightaway out in front over Melair, Rumsey, Haegele and recently crowned champion Bordentown, N.J. veteran racer Larry McVay, who’ll turn 56-years-old on September 28, in that order. That’s how the race finished, as Kay authored his first-ever MASS 305 Sprint Car feature win.
“Damn, this feels good,” announced Kay, who also races 600 wingless micro sprints throughout the season. “I tried not to worry and not make any mistakes while I was running out in front. I tried to be consistent and just hit my marks each lap. I did my best to not get tangled up with any of the lapped cars. Tonight we just had all our ducks in a row.
“I’ve got to thank Brian Carber and my good friend Tim Tanner Jr. They both helped me out and Tanner Jr. is always there if I need something. This is just totally awesome. It feels great,” Kay pointed out.
Heat victories for 20 MASS 305 Sprint Cars went to Daniel Leaper and Dominic Melair. No consolation was needed.
Some 43 358 Modified campaigners showed up for a night of practice sessions throughout the night preparing for the Freedom 76 scheduled for Saturday night. In all the pits were packed with a grand total of 105 race cars for the evening of competition.
Next on the agenda is the $25,000 to win 49th Annual Freedom 76 for Modifieds. Racing will get the green for the first qualifying event at 7 p.m. Adult admission is $40, with youngsters 6 through 11 paying $10 and kids under 6 admitted free. Advance ticket holders are admitted at 3 p.m. with general admission tickets on sale at 3:30 p.m.
For additional information check in at www.grandviewspeedway.com, Facebook or telephone 610.754.7688.
MASS 305 Sprints 25-laps – 1) Joe Kay, 2) Dominic Melair, 3) Christian Rumsey, 4) Jon Haegele, 5) Larry McVay, 6) Scott Frack, 7) Tim Tanner Jr. 8) Tom Carberry, 9) Jeff Geiges, 10) Keith Prutzman, 11) Logan Diehl, 12) Ricky Dieva, 13) Dylan Smith, 14) Johnny Yanek, 15) Daniel Leaper, 16) Josh Bricker, 17) Marie McVay, 18) Kevin Nagy, 19) Eddie Wagner, 20) Dave Bonner (DNS).
Sportsman 38-laps – 1) Brad Brightbill, 2) Kevin Hirthler, 3) Jared Umbenhauer, 4) Brian Hirthler, 5) Kenny Bock, 6) Kyle Lilick, 7) Dean Bachman, 8) Mike Mammana, 9) Tim Buckwalter, 10) Jesse Leiby, 11) Brad Grim, 12) Brad Arnold, 13) Jesse Landis, 14) Matt Peck, 15) Brandon Edgar, 16) Mark Kemmerer, 17) Nate Brinker, 18) Dakota Kohler, 19) Tyler Peet, 20) Jimmy Leiby, 21) Josh Adams, 22) Matt Clay, 23) Mike Toth, 24) Ryan Beltz, 25) Jack Butler, 26) Doug Snyder.
