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Bailey Wins a Thriller in Bethel; Janisch Crowned 2018 Champion
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ATQMRA
2018 ATQMRA Champion Matt Janisch (PhotoCredit: Sean Case Photography)
Bailey Wins a Thriller in Bethel; Janisch Crowned 2018 Champion
Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic ATQMRA Powered by VP
Saturday, November 3rd, 2018
BETHEL, NY - Joey Bailey earned his fifth Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuel feature victory of 2018 this weekend in the season points finale at the Bethel Motor Speedway. However, his victory would not be enough to make up his championship points deficit, ultimately crowning Matt Janisch at the 2018 ATQMRA champion.
Seventeen cars were on hand to close out the "regular season" of the 2018 ATQMRA campaign. Weather played a role in the weekend schedule, as speedway officials battled overnight rain and morning showers leading up the event. Bethel Motor Speedway did a phenomenal job prepping the track and pit area to allow a full schedule of events to be ran and completed.
Buddy Sload won a relatively calm first heat race, leading wire to wire earning him the pole position for the 30-lap feature. Matt Janisch went on to win the second heat of the afternoon, setting the tone early that it would be a force to be reckoned with in the championship race.
The second heat race featured the only incident of the day, as the father and son duo of Ronnie and Cole Mullen made contact in turns 3 and 4. Cole, overshooting the third corner entry made contact with his father Ronnie. There was no damage to either vehicle and both would continue on to finish the heat and feature races.
Entering the event, the hype was set on the championship battle. Matt Janisch entered the event as the leader, 16 points ahead of Joey Bailey and 24 points ahead of Ryan Tidman. With the three drivers separated by only 6 on track positions, all three had a mathematical chance to earn the championship.
From the pole, Buddy Sload and his Spitfire Chassis blasted off like a rocket, setting the pace for much of the first half of the event. As Sload led, many eyes were on the second place battle featuring Janisch and Bailey respectively, with championship implications on the line. As the leaders bobbed and weaved through lapped traffic, a thrilling 3-car battle for the lead went on for multiple laps, bringing the crowd to their feet. Bailey took advantage of the lapped traffic, and positioned himself to make a late race charge for the lead. Bailey not only passed one, but two cars being both Jansich and Sload on the outside to eventually earn the lead.
Joey Bailey Victory Lap (PhotoCredit: Sean Case Photography)
Joey Bailey would go on to earn his fifth feature victory of the season. Bailey ended an impressive championship charge, winning three of the remaining four races on the calendar. However, the consistency of Matt Janisch was too much for Bailey to overcome, earning Matt Janisch his third championship in ATQMRA. Entering Bethel, Janisch had to finish fourth or better to clinch the championship, regardless of how his competitors finished.
Officially Matt Janisch is the 2018 Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuel Drivers Champion, edging Joey Bailey by 8 points. After earning a fifth place finish, Ryan Tidman officially rounded out the championship podium falling 32 points short behind champion Janisch.
The "Jerzy Jet," Joey Payne ended his 2018 campaign strong with a fourth place finish. Richie Davidowitz continues to impress earning a strong 6thplace finish in his second start of 2018 in the #25 machine. Jeff Kot, Mark Yoder, Cole Mullen and Tommy Catalano would round out the top 10 finishing positions respectfully. Catalano, who earned the 2018 NASCAR Wheelen Modified Rookie of the Year Award made a respectful ATQMRA debut, leading the charge of the New York "invaders" Saturday afternoon. Other drivers to make their 2018 ATQMRA debuts included long-time veteran BJ MacDonald, 2014 ATQMRA Rookie of the Year Geo Sutton, and New York invader Kevin Wilson.
The 2018 Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA season will officially close with the 45thAnnual running of the Turkey Derby at Wall Stadium Speedway. This will be a 30-lap, non-points event that will feature a winged aero-package for the first time in event history since the inception of Wall Stadium's inner oval.
Race Results
Heat 1
1. #36 Buddy Sload
2. #51B Joey Bailey
3. #1B Ryan Tidman
4. #51 Joey Payne
5. #75 Mark Yoder
6. #25 Richie Davidowitz
7. #42 Geo Sutton
8. #55 Steve Craig
Heat 2
1. #48 Matt Janisch
2. #17 Jeff Kot
3. #73X Cole Mullen
4. #5 Tommy Catalano
5. #29 Cameron Ruggiero
6. #39 Ronnie Mullen
7. #14 Kevin Wilson
8. #28 BJ MacDonald
9. #23 Avery Stoehr
Feature
1. #51B Joey Bailey
2. #36 Buddy Sload
3. #48 Matt Janisch
4. #51 Joey Payne
5. #1B Ryan Tidman
6. #25 Richie Davidowtiz
7. #17 Jeff Kot
8. #75 Mark Yoder
9. #73 Cole Mullen
10. #5 Tommy Catalano
11. #39 Ronnie Mullen
12. #55 Steve Craig
13. #28 BJ MacDonald
14. #23 Avery Stoehr
15. #29 Cameron Ruggiero
16. #14 Kevin Wilson
17. #42 Geo Sutton
NEXT ATQMRA RACE:
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Wall Stadium Speedway
Turkey Derby
Additional news can be accessed on www.atqmra.com, facebook.com/ATQMRA and twitter @ATQMRA.
Birthday Boy Bailey Wins at Bethel
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Birthday Boy Bailey Wins at Bethel
Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic ATQMRA Powered by VP
Bethel, NY June 16 - This weekend the Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuel took a scenic trip up to the Catskills, NY for the first event of the year at Bethel Motor Speedway. This was a special night for the ATQMRA, as the history of Pine Brook Speedway was celebrated amongst the pit area.
A buzz was in the air prior to the cars hitting the track, as the news broke Friday afternoon that ATQMRA Champion Mike Tidaback would be in attendance with his wife Renee and son Mikey Jr. Tidaback, who is still recovering from an on-track incident in this year's annual Gambler Classic in Atlantic City, NJ, was in great spirits at the track this evening. Tidaback, along with his son Mikey not only gave the command to fire engines for the 30-lap feature event, but also enjoyed three parade laps in the speedway's pace car to the delight of the crowd. Tidaback's #11 modified which he most recently raced at Wall Stadium Speedway was on hand to pace the field of ATQMRA competitors as well.
The Mullen family, with son Cole led the field to green with his father Ronnie starting on the outside front-row. Heat race #1 winner Matt Janisch started 7th, and heat race #2 winner Joey Bailey started both due to handicapping.
The action was fierce right from the drop of the green flag as multi-car incident involving the likes of unofficial teammates Kris Graver and Matt Janisch resulted in Graver facing the wrong way in the speedway's infield just shy of the first corner. Graver would retire from the event as Janisch would continue on. Buddy Sload was plagued with engine issues during his heat race, and the issues continued into the feature. During the caution laps prior to what would be a complete restart of the event, Sload's Spitfire Chassis would also retire from the event without officially completing a lap.
The drivers did not skip a beat as Brick, New Jersey's Cole Mullen led the field back to the green flag and showed strength in the early going. However, C. Mullen was no match for both Joey Bailey and Ryan Tidman, who would soon overtake Mullen for the top spot.
For much of the race, the battle for the lead was between Bailey, Tidman and Janisch. With even times of side by side action for the lead, the leaders put on quite the show as they began to slice and dice through lapped traffic.
The second and final caution of the evening was displayed with seventeen laps remaining, as Dave Williams, making his 2018 ATQMRA debut found himself in trouble in the middle of turns one and two.
This caution would set the stage for a thrilling restart, featuring a drag race between Bailey and Tidman down the backstretch on the first green flag lap following the restart. Bailey would eventually clear Tidman off of turn four and never look back. Janisch would make a late charge for the lead in the closing laps but was no match for Bailey. This would result in the third, second place finish for Janisch in four ATQMRA events this season.
Joey Bailey would ultimately capture an emotional victory on the eve of his 21stbirthday. This was Bailey's first ATQMRA feature win since his victory at Stafford Motor Speedway in October of 2016. Furthermore, Bailey earned his first trophy racing for Alan Mollot.
As for other notables from the event, Ronnie Mullen had his most impressive showing of the year as he showed speed throughout the entire day. After finishing second in his heat race, R. Mullen brought his Spitfire Chassis home in sixth, his best finish to date this season.
Mark Yoder returned after a one race absence as he attended the Indianapolis 500 with his family this past Memorial Day. Yoder, who overcame an oil leak during the first practice session, finished a respectable seventh.
Paul Dodorico made his second start of the season in his home state of New York brought his car home in eighth. Dodorico, showed great improvement from his first career ATQMRA start at Wall Stadium last month as he continues to progress in his first season racing TQ Midgets.
Through four events this year, the Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuel has featured four different feature winners. The series now heads into the off-week prior to the fifth race on the 2018 calendar at Mahoning Valley Speedway, PA on June 30th, 2018.
Heat 1 Race Results
1. #48 Matt Janisch
2. #1B Ryan Tidman
3. #51 Kris Graver
4. #73x Cole Mullen
5. #55 Paul Dodorico
6. #11 Dave Williams
Heat 2 Race Results
1. #51B Joey Bailey
2. #17 Ronnie Mullen
3. #48 Tim Proctor
4. #36 Buddy Sload
5. #75 Mark Yoder
Feature Race Results
1. #51B Joey Bailey
2. #48 Matt Janisch
3. #1B Ryan Tidman
4. #98 Tim Proctor
5. #73x Cole Mullen
6. #17 Ronnie Mullen
7. #75 Mark Yoder
8. #55 Paul Dodorico
9. #11 Dave Williams
10. #36 Buddy Sload
11. #51 Kris Graver
Additional news can be accessed on www.atqmra.com, facebook.com/ATQMRA and twitter @ATQMRA.
Proctor Victorious at Wall Stadium
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Proctor Victorious at Wall Stadium
Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic ATQMRA Powered by VP
The Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuel hit the track for their third race of the season at Wall Stadium Speedway, NJ. This marked the first race where the TQ midgets would attack the inner oval with wings.
With this being the third race of the season, the heats and feature line up were set by a pill draw. Heats were won by Kyle Taraska and Joey Bailey. Four cars from each heat were eligible for the redraw.
Number 98 Tim Proctor drew the pole position after the redraw and never looked back. After finishing fourth in the second heat, Proctor would go on to lead wire-wire in the feature impressively holding off charges from former ATQMRA champions #1B Ryan Tidman, #36 Buddy Sload and #48 Matt Janisch. Even more impressive, this event was Proctor's return race after a vicious flip down the back-straightaway this past November at Turkey Derby.
Making impressive season debuts were Kyle Taraska, Paul Dodorico, and late entrant Richie Davidowitz. Taraska, of Woodbridge, NJ, entered his first of five races in the famed number 16 Spitfire in impressive fashion, setting fast time in practice as well as taking home a heat win. Paul Dodorico, of Long Island, brought his beautifully prepared number 55 Spitfire for his first race with the ATQMRA and was also impressive with a strong run finishing 10th. Richie Davidowitz, also of Long Island, was a last minute entry in the number 17 Hyper, finishing 4thin his heat and 8thin the feature.
Saturday's feature also marked the return of hometown driver Ronnie Mullen's #39 machine after extensive repairs after an indoor-season wreck this winter in Allentown. There was a lot of hard work that went into getting his car back on track this season, and the effort to just have the opportunity to turn laps yesterday is admirable.
The tough luck award goes to #20 Jon Keller. After experiencing a mechanical malfunction in the first practice session of the day, Keller made hard contact with outside retaining guardrail in turn three of the speedway. Thankfully, the driver walked away under his own power and we look forward to seeing Jon and his team return the track in the near future.
The Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA will be off for the next few weeks, as teams will look to prepare for our next event at Bethel Motor Speedway, on June 16th2018. The June 16thevent will be a Pinebrook Reunion, celebrating the great history of the ATQMRA at the late-speedway.
Heat 1 Race Results
1. #51B Joey Bailey
2. #51 Kris Graver
3. #48 Matt Janisch
4. #17 Richie Dividowitz
5. #55C Steve Craig
6. #39 Ronnie Mullen
Heat 2 Race Results
1. #16 Kyle Taraska
2. #1B Ryan Tidman
3. #36 Buddy Sload
4. #98 Tim Proctor
5. #73C Cole Mullen
6. #55 Paul Dodorico
Feature Race Results
1. #98 Tim Proctor
2. #1B Ryan Tidman
3. #36 Buddy Sload
4. #48 Matt Janisch
5. #16 Kyle Taraska
6. #51B Joey Bailey
7. #51 Kris Graver
8. #17 Richie Dividowitz
9. #73C Cole Mullen
10. #55 Paul Dodorico
11. #55C Steve Craig
12. #39 Ronnie Mullen
Additional news can be accessed on www.atqmra.com, facebook.com/ATQMRA and twitter @ATQMRA.
Buddy Sload Earns the Victory at Waterford’s “Blast-off” Weekend
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The Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP made the long trek up north to Waterford, CT, Saturday for the second event of the series’ season. With pit gates opening at 8:00 am, crews were fully prepared for an all-day affair under beautiful sunny skies.
Matt Janisch, who elected to enter his own #48 Yuhas chassis, which is the same car that won the 2018 season opener at Mahoning Valley a mere two weeks ago, with driver Kris Graver behind the wheel. Graver, swapped rides with Janisch this weekend, as he was behind the wheel of Alan Mollot’s #51.
Janisch set quick time in practice running a blistering 13.426 second lap. His good fortune continued by drawing the pole position for the first, 10-lap heat race. ATQMRA “Invader,” Avery Stoehr drew the pole position for the second 10-lap heat race of the afternoon.
Matt Janisch dominated the first heat leading wire-to-wire, capturing the flag for his first “unofficial” win of the season as a driver. Matt Swanson, a New England Modified “Invader” powered his #02 Starrett Racing TQ Midget to victory in a thrilling race for car owner Russ Bailey.
On the third lap of the event, #36 Buddy Sload made a daring move for the lead between himself and pole-sitter Stoehr. Contact was made between Stoehr and Sload, which ultimately ended Stoehr’s race on his side. The incident also involved Mahoning Valley winner #51 Kris Graver, who failed to complete his heat as well. After a brief red flag, the heat race resumed without incident.
After the redraw, Sload won the pole with defending ATQMRA champion Ryan Tidman starting to his outside, and heat race #1 winner Matt Janisch starting in third. Swanson, the winner of heat race #2, drew the sixth starting position.
The 25-lap feature was nothing short of spectacular. The race, only halted for once when #51B Joey Bailey’s evening went up in smoke. Bailey, made a phenomenal save keeping his car off the wall, however disappointment arose as a blown motor ruined his chances at a solid finish.
The race was highlighted with a duel from both Buddy Sload and Matt Janisch. Janisch, although never got around Sload for the lead, never was more than 3-car lengths off the rear tail of Sload the entire run. This marked the first win of the year for Buddy Sload, as well as Spitfire.
Congratulations to Buddy Sload and his entire team on their victory at Waterford! The Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA presented by VP will be taking a week off, prior to heading to Bethel, NY on Saturday May, 19th.
Heat 1 Race Results
1. #48 Matt Janisch
2. #51B Joey Bailey
3. #1B Ryan Tidman
4. #73x Cole Mullen
5. #50 Carl Medeiros Jr.
6. #17 Ronnie Mullen
Heat 2 Race Results
1. #02 Matt Swanson
2. #75 Mark Yoder
3. #20 Jon Keller
4. #36 Buddy Sload
5. #23 Avery Stoehr
6. #51 Kris Graver
Feature Race Results
1. #36 Buddy Sload
2. #48 Matt Janisch
3. #1B Ryan Tidman
4. #75 Mark Yoder
5. #02 Matt Swanson
6. #50 Carl Medeiros Jr.
7. #17 Ronnie Mullen
8. #20 Jon Keller
9. #51B Joey Bailey
10. #73x Cole Mullen
11. #51 Kris Graver
12. #23 Avery Stoehr
