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WILL YOUTH BE SERVED? SEVEN ASPIRING TEENAGE INDOOR THREE QUARTER MIDGET DRIVERS SET TO CHALLENGE FOR VICTORY AT ALLENTOWN JANUARY 5-6,2018
ALLENTOWN, PA December 15, 2017 . . . Eight talented teenagers are among the 50 TQ Midget competitors who have entered the 2018 Indoor Auto Racing Series fueled by VP that will begin it’s season on Friday and Saturday, January 5th and 6th inside Allentown, Pa.’s PPL Center.
Each of these young drivers are confident of success - despite what is certain to be the toughest competition they will have yet faced in their budding careers.
Local driver Briggs Danner, 16, of Allentown parlayed a Quarter Midget driving career into a fourth place finish in his rookie season at Kutztown’s Action Track, USA in the tough SpeedSTR class. The third generation driver also made his debut this year in the Sportsman division at nearby Grandview Speedway.
Danner, with support from Ironton Telephone, the sponsor of the Allentown Indoor race, will be making his first ever start indoor and in a TQ Midget.
Cerubic Andrew Molleur, at age 15, is even younger. Molleur also graduated from Quarter Midgets. The Shelton, CT high-school student moved into the the asphalt SK Modified division this season at Waterford Speedbowl where he was a three time feature winner and just missed out on the championship.
Tyler Thompson, 17, from Fulton, N.Y., spent the 2017 season racing dirt Sportsman cars throughout New York State and at Canada under the Team Tapout Race Team auspices. Thompson made a late season start at N.J.’s Bridgeport Speedway and was a contender for victory. Thompson’s family has purchased the second of two Jimmy Blewett Lafler chassis cars for hisTQ debut. Thompson was fast in his indoor series debut last January in a Champ Kart inside Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.
Cole Mullen, 17, was a contender for the 2017 ATQMRA Rookie of the Year honors during the outdoor season. The second-generation driver from Brick, N.J. finished one spot behind the top rookie in the tenth spot in the standings. Cole finished one position ahead of his father, Ronnie, who was also an ATQMRA rookie this past year.
The Catalano brothers, Tommy. 19 and Timmy. 17, are third generation runners out of Ontario N.Y. The brothers compete weekly during the outdoor season against their mother Amy in asphalt Modified competition in western New York. Tommy, a regular on the Race of Champions series, won the Spencer and Holland Speedway track championships this season.
Tommy nearly won the 2017 Ironton Telephone Allentown TQ Midget race before settling for a hard earned podium finish. Timmy made his debut in the 2017 Atlantic City event and proved to be a quick study.
Another second generation entrant, Anthony Payne 18. of Fair Lawn, N.J., also has prior Indoor Auto Racing Series experience. As an entrant in the 2017 races, Payne learned the intracacies of driving TQ Midgets on tight concrete courses from his father Joey, an accomplished TQ Midget and Full Size Midget multi-time champion.
The Paynes, father-and-son, are a formidable team. Joey Payne, in fact, is a two-time Indoor Auto Auto Racing Series winner, in the Atlantic City Gambler’s Classic (2004, 2007).
For one of the teenage-sensations to win on the series they’ll have to beat experienced, proven winners including defending series champion Ryan Flores of Mooresville, N.C. who won both events in Allentown last year. Erick Rudolph, whose 2017 Atlantic City win gave the Ransomville, NY driver a series high eight indoor victories can never ben counted out. His win total also includes a win in Allentown the previous season.
Anthony Sesely, three time Atlantic City winner, will return to his own No. 16 full-time this season.
Canadian Super Modified ace Mike Lichty is a former series winner who rejoins the series this year with a brand new car. Tim Buckwalter of Royersford, Pa. comes to Allentown after winning both the SpeedSTR and 600cc Micro Sprint title in 2017 at the Kutztown Action Track.
Top asphalt Modified drivers entered includes local favorites Earl Paules and Zane Zeiner. Nationally known drivers in the field includes Conn. NASCAR stars Ryan Preece, Justin Bonsignore and Keith Rocco as well as New York star Andy Jankowiak.
Preece, a NASCAR Xfinity series winner this year for Joe Gibbs Racing, wlll be driving the same car that was designed and built by Donnie Preece and the late Ted Christopher. It will be repainted white and will carry the same number 6 that Preece for Ed Partridge to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Touring Series car owner title. Bonsignore finished second to the team in the NASCAR standings.
Dirt Modified racing will be well represented as well. New York state DIRTcar drivers Ryan Bartlett, Mike Maresca and Billy Whittaker. New Jersey dirt Modified driver Danny Bouc, a winner at New Egypt Speedway this year, will be moving up indoors from Champ Kart to TQ Midget competition. Mike Iles, a former series winner, will also be full-time in his always sharp No. 711.
The Ironton Telephone Allentown event schedule calls for racing to start at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Three Quarter (TQ) Midgets will run a full program of racing with feature events both nights. Champ Karts will be racing in a complete show on Friday night, with the Slingshots on Saturday night.
For choice tickets, contact the PPL Center Box Office by phone at 610-347-TIXX (8499), online at pplcenter.com. Those wishing to avoid online fees may purchased directly at the Box Office, but are encouraged to do so in advacen, the 2016 event was a sell-out.
It is the first of a three-race Indoor Auto Racing Series. The series moves next to the NAPA Auto Parts Indoor Auto Racing Weekend in Atlantic City. For tickets, contact Ticketmaster, the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, or the Area Auto Racing News office at 609-888-3618.
The finale will be a first annual event in New York State, on February 9-10, 2018 in the Times Union Center in downtown Albany, N.Y. For choice tickets, contact the Times Union Center Box Office, charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000, or visit online at ticketmaster.com.
VP FUELS RETURNS AS SPONSOR OF SATURDAY NIGHT NASCAR EVENTS AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY
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NEWS FROM ROGERS FAMILY GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY, Bechtelsville, PA
Presenting Saturday night NASCAR stock car racing plus a variety of special events for 55 years
Track office: 610.754.7688 - Public relations and marketing: Ernie Saxton @ 215.752.7797: Email: Esaxton144@aol.com – Cell phone: 267.934.7286
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VP RACING FUELS RETURN AS SPONSOR FOR SATURDAY NIGHT NASCAR RACING EVENTS AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY
Bechtelsville, PA December 15, 2017. . . With the 56th season of stock car racing scheduled to get underway at Grandview Speedway on March 31st interest is already growing in the NASCAR sanctioned Saturday night racing action which will once again feature the T.P.Trailers 358 Modifieds, Late Models and Sportsman stock cars.
The annual free-to-the-public practice session will kick things off on Saturday, March 31st at noon. And Saturday, April 7th, will feature the Bruce Rogers Memorial, a 75-lapper, for big and small block racers paying $7500 to win. This event will not carry a NASCAR sanction.
Again this year racers that use VP racing gasoline will be able to earn some great benefits based on a program announced by track operators, the Rogers family, and VP Racing Fuels.
As in previous seasons the top finishing racer in each of the three NASCAR divisions racing at Grandview each Saturday night will be eligible for product awards. For the T.P.Trailers 358 Modifieds there is a $150 product award for the top finishing racer that can show he has used VP racing gasoline, had VP decals clearly visible on each side of the race car and has a VP patch on his or her uniform. In the Late Model division there will be a $100 product award and the Sportsman racers will earn a $75 product award provided they meet the requirements set for the awards.
In addition VP Racing Fuels is posting a $100 VP product award for the overall Hard Charger out of the three divisions each Saturday night.
VP will also be a banner advertiser on the Grandview website.
VP Racing Fuels Regional Manager Tim Hogue said, “We appreciate the support given our product by the racers and we want to show the racers support for their racing efforts.”
Fans are also reminded that season passes ARE available that cover a reserved seat for all Saturday night events, April through September. The price is still $350. Send a check covering the passes being ordered along with a self-addressed stamped envelope (to speed delivery) to Grandview Speedway, 87 Wilt Road, Bechtelsville, PA 19505.
For information telephone 610.754.7688 or check in at www.grandviewspeedway.com, Facebook or Twitter.
Those having interest in enjoying the benefits of marketing through auto racing can obtain information on program book advertising, event sponsorship and billboard advertising by contacting Ernie Saxton at 215.752.7797 or email Esaxton144@aol.com. A color brochure is available.
Grandview Speedway is a one-third-mile, banked clay track located on Passmore Road just off Route 100 in Bechtelsville, PA, 10 miles north of Pottstown. For information telephone 610.754.7688 or check in at www.grandviewspeedway.com.
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MEDIA NOTE: It is not too early to make your Grandview plans known. Will you be covering Grandview on a regular basis so that you will need a season media pass for 2018. The season will be here before you know it. Be in touch at Esaxton144@aol.com or 267.934.7286. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. ---Ernie Saxton on behalf of Grandview Speedway.
THREE QUARTER MIDGET TEAMS GET READY FOR INDOOR RACING IN ALLENTOWN, PA JANUARY 5-6
Posted by: | CommentsNEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2018 INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
INDOOR AUTO RACING EVENTS AT TRENTON, ALLENTOWN, ATLANTIC CITY AND ALBANY
PROMOTER: Len Sammons (609)888-3618 - MEDIA CONTACT: Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc.
Esaxton144@aol.com – EMAIL ---- 267.934.7286 – Ernie’s CELL PHONE
Release created by Steve Barrick
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THREE QUARTER MIDGET TEAMS, CAR BUILDERS RAMP UP FOR INDOOR SUCCESS: SERIES BEGINS JAN. 5-6 IN ALLENTOWN, PA
ALLENTOWN, PA December 11, 2017 . . . Car owners and Three Quarter (TQ) Midget chassis builders are completing their efforts for the annual Indoor Auto Racing Championship Series Fueled by VP, which kicks off on Friday and Saturday night, January 5th and 6th inside Allentown, Pa.’s PPL Center for the Ironton Telephone sponsored events.
In recent months more new cars have been built and race proven machines stripped and re-engineered than ever before. Every team that doesn’t own a Laffler Chassis, winner of the last three series titles, is out to knock them off the top of the hill.
Heading the list is a new car being built at DART Engineering’s shop in Pipersville, Pa. by BJ McDonald. The car will be driven by Canadian Super Modified standout Mike Lichty.
Lichty, a past TQ Midget winner of Indoor races with the Series, will replace his older, yet tested tough TQ Midget, with the new DART car when he makes his debut with it in Allentown.
The former ISMA champion will then held to Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall for the 16th annual NAPA Know How weekend on Friday and Saturday, January 26th and 27th. In his only start with the series last year, Lichty drove a Lou Cicconi owned Laffler Chassis to a fifth place finish at the series finale in Atlantic City so he knows what a Laffler chassis has to offer.
Tim Nye of Troutman, N.C. has built three new cars for the Indoor Auto Racing Series. Two of them will be driven by the Catalano racing brothers, Tommy and Timmy. Nye also has built a new car for his brother Shawn. The three new cars will be powered by 750cc engines while Tim Nye’s older car will continue to go to post with a 600cc motor.
Mark Lafler of Ransomville, N.Y. will be well prepared for the new the competition. Lafler has built nearly 24 cars that have been driven to victory and four Indoor Auto Racing Series championships, three by Lafler’s ‘house car’ driver Erick Rudolph and one last year by Ryan Flores, a Lafler customer. On his route to the title last year, Flores swept both nights in Allentown and Rudolph won the series finale in Atlantic City and the season opener in Trenton.
Lafler will have two of his latest design cars at Allentown, one for Rudolph and another for Joey Payne, who has won two Atlantic City Gamblers’ Classics. While the two new cars are updated models, Lafler has said that the differences in his cars from year to year are subtle, and sometimes, not necessarily desirable, he’s always looking for something new and is not afraid to experiment.
Long time TQ Midget builder Colin Martin has a very fast Spitfire Chassis No. 36 ready for his driver Buddy Sload. The 2016 ATQMRA outdoor series champion was fast at the 2017 indoor series finale in Atlantic City last year and a big outdoor winner outdoors this season.
Lou Cicconi’s No. 75, a car designed for the 2016 series by Super Modified championship car owner/builder John Bodnar, will be driven this year by Tim Buckwalter. This time, Cicconi, has had Clyde Booth, another noted Supermodified builder, revamp the car. The team made its debut outdoors at Wall Stadium’s Turkey Derby at the end of November. It left the track with more design changes planned prior to the indoor opener.
Also in this category is Andrew Krause, the asphalt Modified standout from Holmdel, N.J. Krause originally purchased a Drinan car that has been rebuilt at least twice. He’s got more alterations planned for this year’s competition.
Another strong New Jersey entry will come from Anthony Sesely, a three time winner in Atlantic City. Sesely’s No. 16 will again be his race proven Hyper Micro Sprint entry powered by a 600cc engine, rather than a 750. Dirt Sprint car racer Brett Hichalski of Penndel, Pa. will again be following Sesely’s lead using a Hyper with a 600.
Indoor series regulars from New York state and New England are excited about the first ever series event to be held inside Albany, N.Y.’s Times Union Center. This event, set for Friday and Saturday, February 9th and 10th, will be the series finale.
Always exciting Andy Jankowiak of Buffalo, N.Y. will be returning to run the entire series with a car he built and debuted last year in the series finale. The car was blindingly fast in Atlantic City last year, but engine issues hampered his effort.
“I cut the car apart once after I built it new and cut it apart after last year’s races,” Jankowiak said. “It will be a faster race car this winter.”
Jankowiak’s former ride, the Trey Hoddick home-built No. 49, will be returning with Scott Kreutter as the lead driver. Kreutter was teamed last year with Ted Christopher, an eight time indoor series winner who died in a plane crash in September.
While the new cars and redesigned machines might seem to be favored, two top New Englanders will be driving tried and true machines.
Ryan Preece of Berlin, Conn. will be driving the same car that was designed and built by Donnie Preece and the late Ted Christopher. It will be repainted white and will carry the same No. 6 that Preece has run in the Ed Partridge NASCAR Whelen Modified Touring Series.
Keith Rocco of Wallingford, Conn. will be driving the car formerly driven by Ryan Preece. Rocco has never raced a TQ Midget indoors. The car was originally built by DART Engineering, but Preece made many changes to it in recent years.
Chad Jones of Quakertown, Pa. was so happy with the performance of his Shaw built TQ Midget for New Hampshire last year that’s he’s purchased a second one which will act as either a back-up ride, or one for another driver this season.
Other drivers are standing pat with existing cars.
Mike Maresca of Hannawra Falls, N.Y. will be driving his Lafler chassis No. 7. Maresca ran this car for the first time last year, at Atlantic City where he finished 13th. Maresca will have a teammate in Central New York car dealer and fellow DIRTcar series driver Billy Whittaker, who will drive a second Maresca owned Lafler.
Justin Bonsignore of New York’s Long Island, second in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour points this season, will be back with his tested Lafler chassis. Pa. drivers Earl Paules, ATQMRA 2017 champion Ryan Tidman, Matt Roselli and Micro Sprint expert Brandon Azzalina will also have Lafler chassis race cars. Asphalt Modified expert Zane Zeiner of Bath, Pa. will be returning in a Lafler chassis he’s been tweaking over the years.
A field of over 50 TQ Midgets will do battle at the Ironton Telephone sponsored Allentown events. The schedule calls for two complete shows of TQ racing starting at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 7 p.m. on Saturday. Champ Karts will be racing in a complete show on Friday night along with the TQs, with the Slingshots joining them on Saturday night’s card.
For choice tickets, contact the PPL Center Box Office by phone at 610-347-TIXX (8499), online at pplcenter.com. The 2016 event was a sell-out.
The series moves next to the NAPA Auto Parts Indoor Auto Racing Weekend in Atlantic City on January 26th and 27th. For tickets, contact Ticketmaster, the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, or the Area Auto Racing News office at 609-888-3618.
The finale will be a first annual event in New York State, on February 9-10, 2018 in the Times Union Center in downtown Albany, N.Y. For choice tickets, contact the Times Union Center Box Office, charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000, or visit online at ticketmaster.com.
WHITEY KIDD III MAKES HISTORY WITH WIN AT TRENTON’S CURE CENTER INDOOR DIRT RACING EVENT
Posted by: | CommentsNEWS RELEASE FROM LEN SAMMONS MOTORSPORTS PRODUCTIONS
INDOOR AUTO RACING SERIES
EAST COAST INDOOR DIRT NATIONALS
CURE INSURANCE ARENA, TRENTON, NEW JERSEY
Release created by Steve Barrick – Media Contact: Ernie Saxton @267.934.7286
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WHITEY KIDD III MAKES HISTORY AS FIRST TRENTON EAST COAST INDOOR NATIONALS VICTOR; LATE RACE PASS OF ALEX BRIGHT CLINCHES IT FOR 13TH PLACE STARTER; BRIAN CARBER TAKES THIRD FROM 22ND
INDOOR RACING ACTION CONTINUES IN ALLENTOWN, PA JANUARY 5-6
TRENTON, NJ December 3, 2017 . . . A restart with two laps left in the first annual East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals inside CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, N.J. enabled Whitey Kidd, III of Staten Island, N.Y., to shoot by Alex Bright of Collegeville, Pa., who had led from the halfway mark of the 40-lap contest, and score a dramatic, shocking, and well received Micro Sprint win.
“I can't believe he (Bright) gave me the outside lane for the restart,” Kidd said. “Once the green dropped, I shot by him. I couldn't possibly be any happier than I am right now.”
Bright said he was comfortable with his lap 38 restart lane choice. “I was able to restart from the bottom, what, may have been seven or eight times? I had no problems on any of those. Just the one that mattered the most,” Bright reasoned.
The runner-up immediately sought out Kidd on the homestretch after the race to congratulate him on his winning ride.
Bright had started sixth in the race, and Kidd 13th. The third place finisher, Brian Carber of Pipersville, Pa., marched from a 22nd place start to finish third.
“I set up my car to run the second half of the race,” Carber offered. “All I had to do was miss all of the wrecks in the first half, which I was able to do. Just a little ding in the rear bumper,” Carber said.
Tim Buckwalter of Pottstown, Pa., took fourth and Austin Quick of Etters, Pa., was fifth. Both Buckwalter and Quick started inside the top twelve but went to the rear of the field once each for being involved in accidents.
Ryan Smith, Kunkletown, Pa., Luke Thomas, Wyoming, Del., early leader Kyle Lick, Lehighton, Pa., Eddie Strada of Hamlin, Pa., and Kenny Miller of Morgantown, Pa., rounded out the top ten finishers. Thomas started 23rd in the 24-car field, Lick led from the pole position at the start for the first 17 laps before becoming involved in a crash from which he returned, and Strada and Miller each went to the rear of the pack for accident involvement at one point or another in the race.
The crash that took Lick out of the lead happened on a restart coming down for the green flag. Bright, who had taken the lead just one lap earlier, got off to a good start but Lick was clipped from behind by another competitor, sending him into Bright. Bright managed to retain control but Lick was clobbered by several other front runners, effectively ending his bid for the win.
“I felt somebody clip the right rear of my car but I was able to save it,” Bright said.
Fourth place starter Mike Iles of Medford, N.J., escaped injury after a spectacular series of flips that occurred on a lap 12 restart when the field bunched in front of him.
Eight ‘Alphabet Mains’ preceded the East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals. The pair of 10-lap E-Mains were won by Joey Jarowicz of Tewksbury, N.J. and Rich Mellor of Wrightstown, N.J. The two D-Mains were captured by Matt Janisch of Nazareth, Pa., and Travis Hill of Sewell, N.J. while the pair of C-Mains were snared by Tyler DeVault of Delanco, N.J. and Robbie Hocker of Warwick, N.Y.
A pair of B-Mains transferred the top six finishers into the A-Main. These were won by Kidd and by Ryan Smith of Kunkletown, Pa.
Excellent track conditions prevailed this night as was the case for the entire East Coast Micro Dirt Nationals with not a single hole nor rut in the surface nor a single molecule of dust.
A total of 84 drivers and teams attempted to qualify for the 24-car A-Main, meaning that sixty teams were sent home.
The race was the first of four Indoor Auto Racing Series events and the only one to be run on a dirt track.
The scene now shifts to the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa., on January 5-6, 2018 with the running of the Ironton Telephone TQ Midget event followed by the 15th annual running of the prestigious Gambler’s Classic January 26-27, 2018 in Atlantic City, N.J.'s historic Boardwalk Hall.
The finale for the 2018 Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels is set for February 9-19, 2018 at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. for the inaugural Indoor Auto Racing TQ Midget race, where the 2018 Indoor Auto Racing Series champion will be crowned.
East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals A-Main (40 Laps): 1. Whitey Kidd III, 2. Alex Bright, 3. Brian Carber, 4. Tim Buckwalter, 5. Austin Quick, 6. Ryan Smith, 7. Luke Thomas, 8. Kyle Lick, 9. Eddie Strada, 10. Kenny Miller, 11. Gary Bozowski, 12. Tyler Ulrich, 13. Jesse Maurer, 14. Geordan Marrero, 15. Brandon Azzalina, 16. Jimmy Glenn, 17. Bobby Butler, 18. Kyle Spence, 19. Billy Pauch, Jr., 20. Pat Bealer, 21. Mike Maresca, 22. Mick D'Agostino, 23. Mike Iles, 24. Brandon Pavel.
First B-Main (10 Laps): Kidd, Strada, Glenn, D'Agostino, Ulrich, Thomas, Tyler DeVault, Brett Altemose, Chris Locuson, Brian Montieth, Chris Fenimore, Nate Smith.
Second B-Main (10 Laps): Smith, Maresca, Azzalina, Miller, Carber, butler, Danny Buccafusca, Robbie Hocker, Nate Brinker, Mike Meyers, Josh Conover, PJ Wiliiams.
FRIDAY NIGHT DIRT INDOOR NATIONALS RESULTS; RACING CONTINUES TONIGHT AT TRENTON
Posted by: | CommentsNEWS RELEASE FROM LEN SAMMONS MOTORSPORTS PRODUCTIONS
INDOOR AUTO RACING SERIES
EAST COAST INDOOR DIRT NATIONALS
CURE INSURANCE ARENA, TRENTON, NEW JERSEY
Release created by Steve Barrick – Media Contact: Ernie Saxton, 267.934.7286
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ALEX BRIGHT, TIM BUCKWALTER, AUTIN QUICK AND JESSE MAURER RACE INTO EAST COAST INDOOR DIRT NATIONALS WITH A-QUALIFIER VICTORIES; TOTAL OF 12 STARTERS NOW LOCKED INTO SATURDAY NIGHT FINALE; REMAINING DOZEN STARTERS TO BE DETERMINED FROM ‘ALPHABET MAINS’ PRIOR TO 40-LAP FINALE IN TRENTON
TRENTON, NJ DECEMBER 2, 2017 . . . American Racing Drivers Club Midget past champion Alex Bright, reigning Action Track USA SpeedSTR and Micro Sprint champion Tim Buckwalter, nationally acclaimed Micro Sprint standout Austin Quick and regional Micro favorite Jesse Maurer each punched their tickets into tonight's $5,000-to-win East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals inside Trenton, NJ’s CURE Insurance Arena by winning 15-lap A-Qualifier races last night.
Billy Pauch, Jr., Geordan Marrero, Kyle Lick and Pat Bealer finished second to the four race winners while Gary Bozowski, Brandon Pavel, Kyle Spence, and Jimmy Glenn, third in the four races, also transferred into the Saturday 40-lap A-Main.
Among many laudable performances this night, the second place finish by Marrero in the second 15-lapper was the most noteworthy. After starting deep in the 15-lapper, Marrero, driving one of the oldest cars in the field, began a spellbinding charge to the front of the field, forcing his way by Pavel on the final lap of the thriller to place second.
At least half a dozen flips stopped the A-Qualifiers but no drivers were injured in any of the spills.
A dustless, table-top smooth speedway with a usable cushion greeted competitors throughout the afternoon and evening of action that featured 14 races and hours of practice.
Ten heat races were completed in advance of the four A-Qualifiers to set the starting orders for the events. The actual order was determined not solely by the raw results of the races but rather by ‘passing points’ – the number of positions gained by each entrant.
The ten heats were won by Pauch, Jr., Glenn, Buckwalter, Spence, Bobby Butler, Jesse James Bartleson, Bright, Wayne Scott, Mike Maresca, and Tyler DeVault.
Pauch and Buckwalter each came from ninth and last starting position to win. Bobby Butler came from fifth. Alex Bright officially advanced from fourth to win his heat. But Bright was sent to the rear of the field on the first lap for, in the judgment of track officials, spinning another driver. Unfazed, Bright picked off all competitors to win.
A particularly noteworthy effort was authored by Eddie Strada in heat four. He flipped wildly two laps into the race but was able to keep racing after his car was righted, and finished third in the race.
With qualifiers locked in from the 84-car entry field, the 72 non-qualifiers remain eligible for the remaining 12 feature starting spots which will be determined through a series of “Alphabet Mains”. Each of these ten lap races, ten in all, run Saturday.
The top two finishers in each race advance into the successive race at the back of the field. The ‘Alphabet Mains’ culminate in the running of two B-Mains, with the top six finishers in each joining the twelve Friday Night A-Qualifiers to form the 24-car starting field.
That sets the field for the first annual East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals.
The race is the first of four Indoor Auto Racing Series events and the only one to be run on a dirt track.
The scene shifts to the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa., on January 5-6, 2018 with the running of the Ironton Telephone TQ Midget event. The scene shifts to January 26-27, 2018 to Atlantic City, N.J., for the 15th annual running of the prestigious Gambler’s Classic. The finale is set for February 9-19, 2018 at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. for the inaugural Indoor Auto Racing TQ Midget race, where the 2018 Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Racing Fuels 2018 champion will be crowned.
First A-Qualifier (15 Laps): 1. Alex Bright, 2. Billy Pauch, Jr., 3. Gary Bozowski, 4. Whitey Kidd III, 5. Mike Maresca, 6. Brett Altemose, 7. Nate Smith, 8. Andrew Locuson, 9. Tyler Lindsay, 10. Chris Locuson, 11. Alex Swift, 12. Wayne Scott, 13. Johnny Smith, 14. Bob Maxwell, 15. Anthony Sesely.
Second A-Qualifier (15 Laps): 1. Tim Buckwalter, 2. Geordan Marrero, 3. Brandon Pavel, 4. Eddie Strada, 5. Nick D'Agostino, 6. Tyler Ulrich, 7. Mike Meyers, 8. Josh Conover, 9. Tyler DeVault, 10. PJ Williams, 11. DJ Shuman, 12. Matt Smith, 13. Tyler Brehm, 14. Steve Buckwalter, 15. Corey Anderson.
Third A-Qualifier (15 Laps): 1. Austin Quick, 2. Kyle Lick, 3. Kyle Spence, 4. Ryan Smith, 5. Brian Carber, 6. Danny Buccafusca, 7. Chris Fenimore, 8. Steve Hutchinson, 9. Joe Trenca, 10. Sam Locuson III, 11. James Morris, 12. Matt Janisch, 13. Luke Thomas, 14. Travis Hill.
Fourth A-Qualifier (15 Laps): 1. Jesse Maurer, 2. Pat Bealer, 3. Mike Iles, 4. Jimmy Glenn, 5. Brandon Azzalina, 6. Kenny Miller, 7. Robbie Hocker, 8. Jim Radney, 10. Brian Montieth, 11. Trevor Kobylarz, 12. Michael Carber, 13. Nate Brinker, 14. Eric Bodine, 15. Jesse James Bartleson.
Non-Qualifiers For Friday A-Qualifiers: Matt Jones, Joey Jarowicz, Matt Roselli, Joe Dopke, Eric Heydenreich, Bradley Brown, Jeff Weaver, Justin Moensch, Buddy Hines, Nick Groff, Michael Austin, Nick Walton, Jon Keller, Jordan Thomas, Doug Snyder, Andrew Layser, Kenny Harris, Damon Paul, Jason Rochelle, Zach Herbert, Scott Kreutter, Richard Mellor, Chris Hettinger, Brandon Nicholas.
NEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2018 INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
INDOOR AUTO RACING EVENTS AT TRENTON, ALLENTOWN, ATLANTIC CITY AND ALBANY
PROMOTER: Len Sammons (609)888-3618 - MEDIA CONTACT: Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc.
Esaxton144@aol.com – EMAIL ---- 267.934.7286 – Ernie’s CELL PHONE
Release created by Steve Barrick
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MICRO SPRINTS HIT THE CURE INSURANCE ARENA DIRT TRACK THURSDAY NIGHT; 70 TEAMS TEST DIRT TRACK; GEORDAN MARREO, DANNY BUCCAFUSCA, TRAVIS HILL ARE FASTEST IN TWO-AND-A-HALF HOUR SESSION
TRENTON, NJ NOVEMBER 30, 2017 . . . Some seventy of the Micro Sprint drivers and cars that will be competing in the first East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals this weekend inside CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, N.J., got in their first laps in on Thursday night, starting at 7:00 PM in a practice session.
In an amazing development, unheralded Geordan Marrero of Sergeantsville, N.J. set the fastest time of the night at 9.485 seconds trailed by Danny Buccafusca of Rockaway, N.J., (9.628) and Travis Hill of Sewell, N.J. (9.734). Doug Snyder, Hellertown, PA (9.738) and Tyler Ulrich of Denver, PA (9.751) completed the top five. Chris Fenimore of Wilmington, DE (9.896) and Mike Maresca of Potsdam, N.Y. (9.997) were the only other drivers to break the 10-second barrier.
Trevor Kobylarz of Birdsboro, PA, (10.007), Johnny Smith of Scranton, PA (10.015), and Mike Meyers of Zionsville, PA (10.082 completed the top ten fastest timers for the Thursday practice.
All of the drivers were among the first on the track in the first of two practices for the field.
Quick time in the second group was registered by Luke Thomas of Wyoming, DE (11.535) which would have been 39th fastest among the first group. Changing track conditions caused the dustless, smooth clay surface to slow down throughout the night. There were no major crashes or incidents in either session.
Indoor Auto Racing Series officials announced following the Thursday session that three practice periods for all entrants, rather than the previously scheduled two, will be conducted on Friday prior to qualifying.
East Coast Indoor Dirt Series racing gets underway in earnest on Friday, December 1, 2017. Beginning at 7:00 PM, nine heat races of ten laps each in length, will begin the selection of the top 24 cars for the Saturday night A-Main. Spectator arena gates swing open at 6:00 PM.
Following the heats, four A-Qualifiers, each of 15 laps, will transfer the top three finishers directly into Saturday night’s A-Main. The rest of the finishers remain eligible for the remaining 12 feature starting spots which will be determined through a series of “Alphabet Mains”. Each of these ten lap races, ten in all, run Saturday.
The top two finishers in each race advance into the successive race at the back of the field. The ‘Alphabet Mains’ culminate in the running of two B-Mains, with the top six finishers in each joining the twelve Friday Night A-Qualifiers to form the 24-car starting field.
That sets the field for the first annual East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals.
The race is the first of four Indoor Auto Racing Series events and the only one to be run on a dirt track.
The scene shifts to the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa., on January 5-6, 2018 with the running of the Ironton Telephone TQ Midget event. The scene shifts to January 26-27, 2018 to Atlantic City, N.J., for the 15th annual running of the prestigious Gambler’s Classic. The finale is set for February 9-19, 2018 at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. for the inaugural Indoor Auto Racing TQ Midget race, where the 2018 Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Racing Fuels 2018 champion will be crowned.
CLAY IS DOWN IN TRENTON’S CURE CENTER FOR INDOOR AUTO RACING FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
Posted by: | CommentsNEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2018 INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
INDOOR AUTO RACING EVENTS AT TRENTON, ALLENTOWN, ATLANTIC CITY AND ALBANY
PROMOTER: Len Sammons (609)888-3618 - MEDIA CONTACT: Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc.
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THE CLAY’S DOWN IN TRENTON’S CURE INSURANCE ARENA; DIRT MICROS TO HIT THE TRACK THURSDAY FOR PRACTICE; RACING GOES FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
TRENTON, NJ November 29, 2017 . . . The clay’s down, bring on the cars!
That’s the sentiment the track building team of Len Sammons Motorsports Productions and the Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled by VP Racing Fuels as the inaugural East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, NJ is one day away.
A dense layer of choice deep dark brown clay was delivered and unloaded on the concrete floor of the CURE Insurance Arena on Tuesday, November 28 and was carefully worked and shaped into banking contours in the pair of sweeping turns throughout the day on Wednesday, November 29 in preparation for the first East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, NJ.
The first test for the aesthetically pleasing, wide clay oval takes place Thursday, November 30 when a closed-to-the-public practice session takes the green flag.
Any of the over 90 Micro Sprint drivers and teams entered in the event are eligible to hit the track for the practice, which begins at 7:00 PM and runs until 10:00 PM Thursday night.
Racing for real will start on Friday at 7:00 PM with nine heat races. Unlike previous Indoor Auto Racing Series TQ Midget events, there will be no time trials.
Drivers will pick for qualifying positions. Those with a ‘bad draw’ will be rewarded with passing points. The top performers will then be divided into four A-qualifier feature races.
On Saturday, points from Friday’s events will line-up all drivers into “alphabet mains” which will begin at 5 p.m. While high point drivers will lock into Saturday’s A-Main, expected to start after 8 p.m., the other racers will have the opportunity to advance from twin F, E, D, C and B-mains to make the 40 lap “A” feature.
Drivers from eight different states and many racing divisions have entered the event including noted Pa. Sprint Car drivers Brian Montieth, Steve Buckwalter and Ryan Smith. Native Californian Danny Stratton, an expert in wingless competition, has entered along with New Egypt Speedway dirt Modified champion Billy Pauch, Jr.
Kutztown SpeedSTR reigning champion Tim Buckwalter and top ARDC Midget car drivers Alex Bright and Trevor Kobylarz will also be top contenders.
The field also includes the best drivers and teams from Micro Sprint racing.
In fact, one Micro Sprint car owner is so sure one of the division regulars will win the event, he’s willing to put his money on it. Should any non-regular of 600cc Micro Sprint racing win Saturday’s feature event the car owner will add a $500 bonus to the win total.
Tickets for both days of the event are available at the Box Office. Advance tickets are available by calling 800-298-4200 or indoorautoracing.com.
Though this is a new attraction, the CURE Insurance Arena (formerly Sun National Bank Center), has hosted TQ Midget racing for the past four years on the arena’s concrete floor.
Several drivers entered in the inaugural East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals at the CURE Insurance Arena have previous Indoor Auto Racing Series experience with TQ Midgets on the concrete floor.
Anthony Sesely, a four-time winner on the concrete floor inside Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, has a new Hyper built dirt car outfitted with a Dave Orange 600cc motor. The team recently tested outdoors for the event. After some new car bugs were worked out, Sesely impressively was putting down some fast laps at Delaware’s Airport Speedway.
Five other Indoor TQ Midget drivers are crossing over with the 34-year-old Sesely to run the Dirt Nationals. The list includes noted dirt Modified driver Mike Iles, outdoor TQ Midget champion Matt Janisch and 2016 Wall TQ Turkey Derby winner Matt Roselli.
These events will be held on the concrete floors of the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa., Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. and the Times Union Center in Albany, NY.
Further information is available at indoorautoracing.com, email to motorsports@aarn.com or by calling 609-888-3618.
