Archive for Midgets
JANKOWIAK HEADS UP LARGE FIELD OF ENTRIES FOR SYRACUSE INDOOR RACES MARCH 8-9
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2018-2019 INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
Event Promoter: Len Sammons @609.888.3618
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ATLANTIC CITY GAMBLER’S CLASSIC WINNER ANDY JANKOWIAK LOOKS FORWARD TO RACING IN FRONT OF HOME STATE, NEW YORK, CROWD THIS WEEKEND, MARCH 8-9, IN SYRACUSE EXPO CENTER INDOOR AUTO RACING SERIES TWO DAY FINALE; SERIES TITLE IS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY
SYRACUSE, NY March 6, 2019. . . Andy Jankowiak is among the contenders for the 2019 Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Racing Fuels championship. The Buffalo, N.Y. racer will have two shots at gaining in the standings this weekend when the series finale is held inside the New York State Fairgrounds Exposition Center in Syracuse, NY.
With feature events for the headline Three Quarter (TQ) Midgets being held on both Friday and Saturday night March 8-9 in events sponsored by RPM Raceway, Andy J. has a shot to move up to the top spot in the standings.
Though his focus is clear, to win both features and the championship, Jankowiak admits that he is still savoring the last Indoor Series race, on January 26, 2019.
That’s the night in Atlantic City, N.J. he won the Gambler’s Classic inside Boardwalk Hall for the first time.
“Nothing will ever take the place of winning the Gambler’s Classic in Atlantic City,” Jankowiak declared. “But a win in Syracuse would be almost as good. There are a lot of my friends who couldn’t make the other races because they couldn’t take a weekend off from their work.”
This weekend will be the fourth and final fifth round of the 2019 season. On the line will be time trials, qualifying events and a 40 lap feature event both nights with the overall season champion crowned following Saturday’s event.
Jankowiak, 30, admits the raw excitement he felt in the Atlantic City victory was all consuming. But the opportunity to race in front of many of his racing friends in a TQ indoors for the first time is something he savors in a different way.
One person who will be at Syracuse to see Jankowiak is Vinny Christiano who is a long time Buffalo, NY area driver and car owner who gave Jankowiak his first ride in a TQ Midget.
“He put me in his car at Holland one night and I fell in love with the cars,” Jankowiak, 30, said. “Vinnie and I were very successful. We won a lot of TQ races at Holland and at Lancaster. He gave me a shot and I’ve been racing these cars ever since.”
Jankowiak has also wheeled TQ Midgets for two other legendary northwestern New York drivers and car owners, Harry Macy and John Casey.
Casey put Jankowiak in one of his cars at Holland one night. At the checkered, Andy J beat Casey’s regular driver, Kyle Hutchinson. Hutchinson is a late entry in the Syracuse TQ field in Casey’s car this weekend.
“I hope to be able to do well in front of all of these guys, for myself and to showcase the Series. This is one of the best deals going,” the affable Jankowiak shared.
The biggest prize in Syracuse will be the crowning of the 2019 Indoor Auto Racing Series championship. North Carolina resident Ryan Flores leads the standings, with 290 after the first three races. But Flores, who works full time for Roger Penske’s Ryan Blaney NASCAR Monster Energy Cup team, will not be in the Syracuse field because of his work commitment.
Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, NY, 260, and Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, LI, NY, 239 lead Jankowiak who has 220. A maximum of 210 points are available, 100 for a feature win and five points for quick time each night, meaning that 210 markers can be picked up by any TQ competitor over the Syracuse race weekend. Non-qualifiers earn 10 points for each night, a minimum of 20 points for the weekend. Thus the most points any driver can gain is 190.
Andy J knows a lot will have to fall into place him to win the crown. “The Series title would be nice to win. I missed it by two points one year. We have been in contention but I always seem to have one bad race. The best way to win the championship is to run well both days. I have to finish better by a couple of spots in both race than (Erick Rudolph, Justin Bonsignore) do to win the Series.”
Syracuse is, of course, unknown territory for all of the nearly 60 TQ drivers and teams.
“It’s a new track and none of us will know how to set the car up until we practice,” Jankowiak. “That doesn’t bother me. The shape of the track will mean a lot. I set the car up the same way for Atlantic City this past year as I did last year for Albany and I won. Albany was a lot shorter but the turns were about the same.”
Round 3 and Round 4 for the companion Slingshots and Champ Karts is also on the Syracuse card. Each of the two nights of racing will consist of complete programs as well for these two divisions.
Dr. Williams Lowe, a long-time supporter of TQ Midget racing, has posted $200 to the fast qualifier both nights. N.Y.’s Oswego Speedway, the home of SuperModified racing, has signed on to sponsor the TQ Midget heat races. The winner of each of the six Oswego Speedway heat races on both Friday and Saturday night will receive not only a spot in the A-Main but a $50 bonus. Bob Hilbert Sportswear is offering a $150 bonus to the driver that leads lap 20 during both TQ Midget feature events.
Doors open at 6 PM on Friday night with racing beginning at 7:30. Doors open at 5:30 PM on Saturday with racing at 7 PM. Fans will be able to visit the pit area to see the cars and meet the drivers each night until 30 minutes before the racing begins.
A link to purchase tickets in advance is available at www.indoorautoracing.com or calling E-Tix directly at 1-800-514-3849.
Tickets will also be available each day of the event starting at 2 PM at the Expo Box Office, but prices increase by $5 each on the days of the event. Pit passes, which do not guarantee a seat, are on sale on the backside of the building on Friday from 9 am to 2 PM and Saturday 11:30 to 2 PM. After 2 PM, pit passes will be available at the box office at the front of the building. Parking on the fairgrounds is free.
Race fans can enjoy a double header weekend at the Fairgrounds with the 33rd annual Syracuse Motorsports Expo and Trade Show being held at the Center of Progress Building. This show opens on Saturday at 10 am giving everyone plenty of time to enjoy that show then walk over to the nearby Exposition Center for the races that night. The Trade show reopens on Sunday from 11 to 4 pm.
USAC CHAMPS SEAVEY, SUNSHINE, WINDOM ENTER SHAMROCK AS CAR COUNT NEARS 60
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The United States Auto Club.
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Contact: Richie Murray - USAC Media / richie@usacracing.com
Two-time USAC National champion Chris Windom has entered for Saturday's 'Shamrock Classic.' (Dave Olson Photo)
USAC CHAMPS SEAVEY, SUNSHINE, WINDOM ENTER SHAMROCK AS CAR COUNT NEARS 60
By: Richie Murray - USAC Media
Du Quoin, Illinois (March 4, 2019).........Three more USAC National champs - Logan Seavey, Tyler Courtney and Chris Windom, have entered the fray for this Saturday's Factory Canopies "Shamrock Classic" USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series race on March 9 at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin, where the car count has exploded to close to 60 entries for the fourth annual event.
Seavey, the defending USAC National Midget champ from Sutter, Calif., returns as the reigning "Shamrock Classic" winner, which served as the first USAC win of his career. He leads a group of five from the Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian stable, including Tucker Klaasmeyer, Holley Hollan, Jesse Colwell and Tanner Carrick.
Courtney, the reigning USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car champ, is also a USAC Midget victor on the indoor 1/6-mile dirt oval, winning the 2016 "Junior Knepper 55" special event. The Indianapolis, Ind. driver arrives as the point leader after capturing the first two races in February in Ocala, Fla.
Courtney's Clauson Marshall Racing counterpart, Windom, aims to make his first "Shamrock Classic" start this Saturday. The Canton, Ill. driver has won twice on the adjacent Du Quoin State Fairgrounds mile in a Silver Crown car in 2016 and 2018. Last year's third-place finisher Zeb Wise and series' Rookie of the Year contender Andrew Layser make up the rest of the stout CMR lineup.
Justin Grant won the "Shamrock" back in 2017 for his first career series win and hopes to become the first driver to enter victory lane twice in USAC competition at the Southern Illinois Center for RAMS Racing. Chad Boat could be a prime candidate to score his first after finishing seventh a year ago en route to a runner-up finish in the standings for Tucker/Boat Motorsports. C.J. Leary kicked off his FMR Racing debut with a pair of top-fives in Ocala to begin 2019.
Billy Wease was victorious in the 2006 "Turkey Night Grand Prix," while a little bit of international flavor arrives in Michael Pickens from New Zealand, who has raced to four career USAC National Midget wins. He'll pilot the RMS LLC #1NZ, the same team which won last December's Southern Illinois Center Midget race with driver Thomas Meseraull.
Also entered for the "Shamrock Classic" are one-third of the list of USAC Triple Crown title-holders who own championships in Silver Crown, AMSOIL National Sprint Car and National Midget competition have entered, including Dave Darland of Lincoln, Ind. in the RMS LLC No. 36 and Jerry Coons, Jr. of Tucson, Ariz. aboard the Petry Motorsports No. 25. Meanwhile, 2014 and 2016 USAC National Sprint Car titlist Brady Bacon will wheel the Kelly Hinck-owned No. 21H.
Among the other standouts and past USAC National feature winners entered for the "Shamrock" are 2014 USAC National Midget Rookie of the Year Kevin Thomas, Jr. of Cullman, Ala. in the Petry Motorsports No. 5. He finished in the runner-up spot in both his initial outings this season in Ocala, Fla. in February.
San Jose, California's Meseraull is the most recent winner of indoor USAC Midget racing in Du Quoin, capturing the victory in last December's "Junior Knepper 55," driving the RMS LLC No. 7R, with whom he returns to for this race.
Last fall, Tyler Thomas became the first driver to win his first career USAC National Sprint and Midget races in the same season since Kyle Larson in 2011. He won that first midget race in Wayne City, Ill. last October and returns to Du Quoin in his own No. 91T.
Fast Lane Racing Apparel is sponsoring FREE race entry for all USAC NOS Energy Midget National Championship teams competing in the March 9 "Shamrock Classic" at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin.
By using coupon code FASTLANE in the box at the link: www.usacracing.ticketspice.com/2019-shamrock-classic-car-entry?fbclid=IwAR1xBSM-QaldijxzhMhFBLZDBuAOMjxDF9gEGbxHkYk4EJzPu6yJUmuUhwo&utm_source=USAC%20CHAMPS%20SEAVEY,%20SUNSHINE,%20WINDOM%20ENTER%20SHAMROCK%20AS%20CAR%20COUNT%20NEARS%2060&utm_campaign=Analytics&utm_medium=email, teams will be able to enter their midget for FREE until Monday, March 4 at 11pm (Central Time) when the offer expires. Pre-entries will be published on Tuesday, March 5.
The fourth annual event presents a hefty payday of $50,000 up for grabs when the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midgets compete in the 1/6-mile indoor dirt oval located in southern Illinois.
The Factory Canopies "Pot of Gold" Challenge will provide the top-four drivers in passing points throughout the night an opportunity to pad their wallets with a $50,000 bonus. Following the heats and qualifying races, if the top driver in passing points turns down the chance to go to the tail and go for $50K, the option will go on to the next driver and so on, but only the first four in passing points have that option.
The "Shamrock Classic" will offer appearance points only to drivers and their teams, no feature points. That means there's really nothing to lose in the grand scheme in terms of a championship campaign. With a driver's finishing position not being a part of the series title race, that creates more enticement for a team and driver to take on the challenge.
With it being the fourth annual event, the base winner's share is $4000, meaning if a driver could complete the challenge and win from the tail, he or she would collect $54,000, which would be, by far, the richest take-home pay any driver has ever earned for a single race in the history of the USAC NOS Energy Midget National Championship.
Greg and Kim Stewart have been selling event merchandise for over 25 years at racing events across the country. They are proud to sponsor the entry fee portion of the 4th Annual "Shamrock Classic." As part of their sponsorship, every team who enters will receive a 25% off coupon valid at any 2019 event where Fast Lane Racing Apparel is set up and selling merchandise. Your discount can also be used online at FastLaneRacingApparel.com. Fast Lane Racing Apparel will have a booth in Du Quoin where you can purchase your racing merchandise needs.
In addition to USAC National Midget entry fees and the aforementioned discount, every fan in attendance at the "Shamrock Classic" will receive a Fast Lane Racing Apparel coupon valid at every major event at Eldora Speedway, Knoxville Nationals, and Knoxville Late Model Nationals. Fans will receive this coupon upon entry to event.
On raceday, the Southern Illinois Center opens for parking at 8am (Central). Front doors/ticket window opens at 10am. Clear the building/check pit passes & tickets at 11am. Micro Sprint drivers meeting at 11am. Micro Sprint hot laps with heats immediately following at 12:30pm. Public midget drivers meeting (front stretch grandstand) at 3pm. Midget hot laps at 4pm. (All Times Central)
General admission tickets are $20 for age 13 and up. Children's general admission tickets (Age 6-12) are $10. Kids 5 and under are free.
The race will be live-streamed on www.FloRacing.com/.
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USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK NATIONAL MIDGET ENTRY LIST:
08 Cannon McIntosh / Bixby, OK (Dave Mac Motorsports)
1 Karsyn Elledge / Mooresville, NC (Tucker/Boat Motorsports)
1NZ Michael Pickens / Auckland, NZ (RMS LLC)
1T Thomas Chandler / Festus, MO (Roney Racing)
2 Chris Baue / Indianapolis, IN (Chris Baue)
3N Jake Neuman / New Berlin, IL (Jim Neuman)
4A Justin Grant / Ione, CA (RAMS Racing)
4J Tim Crawley / Benton, AR (Tim Crawley)
5 Kevin Thomas, Jr. / Cullman, AL (Petry Motorsports)
5D Zach Daum / Pocahontas, IL (Daum Motorsports)
7 Cody Beard / Huntingburg, IN (Cody Beard)
7BC Tyler Courtney / Indianapolis, IN (Clauson Marshall Racing)
7R Thomas Meseraull / San Jose, CA (RMS LLC)
7T Adam Taylor / Dwight, IL (Taylor Motorsports)
8B Kimberly Bradach / Mooresville, NC (Bradach Racing)
8w Chad Wisnicky / Mooresville, NC (Bradach Racing)
9 Braydon Cromwell / Lone Jack, MO (Mounce Motorsports)
9JR Derek Hagar / Marion, AR (Hagar/Proctor Racing)
11 Daniel Robinson / Ewing, IL (Jack Harris)
11B Kaylee Bryson / Muskogee, OK (Dave Mac Motorsports)
11L Aaron Leffel / Springfield, OH (Team Taylor Racing)
11m Kendall Ruble / Vincennes, IN (Martin Racing)
12 Billy Wease / Noblesville, IN (Amanda Wease)
15 Cole Bodine / Rossville, IN (Petry Motorsports)
15m Shane Morgan / Morton, IL (Shane Morgan)
17 Justin Peck / Monrovia, IN (Bus Racing Team)
17BC Chris Windom / Canton, IL (Clauson Marshall Racing)
19 Garet Williamson / Columbia, MO (Mounce Motorsports)
19m Ethan Mitchell / Mooresville, NC (Bundy Built Motorsports)
21H Brady Bacon / Broken Arrow, OK (Kelly Hinck)
21KS Karter Sarff / Mason City, IL (Steve Reynolds Motorsports/Team Ripper Racing)
25 Jerry Coons, Jr. / Tucson, AZ (Petry Motorsports)
27 Tucker Klaasmeyer / Paola, KS (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
27z Zane Hendricks / Stillwater, OK (Zane Hendricks Racing)
35 Sterling Cling / Tempe, AZ (Petry Motorsports)
35T Tyler Robbins / Collinsville, IL (Tyler Robbins)
36 Dave Darland / Lincoln, IN (RMS LLC)
39BC Zeb Wise / Angola, IN (Clauson Marshall Racing)
41 Oliver Akard / Ft. Myers, FL (Dan & Shellie Akard)
41x Howard Moore / Memphis, TN (Chris Chappue)
47BC Andrew Layser / Collegeville, PA (Clauson Marshall Racing)
50 Tony DiMattia / Malvern, PA (Tony DiMattia Motorsports)
55 Nick Knepper / Belleville, IL (Nick Knepper)
55D Nick Drake / Mooresville, NC (Nick Drake)
56AP Colten Cottle / Kansas, IL (Travis Young)
67 Logan Seavey / Sutter, CA (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
67F Kyle O'Gara / Beech Grove, IN (SFH Racing Development)
67K Holley Hollan / Broken Arrow, OK (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
71 Jesse Colwell / Red Bluff, CA (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
71K Tanner Carrick / Lincoln, CA (Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian)
76m C.J. Leary / Greenfield, IN (FMR Racing)
77w Joe Wirth / Waterloo, IL (Wirth Racing)
84 Chad Boat / Phoenix, AZ (Tucker/Boat Motorsports)
88 Tyler Nelson / Olathe, KS (Tyler Nelson)
88x Terry Babb / Decatur, IL (Terry Babb)
91T Tyler Thomas / Collinsville, OK (Tyler Thomas Motorsports)
95 Chris Andrews / Tulsa, OK (Jim Miller)
127 James Picardi / Mapleton, IL (James Picardi)
MICRO SPRINT ENTRY LIST
1G Bryant Paver / Columbia, MO (Bryant Paver)
P1 Parker Leek / Warsaw, IN (Ryan Leek)
3m Tres Mehler / Oblong, IL (BlackSheep Speedlab)
5 Zach Boden / Cambridge, WI (Zach Boden)
5T Ryan Timms / Oklahoma City, OK (Ryan Timms)
9 Chase Randall / Waco, TX (Chase Randall)
11B Colton Booten / Marion, IL (Colton Booten)
11BX Kaylee Bryson / Muskogee, OK (Sawyer Chassis)
T11 Brad Thompson / Crawfordsville, IN (Brad Thompson)
12 Corbin Gurley / Hebron, IN (Team VW/Audi Racing)
12c Jacob Patton / Bethalto, IL (Jacob Patton)
12s Ayrton Gennetten / Gravois Mills, MO (Ayrton Gennetten)
14H Harley Hollan / Broken Arrow, OK (Driven Midwest)
16 Garrett Britton / Benton, IL (Garrett Britton)
18 Steve Finn / Collinsville, IL (Steve Finn)
21 Brenton Lamb / Warsaw, IN (Brandie Lamb)
21H Brady Bacon / Broken Arrow, OK (Kelly Hinck)
21x Eli Harris / Kokomo, IN (Eli Harris)
22E Chris Wilner / Carmel, IN (Chris Wilner)
22H Jessee Holt / Columbus, IN (Jessee Holt)
27H Zach Hubbard / Benton, IL (Zachery Hubbard)
27HX Jimmy Wells / Wayne City, IL (Jimmy Wells)
27J Randy Johns / Bunker Hill, IN (Randy Johns)
28 Gunner Ramey / Sedalia, MO (Driven Midwest)
29 Scott Sawyer / Jenks, OK (Sawyer Chassis)
35 Tyler Robbins / Collinsville, IL (Tyler Robbins)
38m Koert Mehler / Oblong, IL (BlackSheep Speedlab)
40 Devin Feger / East Peoria, IL (Devin Feger)
44 Trevin Littleton / Jacksonville, IL (Greg Littleton)
44p Paul Nienhiser / Chapin, IL (Paul Nienhiser)
51B Joe B. Miller / Millersville, MO (Joe B. Miller)
53 Sean Robbins / Collinsville, IL (Sean Robbins)
56 Joe Faloon / Rochester, IL (John Faloon)
56m Nate McMillin / Rosedale, IN (John Faloon)
57 Cole Bodine / Rossville, IN (Joe Mooney)
65E Chad Elliott / Cottage Hills, IL (Chad Elliott)
69 Blake Lamb / Warsaw, IN (Blake Lamb)
71 Jake Cheatham / Bethalto, IL (Jake Cheatham)
71m TBA / TBA (Paul May)
72 Michael Brummitt / Mt. Zion, IL (Michael Brummitt)
77JR Denver Larsen / Shiocton, WI (Denver Larsen)
88 B.J. Gatewood / Caruthersville, MO (B.J. Gatewood)
91A Tyler Fitzpatrick / Middleville, MI (Tyler Fitzpatrick)
93 Matt Carr / Fayetteville, NC (Matt Carr)
187 Jake Dohner / Janesville, WI (Jake Dohner)
187x Landon Crawley / Benton, AR (Landon Crawley)
711 TBA / TBA (Paul May)
777 Dylan Larsen / Shiocton, WI (Dylan Larsen)
SUNSHINE DOUBLE-DIPS IN OCALA WITH 2ND STRAIGHT USAC MIDGET VICTORY
Posted by: | Comments- The United States Auto Club.
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Contact: Richie Murray - USAC Media / richie@usacracing.com
Tyler Courtney celebrates his second-straight USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget victory Saturday night at Bubba Raceway Park. (Rich Forman Photo)
SUNSHINE DOUBLE-DIPS IN OCALA WITH 2ND STRAIGHT USAC MIDGET VICTORY
By: Richie Murray - USAC Media
Ocala, Florida (February 9, 2019).........If Friday's victory at Bubba Raceway Park was one small step toward a successful USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget season for Tyler Courtney, then Saturday night's win was a giant leap toward what could be a banner year in the series for the Indianapolis, Indiana driver.
Courtney slid by Tucker Klaasmeyer with nine laps remaining in Saturday's 30-lap "Winter Dirt Games X" feature, blasting to victory for the second time in as many nights on the 3/8-mile, D-shaped dirt track to become just the eighth driver to win the opening two USAC National Midget races of the season, joining Lee Kunzman (1972), Gary Bettenhausen (1975), Rich Vogler (1984-85), Dave Steele (2002), Brad Sweet (2010), Bryan Clauson (2011) and Rico Abreu (2014).
"It's definitely a weight lifted off my shoulders to get the season started off on the right foot," Courtney said. "We've got a great team here and the whole series is tough right now. It's a lot of fun and it's obviously the best way you can start. We've got awesome momentum going for our midget season right now as well as going into the start of the Sprint Car season next week."
Courtney was the Fatheadz Eyewear Fast Qualifier earlier in the evening, positioning him sixth for the start of the main event while Tucker Klaasmeyer started from the pole position for the second consecutive night. Just like he did a night earlier, Klaasmeyer scooted away with the lead on the opening lap that was short-lived the first time around as Vermonter Adam Pierson took a nasty tumble in turn three from which he would walk away.
Klaasmeyer was at the head of the pack on the ensuing complete restart as he tried to extend his early-race success from a night earlier when he led the opening four circuits. Klaasmeyer was class as he held control of the field, despite a couple of early yellows that forced him to regain his momentum.
The Paola, Kans. driver was up to the task each time, although Friday night winner Courtney was suddenly in the picture, sliding to second in turn two past teammate Zeb Wise momentarily. Wise countered to get back past Courtney off turn two, but Courtney answered the bell and slid back past Wise between turns three and four to retake the second spot for good on the ninth lap.
Courtney's sights were now set on Klaasmeyer for the race lead, the same as the night before. Crossing the halfway point, Courtney was searching to find a way around, high/low/middle, wherever he may roam, he was going to give it a whirl. Courtney left the bottom open on lap 18 and Chad Boat was there to capitalize to grab second off turn four. Courtney quickly whipped up a remedy to slide back past Boat heading into turn one to reclaim second.
"I was moving around a little bit to see if I could just get a run somewhere else," Courtney recalled. "Then, I moved around to the wrong spot and Chad (Boat) got a run on me on the bottom. I was able to get back by him in three and four. That showed me the bottom, so I knew if I could keep in it perfect, especially on those first couple of laps after a restart, when I ended up getting him, that would be crucial."
One lap later, fifth-running Wise lost a right rear tire, which sent him to the work area for new rubber. But it set up a lap 21 restart which Courtney utilized to make his charge to capture the lead from Klaasmeyer a lap later on the bottom of turn one.
"I got that run off four and I knew that was about the only time I was going to be able to stick it in there," Courtney continued. "I stuck it in there and it stuck. At that point, you can play your own race, run your own laps and try not to worry about anybody else. That makes it a little easier when there's only 10 laps to go instead of trying to run the whole race."
Courtney instantly stretched out his lead to 1.5 second, running the bottom of turns one and two and the middle of turns three and four with the laps dwindling, until Wise's turn two spin collected Holley Hollan to force one final restart with three laps remaining with Boat and K. Thomas just behind. K. Thomas was on the move on the final restart the previous night, racing from sixth to second in the final four laps. With K. Thomas getting around Boat a lap following the restart, Courtney inherently knew he had to be just about perfect.
"I saw him (K. Thomas) on the board, so obviously he's going to be trying something to come through there," Courtney remembered. "I was trying to be perfect those last couple laps, trying to hit my marks, because I didn't feel any pressure before the caution. I knew I was doing something right and, luckily, it worked out. (K. Thomas) got to second again. It's going to be a long season and I don't expect him to let up just as much as I won't let up. It's going to be fun."
Courtney successfully pulled off the double-dip with a half-second advantage over K. Thomas at the checkered with Boat, C.J. Leary and Klaasmeyer rounding out the top-five.
Contingency award winners Saturday night at Bubba Raceway Park were Tyler Courtney (Fatheadz Eyewear Fast Qualifier), Tucker Klaasmeyer (Simpson Race Products First Heat Winner), Tanner Carrick (Competition Suspension, Inc. Second Heat Winner), Zeb Wise (Auto Meter/Indy Race Parts Third Heat Winner), Zane Hendricks (Wilwood Brakes 13th Place Finisher) and Tanner Thorson (KSE Racing Products/ProSource Hard Charger).
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USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: February 9, 2019 - Bubba Raceway Park - Ocala, Florida - "Winter Dirt Games X"
FATHEADZ EYEWEAR QUALIFYING: 1. Tyler Courtney, 7BC, Clauson/Marshall-13.817; 2. Andrew Layser, 47BC, Clauson/Marshall-13.818; 3. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 5, Petry-13.819; 4. C.J. Leary, 76m, FMR-13.841; 5. Chad Boat, 84, Tucker/Boat-13.922; 6. Zeb Wise, 39BC, Clauson/Marshall-13.935; 7. Jerry Coons, Jr., 25, Petry-14.004; 8. Jesse Colwell, 71, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-14.010; 9. Cole Bodine, 15, Petry-14.019; 10. Tucker Klaasmeyer, 27, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-14.036; 11. Logan Seavey, 67, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-14.040; 12. Noah Gass, 20G, Gass-14.042; 13. Ethan Mitchell, 19m, Bundy Built-14.065; 14. Holley Hollan, 67K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-14.120; 15. Chris Windom, 17BC, Clauson/Marshall-14.144; 16. Tyler Thomas, 91T, Thomas-14.194; 17. Tanner Carrick, 71K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-14.221; 18. Zane Hendricks, 27z, Hendricks-14.253; 19. Karsyn Elledge, 1, Tucker/Boat-14.261; 20. Sam Johnson, 19J, Reynolds/Jetson-14.269; 21. Karter Sarff, 21KS, Reynolds-14.341; 22. Adam Pierson, 74m, Mancini/Manafort-14.514; 23. Chase Jones, 57B, Ecker-14.591; 24. Tanner Thorson, 3c, Tri-C-NT; 25. Oliver Akard, 41, Akard-NT.
SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS FIRST HEAT: (8 laps, all transfer) 1. Klaasmeyer, 2. Courtney, 3. Leary, 4. T. Thomas, 5. Elledge, 6. Coons, 7. Pierson, 8. Mitchell. 1:58.77
COMPETITION SUSPENSION (CSI) SECOND HEAT: (8 laps, all transfer) 1. Carrick, 2. Boat, 3. Seavey, 4. Hollan, 5. Johnson, 6. Layser, 7. Colwell, 8. Jones. 2:01.73
AUTO METER THIRD HEAT: (8 laps, all transfer) 1. Wise, 2. Windom, 3. Thorson, 4. K. Thomas, 5. Hendricks, 6. Sarff, 7. Bodine, 8. Gass. 2:01.60
FEATURE: (30 laps, starting position in parentheses) 1. Tyler Courtney (6), 2. Kevin Thomas, Jr. (5), 3. Chad Boat (3), 4. C.J. Leary (4), 5. Tucker Klaasmeyer (1), 6. Jesse Colwell (9), 7. Tanner Thorson (24), 8. Logan Seavey (11), 9. Chris Windom (15), 10. Andrew Layser (7), 11. Tanner Carrick (17), 12. Tyler Thomas (16), 13. Zane Hendricks (18), 14. Karter Sarff (21), 15. Karsyn Elledge (19), 16. Jerry Coons, Jr. (8), 17. Sam Johnson (20), 18. Holley Hollan (14), 19. Ethan Mitchell (13), 20. Zeb Wise (2), 21. Noah Gass (12), 22. Cole Bodine (10), 23. Chase Jones (23), 24. Adam Pierson (22). NT
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**Pierson flipped on the opening lap of the feature.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-21 Klaasmeyer, Laps 22-30 Courtney.
KSE RACING PRODUCTS/PROSOURCE HARD CHARGER: Tanner Thorson (24th to 7th)
WILWOOD BRAKES 13TH PLACE FINISHER: Zane Hendricks
NEW USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Courtney-166, 2-K. Thomas-157, 3-Leary-138, 4-Boat-134, 5-Klaasmeyer-125, 6-Windom-121, 7-Carrick-112, 8-Thorson-111, 9-Seavey-100, 10-Colwell-96.
NEXT USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: March 9, 2019 - Southern Illinois Center - Du Quoin, Illinois - Factory Canopies "Shamrock Classic"
COURTNEY CONTINUES WINTER DIRT GAMES SUCCESS IN USAC MIDGET OPENER
Posted by: | Comments- The United States Auto Club.
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Contact: Richie Murray - USAC Media / richie@usacracing.com
Tyler Courtney celebrates his victory in the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget opener Friday night at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Fla. (USAC Photo)
COURTNEY CONTINUES WINTER DIRT GAMES SUCCESS IN USAC MIDGET OPENER
By: Richie Murray - USAC Media
Ocala, Florida (February 8, 2019).........Tyler Courtney continued his winning ways in "Winter Dirt Games" at Bubba Raceway Park in Friday's USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship season opener.
The Indianapolis, Indiana driver was victorious in the final two races of last year's USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car portion of "Winter Dirt Games" en route to his first career USAC National driving title. Kicking off the year in grand fashion is the goal of anybody with championship ambitions, and Courtney believes this a solid first step in that direction on the midget side of things aboard his Clauson-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink/Spike/Stanton SR-11x.
"To win anytime is important," Courtney reiterated. "To get the ball rolling this early in the year, and obviously it's early, there's lots of stuff that could happen, but you've got to get yourself put in the right spot coming out of Florida. I think it shows on the sprint car side if you put yourself in the right position starting down here, it kind of makes things a little smoother throughout the year. I think KT and I are a testament that every point counts. You've got to be on top of your game every time you hit the racetrack. I think I only won one midget race last year, so to get one out of the way now, it gives me a better opportunity to win some more throughout the year."
If there's anyone who knows that every point counts in a season-long run, even in the month of February, it's Courtney, who tied with Kevin Thomas, Jr. on the final tally for the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car championship a year ago. And it was those two once again who were tied at the hip, side-by-side in row three for the start of the 30-lapper on the 3/8-mile, D-shaped dirt track.
It was Tucker Klaasmeyer, from the pole, who would lead the opening four circuits before Courtney (and C.J. Leary) put on the attack on the fifth lap. Leary worked a lane higher than Klaasmeyer, as Courtney worked underneath. In turn one, however, Courtney ripped the higher line away from Leary to get to second, then pivoted his charge toward Klaasmeyer and was able to rip around the Paola, Kansas driver for the race lead off turn four.
"C.J. got a run on me, not necessarily the high side of three and four, but I knew I needed to get up there sooner or later," Courtney recalled. "I got back around C.J. in one and two and was able to take his lane away out of three and four and was able to drive right around Tucker. This place is all about getting track position early, especially with the midgets and how close we are."
Courtney instantly stretched his lead as Leary got shuffled back to fourth, allowing Chad Boat to slide to third, then to second by Klaasmeyer on the seventh lap. As the frontrunners began to clamp down on the tail end of the field on lap 12, series Rookie of the Year contender and tenth-place-running Andrew Layser's night ended with a flat right rear tire in turn one.
'C.J. (Leary) got a run on me, not necessarily the high side of three and four, but I knew I needed to get up there sooner or later,' Courtney recalled. 'I got back around C.J. in one and two and was able to take his lane away out of three and four and was able to drive right around Tucker (Klaasmeyer). This place is all about getting track position early, especially with the midgets and how close we are.' (Al Steinberg Photo)
As Courtney would continuously showcase throughout the main event, every restart was on point, as he distanced himself from Boat time and time again, constructing a 1.5 second lead past the halfway mark. Courtney would continue to add to his lead incrementally until traffic was in near-sight, when Zane Hendricks' left rear tire went away, forcing him to a stop in turn one.
Not to be deterred, Courtney busted out on the lap 20 restart, ratcheting up the interval to one second initially and then to two seconds with five to go when Adam Pierson came to a rest in turn two, forcing one final restart for Courtney to conquer. Leary was able to work his way to second underneath Boat in turn two on the 27th lap, but Courtney was clear and gone once again.
Kevin Thomas, Jr. made a stirring charge from sixth to second in the final four laps to claim the runner-up spot behind Courtney, who captured his sixth career series win, putting him in a 12-way tie for 100th all-time. K. Thomas finished second ahead of Chris Windom, Leary and Zeb Wise.
It was Courtney's third consecutive win in his three most recent appearances at Bubba Raceway Park. It's a track that seems fitted not only to his liking, but also to the CMR crew, who certainly have proved they know how to prepare a car to run up front at this place with three of their four pilots finishing in the top-five Friday night, including Courtney at the top.
"I think it kind of fits my style," Courtney said. "Tim (Clauson) on the midget side has them going really good down here, and Rizzy (Tyler Ransbottom) on our sprint car stuff, they obviously work with each other, so we've got a really good feel for this place. I'm just fortunate to be driving them. It's a really good start to the year with our new NOS Energy Drink partnership. This is a fun racetrack and I've taken a liking to it. I won't complain about that."
Contingency award winners Friday night at Bubba Raceway Park were Kevin Thomas, Jr. (Fatheadz Eyewear Fast Qualifier & Simpson Race Products First Heat Winner), Tyler Courtney (Competition Suspension, Inc. Second Heat Winner), Chad Boat (Auto Meter Third Heat Winner), Sam Johnson (Indy Race Parts Semi Winner), Tyler Thomas (Wilwood Brakes 13th Place Finisher), Chris Windom (KSE Racing Products Hard Charger), Ethan Mitchell (Saldana Racing Products First Non-Transfer) and Karter Sarff (ProSource Hard Work Award).
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USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: February 8, 2019 - Bubba Raceway Park - Ocala, Florida - "Winter Dirt Games X"
FATHEADZ EYEWEAR QUALIFYING: 1. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 5, Petry-13.773; 2. Tyler Courtney, 7BC, Clauson/Marshall-13.801; 3. Chad Boat, 84, Tucker/Boat-13.860; 4. Tanner Carrick, 71K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-13.872; 5. Andrew Layser, 47BC, Clauson/Marshall-13.875; 6. C.J. Leary, 76m, FMR-13.898; 7. Tucker Klaasmeyer, 27, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-13.906; 8. Cole Bodine, 15, Petry-13.926; 9. Zeb Wise, 39BC, Clauson/Marshall-13.931; 10. Jerry Coons, Jr., 25, Petry-13.937; 11. Chris Windom, 17BC, Clauson/Marshall-13.950; 12. Zane Hendricks, 27z, Hendricks-13.960; 13. Sam Johnson, 19J, Reynolds/Jetson-13.961; 14. Logan Seavey, 67, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-13.971; 15. Chase Jones, 57B, Ecker-14.000; 16. Jesse Colwell, 71, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-14.002; 17. Tyler Thomas, 91T, Thomas-14.008; 18. Tanner Thorson, 3c, Tri-C-14.009; 19. Steve Buckwalter, 0, Buckwalter-14.047; 20. Holley Hollan, 67K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-14.078; 21. Ethan Mitchell, 19m, Bundy Built-14.085; 22. Adam Pierson, 74m, Mancini/Manafort-14.095; 23. Sterling Cling, 35, Petry-14.151; 24. Noah Gass, 20G, Gass-14.188; 25. Karsyn Elledge, 1, Tucker/Boat-14.512; 26. Oliver Akard, 41, Akard-15.714; 27. Karter Sarff, 21KS, Reynolds-(Time of 13.879 disallowed).
SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS FIRST HEAT: (8 laps, top-5 transfer) 1. K. Thomas, 2. Klaasmeyer, 3. Coons, 4. Carrick, 5. Colwell, 6. Buckwalter, 7. Johnson, 8. Elledge, 9. Pierson. 1:58.89
COMPETITION SUSPENSION (CSI) SECOND HEAT: (8 laps, top-5 transfer) 1. Courtney, 2. T. Thomas, 3. Seavey, 4. Bodine, 5. Windom, 6. Layser, 7. Hollan, 8. Cling, 9. Akard.
AUTO METER THIRD HEAT: (8 laps, top-5 transfer) 1. Boat, 2. Thorson, 3. Leary, 4. Wise, 5. Sarff, 6. Gass, 7. Hendricks, 8. Mitchell, 9. Jones. NT
INDY RACE PARTS SEMI: (12 laps, top-7 transfer) 1. Johnson, 2. Layser, 3. Hollan, 4. Elledge, 5. Hendricks, 6. Pierson, 7. Gass, 8. Mitchell, 9. Jones, 10. Buckwalter, 11. Cling, 12. Akard. NT
FEATURE: (30 laps, starting position in parentheses) 1. Tyler Courtney (5), 2. Kevin Thomas, Jr. (6), 3. Chris Windom (11), 4. C.J. Leary (2), 5. Zeb Wise (9), 6. Tanner Carrick (3), 7. Tucker Klaasmeyer (1), 8. Chad Boat (4), 9. Tanner Thorson (17), 10. Jerry Coons, Jr. (10), 11. Cole Bodine (8), 12. Logan Seavey (14), 13. Tyler Thomas (16), 14. Jesse Colwell (15), 15. Sam Johnson (13), 16. Karsyn Elledge (21), 17. Karter Sarff (22), 18. Holley Hollan (18), 19. Zane Hendricks (12), 20. Adam Pierson (19), 21. Andrew Layser (7), 22. Noah Gass (20).
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**Mitchell flipped during the third heat. Cling flipped during the semi.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-4 Klaasmeyer, Laps 5-30 Courtney.
KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER: Chris Windom (11th to 3rd)
WILWOOD BRAKES 13TH PLACE FINISHER: Tyler Thomas
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS FIRST NON-TRANSFER: Ethan Mitchell
PROSOURCE HARD WORK AWARD: Karter Sarff
NEW USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Courtney-83, 2-K. Thomas-81, 3-Windom-68, 4-Leary-68, 5-Wise-63, 6-Carrick-63, 7-Boat-61, 8-Klaasmeyer-59, 9-Thorson-53, 10-Coons-49.
NEXT USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: February 9, 2019 - Bubba Raceway Park - Ocala, Florida - "Winter Dirt Games X"
JOEY PAYNE, TYLER THOMPSON AND HOST OF OTHERS SET FOR SYRACUSE INDOOR RACES, MARCH 8-9
Posted by: | CommentsNEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2018-2019 INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
Event Promoter: Len Sammons @609.888.3618
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OSWEGO SUPERMODIFIED ONE LAP RECORD HOLDER JOEY PAYNE, 2018 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR TYLER THOMPSON, READY FOR FIRST SYRACUSE RACE WEEKEND MARCH 8-9
SYRACUSE NY February 7, 2019 . . .When the green flag drops on Friday and Saturday, March 8th and 9th at the New York State Fairgrounds Exposition Center in Syracuse, N.Y., two of Oswego Speedway’s most popular and accomplished Supermodified drivers, Joey Payne of Fairlawn, NJ and Tyler Thompson of Oswego, will be ready to hit their throttles full blast.
Nicknamed ‘The Jersey Jet”, Payne, has won four career Supermodified features at Oswego in his career, three non-wing events and one ISMA race. More importantly, Payne is the all-time one lap non wing track record holder, setting the standard at 15.802, in 2014.
At Syracuse, Payne will be driving a car that is a proven winner. His son Anthony drove the same No. 45 to a win the first ever Indoor Auto Racing Series event inside Albany, N.Y.’s Times Union Center last February.
Thompson, who just turned 17, is a throwback to the “race anything, anywhere” mentality that was the rule rather than the exception in racing years ago.
Thompson raced a DIRTcar Sportsman Modified, a wing and non-wing Supermodified, a go-kart and an ultra-quick TQ Midget in 2018. The past season was a breakout campaign for Thompson, who won the DIRTcar All-Star Invitational Sportsman Championship at the Dirt Track in Charlotte, N.C. He also claimed both the Oswego and ISMA Supermodified Series Rookie of the Year titles; the first driver since 1992 to accomplish that dual feat.
“Driving the TQ for the full Indoor Auto Racing Championship schedule last season was great experience,” said Thompson.
“The TQ is extremely quick and it is tight racing with some of the best drivers in the country.”
Thompson will be in the Simmons Racing No. 98T he has run throughout the 2019 Series at what will almost be a hometown event for him. He’ll also be coming off a trip to Florida where he made his DIRTcar big-block Modified debut at Volusia Speedway Park.
The two-day Syracuse event will include two complete programs with qualifying and feature races each night for the TQ Midgets, Slingshots and Champ Karts. Doors open at 6 PM on Friday night with racing beginning at 7:30. Doors open at 5:30 PM on Friday with racing at 7pm. Fans will be able to visit the pit area to see the cars and meet the drivers each night until 30 minutes before the racing begins.
The first Indoor Auto Racing Series event in Central New York will be the fourth and fifth legs of the series. Both races will offer equal points in helping decide a tight point race between former champions Erick Rudolph and Justin Bonsignore. Rudolph was the 2018 point champion at the nearby Land of Legends Raceway in Canandaigua, N.Y. and he finished second in the Super DIRTcar Big-Block Modified series. Bonsignore first won the Indoor TQ Midget title than the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship.
Three upstate New York powerhouses, recent Atlantic City Gambler’s Classic winner Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, 360 Sprint ace Scott Kreutter of Alde, and Modified dirt and paved track ace Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, are all contenders for a win.
Another all Empire State team drawing attention in the recent Atlantic City race was 2017 Albany-Saratoga Speedway dirt Modified champion Marc Johnson of Guilderland. Driving an all new car owned by Ken Sebring of Albany, and built by Kluth Motorsports of Holley, Johnson was extremely competitive.
Three other highly regarded TQ chauffeurs, Eddie Strada of Hamlin, PA, Matt Janisch of Nazareth, PA, and Tim Buckwalter of Royersford, PA are among the top ten in Series points.
Exposition Center opened during the recent Labor Day Fair. The huge, state of the art $33 million project was built without obstructing poles. Grandstand seating will be available on both the front and backstretch. From their seats, fans will able to be able to see the entire speedway plus the pit area which will be located on the far side of the building. The building has a different seating configuration than other venues the series stops at in that grandstand patrons enter at track level, then walk up to seating areas.
Information including a direct link to E-Tix for advance tickets is available at www.indoorautoracingseries.com. At this location you’ll be able to pick your choice seat from three sections located on both the front and the backstretch. Tickets can also be purchased by calling E-Tixs directly at 1-800-514-3849. Tickets will also be available each day of the event starting at 2 PM at the Expo Box Office, but prices increase by $5 each on the days of the event.
Event sponsorship packages to meet every budget are available by calling the series office at 609-888-3618 or by dropping Danny Sammons an email at danny@aarn.com.
ATLANTIC CITY INDOOR RACE WINNER’S TIRES CERTIFIED CLEAN BY INDEPENDENT TESTING LAP
Posted by: | CommentsNEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2018-2019 INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
Event Promoter: Len Sammons @609.888.3618
MEDIA INFORMATION: Ernie Saxton Communications – Esaxton144@aol.com -267.934.7286
Release created by Steve Barrick
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ANDY J’S GAMBLER’S CLASSIC ATLANTIC CITY INDOOR AUTO RACING SERIES WIN CERTIFIED AS OFFICIAL AFTER TIRE SAMPLES CERTIFIED AS ‘CLEAN’ BY INDEPENDENT TESTING LAB
TRENTON, NJ February 4, 2019 . . . Indoor Auto Racing Championship Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels officials announced late Friday afternoon that the results of the NAPA AUTO PARTS Atlantic City Gambler’s Classic race held inside Boardwalk Hall on Saturday, January 26th have been certified.
Hoosier Tires off several TQ Midgets were tested by Blue Ridge Laboratories in North Carolina, a firm that specializes in chemical analysis and the detection of chemical alternations and all were deemed legal. The results are now official with Andy Jankowiak of Buffalo, N.Y. the race winner. A check of $5,950, which includes bonus awards, was mailed to him on Friday.
Jankowiak’s right rear and right front tire was sampled after his Saturday night victory and after he set the third fastest time trial on Friday afternoon.
Samples were also taken from fast time trialer Erick Rudolph and second fast time trialer Anthony Sesely. Also sampled was the car of Friday night A-Qualifier winner Tommy Catalano who was randomly selected after setting the 28th fastest time.
Series officials tested tires for the first time this year after making chemical alterations in advance illegal. Tires tested from the series opener in Allentown, Pa. also passed. Results of the testing will be posted on indoorautoracing.com as per series rules. Along with samples being taken, a durometer test was made of tires on each car prior to time trials to check for irregularity.
The 2019 series wraps up in Syracuse, NY with the fourth and fifth round. The event will be held inside the recently opened New York State Fairgrounds Exposition Center with two complete shows on Friday and Saturday nights, March 8th and 9th. Tickets for this first time event are now on sale at www.indoorracetickets.com
TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR FIRST INDOOR SYRACUSE RACE WEEKEND MARCH 8-9
Posted by: | CommentsNEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2018-2019 INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
Event Promoter: Len Sammons @609.888.3618
MEDIA INFORMATION: Ernie Saxton Communications – Esaxton144@aol.com -267.934.7286
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TICKETS ON SALE FOR FIRST INDOOR SYRACUSE RACE WEEKEND MARCH 8-9; ERICK RUDOLPH, JUSTIN BONSIGNORE, ANDY JANKOWIAK PRE-RACE FAVORITES FOR SERIES TITLE; THREE QUARTER MIDGETS, CHAMP KARTS, SLINGSHOTS RACE COMPLETE SHOWS BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT
SYRACUSE, NY February 1, 2019 . . . Flush with the success in venues in Allentown, PA, and Atlantic City, NJ, the Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels wraps up the 2019 season in Syracuse, NY. The first time event will be held inside the recently opened New York State Fairgrounds Exposition Center on Friday and Saturday, March 8th and 9th.
The first Indoor Three Quarter (TQ) Midget car event in Central New York in 17 years will be the fourth and fifth legs of the series and help decide a tight point race between former champions Erick Rudolph and Justin Bonsignore.
The Syracuse program will include two complete programs with qualifying and feature events for the three division program which includes the TQ Midgets, Slingshots and Champ Karts each night. Doors open at 6 PM each night with racing beginning at 7:30 on Friday and 7pm on Saturday.
“The new building is perfect for our Indoor Racing Series and in just the right spot for many of our competitors,” said promoter Len Sammons. “Many of the teams that competed in Niagara Falls back in the day, now have an event closer to their home. Those events were also very popular with the fans so a big crowd is expected.” Ticket sales for the Syracuse event, which were available for the first time on January 29th, were considered brisk.
Rudolph, a three-time series champion from Ransomville, N.Y. enters the Syracuse event second in points. Current leader Ryan Flores of Troutman, N.C. however will be working his full-time job on the Syracuse race weekend. Flores will be in Phoenix, AZ, changing front tires on the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series No. 12 Penske Ford driven by Ryan Blaney.
That will put Rudolph, the 2018 dirt Modified track champion at Canandaigua, N.Y.’s Land of Legends Raceway, on top of the points before a lap is turned in Syracuse. The 2018 series champion, Justin Consignor will have two point shows in Syracuse to make up the current 21 point difference between them. Consignor, the 2018 NASCAR Whelan Modified Tour champion, sold his No. 51 TQ Midget after the most recent event in Atlantic City, but he’ll now drive the car for new owner Bob Webber Jr. who owns N.H.’s Star Speedway.
Recent Atlantic City Gambler’s Classic winner Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, N.Y. will enter the final two points races third in the standings just 40 points behind Rudolph.
Two drivers familiar to N.Y.’s Oswego Speedway Supermodified fans, Tyler Thompson, of Oswego, 2018 Supermod and ISMA Series Rookie of the Year, and Joey Payne, of Fairlawn, NJ. four time career Supermodified winner and the all-time Oswego non-wing Supermodified one lap track record holder are entered for the TQ Midget events.
Thompson will be in the Simmons Racing No. 98T he has run throughout the Series while Payne will suit up in his own No. 45 that his son Anthony drove to his first victory in last year’s weekend finale in Albany, N.Y.
Two well-known N.Y. state Modified talents will be seeking their first ever TQ Midget Indoor Series victory. Asphalt Modified ace Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park will be driving the Baker No. 31, a car he made his debut in during the Atlantic City race weekend. Marc Johnson of Guilderland, the 2017 Albany-Saratoga Speedway DIRTcar Modified champion, will be driving a new car owned by Ken Sebring and built by Kluth Motorsports. This car was very fast in its debut in Atlantic City.
Four other highly regarded TQ chauffeurs Eddie Strada of Hamlin, PA, Anthony Sesely of Matawan, N.J., Matt Janisch of Nazareth, PA, and Tim Buckwalter of Royersford, PA are among the many pre-race favorites to win the inaugural races.
The headline three-quarter midgets annually competed inside the Niagara Falls Convention Center from 1984 through 2002 when the building was made into a casino. The Indoor Auto Racing Series made its debut in New York last year with an event held inside Albany’s Times Union Center.
More than 30 of the Slingshot and Champ Karts are expected to compete for starting spots and feature wins both days.
The New York State Fairgrounds Expo Center opened during the recent 2018 Labor Day Fair. The huge state of the art $33 million project was built without obstructing poles and state-of-the-art LED lighting.
Grandstand seating will be available on both the front and backstretch. From their seats, fans will able to be able to see the entire speedway plus the pit area which will be located on the far side of the building.
The Exposition Center has a different seating configuration than the Allentown and Atlantic City venues in that grandstand patrons enter at track level, then walk up to seating areas as they do at most outdoor speedways.
“Because of the way the Expo Center is configured, the best seats would appear to be higher up in the arena rather than on the front-row which is usually our premium seats,” Sammons explained. “There isn’t a bad seat in the house, but if I was picking one I’d sit from the middle to the top if I had a choice.”
Entries for all three divisions are limited, but a few slots remain in all three divisions.
Information including a direct link to E-Tix for advance tickets is available at www.indoorautoracingseries.com. At this location you’ll be able to pick your choice seat from three sections located on both the front and the backstretch. Tickets can also be purchased by calling E-Tixs directly at 1-800-514-3849. Tickets will also be available each day of the event starting at 10 am at the Expo Box Office, but prices increase by $5 each on the days of the event.
Event sponsorship packages to meet every budget are available by calling the series office at 609-888-3618 or by dropping Danny Sammons an email at danny@aarn.com
