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Posted by: | CommentsDIRT TRACK HEROES CAR SHOW
Posted by: | CommentsJANUARY 27, 2019
CONTACT: BOB MILLER 443 513 4456
RELEASE PREPARED BY JUSTIN BELTRAME & STEVE PADOS
DIRT TRACK HEROES CAR SHOW
PREMIO SAUSAGES SIZZLE FOR THE 12TH ANNUAL QUAKER STEAK & LUBE DIRT TRACK HEROES SHOW, MARCH 3-9 AT PHILLIPSBURG MALL
The Twelfth Annual Quaker Steak & Lube Dirt Track Heroes Show is returning to the Phillipsburg Mall in March of 2019 and the management staff is hard at work to continuously reach out to the business community to promote and exercise another great event for the local area. The past, present and future of auto racing comes together under one roof in Phillipsburg, New Jersey and the adrenaline rush for the event is already beginning to build up to exciting dimensions with this event being the twelfth year of the popular show.
The opening day for the show will begin on March 3rd and run through March 9th with a full itinerary of interview and autograph sessions set to take place. The upcoming show is lining up sponsors to help showcase another great run at the Phillipsburg Mall. The Phillipsburg Mall, located on Route 22 East in Phillipsburg, NJ, has proven to be an ideal setting for this special annual event. The show will once again feature a multitude of many divisions of race cars, racing memorabilia, collectibles and photos on display throughout the course of the week-long event. The always FREE of charge to the public racing event has continued to be the trend setter of the many shows that are scheduled throughout the year and gives the loyal racing fans a chance to see and hear their favorite driving legends or one of the new upstart talents chat about their racing careers and sign autographs for them.
Quaker Steak & Lube, or The Lube(r) to loyalists, the award-winning casual dining concept known for its Best Wings USA and over 25 signature sauces, is fully prepped and geared as the lead sponsor for the 12th Annual Dirt Track Heroes Car Show. Quaker Steak & Lube, which opened in Phillipsburg, New Jersey in August of 2014, signed on with the successful show four years ago and have been extremely pleased with the excellent results and the great feedback they have received from their partnership with the popular annual racing oriented show. The Pohatcong Township (Phillipsburg, NJ) Quaker Steak & Lube is located at 1304 US Route 22, Phillipsburg, NJ, and welcomes all race fans and families to stop by their location when visiting the New Jersey area to be re-charged and re-fueled.
Joining the show for the fourth consecutive year will be the fine folks at Premio Foods. Premio Foods, a traditional and family run business, is one of the nation's largest sausage producers. For more than 40 years, Premio has provided quality sausages for all occasions. Premio's fine products are available at your local grocery store, supercenters and warehouse clubs.
Premio is not interested in the ordinary as they want their sausages to be the very best. Their blend of passion, skill, authenticity and commitment to quality creates recipes like no other. They find the perfect blend of meat, seasoning and spices. Crafted to perfection. Premio sausages make your family feel like the guests of honor. Whether grilling for the big game, gathered around the Sunday dinner table or heading out to tailgate at the weekend races, the perfectly blended flavors lift any occasion. Crafted from tradition, the taste is familiar, fresh and authentically Italian, "THE WAY SAUSAGE SHOULD BE." The Premio Foods website has countless recipes, money saving coupons and information about their full line of quality products, please visit www.premiofoods.com
Premio Foods has signed on to sponsor at the show and is proudly sponsoring drivers Willie Osmun, Sammy Martz and Steve Davis race cars in 2019 and information regarding Premio's extensive line of authentic Italian Sausage will be available at the Premio race car display throughout the course of the show.
Premio Sausages joins Quaker Steak, IRCO, Phillipsburg Easton Honda, Upstate Auto, Smith Fabrications and APS Powdercoating as sponsors for the twelfth edition of the show. Additional sponsors are being added on a daily basis.
All historical racing groups including Flemington, Tri State, Reading, Harmony and Nazareth will have their memorabilia on display and their many scrapbooks open for the fans to take another long look at the glory years of racing and possibly find a picture or two they want to purchase as a keepsake from past glory or racing exploits.
ENTRIES are being accepted to display at the Quaker Steak & Lube Dirt Track Heroes Show. More information is available by calling: 443-513-4456. The email address is: TOTHIILL98@aol.com
The show is open to all divisions of racing including drag racing as well as hot rods, street burners and trucks. All speedways in the local Tri State area have been invited to take part in the annual event. The week-long event will set aside one evening to salute the "Stars of Tomorrow" with a special night for the budding young racing talents competing with the many quarter midget clubs in the local area and this night has proven to be one of the highlights of the week as many will be giving their first ever interviews to a sizable crowd.
The Quaker Steak & Lube Twelfth Annual Dirt Track Heroes Car Show will again offer a great keepsake event souvenir program book and shirt. The Phillipsburg Mall is open Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM; Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 9 PM.
For Dirt Track Heroes information, contact show organizers Bob and Donna Miller by phone at: 443- 513-4456, via e-mail at:TOTHILL98@aol.com or at their website: www.thunderonthehillracingseries.com or contact Justin Beltrame at: 484-772-7184 or email at: justin.beltrame@gmail.com or Steve Pados at: 484-784-7756 or through email at:steveswp@ptd.net
NEWS 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
MEDIA NOTE: Our thanks for your support of the A.C. Indoor racing events. Much appreciated. Ernie Saxton
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ANDY JANKOWIAK WINS NAPA KNOW HOW WEEKEND GAMBLER’S CLASSIC AT A.C. BOARDWALK HALL; DOUG STEARLY TAKES CHAMP KART WIN AND DANNY BUCCAFUSCA IS TOPS IN SLINGSHOTS
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ January 26, 2019 . . . Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, NY took the lead from fellow front row starter Anthony Sesely on lap six of Saturday night’s Gambler’s Classic Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels 40-lap Three Quarter Midget feature and held off successive challenges from Ryan Flores and Tim Buckwalter to win.
Buckwalter and Flores swapped second with Flores taking the runner-up spot from Flores for keeps nine laps from the finish. Flores held for third with Justin Bonsignore fourth and Erick Rudolph fifth.
Eddie Strada, early leader Sesely, Matt Janisch, Briggs Danner and Midwesterner Billy Wease completed the top ten.
Jankowiak earned $5,000 for the victory, then promptly donated half his winnings to Mike Tidaback and family. Tidaback suffered serious injuries in this race one year ago and was present at the track.
Doug Stearly raced to the 20-lap win in the Champ Kart co-feature with Cole Neibert, Todd Crenshaw, Mike Perry and Ryan Kendall rounding out the top five.
Danny Buccafusca raced his way to the 20-lap Slingshot victory which represented the tenth Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels win for car owner Randy Smith. Craig Whitmoyer, who had won an Indoor Series so on dirt in December in Trenton, NJ, was second in this one with Tyler Truex, Danny Spellmon and Nick Shaw completing the top five.
Saturday night TQ heat winners were Eddie Strada, Anthony Payne, Ryan Tidman, Anthony Payne, Shawn Nye and John Ivy. B Main winners were Tim Nye, Briggs Danner and Billy Wease. Anthony Sesely won the Dash that set the running order for the top eight in the Classic.
Champ Kart Saturday qualifier winners were Gabbie Olender and Dominic Roselli. Scott Adams and Brett Bieber won Slingshot B Mains.
The Indoor Auto Racing Series concludes its 2018-2019 season in Syracuse, NY at the New York State Expo Center. The inaugural event takes place over the weekend of March 8-9, 2019. Series champions will be crowned at the end of the weekend for TQ Midgets, Champ Karts and Slingshots.
TQ Midget Gambler’s Classic (40 Laps): 1. Andy Jankowiak, 2. Tim Buckwalter, 3. Ryan Flores, 4. Justin Bonsignore, 5. Erick Rudolph, 6. Eddie Strada, 7. Anthony Sesely, 8. Matt Janisch, 9. Briggs Danner, 10. Billy Wease, 11. Anthony Payne, 12. Matthew Roselli, 13. Timmy Catalano, 14. Earl Paules, 15. Randy Cabral, 16. Shawn Nye, 17. Andrew Molleur, 18. Jonathan Reid, 19. Kyle Lick, 20. Tim Nye, 21. Ryan Tidman, 22. John Ivy, 23. Tommy Catalano, 24. Marc Johnson, 25. Lou Cicconi, 26. Tyler Thompson.
Champ Kart Feature (20 Laps): 1. Doug Stearly, 2. Cole Neibert, 3. Todd Crenshaw, 4. Mike Perry, 5. Ryan Kendall, 6. Brandon Rusczek, 7. Dominic Roselli, 8.JJ Pacovich, 9. Jonathan Keister, 10. Joey Bruning, 11. Tyler Brown, 12. Cody Crenshaw, 13. Zachary Asklar, 14. Jake Nelke, 15. Frank Hodge, 16. Ryan Woolsley, 17. John Berger, 18. TJ Reed, 19. Gabbie Olender, 20. Eric Zeh, 21. DJ Doyle, 22. Dalton Rovira, 23. James Shutts, 24. Tyler Catalano.
Slingshot Feature (20 Laps): 1. Danny Buccafusca, 2. Craig Whitmoyer, 3. Tyler Truex, 4. Danny Spellmon, 5. Nick Shaw, 6. Seth Spayd, 7. Kurt Bettler, 8. Daniel Morgiewicz, 9. Alex Lizotte, 10. Austin Silfee, 11. Damon Paul, 12. Damon Paul, 13. Dakota Kessler, 14. Jared Silfee, 15. Neil Rutt III, 16. Scott Adams, 17. Chris Grbac, 18. Dylan Hoch, 19. Cody Kline, 20. Brett Bieber, 21. Alex Tardiff, 22. Cody Kohler, 23. Austin Bellemare, 24. Al Gerhart.
Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series News
Posted by: | Comments
Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series
Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series
January 24 at 12:53 PM ·
MID-ATLANTIC SPRINT SERIES SET TO SHOWCASE SEVEN DIFFERENT SPEEDWAYS IN 2019 WITH DELAWARE AUTO EXCHANGE RETURNING AS HEADLINE SPONSOR
TRENTON, NJ
By ERIKA PALMAI WAGNER
With the 2019 schedule finally set and after a successful weekend at the 2019 Motorsports Racecar and Tradeshow in Oaks, PA, the Delaware Auto Exchange Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series is ready to kick off their 2019 season on April 13th at New Egypt Speedway.
"After a strong and prosperous first two seasons, we are excited and proud of the schedule we have put together for our teams for 2019," General Manager Jeff Geiges stated. "We feel that we have brightened and strengthened our relationships with all of our cooperating speedways, sponsors and drivers, and are anxious to see what's to come for the future".
The Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series has sixteen dates posted, with fifteen of those being slated as points races. The traveling RaceSaver Sprint Series sanctioned Sprint Car group will travel within the Tri-state area of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware to racetracks such as New Egypt Speedway, Bridgeport Speedway's 5/8 mile super speedway and their brand new 3/8 mile track, Delaware Racing International Speedway, Georgetown Speedway, Grandview Speedway Inc. which includes one Thunder On The Hill Racing Series event in October, two co-sanction events with the PA Sprint Series at BAPS Motor Speedway and the prestigious 'Blue Collar Classic' hosted by Port Royal Speedway at the end of the season.
Also returning for 2019 is the Delaware Auto Exchange as the headline series sponsor with additional sponsors including Professional Design Services, Bruce's Auto Body, ERK Steering, Kelly Racing Fuels, Snow Seal Coating, Bitner Automotive, Thayer Performance, Hoosier Tire, Diversified Machine, Inc. / DMI / BullDog Rears, Engler Machine and Tool, CRC Industries and new to the roster is VP Lubricants. Press releases on these marketing partners and others will be released in the days to come.
For more information on upcoming events, race day LIVE coverage, and exclusive interviews with drivers, visit our Facebook page - Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series, instagram and twitter cites @masprints305 and our website www.masprintseries.com.
Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series 2019 Schedule
NEWS 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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MATT JANISCH, RYAN FLORES, ANDY JANKOWIAK AND TOMMY CATALANO CLAIM THREE QUARTER MIDGET A-MAIN QUALIFIERS; FAST TIME RUDOLPH CRASHES; GAMBLER’S CLASSIC GOES SATURDAY NIGHT
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ January 25, 2019 . . . Four popular Three Quarter (TQ) Midget drivers, Matt Janisch, Nazareth, PA, Ryan Flores, Troutman, NC, Andy Jankowiak, Buffalo, NY and Tommy Catalano, Ontario, NY raced to victory Friday night in four 20-lap TQ qualifying races that helped determine the starting order for tonight’s Gamblers Classic, the headline race of NAPA KNOW HOW Weekend inside Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.
The four winners each had their challenges before winning the Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels Friday races.
Janisch’s win in the first race came after he survived a tangle with leader Kyle Reinhardt. Joey Bailey ended up second.
“We didn’t run that well and have some speed to find,” Janisch said. “Being locked in for tomorrow is a great advantage.”
Flores emerged from a mid-race half-spin on a track slickened by leakage from a rival’s car that took out contender Jeremy Haudricourt, who, unlike Flores couldn’t save his car. Earl Paules finished second.
Flores alluded to the spin and win. “I got kind of lucky there, we’ll take it,” Flores said. “The track has been challenging, different. But it’s the same for everybody else.”
Jankowiak’s unusually conservative driving in the third heat resulted in victory when he flew by Kyle Lick and John Ivy for the win with Ivy holding for second.
“This is my first press conference, and it’s pretty cool,” Jankowiak said. “I kept changing setups in practice, and they were all good. I’m in a good place right now.”
Catalano and Briggs Danner ran bumper to bumper for half the race before getting together. Catalano half spun and kept going, Danner spun and brought out the yellow flag. Justin Bonsignore was the opportunist, finishing second.
“By not time trialing well we started up front in the heat and that proved to be a break for us,” Catalano said. “We were fighting the track and shot from the hip and it worked.”
A popular win kicked off the Friday night TQ Midget qualifying when Randy Cabral, driving the car formerly driven by victory in Boardwalk Hall by the late Ted Christopher, won the 15-lap Dr. Lowe Non-Qualifiers race.
The race, conceived by Dr. Lowe to reward drivers who had not qualified for either of the two Allentown Indoor races earlier this month, conveyed to Cabral a starting spot in the Gambler’s Classic Saturday.
In Slingshot heat race action, Dan Morgiewicz, Jr., Al Gerhart and Alex Tardiff won the three events. Tom Hennessey and Chris Predmore climbed out of their wrecked Slingshots, with assistance, after slamming into the fence.
Zachary Asklar, DJ Doyle and Tyler Brown won the three Champ Kart heat races.
In Friday afternoon qualifying, 61 TQ Midgets took time with Erick Rudolph setting quickest over Anthony Sesely. Rudolph was 52nd to take time, Sesely tenth to post, a testament to the well prepared and consistent racing surface. Andy Jankowiak, third fastest, was 34th in the time trial order while Justin Bonsignore, fourth on the clock, took to the track 13th in the running order.
Three TQ drivers spun during their laps on the clock, Brian Montieth, Chad Jones and Joey Jarowicz.
Forty-four Slingshot drivers took their shots at the clock and forty-two Champ Kart racers did the same.
Saturday, spectator gates to Boardwalk Hall open at 5:00 PM with Fanfest, a meet-and-greet session for premium ticket holders, on the track preceding the races.
Saturday racing begins at 7:00 PM with TQ Midget Champ Kart and Slingshot qualifying races leading up to a 20-lap Champ Kart main event and a Slingshot feature of the same distance.
The climactic race of the Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels NAPA KNOW HOW Weekend is the 17th running of the Gambler’s Classic over a 40-lap distance. Ryan Flores is the defending champion of the race.
Once the checkered flag falls to end the Gambler’s Classic, the Indoor Auto Racing Series moves to upstate New York over the weekend of March 8-9, 2019 for the first running of indoor racing inside the New York State Exposition Center in Syracuse, NY. TQ Midgets, Champ Karts and Slingshots will be featured and Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels champions will be crowned in all three classes.
First TQ Qualifier (20 Laps): 1. Matt Janisch, 2. Joey Bailey, 3. Tim Buckwalter 4. Jonathan Reid, 5. Patrick Emerling, 6. Andrew Molleur, 7. Bryan Narducci, 8. Brandon Zavarella, 9. Brian Montieth, 10. Kyle Reinhardt, 11. Dakota Kessler. 12. Matt Smith, 13. Brett Conkling, 14. Derek Robbie, 15. Justin Moensch, 16. Erick Rudolph.
Second TQ Qualifier (20 Laps): 1. Ryan Flores, 2. Earl Paules, 3. Timmy Catalano, 4. Louie Horvath, 5. Matthew Roselli, 6. Shawn Nye, 7. Jeremy Haudricourt, 8. Anthony Sesely, 9. Chris deRitis, 10. Jeff Kot 11. Lou Cicconi, 12. Bruce Leote, 13. Andrew Nye, 14. Randy Cabral, 15. Ryan Bartlett.
Third TQ Qualifier (20 Laps): 1. Andy Jankowiak, 2. John Ivy, 3. Anthony Payne, 4. Kyle Lick 5. Ryan Tidman, 6. Eddie Strada, 7. Steve Kemery, 8. Billy Wease, 9. Joey Payne, 10. Chad Jones, 11. Jack Conover, 12. Bobby Butler, 13. Matt Farnham, 14. Tim Solomito, 15. Marc Rogers.
Fourth TQ Qualifier (20 Laps): 1. Tommy Catalano, 2. Justin Bonsignore, 3. Tim Nye, 4. Marc Johnson, 5. Jesse Maurer, 6. Pat Bealer, 7. Joey Jarowicz, 8. Keith Rocco, 9. Joe Toth, 10. Ronnie Mullen, 11. Briggs Danner, 12. Kevin VanValkenburg, 13. Rob Schultz, 14. Tyler Thompson, 15. Cole Mullen.
NEWS 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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ANDY JANKOWIAK TOPS THREE QUARTER (TQ) MIDGET TIME TRIAL CHARTS IN THREE THURSDAY PRACTICES, LOU CICCONI AND RYAN FLORES ALSO QUICK; JARED SILFEE OUTRUNS SLINGSHOTS, MIKE PERRY BEST IN CHAMP KART PRACTICE THURSDAY NIGHT IN AC BROADWALK HALL ACTION
RACING ACTION INDOORS BOARDWALK HALL FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ January 24, 2019 . . . Andy Jankowiak of North Tonawanda, NY showed himself as the man to beat this weekend in Boardwalk Hall as the upstate New Yorker drove a homebuilt Three Quarter (TQ) Midget to quickest time Thursday night in three of the five timed practice sessions. Jankowiak’s first session time of 7.964 was quickest overall among the 52 drivers who practiced. Lou Cicconi, Aston, PA and Ryan Flores, Troutman, NC were quickest in one session each.
Cicconi is a two time past winner of the Gambler’s Classic, and Flores is defending champion of the prestigious race that will be run Saturday night as the climactic event of NAPA KNOW HOW Weekend in Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. Jankowiak is an Atlantic City TQ feature winner, in 2015, but that win was in a Friday preliminary night event.
Jared Silfee of Saylorsburg, PA ran a 10.149 lap to set the standard over the five Slingshot practices while Mike Perry of Dighton, MA’s 9.617 lap was quickest in the five Champ Kart practices.
One TQ driver who did not run any laps Thursday night was Scott Kreutter of Buffalo, NY, a perennial Gambler’s Classic contender and 2018 Indoor Auto Racing Series race winner in Allentown, PA. Kreutter’s wife gave birth to the couple’s first child, a boy, Wednesday. Kreutter will make the decision to race or not race Friday morning. If he stays home, the ride in the Trey Hoddick-owned TQ Midget will be taken by Matt Farnham, who practiced the car Thursday and was among the top ten fastest TQ drivers.
Tonight, Friday, the three classes after running time trials will compete in a series of heat races that will help determine the eligible drivers for Saturday night’s feature races. The TQs will first to go to post in a Non-Qualifiers race, followed by Slingshot and Champ Kart Qualifying heats.
The biggest races on Friday are the four 20-lap TQ Midget heat races, traditionally action-packed affairs. Often these races are predictors of the Saturday night main event, the TQ Midget Gambler’s Classic.
Doors open at 6:30 PM for Friday night’s racing.
On Saturday, following Slingshot and Champ Kart B Mains in the afternoon, doors open at 5:00 PM for the final qualifying races that will set the starting lineups for the three features. Champ Karts and Slingshots each run 20-lap features before the headline 17th running of the TQ Midget Gambler’s Classic. Cale Ross and Brett Bieber are defending Kart and Slingshot Boardwalk Hall race winners.
The Classic, run over 40 laps, was won last year by Ryan Flores. In the six runnings before Flores won last year, Erick Rudolph and Anthony Sesely each won the Big One three times.
Tickets for both Friday and Saturday night’s Indoor Auto Racing Series NAPA KNOW HOW Weekend are available from the Boardwalk Hall box office in Atlantic City.
NEWS 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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NAPA KNOW HOW ATLANTIC CITY INDOOR RACING IS THIS WEEKEND! ENTRIES CONTINUE TO COME IN. WHO IS THE FAVORITE TO WIN??
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ January 22, 2019 . . . TQ (Three Quarter) Midget drivers and teams are continuing to file entries for the 17th Annual NAPA KNOW HOW Atlantic City Indoor Race, set for this Friday and Saturday January 25 and 26 inside the famed Boardwalk Hall.
At stake is the biggest prize the Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels has to offer a victory in the prestigious Gambler’s Classic Saturday night.
Entries received just prior to deadline include those of Rob Schultz of Wayside, NJ, Bryan Narducci of Colchester, CT and Brian Montieth of Phoenixville, PA. With these late entries, the number has swelled to 60 drivers ready to compete for the Gambler’s Classic trophy.
Schultz races sparingly. He founded the company that makes the fueling systems NASCAR requires in each of its three national series. Formerly, he raced Modifieds at Wall Stadium. Narducci, a rising talent, finished a close second at Stafford Motor Speedway in the SK Lights championship and was impressive in his first Modified start. In the recent Daytona ARCA two day test, Narducci, who had never driven on a track larger than a 5/8ths mile speedway finished up 20th (of 43) on the speed charts. Montieth, a seven time and defending Lincoln Speedway 410 Sprint champion, is highly regarded as the hardest of hard chargers wherever and in whatever he races.
But who is the betting favorite to win the event?
In the 16 past runnings of the Gambler’s Classic, just nine drivers have stood tall in the winners’ circle. Ransomville, N.Y.’s Erick Rudolph (2017, 2015, 2012), and Matawan, N.J.’s Anthony Sesely (2016, 2014, 2013) each won the Classic three times. Joey Payne (2007, 2004) of Fairlawn, NJ, Lou Cicconi, Jr., (2010, 2006) of Aston, PA, and the late Ted Christopher (2011, 2009) of Planville, Conn. are two time Gambler’s Classic winners. Andy Mackereth, (2003) of Mississauga, ON, Jeff Heotzler (2005) of Wallkill, NY, Mike Tidaback (2008) of Brick, NJ, and defending winner Flores (2018) of Troutman, NC are one time victors.
Ryan Flores is the defending race winner, current series point’s leader and the most recent winner on the series after picking up the Saturday, January 5 victory at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA. All of those stats would make him a likely favorite to win, however winning back to back in Atlantic City, has only ever been done once by Anthony Sesely in 2013 and 2014. Making a repeat victory possible, but based on past results, not likely.
If recent history holds true, three time winner Erick Rudolph may be the one to prevent Flores from repeating. Rudolph will look to continue his trend of visiting victory lane every other year, winning the event most recently in 2015 and 2017. Will 2019 mark the third straight odd year for a Rudolph victory?
Sesely, who has returned to the seat of his Hyper 600 Micro Sprint, will look to win an unmatched fourth Gambler’s Classic. Other past winners, Lou Cicconi and Joey Payne, are entered in the event as teammates in identically prepared bright yellow and orange No. 75s owned by Cicconi. Both drivers will be looking to match Sesely and Rudolph with three victories.
How about a first time winner? 2018 Indoor Auto Racing Series Champion, Justin Bonsignore, Scott Kreutter and Matt Janisch would lead the list of contenders looking to break through and win their first Gambler’s Classic.
Bonsignore of Holtsville, NY, won the Indoor series opener in 2018 at the PPL Center in Allentown to kick off a remarkable season which ended with him being crowned the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion. Bonsignore has come close and is always a contender when the checkered flag falls in Atlantic City, will this year be the year his name is written on the big check?
Kreutter of Buffalo, N.Y., as of Monday evening, was planning on attending the race. Kreutter, an expectant father, has been encouraged by his wife to race after her most recent visit to her obstetrician. Kreutter, a past Indoor Auto Racing Series feature winner inside PPL Center in Allentown, PA, finished second to Flores in the most recent series event at that same location in early January.
Janisch, fresh off his first series victory on Friday night in Allentown, after many runner-up and podium finishes will be a contender to score his first Gambler’s Classic victory.
Other contenders would include Albany Indoor Race winners Andy Jankowiak and Anthony Payne. A Gambler’s Classic victory would be a dream come true for Jankowiak, who has won a Friday night preliminary event. Payne, who shocked the field with a last to first drive in Albany, would join his father Joey as an event winner.
One confirmed driver change has Midwesterner Billy Wease taking over the seat of the No. 711 TQ owned by Mike Iles.
Champ Karts and Slingshots will serve as the two support classes.
The Friday, Jan. 25 schedule calls for TQ Midgets to run in four 20-lap A-Main Qualifiers, with the winner of each event securing a spot in Saturday’s A-Main. Champ Kart and Slingshot qualifying is also on the Friday agenda. A special TQ Midget Non-Qualifiers race has been added to the Friday night schedule, open to 18 drivers who competed in and failed to qualify for both night’s features at the Allentown event held January 4 and 5. The winner of this event will guarantee themselves a spot in the Gambler’s classic.
The 40 lap Gambler’s Classic feature is the weekend highlight on Saturday and will conclude the NAPA Know How racing weekend. Preceding the event on Saturday will be a round of heat races, B-Mains and a dash for the TQ Midgets. Champ Karts and Slingshots return to run their feature races Saturday night as well.
Race fans who have purchased lower level reserved tickets in Boardwalk Hall will have the opportunity to visit the drivers and cars up close during in Saturday’s Fan Fest, which takes place immediately before the start of the night of competition with doors opening at 5pm.
Information, including ticket and hotel links, is available at indoorautoracing.com. Tickets are also available daily and the day of the events at the Boardwalk Hall box office. Other information is available by calling the series office during regular working hours at 609-888-3618.
Following Atlantic City, the series will conclude inside the all-new New York State Fairgrounds Exposition Center in Syracuse, NY on March 8-9. Those tickets will go on sale at 10 AM on Tuesday, January 29th.
