Archive for Short Track
OSWEGO SUPERMODIFIED STARS CHASE INDOOR SERIES GLORY AT SYRACUSE MARCH 13-14
Posted by: | CommentsNEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2020 BELFOR INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
ALLENTOWN, ATLANTIC CITY, TRENTON, NJ AND SYRACUSE
Event Promoter: Len Sammons @609.888.3618
MEDIA INFORMATION: Ernie Saxton Communications – Esaxton144@aol.com -267.934.7286
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OSWEGO SUPERMODIFIED STARS TO CHASE INDOOR SERIES GLORY AT NEW YORK STATE FAIRGROUNDS EXPOSITION CENTER MARCH 13-14
SYRACUSE, NY March 8, 2020 . . . Michael Barnes and Tyler Thompson, two highly regarded Supermodified drivers from Oswego Speedway, have entered the 2020 Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels events being held inside the New York State Fairgrounds Exposition Center on Friday and Saturday nights March 13-14.
Two days of action will feature complete programs for TQ Midgets, Slingshots and Champ Karts with overall BELFOR “Concrete Series” champions to be crowned on Saturday evening.
Barnes, Oswego’s Supermodified 2016 track champion, and Thompson, the 2019 Oswego Speedway Classic winner, are Jason Simmons Racing (JSR) teammates on the Indoor Series this season. After three events, JSR’s TQ team of Barnes and Thompson rank 11th and 12th respectively in points, after each qualified for the prestigious Gambler’s Classic inside Atlantic City, NJ’s Boardwalk Hall back on February 1st as well as the two early January races inside Allentown, PA’s PPL Center.
Barnes, who was the first driver in Oswego Speedway history to run a sub-17 second lap around the venerable oval in a non-winged car, was immediately impressed with the TQ Indoor discipline his first time out in Allentown. “It’s quick around here,” Barnes deadpanned. “Things happen fast in these cars, just like the Supers at Oswego.”
Barnes, 36, of Mexico, NY, finished tenth and ninth in Allentown and eleventh in Atlantic City. He was a bit more reflective after the Atlantic City race. “I never figured this place out at all,” Barnes remarked. “I was confident coming in but am leaving scratching my head. We could never get the car hooked up.”
Thompson, 17, of Fulton, NY became the youngest driver in Oswego Speedway history to win a Supermodified feature this past summer then, in one of the greatest upsets in racing history won the 63rd Budweiser International Classic 200. “When I won for the first time this summer, to be honest, I realized that winning the Oswego Classic wasn’t a dream, it was a possibility. That win was a huge boost of confidence,” Thompson shared.
Thompson, a rookie on the 2019 Indoor Series, finished a disappointed 20th in both of the Allentown races after early race problems. In Atlantic City, Thompson led the field to the green flag from the pole position and managed an eighth place finish, a total change from his teammate’s result. “Just tried to stay out of trouble in Atlantic City,” Thompson said. “Survive and finish.”
Oswego Speedway has stepped up as a sponsor of the event. The winner of each of the four TQ Midget Car heat races on both Friday and Saturday night will receive not only a spot in the A-Main but a $50 bonus thanks to Oswego, the home of SuperModified racing. Dr. Williams Lowe, a long-time supporter of TQ Midget racing, has also posted $200 to the fast qualifier both nights.
N.Y.’s JSR also has fielded a two car Champ Kart team for the 2020 Indoor Series. Allentown, PA winner, Tyler Brown, is in command of the Champ Kart standings following a third place finish in Atlantic City. After finishing 12th in both Allentown and Atlantic City, Dan Kapuscinski is tied for 11th in the Champ Kart order with two events remaining in Syracuse.
The race for the Indoor BELFOR Concrete Series championship will be decided between point leader Andy Jankowiak, Matt Janisch, defending champion Erick Rudolph and Tim Buckwalter after qualifying and feature events are held both nights in Syracuse.
Doors open on Friday at 5:30 and Saturday at 5 pm. Fans are allowed pre-race access to the pit each night for one hour after the doors have opened. Racing will begin nightly with heat races for all divisions with the first green flag on Friday at 7:30. On Saturday, action begins a half-hour earlier at 7 pm.
Tickets are available in a range of different prices through links on www.indoorautoracing.com and the venue box office. Tickets will be available each race night starting at 2pm at the Exposition Center Box office.
Race fans can enjoy a double header weekend at the Fairgrounds with the 34th annual Syracuse Motorsports Expo and Trade Show being held at the Center Of Progress Building on the Fairgrounds. 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.
Sponsorship at a variety of levels to meet every budget is available for the Syracuse event. Interested parties should contact Danny Sammons at 609-888-3618 or e-mail danny@aarn.com.
Northeast Season Opener At Georgetown
Posted by: | CommentsThorson Thrills with 15th to 1st Charge at Shamrock Classic
Posted by: | Comments
The United States Auto Club.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Contact: Richie Murray - USAC Media / richie@usacracing.com
Tanner Thorson's drive from 15th to 1st Saturday at the Shamrock Classic was the furthest back in the field a winning driver has started with the series since himself, also from 15th, at Indiana's Lincoln Park Speedway in June of 2019. (Rich Forman Photo)
THORSON THRILLS WITH 15TH TO 1ST CHARGE AT SHAMROCK CLASSIC
By: Richie Murray - USAC Media
Du Quoin, Ill. (March 7, 2020).........As Tanner Thorson recollected over his first three starts of the 2020 USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget season, one of his first thoughts was, "we should be three for three."
Instead, the 2016 series champ has had to settle for winning two out of three on the year thus far following Saturday night's Shamrock Classic victory at the Southern Illinois Center. And like a common refrain from a song you might've heard in the past, 'two out of three ain't bad.'
After capturing a season opening victory in Ocala during February, then dominating the second night at Ocala until an engine issue stifled a surefire victory, Thorson entered the Shamrock Classic with a plan to return to his winning ways, but that plan and the confidence went slightly askew early in the evening.
"After the qualifier, I thought I was about to load this thing up and get out of here," Thorson admitted. "This place has never been really too good to me."
Yet, Thorson and team remained tactful and honed in on the details that allowed him to drive from his 15th starting spot to victory lane, the furthest back in the field a winning driver has started with the series since himself, also from 15th at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, Ind. in June of 2019.
"We just kept at it all night," Thorson said. "I was really fast the last time I was here and we kind of brought the same set up here, but it didn't work. We just had to change some things and go through some stuff and it paid off."
In doing so, Thorson kept the streak intact of consecutive different USAC Midget winners to emerge at the Southern Illinois Center to nine and the run of different Shamrock Classic victors to five years running.
Furthermore, Thorson's 15th career series win elevated the Minden, Nev. driver to 46th all-time on the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget feature win list, equaling him with Don Branson and Larry Rice.
The resilient Thorson had unfinished business to attend to after missing last year's Shamrock Classic due to the serious injuries he suffered in a California highway crash. His two most recent visits to the 1/6-mile dirt oval netted him a 7th place finish in 2016 and a 21st place result in 2017.
On Saturday, Thorson began his quest from the last quarter of the field while defending race winner Cannon McIntosh controlled the race from the front with series Rookie Buddy Kofoid in close quarters just behind in second.
On the 12th lap, leader McIntosh clipped the turn three infield berm, forcing him to check up and leave teammate Kofoid no room to maneuver and no time to react. Kofoid tapped McIntosh's rear bumper as a result, sending himself into a spin toward the turn three outside wall and out of contention for the win.
The ensuing restart saw the infield berm rear its ugly head at the opposite end of the track for McIntosh on the lap 13 restart. McIntosh clipped it with his left front, sliding him to a stop and collecting second running Courtney in the fracas, ending both racers their bid for a win on this night.
Nearing the midway point, 2018 Jason Leffler Memorial winner Tyler Thomas was the man on the move, sending it to third by Cole Bodine on the inside of turn three on lap 21 and to second underneath Jake Neuman on the 26th circuit.
With less than 20 to go, it was Thorson's turn to rise to the occasion as he tussled within the top-five and was battling for the third position with Jake Neuman on lap 32 when the two made contact. Neuman received the smaller piece of the wishbone on the deal, spinning to a stop in turn one, while Thorson continued on.
"It's just short track racing," Thorson chalked it up to. "I had a bunch of speed going in there. He got up on the berm and I just got into his back bumper a little bit."
On the ensuing restart, Thorson immediately went to work on Thomas for the runner-up position, ultimately snagging the spot on the 33rd lap. Thorson instantly slashed into Windom's advantage, and two laps later, slid underneath Windom off the fourth corner to secure the lead, finally sticking the right rear tire to the surface, something that he admitted to struggling with all night.
From there onward, Thorson went virtually unchallenged. He clipped the turn one berm with his left front wheel on the lap 40 restart, but it was no harm, no foul as he carried on to a 0.837 second victory aboard his Hayward Motorsports/Oilfire - Factory Kahne - Walker Filtration - Smith Titanium/Spike/Stanton SR-11x.
"This race team is just a big group that works really hard and it helps," Thorson said. "The overall package we have from our shocks to motors to cars, just everything. It's cool to watch the things we do work. Sometimes they don't, obviously, but we're doing a lot of little things that no one probably even thinks about that all add up. We've got a really good team and I'm looking forward to the next one."
Thomas took second over series point leader Windom while career best series performances were turned in by Robert Dalby, who finished fourth, and Kyle Simon who collected a fifth in his first career USAC National Midget feature start.
CONTINGENCY AWARD WINNERS:
Simpson Race Products First Qualifier Winner: Cannon McIntosh
Competition Suspension, Inc. Second Qualifier Winner: Buddy Kofoid
AutoMeter Third Qualifier Winner: Brady Bacon
Indy Race Parts Fourth Qualifier Winner: Jake Neuman
Indy Metal Finishing Semi Winners: Kyle Simon & Trey Gropp
KSE Racing Products / ProSource Hard Charger: Tanner Thorson
Wilwood Brakes 13th Place Finisher: Ace McCarthy
Saldana Racing Products First Non-Transfers: Aiden Purdue & Anthony Nicholson
---------------------------------------
USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: March 7, 2020 - Southern Illinois Center - Du Quoin, Illinois - Shamrock Classic presented by Dooling Machine
FIRST HEAT: (10 laps, passing points) 1. Tanner Carrick (#35 Petry), 2. Andy Bishop (#91 Harris), 3. Trey Robb (#08 Dave Mac), 4. Sam Johnson (#72 Johnson), 5. Kyle Simon (#23s Simon), 6. Gage Rucker (#19G Hayward). NT
SECOND HEAT: (10 laps, passing points) 1. Tyler Courtney (#7BC Clauson/Marshall), 2. Brady Bacon (#21H Hinck), 3. Ronnie Gardner (#7m Moonshine), 4. Logan Faucon (#52F Casson), 5. Kyle May (#39 May), 6. Tyler Robbins (#35T Robbins), 7. Michael Klein (#10A MWR). NT
THIRD HEAT: (10 laps, passing points) 1. Cannon McIntosh (#71K Kunz/Curb-Agajanian), 2. Chris Windom (#89 Tucker/Boat), 3. Kevin Thomas Jr. (#5 Petry), 4. David Budres (#31 Manic), 5. Anthony Nicholson (#5o Hagar/Proctor), 6. Robert Bell (#71B Bell), 7. Thomas Chandler (#1T Chandler), 8. Tyler Nelson (#88 Nelson). NT
FOURTH HEAT: (10 laps, passing points) 1. Buddy Kofoid (#67 Kunz/Curb-Agajanian), 2. Trey Gropp (#54G Mounce), 3. Robert Dalby (#4 Dalby), 4. Andrew Layser (#82 Tucker/Boat), 5. Aiden Purdue (#57D McCreery), 6. Austin Yarbrough (#13A McGee), 7. Matt Durbin (#12D Durbin), 8. Mark Chisholm (#3 Neuman). 1:50.410
FIFTH HEAT: (10 laps, passing points) 1. Ace McCarthy (#28 Dave Mac), 2. Cole Bodine (#39BC Clauson/Marshall), 3. Tanner Thorson (#19 Hayward), 4. Riley Kreisel (#56AP Young), 5. Chris Urish (#77u Casson), 6. Kendall Ruble (#11m Martin). 1:49.218 (New Track Record)
SIXTH HEAT: (10 laps, passing points) 1. Daison Pursley (#9 Kunz/Curb-Agajanian), 2. Tyler Thomas (#91T Thomas), 3. Jake Neuman (#3N Neuman), 4. Justin Grant (#4A RAMS), 5. Kyle Jones (#7R Moonshine), 6. Craig Oakes (#91x Oakes), 7. Sean Robbins (#53 Robbins). 1:50.231
ALSO AT THE TRACK: Derek Hagar (#9JR Hagar/Proctor) & Chris Andrews (#95 Miller)
SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS FIRST QUALIFIER: (12 laps, top-40 overall in passing points transfer to the feature) 1. Cannon McIntosh, 2. Sam Johnson, 3. Justin Grant, 4. Cole Bodine, 5. Austin Yarbrough, 6. Thomas Chandler, 7. Trey Robb, 8. Kyle Jones, 9. David Budres, 10. Daison Pursley. NT
COMPETITION SUSPENSION (CSI) SECOND QUALIFIER: (12 laps, top-40 overall in passing points transfer to the feature) 1. Buddy Kofoid, 2. Chris Windom, 3. Ace McCarthy, 4. Andy Bishop, 5. Aiden Purdue, 6. Riley Kreisel, 7. Mark Chisholm, 8. Ronnie Gardner, 9. Gage Rucker, 10. Matt Durbin, 11. Kyle May. NT
AUTOMETER THIRD QUALIFIER: (12 laps, top-40 overall in passing points transfer to the feature) 1. Brady Bacon, 2. Anthony Nicholson, 3. Kyle Simon, 4. Robert Bell, 5. Trey Gropp, 6. Tanner Thorson, 7. Tanner Carrick, 8. Kevin Thomas Jr., 9. Tyler Robbins, 10. Michael Klein. NT
INDY RACE PARTS FOURTH QUALIFIER: (12 laps, top-40 overall in passing points transfer to the feature) 1. Jake Neuman, 2. Tyler Courtney, 3. Robert Dalby, 4. Tyler Thomas, 5. Kendall Ruble, 6. Logan Faucon, 7. Andrew Layser, 8. Sean Robbins, 9. Craig Oakes, 10. Chris Urish. NT
INDY METAL FINISHING FIRST SEMI: (15 laps, top-4 transfer to the feature) 1. Kyle Simon, 2. Tanner Thorson, 3. Daison Pursley, 4. Kevin Thomas Jr., 5. Aiden Purdue, 6. Austin Yarbrough, 7. Kyle Jones, 8. Thomas Chandler, 9. Tyler Robbins, 10. David Budres, 11. Gage Rucker, 12. Michael Klein, 13. Tanner Carrick. NT
INDY METAL FINISHING SECOND SEMI: (15 laps, top-4 transfer to the feature) 1. Trey Gropp, 2. Trey Robb, 3. Robert Bell, 4. Kendall Ruble, 5. Anthony Nicholson, 6. Ronnie Gardner, 7. Riley Kreisel, 8. Andrew Layser, 9. Chris Urish, 10. Logan Faucon, 11. Matt Durbin, 12. Mark Chisholm. NT
FEATURE: (50 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Tanner Thorson (15), 2. Tyler Thomas (10), 3. Chris Windom (5), 4. Robert Dalby (7), 5. Kyle Simon (13), 6. Cole Bodine (8), 7. Buddy Kofoid (2), 8. Tanner Carrick (21), 9. Daison Pursley (17), 10. Trey Robb (16), 11. Kevin Thomas Jr. (19), 12. Kendall Ruble (20), 13. Ace McCarthy (9), 14. Justin Grant (11), 15. Cannon McIntosh (1), 16. Jake Neuman (6), 17. Brady Bacon (4), 18. Sam Johnson (12), 19. Robert Bell (18), 20. Tyler Courtney (3), 21. Trey Gropp (14). NT
**Tyler Nelson flipped during the third heat. Thomas Chandler flipped during the third heat. Daison Pursley flipped during the first qualifier. Kyle May flipped during the first qualifier. Craig Oakes flipped during the third qualifier.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-12 Cannon McIntosh, Laps 13-34 Chris Windom, Laps 35-50 Tanner Thorson.
KSE RACING PRODUCTS/PROSOURCE HARD CHARGER: Tanner Thorson
WILWOOD BRAKES 13TH PLACE FINISHER: Ace McCarthy
SALDANA RACING PRODUCTS FIRST NON-TRANSFER: Aiden Purdue & Anthony Nicholson
NEW USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Chris Windom-202, 2-Tyler Courtney-196, 3-Kevin Thomas, Jr.-188, 4-Buddy Kofoid-187, 5-Tanner Thorson-182, 6-Cannon McIntosh-178, 7-Andrew Layser-167, 8-Daison Pursley-158, 9-Tanner Carrick-149, 10-Cole Bodine-130.
NEW OVERALL PROSOURCE PASSING MASTER POINTS: 1-Tanner Thorson-18, 2-Chris Windom-18, 3-Daison Pursley-18, 4-Brady Bacon-16, 5-Kevin Thomas Jr.-11, 6-Andrew Layser-9, 7-Tyler Thomas-8, 8-Mario Clouser-8, 9-Anton Hernandez-7, 10-Dave Darland-7.
NEXT USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACES: April 10-11, 2020 - Riverside International Speedway - West Memphis, Arkansas
Sad News From Bridgeport Speedway
Posted by: | Comments
Bridgeport Motorsports Park
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
It is with a heavy and saddened heart that we at Bridgeport Speedway pass on the news that our family member and General Manager Danny Serrano passed away yesterday. Ourselves here at Bridgeport would like to send our condolences to his family and friends and we have a few words to say about Danny.
Danny started his love for racing at a young age with his gram and man oh man did it start a crazy adventure for Danny. Throughout his time at Bridgeport, New Egypt and wherever else you may have found Danny, you knew you were in for a treat with tons of laughs and discussions about racing to the highest degree.
Danny had a love for racing that cannot be matched. He had smile on his face and an understanding personality that put him at the highest level when dealing with fans, drivers, officials, or whoever he was talking to. It was the simple things in life that made him happy...his girlfriend Karen, his racing family, and his work as a general manager. Danny's love and dedication for Bridgeport was so immense, that he would never back down from a challenge at the track. We'd have to tell him often to take a break and relax because he was always on the go handling business, venturing to other tracks for promotions, cutting the grass, you name it and he would be there doing it without any hesitations.
He was married to the sport that we all love so much. He went everywhere to experience racing at all different levels! Whether that be the big cars or the micro guys, Danny would always travel for a good race and would take anyone along with him if they asked. Danny was an essential part in growing Spirit's 1/4 mile Friday night show and would be seen riding his golf cart all around taking care of every task possible. On Saturdays, he was doing the same thing and making jokes with all the drivers, especially when his friend Jeff Strunk or “Steeerunk” as he would call him. He was the guy that everyone would come to when they had questions or even when they just needed a good laugh or story time. We can hear him saying on the pit shack radio to get ready for hot laps or even to come up for the pill draw.
We will miss him walking around with that infectious smile making a joke about something that happened that night. We will all miss the late-night meetings, phone calls, emails, or even just messages from him talking about the sport he loved the most. And let’s not even forget to mention his personality. Anyone that knows Danny knew how funny, caring, and determined he was. When Danny would set his mind to it, he would set out to accomplish it. And for everyone who has gotten to know him, sit in on stories, listen to his jokes, receive that Facebook messages of jokes and content that he found funny; Then you meant more to him then you would ever know. The racing world was Danny’s life and we couldn’t have asked for a better brother, friend, manager, and official.
Bridgeport suffered a great loss today as did the entire racing community. We love you and will miss you Danny - Rest easy my friend.
Grandview Speedway
.
.
.
.
.
NEWS FROM ROGERS FAMILY GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY, Bechtelsville, PA
Presenting Saturday night NASCAR stock car racing plus a variety of special events. Our 58th consecutive season.
Track office: General Manager: Tina Rogers @ 610.754.7688 - Public relations: Ernie Saxton Email: Esaxton144@aol.com – Cell phone: 267.934.7286
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOBBY GUNTHER WALSH SEEKS THAT ELUSIVE FIRST FEATURE WIN; WILL KICK OFF HIS 26TH SEASON IN THE VP RACING FUELS BRUCE ROGERS MONEY MAKER MEMORIAL AT GRANDVIEW APRIL 4
BECHTELSVILLE, PA March 6, 2020 . . . Close but no cigar just may describe Bobby Gunther Walsh’s stock car racing career. Though he has won a number of qualifying events he has not grabbed a win in a main event.
The popular, very popular, racer will be giving it another try in 2020 when he goes racing with the NASCAR T.P.Trailers Modifieds at Grandview Speedway. This will be his 26th year of racing and he is looking forward to it.
The WAEB-790 AM radio personality continues to be the number one on air personality at the Allentown in the Lehigh Valley area. He has been behind the microphone for close to 40 years and his show can also be seen on Service Electric Cable TV and Blue Ridge Cable.
And he continues to be one of the most popular racing talents seen in action on the one-third-mile, banked clay track each Saturday night throughout the season. When the events are over it is not difficult to find Walsh in the pit area as there is always a long line of fans visiting with him and collecting some of the free stuff provided by his many sponsors that he gives away.
The veteran racer would love to earn that first feature win this season at the NASCAR sanctioned racing facility. “I get a great deal of personal satisfaction out of racing, driving the race car, the challenges there are and just being out there racing against so many great talents, “said the Allentown resident.
When asked his age, Gunther responded with, “I graduated with Fred Flintstone so that should give you an idea of how old I am.” In other words he did not want to share that secret information with us.
His charity work continues to be very important to Bobby. He is actively involved with Allentown Rescue Mission (Helping homeless Men and their families) $155,000 raised in 2019 serving Gunther’s homemade meatballs. I have known Bobby for years and I am still waiting for him to ship me a few meatballs.
Animals In Distress (No Kill Shelter) $160,000 raised in 2019 with the Radiothon
Children’s Home of Easton (Helping abused/abandoned children) $170,000 raised plus Christmas presents with the WAEB Children’s Home Christmas Party
The Center For Animal Health and Welfare (No Kill Shelter) $115,000 raised with the annual Bowl-A-Thon held at one of his sponsors (Jordan Lanes) locations.
The Blue Star Mothers was Bobby’s veterans charity in 2019 (It is switched every couple of years). They average around $50,000 each year.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Student of the Year MC/PR and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Man and Woman of the Year MC/PR
And there are a host of other smaller events.
ResQ Natural Supplements, Dr. Eric Lebby & Dr. Thomas Dibenedetto, Orthopedic Specialists, Agentis Kitchen and Bath, Eden East, Paul Wright Roofing, Zongora Comfort Solutions, Just Born/Mike and Ike and Hot Tamales top the list of almost three dozen sponsors.
This season Bobby will be driving a 2019 Bicknell powered by Outlaw Engines. The always sharp looking racer will be prepared and housed by Rick Fenstermaker and his crew.
At the track, the crew is headed by Greg “Speedy” Saeger supported by Paul Rupert, Randy Miller, Joe Walsh and newcomer Travis Boyer. As Bobby is quick to point out none of the racing is possible without great efforts by the crews and great support from sponsors.
Bobby Gunther will be kicking off his 26th season of racing with the Third Annual VP Racing Fuels Bruce Rogers Money Marker Memorial at Grandview which rewards the winner with $7,500 and the prestige of winning a race named after the late popular track owner.
Adult admission for the Rogers Memorial is $28 while pit admission is $40.
Grandview Speedway will kick off their regular season schedule of NASCAR racing on Saturday, April 11th featuring T.P.Trailer Modifieds and T.P.Truck Equipment Sportsman. Racing will start at 7 p.m.
Enduro and Vintage racing is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 21.
And there is the annual free-to-the public practice session, open to all divisions, set for 12 noon on March 28th. Pit admission is $30.
The complete schedule of Grandview events for 2020 can be found at www.grandviewspeedway.com. The track telephone number, for information, is 610.754.7688.
MIKE CHRISTOPHER JR. SET FOR SYRACUSE INDOOR RACING MARCH 13-14
Posted by: | CommentsNEWS FROM LEN SAMMONS PRODUCTIONS
2020 BELFOR INDOOR AUTO RACING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FUELED BY VP RACING FUELS
ALLENTOWN, ATLANTIC CITY, TRENTON, NJ AND SYRACUSE
Event Promoter: Len Sammons @609.888.3618
MEDIA INFORMATION: Ernie Saxton Communications – Esaxton144@aol.com -267.934.7286
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOUNG MIKE CHRISTOPHER, JR. TO DEBUT NEW TREY HODDICK TQ MIDGET AT SYRACUSE INDOOR RACES
SYRACUSE, NY March 6, 2020 . . .The late entry of young Mike Christopher Jr. has added even more intrigue to the March 13-14 Indoor Auto Racing Championship Series Fueled By VP events to held inside the Exposition Center on the grounds of the New York State Fairgrounds.
Christopher, 20 years old from Wolcott, CT, is set to suit up to drive a yet-to-be-completed TQ Midget being constructed by Trey Hoddick of Buffalo, NY. Hoddick has fielded winning TQ Midgets for drivers Scott Kreutter, Andy Jankowiak and Christopher’s late uncle in past years.
Ted Christopher won eight Indoor Series features and two championships in his career before being killed in a plane crash in 2017.
While Mike Christopher will be making his first start in the Indoor Series, the drivers he will be competing against will be vying for the TC Cup, named in the honor of his late uncle, which is awarded annually to the TQ Midget Indoor Series champion.
The race for the 2020 Indoor Auto Racing Series BELFOR Concrete Series championship will be decided between point leader Andy Jankowiak, Matt Janisch, defending champion Erick Rudolph and Tim Buckwalter after qualifying and feature events are held both nights in Syracuse.
Mike Christopher, however, knows very little about TQ Midget car racing. He did watch his late uncle win Indoor events in Atlantic City, NJ and Providence, Rhode Island. He also attended the most recent series event in Atlantic City as an interested spectator in the pit area.
“I know from watching Uncle Ted this is a totally different form of racing than I am not used to,” Christopher said. “Way different. I do have some past experience in Legends Cars and Go-Karts besides Asphalt Modifieds but I don't think any of that will mean anything much. This is a whole new venture for me.”
Mike’s father, a twin to brother Ted, was a successful asphalt Modified racer himself. Mike Jr. followed in the footsteps of both in recent years winning SK Modified events at Ct.’s Stafford Motor Speedway.
Less than ten days before the start of practice on Friday afternoon March 13th in Syracuse, Christopher had not yet see his ride. This past weekend, he headed to Hoddick's western New York shop to be fitted for a seat.
“Trey had to build the roll cage and position the seat just for me. I'm six foot-two, so he wanted to build the roll cage longer and higher and put the seat back further than in the other cars he has built. I remember when Uncle Ted raced for Trey his cars were always fast, good equipment,” said Mike Jr.
Christopher and Hoddick talked about the possibility of an Indoor TQ effort not long after Ted was killed with a car that was in the planning stages for him to drive.
The two reconnected when the 2019 outdoor season was over and talked out Hoddick's plans to build a second car, initially as a back-up. At first, Hoddick hoped to have the car done for the late January Atlantic City Indoor race but wasn't able to finish it in time.
To aid his advance preparation even further, Mike Jr. has conferred with past series winner and champion Ryan Flores, who will not be in the Syracuse field, owing to his NASCAR Cup Team Penske commitments.
“Ryan and I talked at Atlantic City about Indoor TQ racing,” Christopher noted. “He told me some of the things he learned the first year he ran the Series.”
Christopher confirmed with Hoddick that he will be able to run his Stafford SK Modified number, the digital No. 82, on the TQ Midget.
At the end of the 2018 Stafford SK season, Christopher was being touted as a star of the present and future after winning the last three features. This past year, in the same equipment, he was winless.
“My father told me, 'racing is 90 percent down and 10 percent up,” Christopher related. “Last year the car was fast but it didn't produce good results. I had motor problems, power steering problems, couldn't finish races. I had never gone through the kind of struggle I did last year.”
Tickets are available in a range of different prices through links on www.indoorautoracing.com and the venue box office. Tickets can also be purchased by calling the Area Auto Racing News office at 609-888-3618. Tickets will be available each race night starting at 2pm at the Exposition Center Box office.
Race fans can enjoy a double header weekend at the Fairgrounds with the 34th annual Syracuse Motorsports Expo and Trade Show being held at the Center Of Progress Building on the Fairgrounds. 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.
Things just got interesting
Posted by: | Comments- Bridgeport Motorsports Park
.
.
.
.
.
.
Bridgeport Motorsports Park is ready to make 2020 the biggest year to date!
(Rick Sweeten Images)
Bridgeport Speedway To Pay Up To $1000 Weekly To 602 Sportsman
Bridgeport, NJ - With the start of the 2020 season around the corner, Bridgeport Speedway has been dilligently peparing for the upcoming season. From creating a brand new race track, to securing essential sponsorships, to filling in key employee roles, to coming up with ways to make Bridgeport even more appealing to the race teams, track owner Doug Rose and his team has been hard at work for the past four months.
Doug Rose had the following to say; "The Ramey family was gracious enough to allow Brittany and I to follow along last year and watch their weekly operation. When doing so, the plans were to roll into the 2020 season trying to keep things as much the same as possible knowing that their formula over the last seven years was a success stated rose."
"Danny Serrano and I have been bouncing around the idea of doing something with the 602 Sportsman payout while not trying to put ourselves in a position not to succeed."
"We’ve sat down a couple times looking at different scenarios and what we could do or not do and still feel it would be safe for the well-being of the speedway."
"With the number of drivers that we feel Will be competing at the speedway in 2020 for the weekly point shows we feel comfortable making a couple concrete changes while putting a twist in there to compensate the drivers when we have excellent car counts for the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Sportsman."
"We have decided to add three things to all points shows at Bridgeport Motorsports Park in 2020. We will be offering a tiered weekly payout with the base pay being the normal pay that the Ramey Family has been using which will be for 29 cars and under which has paid $500 to win with now $75 to take the green which has been raised since 2019.
When we have 30 plus cars we will bump up to the next purse, which will see the winner receive 750 to win with additional positions receiving extra purse money as well. On top of this purse adjustment, we are going to add in a gamblers program, which will add an additional $250 to the win regardless if we are over or under the 30 cars. So, on a weekly basis a driver who chooses to take the gamblers will be racing weekly for 750 or $1000 to win. We feel that this is huge for the growth of the 602 Sportsman division."
The non-point shows at Bridgeport will pay substantially more than the weekly purse; i.e. the winner of the "Kingdom of Speed Weekend" could possibly go home with $1,500! March 21 will serve as the track's 'practice day' with the following weekend being the grand opening for the 2020 season. For more information please log on the track's website www.bpspeedway.com or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Fans and drivers can also reach the Speedway at 856-467-4408 or email at Bridgeportspeedway@hotmail.com
Tickets for the historic Kingdom of Speed event, as well as tickets for the spectacular Monster Truck Throwdown show, can be purchased at
www.bridgeportspeedway.thundertix.com/.
