Birthday Boy Bailey Wins at Bethel

June 20, 2018

Bethel, NY – This weekend the Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuel took a scenic trip up to the Catskills, NY for the first event of the year at Bethel Motor Speedway. This was a special night for the ATQMRA, as the history of Pine Brook Speedway was celebrated amongst the pit area.

A buzz was in the air prior to the cars hitting the track, as the news broke Friday afternoon that ATQMRA Champion Mike Tidaback would be in attendance with his wife Renee and son Mikey Jr. Tidaback, who is still recovering from an on-track incident in this year’s annual Gambler Classic in Atlantic City, NJ, was in great spirits at the track this evening. Tidaback, along with his son Mikey not only gave the command to fire engines for the 30-lap feature event, but also enjoyed three parade laps in the speedway’s pace car to the delight of the crowd. Tidaback’s #11 modified which he most recently raced at Wall Stadium Speedway was on hand to pace the field of ATQMRA competitors as well.

The Mullen family, with son Cole led the field to green with his father Ronnie starting on the outside front-row. Heat race #1 winner Matt Janisch started 7th, and heat race #2 winner Joey Bailey started both due to handicapping.

The action was fierce right from the drop of the green flag as multi-car incident involving the likes of unofficial teammates Kris Graver and Matt Janisch resulted in Graver facing the wrong way in the speedway’s infield just shy of the first corner. Graver would retire from the event as Janisch would continue on. Buddy Sload was plagued with engine issues during his heat race, and the issues continued into the feature. During the caution laps prior to what would be a complete restart of the event, Sload’s Spitfire Chassis would also retire from the event without officially completing a lap.

The drivers did not skip a beat as Brick, New Jersey’s Cole Mullen led the field back to the green flag and showed strength in the early going. However, C. Mullen was no match for both Joey Bailey and Ryan Tidman, who would soon overtake Mullen for the top spot.

For much of the race, the battle for the lead was between Bailey, Tidman and Janisch. With even times of side by side action for the lead, the leaders put on quite the show as they began to slice and dice through lapped traffic.

The second and final caution of the evening was displayed with seventeen laps remaining, as Dave Williams, making his 2018 ATQMRA debut found himself in trouble in the middle of turns one and two.

This caution would set the stage for a thrilling restart, featuring a drag race between Bailey and Tidman down the backstretch on the first green flag lap following the restart. Bailey would eventually clear Tidman off of turn four and never look back. Janisch would make a late charge for the lead in the closing laps but was no match for Bailey. This would result in the third, second place finish for Janisch in four ATQMRA events this season.

Joey Bailey would ultimately capture an emotional victory on the eve of his 21stbirthday. This was Bailey’s first ATQMRA feature win since his victory at Stafford Motor Speedway in October of 2016. Furthermore, Bailey earned his first trophy racing for Alan Mollot.

As for other notables from the event, Ronnie Mullen had his most impressive showing of the year as he showed speed throughout the entire day. After finishing second in his heat race, R. Mullen brought his Spitfire Chassis home in sixth, his best finish to date this season.

Mark Yoder returned after a one race absence as he attended the Indianapolis 500 with his family this past Memorial Day. Yoder, who overcame an oil leak during the first practice session, finished a respectable seventh.

Paul Dodorico made his second start of the season in his home state of New York brought his car home in eighth. Dodorico, showed great improvement from his first career ATQMRA start at Wall Stadium last month as he continues to progress in his first season racing TQ Midgets.

Through four events this year, the Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuel has featured four different feature winners. The series now heads into the off-week prior to the fifth race on the 2018 calendar at Mahoning Valley Speedway, PA on June 30th, 2018.

Race Results

Heat 1

1. #48 Matt Janisch

2. #1B Ryan Tidman

3. #51 Kris Graver

4. #73x Cole Mullen

5. #55 Paul Dodorico

6. #11 Dave Williams

Heat 2

1. #51B Joey Bailey

2. #17 Ronnie Mullen

3. #48 Tim Proctor

4. #36 Buddy Sload

5. #75 Mark Yoder

Feature

1. #51B Joey Bailey

2. #48 Matt Janisch

3. #1B Ryan Tidman

4. #98 Tim Proctor

5. #73x Cole Mullen

6. #17 Ronnie Mullen

7. #75 Mark Yoder

8. #55 Paul Dodorico

9. #11 Dave Williams

10. #36 Buddy Sload

11. #51 Kris Graver

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Proctor Victorious at Wall Stadium

May 28, 2018

The Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuel hit the track for their third race of the season at Wall Stadium Speedway, NJ. This marked the first race where the TQ midgets would attack the inner oval with wings.

With this being the third race of the season, the heats and feature line up were set by a pill draw. Heats were won by Kyle Taraska and Joey Bailey. Four cars from each heat were eligible for the redraw.

Number 98 Tim Proctor drew the pole position after the redraw and never looked back. After finishing fourth in the second heat, Proctor would go on to lead wire-wire in the feature impressively holding off charges from former ATQMRA champions #1B Ryan Tidman, #36 Buddy Sload and #48 Matt Janisch. Even more impressive, this event was Proctor’s return race after a vicious flip down the back-straightaway this past November at Turkey Derby.

Making impressive season debuts were Kyle Taraska, Paul Dodorico, and late entrant Richie Davidowitz. Taraska, of Woodbridge, NJ, entered his first of five races in the famed number 16 Spitfire in impressive fashion, setting fast time in practice as well as taking home a heat win. Paul Dodorico, of Long Island, brought his beautifully prepared number 55 Spitfire for his first race with the ATQMRA and was also impressive with a strong run finishing 10th. Richie Davidowitz, also of Long Island, was a last minute entry in the number 17 Hyper, finishing 4thin his heat and 8thin the feature.

Saturday’s feature also marked the return of hometown driver Ronnie Mullen’s #39 machine after extensive repairs after an indoor-season wreck this winter in Allentown. There was a lot of hard work that went into getting his car back on track this season, and the effort to just have the opportunity to turn laps yesterday is admirable.

The tough luck award goes to #20 Jon Keller. After experiencing a mechanical malfunction in the first practice session of the day, Keller made hard contact with outside retaining guardrail in turn three of the speedway. Thankfully, the driver walked away under his own power and we look forward to seeing Jon and his team return the track in the near future.

The Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA will be off for the next few weeks, as teams will look to prepare for our next event at Bethel Motor Speedway, on June 16th2018. The June 16thevent will be a Pinebrook Reunion, celebrating the great history of the ATQMRA at the late-speedway.

Results

Heat 1:

1. #51B Joey Bailey

2. #51 Kris Graver

3. #48 Matt Janisch

4. #17 Richie Dividowitz

5. #55C Steve Craig

6. #39 Ronnie Mullen

Heat 2:

1. #16 Kyle Taraska

2. #1B Ryan Tidman

3. #36 Buddy Sload

4. #98 Tim Proctor

5. #73C Cole Mullen

6. #55 Paul Dodorico

Feature:

1. #98 Tim Proctor

2. #1B Ryan Tidman

3. #36 Buddy Sload

4. #48 Matt Janisch

5. #16 Kyle Taraska

6. #51B Joey Bailey

7. #51 Kris Graver

8. #17 Richie Dividowitz

9. #73C Cole Mullen

10. #55 Paul Dodorico

11. #55C Steve Craig

12. #39 Ronnie Mullen

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Buddy Sload Earns the Victory at Waterford’s “Blast-off” Weekend

May 6, 2018

The Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP made the long trek up north to Waterford, CT, Saturday for the second event of the series’ season. With pit gates opening at 8:00 am, crews were fully prepared for an all-day affair under beautiful sunny skies.

Matt Janisch, who elected to enter his own #48 Yuhas chassis, which is the same car that won the 2018 season opener at Mahoning Valley a mere two weeks ago, with driver Kris Graver behind the wheel. Graver, swapped rides with Janisch this weekend, as he was behind the wheel of Alan Mollot’s #51.

Janisch set quick time in practice running a blistering 13.426 second lap. His good fortune continued by drawing the pole position for the first, 10-lap heat race. ATQMRA “Invader,” Avery Stoehr drew the pole position for the second 10-lap heat race of the afternoon.

Matt Janisch dominated the first heat leading wire-to-wire, capturing the flag for his first “unofficial” win of the season as a driver. Matt Swanson, a New England Modified “Invader” powered his #02 Starrett Racing TQ Midget to victory in a thrilling race for car owner Russ Bailey.

On the third lap of the event, #36 Buddy Sload made a daring move for the lead between himself and pole-sitter Stoehr. Contact was made between Stoehr and Sload, which ultimately ended Stoehr’s race on his side. The incident also involved Mahoning Valley winner #51 Kris Graver, who failed to complete his heat as well. After a brief red flag, the heat race resumed without incident.

After the redraw, Sload won the pole with defending ATQMRA champion Ryan Tidman starting to his outside, and heat race #1 winner Matt Janisch starting in third. Swanson, the winner of heat race #2, drew the sixth starting position.

The 25-lap feature was nothing short of spectacular. The race, only halted for once when #51B Joey Bailey’s evening went up in smoke. Bailey, made a phenomenal save keeping his car off the wall, however disappointment arose as a blown motor ruined his chances at a solid finish.

The race was highlighted with a duel from both Buddy Sload and Matt Janisch. Janisch, although never got around Sload for the lead, never was more than 3-car lengths off the rear tail of Sload the entire run. This marked the first win of the year for Buddy Sload, as well as Spitfire.

Congratulations to Buddy Sload and his entire team on their victory at Waterford! The Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA presented by VP will be taking a week off, prior to heading to Bethel, NY on Saturday May, 19th.

Heat 1 Race Results

1. #48 Matt Janisch

2. #51B Joey Bailey

3. #1B Ryan Tidman

4. #73x Cole Mullen

5. #50 Carl Medeiros Jr.

6. #17 Ronnie Mullen

Heat 2 Race Results

1. #02 Matt Swanson

2. #75 Mark Yoder

3. #20 Jon Keller

4. #36 Buddy Sload

5. #23 Avery Stoehr

6. #51 Kris Graver

Feature Race Results

1. #36 Buddy Sload

2. #48 Matt Janisch

3. #1B Ryan Tidman

4. #75 Mark Yoder

5. #02 Matt Swanson

6. #50 Carl Medeiros Jr.

7. #17 Ronnie Mullen

8. #20 Jon Keller

9. #51B Joey Bailey

10. #73x Cole Mullen

11. #51 Kris Graver

12. #23 Avery Stoehr

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Kris Graver Wins ATQMRA Season Opener at Mahoning Valley

April 22, 2018

Under clear skies and brisk April temperatures, the Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuel kicked off their 2018 campaign at the Mahoning Valley Speedway Saturday evening. With excitement in the air, it was Joey Bailey debuting his brand new #51B Yuhas Chassis for Alan Mollot, who set the pace.

Not only did Bailey set quick time in the afternoon practice session, he blistered the field by running lap times close to four-tenths of a second faster than the field in his heat race, earning him a near two and a half second victory over the field in the opening race of the night.

The second heat race of the evening went off without a hitch as #75 Mark Yoder began his 2018 season with a bang capturing the checkered flag. Both heat races ran without incident, meaning both 8-lap races were completed well under two minutes in time.

The top eight feature starting positions were set for redraw per the ATQMRA Rulebook. #51 Matt Janisch, also driving for Alan Mollot, who drew the first pill granting him the pole positon for the 25-lap feature. Heat race winners Mark Yoder and Joey Bailey drew the fourth and seventh feature starting positons respectively.

It was Janisch who paced the field in the early going of the feature race. However, Kris Graver, who drives the #48 owned by Matt Janisch, stayed within car lengths of his car owner for the first half of the race. Graver, who is a Mahoning Valley Speedway regular, saved his equipment and made a second half charge for the win to the delight of the crowd.

Graver made a power move to the outside of Janisch, bringing the crowd to their feet as he made his pass for the lead on the outside in the first turn just beyond the halfway point of the race. Although both Janisch and heat race winner Joey Bailey made late charges in the closing stages, it was Graver who played his cards right and saved his tires the best to capture the victory at Mahoning Valley Speedway.

Like the heat races prior, the 25-lap feature ran caution free and was completed in an astonishing three minutes and fifty six seconds. Matt Janisch would ultimately finish second to his owned car, with Joey Bailey finishing third. #1B Ryan Tidman brought his Lafler Chassis home in forth and #36 Buddy Sload rounded out the top five in a solid effort for Spitfire Racing.

The Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuel takes a week off before heading north to the Waterford Speedbowl, CT for an action-packed day on Saturday, May 5th 2018.

RACE RESULTS

Heat 1 -8 Laps

1. #51B Joey Bailey

2. #36 Buddy Sload

3. #48 Kris Graver

4. #1B Ryan Tidman

5. #16 Ronnie Mullen

Heat 2 -8 Laps

1. #75 Mark Yoder

2. #51 Matt Janisch

3. #20 Jon Keller

4. #17 Joey Jarowicz

5. #73x Cole Mullen

Feature -25 Laps

1. #48 Kris Graver

2. #51 Matt Janisch

3. #51B Joey Bailey

4. #1B Ryan Tidman

5. #36 Buddy Sload

6. #17 Joey Jarowicz

7. #75 Mark Yoder

8. #20 Jon Keller

9. #73x Cole Mullen

10. #16 Ronnie Mullen

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