Joey Bailey Victorious in The Greg Hodnett Memorial

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Joey Bailey Victorious in The Greg Hodnett Memorial

Joey Bailey in Victory Lane at Waterford.

Joey Bailey in Victory Lane at Waterford.

Waterford, CT- For the fourth time this season, Joey Bailey earned an ATQMRA feature victory, winning The Greg Hodnett Memorial at The New London - Waterford Speedbowl. 

There is always excitement in the air when the Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuel visits Waterford, CT. Over the past few seasons, the series has become a fan-favorite and the drivers did not disappoint Saturday night. Buddy Sload started on the outside pole leading much of the first half of race. While setting the fastest lap of the evening, many believed Saturday would be his night yet again. Unfortunately, the defending ATQMRA Waterford winner (May, 2018) experienced a mechanical failure which would derail his efforts with sixteen laps remaining in the race. 

This caution provided the opportunity for an intense, wheel to wheel battle by respective championship leaders Matt Janisch, Joey Bailey, and Ryan Tidman in the closing laps of the 27-lap feature. With huge championship implications on the line, it was no secret these drivers would put on a show.

Ryan Tidman led the charge for much of the second half of the race, with Janisch and Bailey keeping him honest as the high speed battle thundered around the 3/8 mile Speedbowl. Bailey, who not only out-dueled points leader Janisch, but Tidman as well, passed Tidman for the lead off of the fourth corner with a handful of laps remaining. Bailey never looked back, adding another trophy to his collection winning a series high forth feature. With this victory, Joey Bailey has closed the points gap to four on-track positions, heading into the series’ championship event in Bethel, NY on Saturday, November 3rd, 2018.

Anthony Payne finished a very impressive forth, in his second start of 2018. Jeff Kot finished fifth, rounding out the top five of the fifteen car field.

The evening’s heat races were won by Buddy Sload and Cole Mullen. As mentioned, Sload would experience a mechanical issue in the feature, which resulted in a thirteenth place finish. Cole Mullen went on to finish a respectable sixth. 

Richie Davidowitz made a strong team debut finishing seventh. A special shoutout to New York racers Cameron Ruggiero, Chad Heywood and Jim Fleischman, who all made their 2018 Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA debuts this weekend.

With great appreciation, we recognize Jeff Kot, who elected to sponsor this weekend’s event in honor of the late Greg Hodnett. On behalf of Kot and the ATQMRA, a portion of race day earnings and as well as the 50/50 raffle will be donated to the Hodnett family to assist them in their time of need.

The Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA will conclude their 2018 campaign at Bethel Motor Speedway, on Saturday, November 3rd, 2018. The stage is set for a fierce championship battle, which will surely come down to the closing laps of the event.

Feature Results 

  1. #51B Joey Bailey

  2. #1B Ryan Tidman

  3. #48 Matt Janisch 

  4. #12 Anthony Payne

  5. #17 Jeff Kot

  6. #73x Cole Mullen

  7. #25 Richie Davidowitz

  8. #51 Joey Payne

  9. #23 Avery Stoehr

  10. #29 Cameron Ruggiero

  11. #42 Chad Heywood

  12. #5 Jim Fleischman

  13. #36 Buddy Sload

  14. #16 Kyle Taraska

  15. #39 Ronnie Mullen

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Kyle Taraska Claims First Career ATQMRA Victory at Wall Stadium

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Kyle Taraska Claims First Career ATQMRA Victory at Wall Stadium

For the fourth time this season, the Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuel raced at the historic Wall Stadium Speedway. Entering the event, the focus was set on Matt Janisch, Ryan Tidman, and Joey Bailey, who were all separated by 28 points prior to the drop of the green flag.

The pit area at Wall Stadium was in a rather somber mood Saturday morning due to the passing of 410 Sprint Car racer Greg Hodnett this past Thursday in Pennsylvania. To honor Greg and his family, all ATQMRA competitors sported silver and yellow ribbons on their cars. Furthermore, a “missing man” formation was performed during the pace laps, leaving the pole position empty and the feature was extended to 27 laps honoring the number Greg made famous over his career.

Mark Yoder started his evening off strong, by winning the first heat race of the evening. Kyle Taraska won the second heat of the night. Both drivers would start on the front row respectively due to their heat victories and handicapping.

At the drop of the green flag, Kyle Taraska powered by pole sitter Mark Yoder on the second lap of the event. Taraska would go on to lead much of the event prior to a caution flag for fluid on the track with 11 laps remaining.

On the restart, Joey Bailey, who is poised to remain relevant in the championship conversation, got along side Taraska off of turn two as the drivers returned to racing. Taraska would not be denied, as both Bailey and Taraska remained gridlocked, wheel to wheel, down the speedway’s backstretch entering the third corner. As Bailey cleared Taraska, Kyle crossed Joey over exiting the fourth corner, retaking the lead with a handful of laps remaining. These two drivers put on quite the show for the packed stands.

Although Joey Bailey put up a fierce fight, he was no match for Taraska as he went on to earn his first career feature victory in the ATQMRA. In front of many Berkeley College representatives, Kyle Taraska won the 27-lap feature in thrilling fashion. Taraska also earned Colin Martin’s Spitfire Racing team their second win of 2018. Kyle Taraska is now the eighth different winner in 11 events this year, making 2018 the most competitive ATQMRA season on record.

Mr. Consistency, Matt Janisch finished a strong 3rd, passing Kot in the final laps, to earn Yuhas Chassis two of the top-3 podium positions. Matt continues to lead the championship standings with only two points races remaining in the season.

Jeff Kot continues to impress, finishing fourth, running 3rd for almost the entire event. Ryan Tidman rounded out the top-5 for the Boyd Racing team, however lost 8-points to championship leader Janisch. Tidman entered Wall Stadium second in points.

Making impressive debuts were two talented racers “The Tornado,” Anthony Payne and Andrew Krause who made their 2018 ATQMRA debuts this weekend at Wall Stadium. They are sure to be a factor in the remaining races.

The Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA will take the next weekend off prior to heading north to the Waterford Speedbowl, for the rescheduled “Wings N’ Wheels” event on Saturday, October 6th, 2018. Our 2018 champion will officially be crowned at Bethel Motor Speedway on Saturday, November 3rd, 2018. For more information about upcoming events, visit ATQMRA.com.

Race Results

Heat 1
1 #75 Mark Yoder
2 #36 Buddy Sload
3 #51B Joey Bailey
4 #17 Jeff Kot
5 #1B Ryan Tidman
6 #12 Anthony Payne

Heat 2
1 #16 Kyle Taraska
2 #73X Cole Mullen
3 #48 Matt Janisch
4 #51 Joey Payne
5 #98T Tim Proctor
6 #27 Andrew Krause
7 #39 Ronnie Mullen

Feature
1 #16 Kyle Taraska
2 #51B Joey Bailey
3 #48 Matt Janisch
4 #17 Jeff Kot
5 #1B Ryan Tidman
6 #51 Joey Payne
7 #75 Mark Yoder
8 #98T Tim Proctor
9 #27 Andrew Krause
10 #39 Ronnie Mullen
11 #73X Cole Mullen
12 #36 Buddy Sload
13 #12 Anthony Payne

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Bailey Earns Third 2018 Feature Win at Mahoning Valley

Sunday, September 16th, 2018

LEIGHTON, PA- For the second time this season, Joey Bailey and his Alan Mollot owned Yuhas Chassis claimed victory at the Mahoning Valley Speedway. Overall, this was Bailey’s third victory in 2018, in the Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuel, as he continues to scratch and claw towards the top of the championship standings with only a handful of races remaining in the 2018 season. 

For the second ATQMRA event in a row, Jeff Kot, driving the #17 Hyper 600 entry for Spitfire Racing, claimed victory in his heat race. Kot, who claims Mahoning Valley Speedway as his home track, put on a great show all night for the hometown crowd. 

Kot would start from the pole and lead the most laps of the 25 lap feature. At one point opening up a large lead. Kot held off continuous battles from both eventual winner Bailey and ATQMRA championship points leader Matt Janisch. However, both would ultimately pass Kot in the closing stages and Kot settled for a strong third place finish, after blistering his right side tires.

Bailey and Kot would swap the lead and race wheel to wheel for much of the event. Bailey looked to be in trouble when he got sideways exiting turn two but made a great save and continued the battle with Kot.

ATQMRA front runners Ryan Tidman for the Boyd Racing team and Buddy Sload for Spitfire Racing had rather quiet evenings. While finishing fourth and fifth respectively, they will look to regroup and have a much stronger showing at Wall Stadium next weekend. Tidman entered the event second in points behind points leader Matt Janisch.

Kyle Taraska debuted at Mahoning Valley this weekend sporting his usual Berkeley College colors. Taraska experienced a mechanical issue early in the feature event, resulting his race to end after only eight laps. Taraska is expected to come back strong at Wall Stadium this upcoming weekend.

Joey Bailey was sure to thank his car owner Alan Mollot, his father Russ, the Janisch family, and his sponsors Phenomenon Designs, Art’s Radiators, Hoosier Mid-Atlantic and VP Racing Fuel. This has been a career year for the driver from Monroe, NJ as he will work to cap it off with his first career Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA Championship this November. 

The ATQMRA will be racing at Wall Stadium Speedway this upcoming weekend for “Pack the Track Night,” which offers $10 general admission to all fans in attendance.

Heat Race Results

  1. #17 Jeff Kot

  2. #51B Joey Bailey 

  3. #36 Buddy Sload

  4. #48 Matt Janisch 

  5. #1B Ryan Tidman

  6. #16 Kyle Taraska 

Feature Race Results 

  1. #51B Joey Bailey

  2. #48 Matt Janisch 

  3. #17 Jeff Kot 

  4. #1B Ryan Tidman

  5. #36 Buddy Sload

  6. #16 Kyle Taraska 

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Joey Payne Wins at Wall Stadium 

For the third time this season, the Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuel invaded the Jersey Shore, at the Wall Stadium Speedway. In front of a near capacity crowd, the drivers put on a caution-free event as has become the norm this year on the inner-oval. This news is a true testament to the rule changes enforced during our most recent off season, which includes requiring all drivers to run wings on their TQ Midgets at Wall Stadium.

Heading into the weekend, all eyes were on Ryan Tidman and the Boyd Racing team. Tidman entered Wall Stadium winning the previous two ATQMRA events at both Bethel and Pocono, respectively. 

Hometown driver Ronnie Mullen won the first heat race of the evening, and would later start on the pole for the feature event. Jeff Kot, who was making only his second start of 2018 in the #17 Hyper 600, won the second 8-lap heat race in dominant fashion. Kot would start on the outside pole. 

Once the feature began, “The Jerzy Jet,” Joey Payne made his presence known, making a three-wide move on the front row starters R. Mullen and Kot on the opening lap of the event. To the delight of the packed crowd in attendance, the racing remained tight throughout the top half of the field, with positions second through fifth within a half of a second of each other for the duration of the race. Kot would stalk Payne the rest of the event but Payne would never look back, going on to lead all 25 laps of the feature event. Payne went on to capture his first victory of 2018. This was also the fourth win of the season for team owner Alan Mollot. 

Joey Payne is now the seventh driver in nine events this season to win an ATQMRA feature, making 2018 one of the most competitive seasons in the series storied history. 

Jeff Kot edged out Ryan Tidman for second in a photo finish, which separated them by one-one hundredth of a second. Joey Bailey went on to finish forth, while championship points leader Matt Janisch rounded out the top-5.

Buddy Sload brought home his Spitfire Chassis in sixth, previous Wall Stadium feature winner Cole Mullen finished in seventh, and Kyle Taraska with his Berkeley College sponsored entry finished in a respectable eighth. Mark Yoder finished 9th and Rookie of the Year candidate Paul Dodorico rounded out the top 10. 

Mechanical issues plagued both Ronnie Mullen and Joey Payne III, who rounded out the field in 11th and 12th respectively. It was a special night for “JP3”, while not only being able to make his 2018 ATQMRA debut in his favorite childhood race car, he was able to be on-hand for the on-track victory lane ceremony with his father during the post race celebration. 

The Hoosier Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuel will be off the next few weeks prior to invading the Appalachian Mountains and the Mahoning Valley Speedway on September 15th, 2018. 

Race Results

Heat 1

1. #39 Ronnie Mullen

2. #51 Joey Payne

3. #36 Buddy Sload 

4. #51B Joey Bailey 

5. #16 Kyle Taraska

6. #75 Mark Yoder

Heat 2

1. #17 Jeff Kot

2. #48 Matt Janisch 

3. #73x Cole Mullen

4. #1B Ryan Tidman

5. #55 Paul Dodorico

6. #67 Joey Payne III

Feature

1. #51 Joey Payne

2. #17 Jeff Kot

3. #1B Ryan Tidman

4. #51B Joey Bailey

5. #48 Matt Janisch 

6. #36 Buddy Sload

7. #73x Cole Mullen

8. #16 Kyle Taraska

9. #75 Mark Yoder

10. #55 Paul Dodorico

11. #39 Ronnie Mullen

12. #67 Joey Payne III

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