Photo Credit: Sean Case, Jim Smith
Staff Report | Monday, March 29th, 2021
WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ- Kyle Taraska and the Chick-fil-A, Personal Comfort team started on the pole and led wire to wire Saturday afternoon winning Turkey Derby XLVII.
When Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels teams hit the track for practice two weeks ago, many eyes in the pits looked at Taraska to be one of the favorites. The #22 team’s speed carried over to time trials this weekend earning quick-time of the day.
RYNO Rookie Contender Tyler Ferris and the #33 team earned a coveted front row position timing within half a tenth of the pole. Taraska ultimately redrew the pole, and Ferris redrew fourth. Tim Proctor of Columbus, NJ, redrew the outside pole earning him the second starting position in the feature.
Taraska got an early jump on the field and pulled away from both Proctor and “Flyin” Ryan Tidman in Alan Mollot’s #51 Badger. Defending Turkey Derby Champion, Geoffrey Sutton followed along in his #51S Yuhas Chassis in third. While the Mollot Racing teammates paced, some of the biggest movers in the race sliced and diced their way to the front.
Defending ATQMRA Champion Joey Bailey who started 7th, and fastest in morning practice Jeff Kot and the Behrents Performance Warehouse racing team who started in 8th, wasted no time charging to the front of the field. Each driver made it to third and fourth respectively prior to the first caution on lap 8 when Mike Glaser and the Aqua Solutions team spun off of turn 4.
Another dust up happened on the proceeding restart with multiple cars stacking up on the outside lane. #75 Ames Construction TQ Midget of Mark Yoder received the worst end of that deal, as his car came to a halt just past the start finish line ending his day.
The race was on from that incident as Taraska pulled away from the field on the restart, with teammate Joey Bailey in tow. Kot maintained pace with Bailey as they pulled away from the rest of the field. However, they were no match for Kyle Taraska as he went on to score a historic victory in Turkey Derby XLVII.
Teammate Joey Bailey finished second, giving the Boyd Racing Team their first ever 1-2 finish in Turkey Derby history. Jeff Kot finished third. Ryan Tidman and Geoffrey Sutton rounded out the top-5.
Anthony Payne had a quiet 6th place finish after moving up through the field nicely from the 10th starting position. After starting on the front row and having what many consider a breakout weekend, Tyler Ferris finished 7th.
Brianna Page was one of the major headlines heading into the race, after being one of the fastest cars in practice two weeks prior and making the final four qualifying group this weekend. Brianna put a solid race together to finish 8th. The #98 of Tim Proctor and #2 of Mike Glaser rounded out the top 10 respectively.
Other notables included the return of Steve Craig, who recovered from engine problems causing him to miss time-trials. RYNO Rookie Contenders Tyler Wagner and Robbie Willis also made their ATQMRA debuts this weekend.
Former ATQMRA Rookie of the Year Kyle Taraska has continued to become a rising star in the series over the last few years. Taraska earned his Turkey Derby victory in his fourth attempt, earning him his second career ATQMRA feature victory.
Be on the lookout for Taraska, and many others when the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels heads to Mahoning Valley Speedway on May 8th, for the official 2021 points championship season opener.
Race Results:
Time Trials:
1. #22 Kyle Taraska 13.006
2. #33 Tyler Ferris 13.051
3. #51 Ryan Tidman 13.084
4. #95 Jeff Kot 13.094
5. #1B Joey Bailey 13.129
6. #76 Brianna Page 13.210
7. #12 Anthony Payne 13.277
8. #51S Geoffrey Sutton 13.282
9. #98 Tim Proctor 13.395
10. #75 Mark Yoder 13.564
11. #2 Mike Glaser 13.702
12. #32 Tyler Wagner 13.928
13. #27 Robbie Willis 14.086
14. #55C Steve Craig (No Time)
Feature:
1. #22 Kyle Taraska
2. #1B Joey Bailey
3. #95 Jeff Kot
4. #51 Ryan Tidman
5. #51S Geoffrey Sutton
6. #12 Anthony Payne
7. #33 Tyler Ferris*
8. #76 Brianna Page*
9. #98 Tim Proctor
10. #2 Mike Glaser
11. #55C Steve Craig
12. #32 Tyler Wagner*
13. #27 Robbie Willis*
14. #75 Mark Yoder
*RYNO Rookie Contender