Wall, NJ September 30, 2017
Buddy Sload picked up his third win of the season in the penultimate round of competition solidifying Colin Martin's hold on the runner up position in the car owner points standings. 4-time winner Matt Janisch finished second with Flying Ryan Tidman rounded out the Podium all but clinching the 2017 Championship heading into the ATQRMA Points season Finale at the Waterford Speed Bowl on Saturday October 21st. Ronnie the Rocket Mullen tightened the gap in the ACRO Rookie of the Year Standings with his sixth-place finish. Joey Bailey, who went for a nasty tumble in the first turn on lap 18 that ended the race, reported that he was treated and released from the hospital.
The day at Wall started out as most do with a round of practice for the TQ Midgets on the inner flat oval that was followed quickly by rain. With all seven of Wall's regular divisions on hand competing for in the track's points finale the pits were crowded and time was short to get in all of the racing. Wall's management made the deft decision to run the event Features only for all divisions. The lineup for the TQs was set by handicap because no heats were run. After the Wall track crew and the 4-cylinder Stocks dried the lower flat track for the TQs it was feature time for the wingless TQ Midgets.
A front row of the Father and son team of Ronnie and Cole Mullen took the green flag with fourth starting Buddy Sload sliding into the lead. The initial start was aborted twice for cars spinning but the result remained the same with Sload taking the lead and opening a gap on second. Matt Janisch who won both features on the double feature night at Wall on September 9th made quick work of the competition quickly moving from his 10th starting position to second.
As the leaders were negotiating lapped traffic third running Joey Bailey tangled with the Eric Corum Driven F8 sending Bailey into a series of flips in the middle of the first and second turn. Bailey was shaken up in the incident and transported to the hospital for evaluation. With the lateness of the event due to the earlier rain the feature was checkered at the conclusion of lap 18 and Buddy Sload earned his third win of the season in the Colin Martin 36 Spitfire.
Second finishing Janisch was joined on the podium by the presumptive ATQRMA Champion Flying Ryan Tidman. Jeff Kot was strong in his Behrents Performance Warehouse 95 and Geoffrey Sutton rounded out the top five. Mark Yoder crossed the line ahead of the 75z of Don Zrinski making his first start of the season charging from his 14th starting position to finish a solid 8th. Bailey was credited with 9th and Rookie Cole Mullen tenth
Ronnie the Rocket Mullen who has a victory in every division at Wall with the exception of the TQs was again the ACRO Rookie of the race finishing sixth and is making his BGF Chassis mount quicker every week. Son Cole was the second highest finishing Rookie in tenth followed by Kyle Taraska with the ACRO Rookie of the Year Points leader Dave Gorbatuk 12th. The Rookie Championship will come down to the season finale at Waterford SpeedBowl on Saturday October 21stwhere point leader Gorbatuk and the are in contention for the Coveted Rookie Championship. Unofficially Ron is 8 positions on track behind Gorbatuk with Son Cole trailing by 9 positions heading into the season finale.
ATQMRA News and Notes: The Advance Shock award went to Dave Gorbatuk for racing on 4 Advance Shocks. The Metz Racing Blu Deuce brand new BGF Chassis made its debut at Wall Saturday. A total of four BGF Chassis mounts were on hand Saturday at Wall. Bill Force Jr was back in competition and ran a competitive race. Steve Kemery made his debut with the ATQMRA in his number 69 600 Micro sprint and worked to be ready for the indoor season.
Feature (25 laps)
1 36 Buddy Sload
2 51 Matt Janisch
3 1b Ryan Tidman
4 95 Jeff Kot
5 461 Geo Sutton
6 39 Ronnie Mullen
7 75 Mark Yoder
8 75 Don Zrinski
9 02 Joey Bailey
10 73 Cole Mullen
11 01 Kyle Taraska
12 32 Dave Golbatuk
13 6 Bill Force Jr.
14 f8 Eric Corum
15 69 Steve Kemery
16 2 Blu Metz