Photo Credits: JJ Lane
Staff Report | Monday, September 23rd, 2019
WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ- Joey Bailey acclaimed his series high fifth Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels feature victory this weekend at Wall Stadium Speedway.
In front of a packed grandstand, the ATQMRA hosted their 10th championship race of the season at the historic Wall Township, New Jersey venue. The action and excitement within the 25 lap feature did not disappoint.
Heat Race winners Buddy Sload and Geoffrey Sutton proved their worth early. Sload, who would eventually run the fastest lap of the day at a 12.916 and Geoffrey Sutton, who had momentum on his side coming off a Wall Stadium Feature victory in August.
It didn’t take long for Jeff Kot, and his Behrent Performance Warehouse machine to power past hometown driver Cole Mullen and Mark Yoder. Kot overtook Mullen for the lead in the third turn of the opening lap. By the time the field came back around to complete the second lap, it was Buddy Sload powering past Kot for the lead.
It seemed like it would be Sload’s race to win throughout much of the early going as Kot was in tow with Yoder having a very strong run in third. The field would reset right around the halfway point when Joey Payne III, making his first ATQMRA start of 2019, spun and brought out the first caution of the event. This set up a front row restart featuring championship favorites Sload and Joey Bailey. Bailey entered the event six on-track positions ahead of Sload in standings.
Sload maintained the lead on the first double file restart. A series of restarts would follow, with back-to-back single car incidents featuring Dave Gorbatuk and Anthony Payne. Both drivers were fine from their respective incidents, and each went on the finish the remainder of the event.
The battle for the lead, and the championship for that matter, heated up immensely on the restart. Bailey got underneath Sload for the lead in turn 1. Sload was able to return the favor in turn 1 on the following lap as the leaders sliced and diced for the top spot. The two rubbed rails on both occasions bringing the crowd to their feet.
A multi-car incident involving Cole Mullen and Kyle Taraska slowed the field down again for the fourth time. Bailey was able to retain the lead due to scoring to the last lap completed, which featured Bailey crossing the line ahead of Sload.
One more caution from a single car incident involving Taraska again, slowed the field down for the final time with five laps to go. In the end, it was Joey Bailey who prevailed to claim his fifth ATQMRA feature victory of the season, and second career on Wall Stadium’s inner oval.
Buddy Sload finished 2nd, who will enter Wall Stadium in two weeks 28 points behind Bailey, with two points races remaining on the year.
August Wall Stadium winner Geoffrey Sutton finished in third. Jeff Kot finished a very strong fourth. Mark Yoder and the Ames Construction machine rounded out a very competitive top five.
Other notables include the return of Mike Tidaback to the ATQMRA Pit Area. Mike received a warm welcome this weekend serving as the crew chief for Jeff Kot and his race team. Tidaback also a victory lane appearance with feature winner Joey Bailey. It was great to have Mike Tidaback at the track this weekend and we wish him continued success in his recovery. Please keep Mike in your prayers.
Buddy Sload and Spitfire Racing honored racing legend Mike Stefanik this weekend at Wall Stadium. Sload ran the Stefanik nameplate across the front of his Spitfire Chassis. This of course, was the same nameplate and car Stefanik won in, during the 2009 Coffee Cup Rhode Island Indoor Series Event. On behalf of the ATQMRA at large, we extend our condolences to the family, friends and fans of Mike Stefanik. Mike was a great person, and a great ambassador for Motorsports.
The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels will head back to Wall Stadium in two weeks, on Saturday October 5th, 2019.
Race Results:
Heat 1:
#36 Buddy Sload
#51B Joey Bailey
#12 Anthony Payne
#67 Joey Payne III
#75 Mark Yoder
#98 Tim Proctor
#Ronnie Mullen
Heat 2:
#51 Geoffrey Sutton
#95 Jeff Kot
#73 Cole Mullen
#1B Ryan Tidman
#02 Kyle Taraska
#32 Dave Gorbatuk
Feature:
#51B Joey Bailey
#36 Buddy Sload
#51 Geoffrey Sutton
#95 Jeff Kot
#75 Mark Yoder
#1B Ryan Tidman
#12 Anthony Payne
#98 Tim Proctor
#02 Kyle Taraska
#39 Ronnie Mullen
#32 Dave Gorbatuk
#73 Cole Mullen
#67 Joey Payne III