Staff Report | Monday, July 12th, 2021
Photo credit: Melissa Brush Photography
SWAN LAKE, NY- Joey Bailey was the hard charger of the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels feature at Bethel Motor Speedway, going from seventh to first to earn his first victory of the 2021 season.
Ryan Tidman and Buddy Sload were the winners of their respective heat races, that went clean and green from start to finish. RYNO Classifieds Rookie Contender Tyler Wagner finished second, in the second heat. With the great result, Wagner qualified for his handicap and earned the pole position for the 25 lap feature.
Drama occurred even before Wagner led the field to green, when Buddy Sload’s bad luck continued as a mechanic failure occurred during the scuff laps. In a season that has become feast or famine for the #36 team, Sload was credited with 12th place points for the event.
However, not all was bad for the Sload family this weekend. Former ATQMRA Champion Alison Sload won her 2nd career super modified feature in Oswego, NY on Saturday.
Back to the action in Bethel, where it did not take long for the veteran Ryan Tidman to our duel front row rookies Wagner and Tyler Ferris for the lead on the opening lap.
While many eyes were on Tidman, the story of the race was already developing as Joey Bailey shot out of a cannon from the fourth starting row. The determined Bailey made every move possible from going three wide outside to almost four wide inside to chase down leader Tidman in the opening stages.
A tight duel with the Behrents Performance TQ Midget Jeff Kot kept fans on the edge of their seats, as Bailey took over the second position.
A caution for RYNO Rookie Contender Tyler Ferris after a turn 4 spin would bunch the field up near the halfway point of the race, and it was all that Bailey needed to duel with Tidman for the lead on the restart
Tensions were high and the racing was tight, as the last time the ATQMRA competed at Bethel, Tidman and Bailey tangled while fighting for the lead. While the racing remained tight, the racing stayed clean as Bailey eventually overtook the lead from Tidman and never looked back.
Joey Bailey driving the #1B Boyd Chassis earned his first victory of the season at Bethel Motor Speedway. Ryan Tidman and Jeff Kot rounded out the podium.
A tight battle between the #22 Chick-fil-A, Personal Comfort car Kyle Taraska and the #23 Badger of Avery Stoehr came down to the final lap. Taraska overtook Stoehr for fourth coming back to the white flag. Stoehr, driving for the DiMario Family, finished a strong fifth in their 2021 season debut.
Brianna Page an the A&A Truck Parts, Stavola Companies #76 team was the top finishing RYNO Classifieds Rookie Contender in sixth. After starting on the pole, fellow rookie competitor Tyler Wagner put on a great showing running all the laps and finishing an ATQMRA career high seventh.
Steve Craig closed his championship points gap to fifth place Buddy Sload this weekend by finishing in 8th. Last race’s winning owner returned to the driver seat, as Paul Dodorico and the Martha Baker D.M.D, Checkwon Manufacturing TQ Midget finished in ninth.
After experiencing the noted mid-race spin, Tyler Ferris rounded out the top-10.
Rookie Chris Pelcher made the long haul from Pittsburgh, PA to make his career debut to finish 11th. Pelcher was the last car running, as Sload rounded out the field in 12th with pre-race troubles.
The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels will be racing at Wall Stadium Speedway, on Saturday July 17th, 2021. This will begin a stretch of six races in a row at the speedway, spanning from July through September.
Race Results:
Heat 1:
1. #51T Ryan Tidman
2. #1B Joey Bailey
3. #95 Jeff Kot
4. #23 Avery Stoehr
5. #55 Paul Dodorico
6. #55C Steve Craig
Heat 2:
1. #36 Buddy Sload
2. #32 Tyler Wagner
3. #22 Kyle Taraska
4. #33 Tyler Ferris
5. #76 Brianna Page
6. #44P Chris Pelcher
Feature:
1. #1B Joey Bailey
2. #51T Ryan Tidman
3. #95 Jeff Kot
4. #22 Kyle Taraska
5. #23 Avery Stoehr
6. #76 Brianna Page
7. #32 Tyler Wagner
8. #55C Steve Craig
9. #55 Paul Dodorico
10. #33 Tyler Ferris
11. #44P Chris Pelcher
12. #36 Buddy Sload