(#22 Kyle Taraska & #1B Joey Bailey taking the checkered flag, MOV .044: Sean Case Photo
Staff Report | Monday, June 27th, 2022
Photo Credits: Sean Case, Tommy Lane
WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ- Kyle Taraska has won the 3rd Annual JJ Lane Memorial this weekend in an one lap shootout and photo finish with teammate Joey Bailey.
The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA fueled by VP Racing Fuels 3rd Annual JJ Lane Memorial is a marquee event on the series and speedway calendar. Highlighted by the legacy of late-Wall Stadium Speedway photographer JJ Lane. Many other late-members of the ATQMRA community are honored as well. These members include Bob Emmons, Bob Menschner, Bud Sload and Shawn Erm.
Fans were excited to meet the stars of the ATQMRA during a pre-race autograph session presented by Brice’s NAPA Auto Supply. Drivers spent approximately 30 minutes on the concourse meeting and greeting fans prior to the on-track action taking place.
(The "Class" of the 3rd Annual JJ Lane Memorial: Tommy Lane Photo)
For the first time since the event’s inception, the race followed a “Turkey Derby” style format with “Group Time Trial Qualifying” and a 30 lap feature. Ryan Tidman (#55 Dr. Martha Baker D.M.D) earned the $100 Bud Sload Fast Time Award for posting the fastest time of the session (13.017). Kyle Taraska (#22 Personal Comfort) earned the second quickest time of the session (13.126) locking both drivers in the first three rows of the redraw of the 18 car field.
Each driver would redraw 6th and 4th respectively, and Steve Craig (#55C Craig Bulk Carriers) redrew the pole.
After an emotional on-track ceremony with the ATQMRA teams, highlighted by a missing four man salute honoring those we have lost, Steve Craig led the field to the green flag and the race was on!
Buddy Sload (#36 Spitfire Chassis) jumped to an early lead with Taraska battling hard with Craig for second. Quick time qualifier Ryan Tidman and Jeff Kot (#95 Behrents Performance Warehouse) came together in a hard fought battle inside the top five on lap three. Both drivers would recover and be contenders by the end of the race. However, the flat left rear on Kot’s #95 machine continues a string of tough luck for his team in recent weeks.
(#36 Buddy Sload leads the 18 car field: Tommy Lane Photo)
(#22 Kyle Taraska & #1B Joey Bailey race hard coming to the checkered: Tommy Lane Photo)
On the restart, familiar faces were racing for the lead with championship favorites Sload and Taraska leading the field. The series' two-time defending champion Joey Bailey (#1B Boyd Chassis) stuck right with the leaders as they broke away from the field, approaching lapped traffic. Bailey would race closely with teammate Taraska as they hunted down the leader Buddy Sload.
The complexion of the race changed dramatically as Sload and RYNO Rookie of the Year championship points leader Zack Burd (#5z Burlington Chevrolet) came together with only three laps remaining. The racing incident sent both drivers to the back of the field, as Taraska was the beneficiary inheriting the lead from second.
On the restart, the Boyd Speed Shop put on a show for the fans not once, but twice! Bailey was able to poke his nose under Taraska off of turn two but Taraska held off Bailey coming back to the white flag.
As Taraska came off of turn four to take the checkered with the victory in hand, the caution flew yet again for a turn two incident involving RYNO Rookie Contenders Rich Barlow (#09) and Chris Pelcher (#44P). Both cars would continue, as the caution set up a one lap shootout to the finish.
On what felt like an encore from the previous restart, Bailey again was able to get a nose under Taraska off of two. This time, Bailey didn’t give Taraska a break. Both drivers would drive their cars hard into turn three, with Ryan Tidman charging from third.
Bailey slipped high as Taraska dove underneath in a crossover move coming off of turn four to the checkered flag! Kyle Taraska would edge Joey Bailey in a photo finish as both cars came across the line side by side! The margin of victory was merely .044 seconds, one of the closest in ATQMRA history.
(#36 Buddy Sload leads the 18 car field: Tommy Lane Photo)
This was the second 1-2 finish for the Boyd Speed Shop this season, as Bailey led Taraska to victory at Evergreen Raceway Park last month.
Ryan Tidman recovered extremely well from an early race incident for third. Former Champion Matt Janisch (#51J Yuhas Chassis) made a strong and consistent run in fourth. This was Janisch’s first race back after suffering injuries in a TQ Midget racing incident in Syracuse, NY, at the Indoor Auto Racing Series event this past March. It was great to have Matt back healthy and behind the wheel.
After dominating much of the feature, Buddy Sload rounded out the top five finishers.
Jeff Kot recovered from a flat left rear to a highly respectable sixth. Brianna Page’s (#76, A&A Truck Parts, Stavola) results on paper do not represent how strong she ran this weekend and as of late. A last lap incident ruined another top five finish for her, earning a seventh. Page continues to impress in her full time sophomore season.
Mark Yoder (#75 Ames Construction) earned another top ten finish as his consistency keeps Mark near the top of championship standings. Mark currently sits fourth in points heading into the summer break on the cusp of breaking into the podium.
The Rocket Ronnie Mullen (#39 Mullens Garage) finished ninth place in a strong eighteen car field. The Mullen Family are long time supporters of Wall Stadium and the ATQMRA and it was great to see “The Rocket” have a strong run in front of the hometown crowd.
Rich Barlow continued to close in on taking the top spot in RYNO Rookie of the Year Standings as this week’s RYNO Rookie of the Race. Barlow ran what he described as his career best race earning a tenth place finish.
For the fifth event in a row, the top spot in championship standings changes with Kyle Taraska regaining the lead with a slim margin over Buddy Sload.
Taraska, Sload, and many more stars of the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA fueled by VP Racing Fuels will be back in action after a “summer recess,” taking place over the next month. The ATQMRA returns on July 30th, 2022 at Wall Stadium Speedway for “NAPA Night” presented by Brice’s Auto Supply.
(Kyle Taraska and Tommy Lane in victory lane: Sean Case Photo)
RACE RESULTS:
30 Lap Feature:
1. #22 Kyle Taraska
2. #1B Joey Bailey
3. #55 Ryan Tidman
4. #51J Matt Janisch
5. #36 Buddy Sload
6. #95 Jeff Kot
7. #76 Brianna Page
8. #75 Mark Yoder
9. #39 Ronnie Mullen
10. #09 Rich Barlow
11. #44P Chris Pelcher
12. #73 Cole Mullen
13. #2 Mike Glaser
14. #723 Mike Turton
15. #5z Zack Burd
16. #33 Tyler Ferris
17. #91 Derek Hopkinson
18. #55C Steve Craig
Time Trial Results (time) (redraw):
1. #55 Ryan Tidman (13.017) (6)
2. #22 Kyle Taraska (13.126) (4)
3. #1B Joey Bailey (13.168) (7)
4. #36 Buddy Sload (13.189) (2)
5. #76 Brianna Page (13.367) (8)
6. #95 Jeff Kot (13.387) (3)
7. #33 Tyler Ferris (13.431) (5)
8. #51J Matt Janisch (13.603) (9)
9. #75 Mark Yoder (13.624) (10)
10. #55C Steve Craig (13.633) (1)
11. #5z Zack Burd (13.659)
12. #73 Cole Mullen (13.692)
13. #39 Ronnie Mullen (13.755)
14. #44P Chris Pelcher (13.978)
15. #09 Rich Barlow (14.030)
16. #2 Mike Glaser (14.073)
17. #723 Mike Turton (14.606)
18. #91 Derek Hopkinson (no time)
FEATURE FAST FACTS:
Time of Race: 17:53.571
Leader(s): 2
Lap Leader(s): #36 Sload (28) #22 Taraska (2)
Cautions: 3
RYNO Rookie of the Race: #09 Barlow (10th)
Hoosier Hot Lap: #36 Sload 13.183
VP Hard Charger: #1B Bailey | #51J Janisch (+5 each)
Bonus Award Winners:
Bud Sload Fast Time: #55 Tidman ($100)
Bob Emmons Up and Comer: #76 Page ($100)
Shawn Erm Quarter Midget Club: #1B Bailey ($100)
Bob Menschner 8th: #75 Yoder ($50)
Bob Menschner 10th: #09 Barlow ($50)
Next Race: NAPA Night presented by Brice’s Auto Supply on Saturday July 30th, 2022 at Wall Stadium Speedway, NJ