Paul Dodorico Racing celebrates in victory lane at Turkey Derby 50; EJ O'Rourke PhotoStaff Report | Monday, November 27th, 2023
Photo Credit: EJ O’Rourke Photography, Eric Storch Photography
WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ- Ryan Tidman and Paul Dodorico’s Racing domination continued at Wall Stadium Speedway earning this year’s Turkey Derby 50 ATQMRA feature victory.
A competitive field of TQ's coming to green led by Cole Mullen; EJ O'Rourke Photo
Many looked to Tidman to be this weekend’s favorite after placing the fastest time of all teams in practice one week prior. Tidman earned the pole and the Bud Sload Memorial Fast Time Award $100 bonus with a lap time of 13.233 seconds. With the invert, Tidman would start 8th and Cole Mullen of Brick, NJ earned the pole for the 30 lap feature.
At the drop of the green flag Kyle Taraska went for a slide in front of the field from the 4th position, entering turn 1. Taraska would spin across the nose of “invader” Billy Pauch Jr. in the Burd Racing entry, as Pauch made contact with Taraska’s left front wheel, “straightening” the 22 machine and as the field scattered, the race remained green.
Buddy Sload "dirt tracking" around dirt star Billy Pauch Jr. in a wild opening lap; Eric Storch Photo
Cole Mullen went on to lead the opening lap but could not hold off the early race charge from Tidman, going from 8th to 1st within the first 2 laps of the feature. It was Buddy Sload who initiated the charge, before Tidman made a daring three-wide move in turn 1 underneath both Sload and C. Mullen. Sload would follow Tidman and settle into 2nd remaining in close pursuit of the lead.
Tight racing amongst the field came to a halt near the lap 10 mark when Jeff Kot went for a spin off of turn 4. Kot did not retain damage from the incident, and would regroup and recover for a top-10 finish.
A few laps after the restart, the final caution of the afternoon flew as Josh Patterson made contact with Kyle Taraska entering turn 1. A hard fought battle between Taraska, Patterson and Pauch Jr. led to the contact as Taraska was spun around. Like Kot, Taraska would also comeback to recover for a top-10 finish.
By the final restart of the race, the cream had risen to the top as Tidman remained in the lead. However it was Matt Janisch of Nazareth, PA now in second. Janisch muscled his way up to the leaders after starting 10th.
Ultimately, Tidman would set sail and run away from the field. Tidman’s domination did not stop the intense battle for second between Janisch, Sload and Joey Bailey.
Joey Bailey battling amongst the Alan Mollot Racing cars (51J- Janisch) (51- Wagner); EJ O'Rourke Photo
Bailey, racing Lenny and Donna Boyd’s LBII Chassis, would be the star of the show in the second half of the feature, making a late race charge to the 2nd finishing position.
Sload would pick off Janisch prior to Bailey, prior to Bailey passing Sload on the final lap of the feature.
While the action remained fierce throughout the top-5, half a track ahead was Ryan Tidman driving off into the sunset to earn his second consecutive Turkey Derby victory and third overall. None more honorable than earning a wreath on the 50th anniversary of this historic event.
Joey Bailey made the noted charge to finish second and Buddy Sload capped off his championship season with a podium finish in 3rd.
Like Bailey, Tyler Wagner finally earned the breakthrough run he was looking for in the ATQMRA. Wagner snookered teammate Janisch for 4th, as the Alan Mollot Racing team rounded out the top 5.
Jeff Kot earned a 6th place finish and Tyler Ferris would hang tough all day to earn 7th for the Hamer Motorsports Group.
Kyle Taraska finished 8th and Billy Pauch Jr. had a successful campaign in 9th. After starting on the pole, Cole Mullen showed a lot of grit to battle for a hard earned 10th place finish.
The ATQMRA showcased in front of a near capacity crowd braving the cold at Turkey Derby 50; EJ O'Rourke Photo
The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA fueled by VP Racing Fuels would like to thank our competitors, sponsors and fans for their incredible support throughout this season. Further, the ATQMRA extends their appreciation to the Krause Family and the Wall Stadium Speedway team for keeping the tradition of Turkey Derby alive.
We wish you all a happy holiday season and we will see you in 2024 for our 69th Annual Season.
Ryan Tidman, 3X ATQMRA Turkey Derby Champion | 5X ATQMRA Series Champion; Eric Storch Photo
RACE RESULTS:
FEATURE (30 LAPS):
1. #99 Ryan Tidman
2. #1B Joey Bailey
3. #36 Buddy Sload
4. #51 Tyler Wagner
5. #51J Matt Janisch
6. #95 Jeff Kot
7. #7 Tyler Ferris
8. #22 Kyle Taraska
9. #5z Billy Pauch Jr.
10. #73 Cole Mullen
11. #02 Josh Patterson
12. #24 Kyle Herve
13. #27 Chris Coleman
14. #711 Joe Toth
15. #76 Brianna Page
16. #2 Mike Glaser
17. #39 Ronnie Mullen
18. #55 Steve Craig, DNS
TIME TRIAL (Top-8 invert):
1. #99 Ryan Tidman 13.233 (8th)
2. #1B Joey Bailey 13.367 (7th)
3. #51 Tyler Wagner 13.422 (6th)
4. #36 Buddy Sload 13.492 (5th)
5. #22 Kyle Taraska 13.517 (4th)
6. #5z Billy Pauch Jr. 13.519 (3rd)
7. #7 Tyler Ferris 13.659 (2nd)
8. #73 Cole Mullen 13.682 (1st)
9. #02 Josh Patterson 13.717
10. #51J Matt Janisch 13.761
11. #95 Jeff Kot 13.830
12. #76 Brianna Page 13.865
13. #39 Ronnie Mullen 13.956
14. #27 Chris Coleman 13.964
15. #24 Kyle Herve 14.033
16. #711 Joe Toth 14.187
17. #2 Mike Glaser 14.334
18. #55 Steve Craig, DNS
FEATURE FAST FACTS:
Time of Race: 13:03.574
Leader(s): 2
Hoosier Lap Leader(s): #99 Ryan Tidman (28), #73 Cole Mullen (2)
Cautions: 3
RYNO Rookie of the Race: #5z Billy Pauch Jr. (9th)
CONTINGENCY AWARD WINNERS:
$100 Bud Sload Fast Time Award (PDR): Ryan Tidman (13.233)
$100 First Time Winner (or highest non-ATQMRA Feature Winner) (BELFOR):
Tyler Wagner (4th)
$50 Hard Luck Award (most positions lost) (Finish Line Bookeeping LLC):
Cole Mullen (-9)
$50 Lap Hard Charger (most positions gained) (Brice & Van Wickle NAPA):
Ryan Tidman (+7)
$50 Fastest Lap of Feature (Brice & Van Wickle NAPA):
Ryan Tidman (12.961)
$50 last feature finisher on the lead lap (Brice and Van Wickle NAPA):
Josh Patterson (11th)
$20 Lap Leaders (Sponsor):
Lap 1- Cole Mullen (Boyd Speed Shop)
Lap 5- Ryan Tidman (The Fidge Factor Website Design)
Lap 8- Ryan Tidman (In memory of Bob Emmons)
Lap 9- Ryan Tidman (Dr. Martha Baker DMD)
Lap 22- Ryan Tidman (Boyd Speed Shop)