Kyle Taraska waves the checkered flag, after pulling into victory lane at Evergreen Raceway; Sean Case Photo
Staff Report | Tuesday, August 15th, 2023
Photography Credit: Sean Case and Bill Elkins
DRUMS, PA- Kyle Taraska and the #22 Personal Comfort Number Bed team returned to Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic fueled by VP Racing Fuels Victory Lane at Evergreen Raceway this weekend.
On the ATQMRA’s third attempt since May 2022 to return to Evergreen Raceway, the weather finally cooperated and a competitive field of 750cc TQ Midgets put on a great show for the fans in attendance.
Joey Bailey (#1B Boyd Speed Shop) and Matt Janisch (#51J Yuhas Chassis) earned heat race victories. Bailey redrew for the pole position and Janisch started the feature in 9th.
The field of TQ Midgets coming to the green, preparing to run laps averaging over 90 MPH; Sean Case Photo
As the green flag waved on the feature, Bailey got the early jump on teammate Taraska in the early going, as both the Boyd Speed Shop drivers pulled away from field and looked to settle the race among themselves.
Meanwhile, many drivers charged from the back half of the grid, including Janisch, Mollot Racing teammate Tyler Wagner, and RYNO Rookie Chris Coleman (#00 Spitfire Chassis) who started shotgun on the field in his second career start.
Leaders Bailey and Taraska continued to battle, as Taraska finally built enough momentum to get alongside him in the fourth turn. The teammates raced nerf bar to nerf bar into the first corner. Taraska overtook Bailey for the position and set sail on the field.
Kyle Taraska passes Joey Bailey for the lead near the halfway point of the feature; Bill Elkins Photo
The sole caution of the afternoon came out on lap 22 when Matt Janisch and Tanner VanDoren made contact in turns three and four. VanDoren, the young dirt modified superstar made his first start of the season with MJ12 Motorsports.
Both Janisch and VanDoren had promising days ruined by the incident. After Janisch showed great speed and VanDoren, who was running third at the time of contact, would both settle for finishes on the back half of the top-10.
On the restart, Joey Bailey had one more shot to regain the lead from Kyle Taraska, but it wasn’t enough as Taraska held off Bailey and the field to earn the checkered flag.
One week removed from late-race wreck at Wall Stadium Speedway, Kyle Taraska came back to Evergreen in style to earn his first career victory at Evergreen Raceway. Joey Bailey finished second earning the Boyd Speed Shop a 1-2 finish.
There was great racing throughout the entire field on Sunday; Sean Case Photo
Multi-time East Coast TQ Midget Champion Tyler Wagner made his first ATQMRA start of the season for Alan Mollot Racing and finished 3rd after spending much of the day in the top-5.
Series veteran Steve Craig earned a strong 4th place finish. After starting third, Craig spent much of the afternoon racing within the top-5 and ran his best race of the season to-date.
Championship points leader had a quiet day for the #36 Spitfire Racing team’s standards. Nonetheless, the team had a great points day and rounded out the top-5.
To add to the list of impressive runs, Chris Coleman was again this week’s RYNO Rookie of the Race and also the VP Hard Charger moving up 7 positions from the start.
RYNO Rookie Contenders Chris Coleman and Kyle Herve battle for position; Sean Case Photo
Tyler Ferris and the #7 Hamer Heating and Cooling team made their maiden voyage to Evergreen Raceway to finish 7th.
As noted, Tanner VanDoren and Matt Janisch finished 8th and 9th respectively, and Mark Yoder (#75 Ames Construction) rounded out the top-10.
Kyle Herve finished the last car on the lead lap in 11th, and Brianna Page finished 12th in her first career ATQMRA Evergreen start. Rookie contender Craig Pellegrini rounded out the field of 13 in his second start of the season.
The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic fueled by VP Racing Fuels will enjoy the next weekend off. With four unique feature winners in five events, the competitive series returns to Wall Stadium Speedway and the Hamer Heating Hometrack Shootout on Saturday, August 26th.
Kyle Taraska poses with his Personal Comfort #22 TQ Midget in victory lane at Evergreen Raceway; Bill Elkins Photo
RACE RESULTS:
FEATURE - 25 LAPS
1. #22 KYLE TARASKA
2. #1B Joey Bailey
3. #51 Tyler Wagner
4. #55 Steve Craig
5. #36 Buddy Sload
6. #00 Chris Coleman
7. #7 Tyler Ferris
8. #12 Tanner VanDoren
9. #51J Matt Janisch
10. #75 Mark Yoder
11. #24 Kyle Herve
12. #76 Brianna Page
13. #27c Craig Pellegrini
HEAT 1 - 8 LAPS
1. #1B JOEY BAILEY
2. #22 Kyle Taraska
3. #36 Buddy Sload
4. #12 Tanner VanDoren
5. #24 Kyle Herve
6. #27c Craig Pellegrini
7. #76 Brianna Page
HEAT 2 - 8 LAPS
1. #51J MATT JANISCH
2. #7 Tyler Ferris
3. #51 Tyler Wagner
4. #55 Steve Craig
5. #75 Mark Yoder
6. #00 Chris Coleman
FEATURE FAST FACTS:
Time of Race: 9:36.633
Leader: 2
Hoosier Lap Leader: #1B Joey Bailey (13), #22 Kyle Taraska (12)
Cautions: 1
RYNO Rookie of the Race: #00 Chris Coleman (6th)
Hamer Heating Hot Lap: #51J Matt Janisch (13.188)
VP Hard Charger: #00 Chris Coleman (+7)