Kyle Taraska celebrates in VP Racing Fuels Victory Lane at The New London-Waterford Speedbowl - EJ O'Rourke Photo
Staff Report | Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024
Photography Credit: EJ O’Rourke, TK Race Photos
WATERFORD, CT- Kyle Taraska (#22 Boyd Speed Shop) earned his first career victory (second overall of the year) at The New London-Waterford Speedbowl this weekend. Buddy Sload (#36 Spitfire Chassis) clinched the 2024 Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA Championship fueled by VP Racing Fuels; the third of his career.
After a one year absence, the ATQMRA returned to the crown jewel facility of The New London-Waterford Speedbowl to close out the 2024 championship season. Unofficial teammates Josh Patterson (#02X Bob Hilbert Sportswear, BELFOR Property Restoration) and Matt Janisch (#51J Yuhas Chassis) won their respective heat races to start the evening of racing. In his heat, Patterson laid down a blistering 13.477 second lap. Not only was this the fastest lap of the day, but Patterson miraculously broke the 100MPH barrier on average speed (100.394 MPH).
Josh Patterson (#02) set the fastest lap of the day, battling champion Buddy Sload (#36) -EJ O'Rouke Photo
Billy Cole (#0 Lafler Chassis) made his first career start at Waterford this weekend and earned the pole for the 25-lap feature. As Cole launched at the drop of the green flag, the field scattered into three and four wide formations entering the first turn.
Taraska led the charge on the outside, from the fourth starting position. Taraska jumped to second around Steve Craig (#55 Craig Bulk Carriers) and Tyler Wagner (#51 Lindblad Badger) in a three wide move through the first set of corners. Taraska maintained his outside momentum around Billy Cole for the lead, exiting the fourth turn.
Billy Cole (#0) leads a fast pack of racers into turn 1 on the initial start. - TK Race Photos
As Taraska set the pace, pre-race favorites Janisch, series champion Buddy Sload (#36 Spitfire Chassis) and Patterson battled within the top-5. Patterson would later work outside around Sload, in a daring high-speed battle. Janisch continued to keep Taraska honest, who closed in on Taraska throughout the early stages of the race.
As the leader’s lap times fell off, Taraska remained consistent throughout the second half of the race. Kyle Taraska was able to hold off the Yuhas Chassis teams of Matt Janisch (2nd) and Josh Patterson (3rd), earning an elusive victory at The New London-Waterford Speedbowl. Patterson also earned 2024 Rookie of the Year honors.
Buddy Sload earned a 4th place finish, and Tyler Wagner rounded out the top-5.
Joey Bailey (#1B LBII Chassis) made his first official start with the ATQMRA this season at Waterford, racing for Donna and Lenny Boyd. Bailey finished 6th, and won the NEMA Lite Feature earlier in the same evening.
Steve Craig ran a competitive seventh. The Hirt family made their first starts of the ATQMRA season at their home track this weekend. Chris Hirt (#78 Colonial Carpentry) of Newington, CT and Ken Hirt (#97 Staxx Construction) of Danbury, CT finished 8th and 9th respectively. After a promising start to the day, Billy Cole rounded out the top-10 with an engine issue.
The #22 Boyd Speed Shop Team celebrates in VP Racing Fuels Victory Lane. (Left to Right) John Cerny, Russ Bailey, Kyle Taraska, Frank Vogel, Joe Zuzzolo, Brian Miller -TK Race Photos
Kyle Taraska dominated Saturday’s feature leading all 25-laps. The humbled driver extended his appreciation to his Boyd Speed Shop team including Russ Bailey, Lenny Boyd, Donna Boyd, Frank Vogel, John Cerny, Brian Miller and wife Megan. Taraska was honored to have Joe Zuzzolo in attendance for the victory as well.
Buddy Sload clinched his third career ATQMRA Driver Championship this weekend at The New London-Waterford Speedbowl by taking the green flag. Sload capped off his championship campaign with 1 victory (Wall Stadium -JJ Lane Memorial 7/27) and an average finishing position of 2.83. Sload only finished outside of the top-5 on one occasion, which was a 6th place finish at Wall Stadium earlier this spring.
Sload’s efforts on the track would not be accomplished without the support of his Spitfire Racing Team. This includes Car Owner Colin Martin, who earned his fourth career Owner’s Championship this year, Sean Moyer, mother Karen and wife Alison. The team also remembers Buddy’s father, the-late Bud Sload Sr. The ATQMRA congratulates the #36 team on their accomplishments and extends their appreciation to the team for their continued contributions to the organization.
Buddy Sload and the Spitfire Racing Team led by Colin Martin, 2024 ATQMRA Champions -EJ O'Rourke Photo
Josh Patterson and the JX3 Racing Team secured the ATQMRA Rookie of the Year Award.
The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMffRA fueled by VP Racing Fuels will officially conclude the 2024 season at Turkey Derby 51, at Wall Stadium Speedway on Saturday, November 30th.
FEATURE RESULTS (25 LAPS):
1. #22 Kyle Taraska
2. #51J Matt Janisch
3. #02X Josh Patterson
4. #36 Buddy Sload
5. #51 Tyler Wagner
6. #1B Joey Bailey
7. #55 Steve Craig
8. #78 Chris Hirt
9. #97 Ken Hirt
10. #0 Billy Cole Jr.
HEAT 1 RESULTS (8 LAPS):
1. #02X Josh Patterson
2. #36 Buddy Sload
3. #51 Tyler Wagner
4. #0 Billy Cole Jr.
5. #78 Chris Hirt
HEAT 2 RESULTS (8 LAPS):
1. #51J Matt Janisch
2. #1B Joey Bailey
3. #22 Kyle Taraska
4. #55 Steve Craig
5. #97 Ken Hirt
FEATURE FAST FACTS:
Time of Race: 5.56:437
Leader(s): 1
Lap Leader(s): #22 Kyle Taraska (25)
Cautions: 0
Fastest Lap: #02X Josh Patterson (13.918)
Rookie of the Race: #02X Josh Patterson (2nd)
TOP-5 POINTS RESULTS (DRIVERS):
1. #36 Buddy Sload (1112)
2. #51 Tyler Wagner (1044)
3. #22 Kyle Taraska (964)
4. #55 Steve Craig (884)
5. #75 Mark Yoder (824)