Chris Coleman poses in Wall Stadium Victory Lane on 7-13-24 for his first career feature win -Kristen Cocca Photo
Staff Report | Monday, July 15th, 2024
Photography Credit: Eric Storch, Kristen Cocca
WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ - Chris Coleman of East Islip, NY held off the field on a late-race restart to earn his first career victory at Wall Stadium Speedway this weekend.
This past Saturday, the tour competed in their sixth race of the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA fueled by VP Racing Fuels season. This event was also the fourth race held for the Hamer Heating and Cooling Hometrack Shootout TQ Midget Championship at Wall Stadium Speedway.
Heat Race Winners Tyler Wagner (#51) and Josh Patterson (#02) battled well within the top-5 in Saturday's feature - Kristen Cocca Photo
Josh Patterson (#02 Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Belfor Property Restoration) and co-points leader Tyler Wagner (#51 Linblad Badger) won their respective heat races. Steve Craig (#55 Craig Bulk Carriers) led the field to the green for the 25-lap feature.
Coleman jumped to the lead early from the outside pole and set a fast pace from the start. While Coleman was putting together a career run with consistent fast laps, the veteran Steve Craig was putting a career run together himself.
For much of the feature, Chris Coleman (#27) and Steve Craig (#55) commanded the top-2 positions. -Eric Storch Photo
Craig ran much of the feature in the second position, holding off championship leaders Tyler Wagner and Buddy Sload (#36 Spitfire Chassis).
Sload benefited greatly from an aggressive three wide move on the start, which paid dividends moving Sload from eighth to fifth after the first lap. Sload battled intently with co-points leader Wagner and Josh Patterson throughout the early going.
Buddy Sload (#36) made a spectacular 3 wide move to position himself well in the early stages. Mark Yoder (#75) and Zack Burd (#5z) also pictured. - Kristen Cocca Photo
A late race caution caused by the spinning Zack Burd (#5z Burlington Chevrolet, ACDT Dog Training), bunched the field up for one last run to the checkered.
Zack Burd's late race spin set up a dramatic finish to the checkered. - Eric Storch Photo
It was the young Coleman who showed perseverance in a high pressure situation to run through his gears clean, getting a jump on the field entering the first turn.
A wild restart followed behind Coleman, with second place Craig experiencing a brake issue entering the first corner. Coleman tried to gap the field as Craig fell back.
As Craig moved high, the sea’s parted for Wagner and Sload who were not only in pursuit of the championship, but now Coleman for the victory.
Kyle Taraska (#22) and Josh Patterson (#02) battled side by side for multiple laps on the final stretch to the finish - Erich Storch Photo
A daring late race charge from Kyle Taraska (#22 Boyd Speed Shop) saw him take advantage of the restart, making an outside (and even three wide middle) move to jump from sixth to fourth, closing in on Sload for third as he looked to remain relevant in the championship fight himself.
As the field shuffled, the focus remained on Coleman and Wagner as they battled for the win over the final three laps. Wagner was able to get to the bumper of Coleman, but ran out of time to be able to complete the pass.
Chris Coleman went on to score his first career ATQMRA feature victory!
Tyler Wagner, Buddy Sload and Kyle Taraska completed positions second through fourth respectively.
Tyler Ferris (#7 Hamer Heating and Cooling) put a strong run together starting near the rear of the field to round out the top-5. Ferris would finish fourth in the modified feature later that evening- a strong night for the Hamer Motorsports Group.
Josh Patterson and the Jx3 Racing Team continue to make improvements as they get a handle on Wall Stadium’s inner oval. After spending much of the evening running in the top-5, Patterson finished 6th in the feature.
Mark Yoder (#75 Ames Construction) battled to a seventh place finish, and Steve Craig ultimately fell back to eighth after one of the strongest showings of his career.
Kyle Herve (#24 CARS Auto Body) made gains on their program this weekend as well, even if the box score doesn’t show it in the results. Herve finished 9th. ATQMRA rookie and racing veteran Billy Cole (#0 Lafler) earned a respectable 10th place finish as they continue to build their TQ Midget program as well.
The ATQMRA welcomed back members Don Zrinski (#75z) and Anthony Payne (#45) this weekend after their respective absences. - Eric Storch Photo
After an almost three-year absence, the ATQMRA welcomed back Anthony Payne (#45 Payne Motorsports). While the team was looking for more, the team learned a lot to come back stronger for the JJ Lane Memorial, after their 11th place finish.
Zack Burd continued running after his noted spin and finished 12th. Don Zrinski (#75z) also returned to the ATQMRA this weekend after a long absence. Zrinski finished 13th.
Brianna Page (#76 A&A Truck Parts) rounded up the field in 14th. After high optimism from the team after practice and their heat race, an unfortunate clutch issue derailed the team’s efforts early. Page, who like the noted Tyler Ferris, ran double duty Saturday as well. Page finished 8th in her sportsman modified soon after the checkered flag fell on the ATQMRA feature.
Chris Coleman takes the checkered flag for his first career victory - Kristen Cocca Photo
Long Island, NY native Chris Coleman stole the show Saturday night. Ironically, due to the early morning forecasts, the Coleman Racing Team almost didn’t make the trip to Wall Stadium Speedway Saturday.
Their gamble on the weather was a gamble that was well-paid off. Coleman (age 17) has been racing INEX Legends cars since he was 11 at Bethel Motor Speedway and Riverhead Raceway in New York. Coleman pursued competing in the TQ Midget division over the last two seasons. Saturday’s victory was the first feature win for Chris Coleman across all divisions in his racing career.
Chris is supported at the track each week by his father Ed, brother Stephen (who is a sportsman modified racer himself). Chris also receives support from Paul Dodorico and the PDR team.
The ATQMRA extends their appreciation to the Wall Stadium Speedway staff and safety crew for their commitment to getting Saturday’s program completed in its entirety, after severe weather passed through the area early Saturday.
The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA fueled by VP Racing Fuels, in conjunction with the Hamer Heating and Cooling Hometrack Shootout, returns to Wall Stadium on Saturday, July 27th for the 5th Annual JJ Lane Memorial.
RACE RESULTS:
FEATURE (25 LAPS):
1. #27 Chris Coleman
2. #51 Tyler Wagner
3. #36 Buddy Sload
4. #22 Kyle Taraska
5. #7 Tyler Ferris
6. #02 Josh Patterson
7. #75 Mark Yoder
8. #55 Steve Craig
9. #24 Kyle Herve
10. #0 Billy Cole
11. #45 Anthony Payne
12. #5z Zack Burd
13. #75z Don Zrinski
14. #76 Brianna Page
HEAT 1 (8 LAPS):
1. #02 Josh Patterson
2. #75 Mark Yoder
3. #55 Steve Craig
4. #22 Kyle Taraska
5. #7 Tyler Ferris
6. #76 Brianna Page
7. #45 Anthony Payne
HEAT 2 (8 LAPS):
1. #51 Tyler Wagner
2. #27 Chris Coleman
3. #36 Buddy Sload
4. #5z Zack Burd
5. #24 Kyle Herve
6. #0 Billy Cole
7. #75 Don Zrinski