Wall Stadium Speedway, Saturday September 27, 2025
Photo Credit: Eric Storch 📸
Dramatic End to the 2025 ATQMRA Regular Season
The ATQMRA regular season came to a dramatic close Saturday night at Wall Stadium Speedway, with the championship contenders leaving nothing to chance. Any doubts about whether the top three in points would battle hard in the finale were quickly erased as the green flag dropped.
The evening opened with the Aqua Solutions Heat Races, won by Buddy Sload and Tyler Ferris. With an added $900 in bonus money on the line for the feature, the drivers wasted no time turning up the heat.
When the 25-lap feature went green, #36 Buddy Sload controlled the start from the pole. Right behind him, the championship trio lined up with #12 Blake Barney in fourth, #7 Tyler Ferris in fifth, and points leader #99 Ryan Tidman in sixth (+12 entering the event). As the field roared into turn one, Steve Craig #55 Craig, Ferris, and Tidman went three-wide, with Tidman powering around the outside to grab the advantage. He quickly cleared both Ferris and Craig before taking third from #95 Jeff Kot.
One lap later, Tidman dove under Barney in turn one, making a clean pass for second. Just five laps into the race, he challenged Sload for the lead, completing the decisive move on the inside to take control. Sload maintained a solid 4th place run for the remainder of the race. Kot held down the 5th spot before the #51 made hard contact with the #95, losing 2 positions.
Behind the leaders, racing was equally intense. #23 Joey Payne, first time in the Phil’s Machine Badger drove by #51 Geoffrey Sutton for fifth, while Kyle Taraska in the #1b earned the Hard Charger Award finishing seventh. #97 Ken Hirt and #94 Bruce Leote also made the trip to New Jersey, posting competitive lap times throughout the night.
Tidman opened up an overall one second lead and never looked back, sealing the victory.
In the end, Paul Dodorico Racing (PDR), based in Miller Place, NY, with Ryan Tidman of Southampton, PA behind the wheel, clinched both the 2025 ATQMRA Driver and Owners Championships. Tidman, now a six-time ATQMRA champion, delivered the first New York based championship in 22 years. It was his fourth win of the season and secured the crown by a 20-point margin.
Tyler Ferris finished second in points, after a strong 2025 campaign and Rookie of the Year, Blake Barney capped off his stellar first season, third in points. Jeff Kot and Steve Craig tied for 4th in points.
In Victory Lane, Tidman expressed gratitude to ATQMRA series sponsors Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic and VP Racing Fuels, as well as Wall Stadium Speedway. He also thanked Finish Line Bookkeeping, Aqua Solutions, and PDR supporters including Dr. Martha C. Baker, The Fidge Factor Website Design, and CheckerWon Motorsports, and Dodorico’s commitment to detail in the car's preparation.
The 2025 ATQMRA season finale delivered the drama, intensity, and storybook ending worthy of a championship night.
Awards and Bonuses
$100 NO CAUTION BONUS- Blake Barney #12
$100 FINISH LINE BOOKKEEPING FAST TIME AWARD - Ryan Tidman #99 (13.07)
$100 MOST LAPS LED - Ryan Tidman #99
$100 HARD CHARGER - Kyle Taraska #1b
$100 HARD LUCK - Bruce Leote #94
$100 RANDOM DRAW - Bruce Leote #94
$100 LONGEST TOW - Ken Hirt #97
Aqua Solutions Heat Race Winners:
$100 Heat Race #1 #36 Buddy Sload
$100 Heat Race #2 #7 Tyler Ferris
ATQMRA Midgets Feature:
1. #99 Ryan Tidman
2. #12 Blake Barney
3. #7 Tyler Ferris
4. #36 Buddy Sload
5. #23 Joey Payne
6. #51 Geoffrey Sutton
7. #1b Kyle Taraska
8. #95 Jeff Kot
9. #55 Steve Craig
10. #97 Ken Hirt
11. #0 Anthony Payne
12. #94 Bruce Leote