Staff Report | Monday, May 3rd, 2021
HOWELL, NJ- The American Three Quarter Midget Racing Association is set to embark on its 66th year of competition this Saturday and the fast and physically demanding Mahoning Valley Speedway.
Mahoning Valley continues to retain its traditional position on the ATQMRA schedule as the season opener for the organization. The Lehigh Valley oval will kick off a 15 point championship race season spanning across 4 states from May through November.
The tour will visit Bethel Motor Speedway for three events, including the Joe Payne Sr. Memorial and the ATQMRA Championship this year. The New London-Waterford Speedbowl is on tap for 2 events both this June and October.
Wall Stadium Speedway continues to be the “home” of the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels, hosting nine points paying events prior to the ATQMRA’s premier event, Turkey Derby XLVIII on November 27th, 2021- the official end of Northeast Outdoor Motorsports completion for the year.
CHAMPIONSHIP PICTURE
Due to the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, points were not scored, officially, for the 2020 season. With that, Joey Bailey officially retained his championship title for another year.
Bailey’s last win came at the The New London-Waterford Speedbowl last October. The #1B Boyd Racing Team followed their win up with a pair of second place finishes at Bethel last November and Turkey Derby this past March. Joey will certainly be a force to be reckon with in this year’s points championship and has a great chance to defend his 2019 title.
2015 Champion Buddy Sload is coming off an extended break due to a season ending incident at Waterford last fall. Expect the #36 Spitfire Racing Team to come back fresh this season with a fast car out of the gate. Sload finished 2nd at Mahoning last June after winning there the year prior.
Jeff Kot and the Behrents Performance Warehouse team had a career year last season, winning at both Mahoning Valley Speedway and Wall Stadium last summer. Kot hopes to have another career year, balancing two schedules between his championship TQ efforts and new venture on dirt during his rookie season racing USAC SpeedSTR’s.
Whether you consider it ending 2020 strong or starting 2021 off right, Kyle Taraska and the Chick-fil-A/Personal Comfort team made a strong statement leading wire to wire and winning Turkey Derby XLVII this past March. Taraska, the 2018 ATQMRA Rookie of the Year, has two career feature victories which both happened at Wall Stadium. You would have to imagine with nine points races down the Jersey Shore this season, it will play in Taraska’s favor as he chases his first career championship.
In what was an off-year for the Alan Mollot 51’s in 2020, you can never count out either team at an ATQMRA sanctioned race. The 51S, currently driven by former ATQMRA Rookie of the Year and previous Turkey Derby Champion Geoffrey Sutton, is officially the championship winning defending car of the organization from 2019. Ryan Tidman’s stats in the ATQMRA are synonymous, highlighted by his five driver championships. Expect Sutton and Tidman to be apart of the conversation by the time we hit the first week of November this year.
STRONG ROOKIE CLASS
The ATQMRA RYNO Classifieds Rookie of the Year Award will certainly be one of the most well-earned Rookie Titles in recent memory.
Brianna Page and the #76 A&A Truck Parts Team lead the charge in the pre-season rookie battle. Page, who has a wealth of quarter midget experience and multiple starts behind the wheel of a TQ Midget, remained eligible for Rookie Honors after no official scoring took place in 2020 due to COVID-19. Page may have a jump start on the boys, but this season will not be a cake walk for her to earn potential Rookie and Championship honors.
Tyler Ferris, a WKA Karting National Champion, became a staple of TQ Midget Competition at Wall Stadium over the past year or so in his #33 Hamer Heating and Cooling TQ Midget. Ferris set the second fastest time in Turkey Derby time trials this past March prior to earning a respectable 7th place finish. Ferris seeks to be a threat this year for Rookie Honors.
East Coast TQ Midgets Champion Tyler Wagner is also set to begin his ATQMRA Championship and Rookie campaign at Mahoning this weekend. Wagner will be racing for long-time driver and supporter of the ATQMRA, Dave Gorbatuk. Wagner debuted in the #32 Spitfire Chassis this past March resulting in a 12th place finish.
Other Rookie of the year notables include Robert Willis and the #27 team after making their TQ debut at Wall Stadium at Turkey Derby this March. #44P Chris Pelcher and #01 Ken Moody Jr. are set to make their ATQMRA debuts at Mahoning Valley Speedway this weekend.
BREAKOUT YEAR?
Mark Yoder and the #75 family-managed Ames Construction Team has been knocking on the door year after year seeking his first career feature win. Yoder and his family have been long-time supporters of the ATQMRA and we can’t think of anyone who would be upset to see the #75 earn a trophy, and potentially a championship in 2021!
Speaking of long-time supporters, Tim Proctor and the #98 has one career ATQMRA Feature victory and will be looking for more in 2021. Proctor is one of the most respected racers in the club running consistently in the top-10. While only running part-time, Proctor seeks to continue to be a force to be reckon with in 2021.
As for part-time racers, Anthony Payne and the #12 Dent Zones team and Avery Stoehr in the #23 Badger are expected to run strong each time they hit the track this season. Payne and Stoehr, as always, are expected to run part-time in the ATQMRA this year as they balance their NEMA Lite Midget schedules. Nonetheless, each team will be a threat to win as they both seek their first under the ATQMRA banner.
Joey Payne III will look to return this year on a more consistent basis and in a more competitive form. He only made one start as a driver in 2020. However, he made one start as an owner overseeing Tommy Lane earn a top-10 finish in his late-brother’s Memorial Race at Wall Stadium last July. The JJ Lane Memorial returns to Wall Stadium on September 25th.
Expect racing veterans Steve Craig and Paul Dodorico to return to the ATQMRA in limited roles in 2021. Dodorico earned his first career victory as an owner when Ryan Tidman piloted his #55 Spitfire Chassis to victory lane at Bethel Motor Speedway last November.
Mike Glaser and the #2 Aqua Solutions team had a respectable showing at Turkey Derby this past March earning a 10th place finish. Glaser will look to continue the momentum into 2021. Bill Force Jr. Is also expected to compete in the ATQMRA this year in a newly purchased chassis.
While many unknowns remain heading into The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels season, the stands will soon be shaking and records will be shattered as the organization begins the 66th year of Premier TQ Midget Competition this weekend.