The Battle At Bethel; 2019 ATQMRA Championship Stage is Set 

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The Battle At Bethel; 2019 ATQMRA Championship Stage is Set 

After a long, hard-fought season, the 2019 Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels championship stage is set. 

Championship favorites Joey Bailey and Buddy Sload are ready to square off and compete to earn the ATQMRA’s highest honors this weekend at Bethel Motor Speedway in Swan Lake, New York. Contenders Geoffrey Sutton and Ryan Tidman seek to give it their all, as they fight some adversity to potentially earn the championship crown themselves. The ATQMRA Championship event will be one of the many highlights of Bethel Motor Speedway’s “Novemberfest Weekend,” the final event of the speedway’s season. 

Joey Bailey has been the driver to beat this season. Bailey’s #51B Yuhas Chassis, co-owned by his father Russ and Alan Mollot enter Bethel with a 20 point lead over the field. With each on-track position equaling 4 points, Bailey must finish 4th or better at Bethel regardless of how contenders Sload, Sutton, and Tidman place. 

Season to-date, Joey Bailey has earned a 2.3 average finishing position through 10 sanctioned events. The stat is driven by four feature wins, not including his rain-out, non-sanctioned victory at Pocono in August. While this is dominate, Bailey is coming off his worst finish of the year, which was 7th, at Wall Stadium in the beginning of October.

 There is no question that Bailey has the speed, talent, and determination to earn his first career championship this season. Furthermore, between co-owners Russ and Alan, who each have a wealth of knowledge in their own rights, the #51B has a strong support group to bring home the title. Bailey not-only seeks his first career championship, but he also seeks to be one of the youngest to accomplish the feat at age 22. 

While Buddy Sload already has a championship to his name, he certainly would love to add another to his racing resume. Sload’s statistics nearly mirror Bailey’s. With three feature wins, and an average finishing position 2.8, Sload has kept Bailey honest throughout the season. However, Sload’s worst finish of the year was at Bethel this August, where he finished 8th.

Spitfire Racing owner Colin Martin has earned quite the reputation for success over his storied career. The #36 Spitfire Racing Team has a lot of depth this year beyond driver and owner, which lies behind the craftsmanship of both BJ Macdonald and John Smith. Although this team does not entirely control their destiny, expect this talented group to put up a strong fight until the checkered flag flies. 

Contender’s Geoffrey Sutton and Ryan Tidman look to throw a Hail Mary and pull off the upset this year if either where to bring home the Championship. Both drivers have had a great year. However, it just hasn’t been the year both the #51B and #36 Teams have had. 

Sutton enters Bethel third in points, 32 markers behind leader Bailey. Sutton has earned two feature victories this year, both which came at Wall Stadium Speedway. Sutton, racing Alan Mollot’s legendary Lindblad Chassis, would like nothing more than to bring home another championship to Mollot. 

Along with Sutton’s success on asphalt, his pair of feature wins on dirt in the Xcel 600cc Modifieds solidify his talents as a diverse driver, and certainly a deserving champion if circumstances were to fall his way this weekend. Sutton will be backed by both Alan Mollot as mentioned, and his biggest fan, father Greg Sutton. 

Speaking of deserving champions, Ryan Tidman is a five-time ATQMRA Championship himself. While both Tidman and car-owner Lenny Boyd haven’t earned the success that either stride for this year, they have scratched and clawed to remain in the title-fight all the way down to the wire. Tidman enters Bethel with one win to his credit this year, which just so happened to come at Bethel this past August. 

Like Sutton, Tidman needs some good fortune beyond a great finish to fall his way in order to earn his sixth championship, as he enters the race 38 points behind leader Bailey. Nonetheless, be assured that The Boyd Racing Team with the support of John Cerny and Lenny’s wife, Donna, will make every lap count at Bethel. 

Other top-10 point standing battles and notables include the following:

Regardless of what happens on-track, Mark Yoder has clinched 5th place in championship standings. 

The father and son duo of both Ronnie and Cole Mullen have a points battle of their own to earn 6th this season. Ronnie enters Bethel 34 points ahead of son Cole. 

Friendly-rivals Jeff Kot and Kyle Taraska have a tight battle for 8th in points, neither running a full season. Kot enters Bethel 20 points ahead of Taraska. 

Tim Proctor currently owns the 10th position in standings. Proctor leads a brigade of driver mathematically eligible to take over the position. They include Dave Gorbatuk, Steve Craig, and Paul Dodorico. 

The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA Powered by VP Racing Fuels will conclude their 56th Championship Points Season at Bethel Motor Speedway on Saturday, November 2nd, 2019. As always, the ATQMRA will take part in the prestigious Turkey Derby weekend at Wall Stadium Speedway on Saturday, November 30th 2019 for a year-end non-points showdown. 

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Nelke Impresses in ATQMRA Debut

Staff Report | Wednesday, June 19th, 2019

It was not until 10:00 AM race day morning until father Jon Nelke received a call from #02 Bruce/Boyd Chassis car owner Russ Bailey, inquiring to have his son, Jake, race the car up at Bethel Motor Speedway later that afternoon.

Jon, who at the time was working for a client of his South Jersey Roofing Business, had to scramble to put a plan in place.

“While we certainly wish it were under better circumstances, this was a dream opportunity for Jake and I knew we had no choice but to take advantage,” said Jon.

The unfortunate circumstances he is referring to, is Mike Glaser. Glaser, the 2016 ATQMRA Rookie of the Year, was set to get behind the wheel for the first time in a long time after taking a leave of absence as a driver due to health complications. Unfortunately, those complications sparked up again early Saturday morning, not permitting him to drive.

“We were certainly hoping to get Mike in a car this weekend,” stated Russ Bailey. “Mike is a great person, and a great ambassador for the ATQMRA. The unfortunate circumstances that did not allow Mike to race this weekend were out of everyone’s control.”

With the car in the trailer and race ready, Russ put his best foot forward to get the car to the track. He just needed a driver, and someone to get the car to Bethel. The Nelke family was the first family he called.

Jake Nelke, currently a full-time sportsman modified driver at Wall Stadium Speedway, grew up racing .25 midgets with current ATQMRA points leader, and Russ’s son, Joey Bailey.

With an already great relationship between the families and Jake’s established racing resume, the Bailey’s knew Jake was a great candidate to put behind the wheel of the #02 in this unique, last minute scenario.

Due to the timing, the Nelke’s would arrive at Bethel after the conclusion of practice. Speedway officials allowed Jake five warm-up laps to get settled in prior to the heat races. These were not only Jake’s first five laps of the afternoon, they were Jake’s first five laps in a TQ Midget ever.

After starting last in both events due to ATQMRA rules requiring any driver within their first three starts, to start at the rear of the field, it would set the stage for Jake to raise eyebrows for all of those in attendance. A fourth place finish in the heat, and a sixth place finish in the feature, all while not putting a scratch on the car. With two opportunities to drive up through the field, Nelke executed that perfectly with competitive lap times and clean passes, earning the respect of many within the organization.

“Today every lap was such a cool learning experience,” said of Jake post-race. “I really started to feel like I got comfortable by the time the caution (lap 12) came out in the feature.... these cars are a blast to drive! I can’t thank my dad and the Bailey’s for helping put this deal together.”

While there is currently no set time-line for Jake Nelke to get behind the wheel of a TQ Midget again, one would think a plan will be set in place soon to see his return to the organization. For now, Jake will continue to focus on his sportsman modified career at Wall Stadium.

The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels returns to the track this Saturday, June 22nd, at the Mahoning Valley Speedway for Round 5 of the 2019 championship campaign.

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Mike Glaser to Make Triumphant Return at Bethel

Photo Credit: Sean Case

Staff Report | June 11th, 2019

Mike Glaser is set to compete in his first Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels feature in years this weekend at Bethel Motor Speedway.

Glaser, the 2016 ATQMRA Rookie of the Year, will be turning laps in Russ Bailey’s #02 Zuzzolo Chassis.

“This weekend is all about turning laps and getting comfortable again,” stated Glaser.

After battling two bouts with cancer and surgeries, it is understandable why Glaser has taken a hiatus. Nonetheless, Glaser has still been actively involved in the ATQMRA specifically as a crew member of the Spitfire Racing #16 driven by Kyle Taraska.

“Kyle will still be my priority focus this weekend. My goal as a driver is to run safe laps until I get back to 100%.”

The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels will be celebrating the history of the organization at Bethel Motor Speedway’s second Annual Pine Brook Reunion, on Saturday June 15th, 2019.

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