Staff Report | Monday, October 10th, 2022
WATERFORD, CT- The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA fueled by VP Racing Fuels is set to invade The New London-Waterford Speedbowl this weekend for its annual trip. This year, the stakes have never been bigger.
For the first time in ATQMRA history, “The Speedbowl” will be hosting the organization’s championship event.
While many eyes will be focused on the championship fight, there are numerous battles and story lines to keep an eye on as the weekend approaches. Let’s not forget, this weekend’s race pays a cool $500 to win with Waterford hosting not only the championship feature, but round two of the RYNO.co Triple Crown!
CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
Kyle Taraska enters Waterford this weekend one race away from having a dream realized of becoming an ATQMRA championship race car driver. While Taraska controls his own destiny, he has tough company.
The season-long championship battle will mathematically come down to either Taraska or 2015 ATQMRA Champion Buddy Sload.
#22 KYLE TARASKA SEASON STATS TO-DATE
Races: 10
Wins: 3
Top 5s: 9
Top 10s: 10
Avg Fin: 2.6
#36 BUDDY SLOAD SEASON STATS TO-DATE
Races: 10
Wins: 2*
Top 5s: 9
Top 10s: 10
Avg Fin: 3.6
*swept twin-feature night at Wall Stadium on 6/4; points awarded for the event are cumulatively based on results of both features per ATQMRA rulebook.
Kyle Taraska takes the checkered flag at Wall Stadium in May, 2022; Kristen Cocca Photo
Taraska has performed at career high levels this season. His three feature victories are not only his career best for a single season, but it matches the amount of feature victories he had combined heading into this year.
Sload has experienced his own struggles of late, but has managed to persevere and stay relevant within the championship battle. Sload is a veteran of the organization and will look to use experience to his advantage to get ahead of Taraska to earn his second career ATQMRA championship.
Buddy Sload celebrates at Wall Stadium Speedway in June, 2022; Eric Storch Photo
In the scenario that Buddy Sload earns another Waterford victory this weekend, Taraska still owns the tie-breaker with having (2) second place finishes this year compared to Sload’s (1).
Kyle Taraska enters Waterford with a 36 point lead over fellow championship contender Buddy Sload. With each on-track position worth 4 points each, Taraska must finish 10th (or within 10 finishing positions of Sload) or better to guarantee his first championship. With a big entry list expected, this championship may very well come down to the final lap.
In the previous two ATQMRA features at The New London-Waterford Speedbowl, Taraska has finished sixth and fourth, while Sload earned a victory and a third-place finish respectively.
LOCKED-UP
After taking the green flag at Wall Stadium Speedway this past September, #5z Zack Burd officially clinched the 2022 RYNO Rookie of the Year award. Burd earned respectable numbers as an ATQMRA Rookie, averaging a 9.4 finishing position.
Burd’s 2022 highlights include two top-5 finishes and coming within laps of earning a feature victory at Wall Stadium this past August.
#5z Zack Burd, 2022 ATQMRA RYNO.co Rookie of the Year; Sean Case Photo
Not only is the RYNO Rookie of the Year locked up, but so is the ATQMRA Owner’s Championship as well. The #22 Zuzzolo Chassis owned by Russ Bailey has officially clinched the Owner’s title by entering Waterford 114 points (max points per race = 100) over Colin Martin’s #36 Spitfire Chassis.
While Buddy Sload is the primary driver of the #36 car, the team has experienced some bad luck mechanically which sidelined the #36 in multiple events this year. In these events, Sload competed in other vehicles to stay close in the driver’s championship fight.
BATTLES TO WATCH
There are multiple close championship battles throughout the points grid that will be settled at Waterford this weekend as well.
#75 Mark Yoder currently hangs onto 3rd place in championship standings; Sean Case Photo
While the top two driver’s positions in points may be locked, the battle for third is very tight. #75 Mark Yoder currently owns the final podium position. However, #76 Brianna Page and #95 Jeff Kot are within Yoder’s wake.
Mark Yoder enters Waterford with 748 points. The points total places Yoder 12 points (3 positions) ahead of Brianna Page, and 20 points (5 positions) ahead of Kot.
Jeff Kot returned to victory lane this August at Mahoning Valley; Sean Case Photo
With each respective driver earning a feature victory this year, Brianna Page currently owns the tie-breaker over Yoder and Kot as the only driver of the party to finish in second place to-date. Kot currently owns the tie-breaker over Yoder with (2) third place finishes to-date.
Brianna Page in Wall Stadium Victory Lane celebrating her first career win; Sean Case Photo
The battle for 10th is extremely tight as well between #33 Tyler Ferris and #51J Matt Janisch. Ferris currently owns the position by a mere 4 points over Janisch heading into the championship finale.
RACEDAY PREVIEW
Lost in the championship points scenarios, we must remember there is still a race to be won and a trophy to be handed out by evening's end as well.
The two-time defending ATQMRA champion Joey Bailey returns to TQ Midget action this weekend as he balances his duties in the NEMA Lites Midget Series. Bailey also happens to be the defending champion of this race as well.
Two-time defending ATQMRA Champion Joey Bailey returns to the cockpit this weekend; Sean Case Photo
The RYNO.co Triple Crown will offer $500 to the winner of the ATQMRA Waterford feature. Ryan Tidman racing for Paul Dodorico Racing earned the first $500 paycheck from RYNO at Wall Stadium this past September.
A STRONG field is expected to travel to Waterford this weekend. Some notables include open-wheel star Avery Stoehr making his return to the ATQMRA racing Phil DiMario’s #23 Badger.
Kyle Herve, racing a Lafler Chassis under the Lou Ciconni banner is expected to make his outdoor TQ Midget debut. Herve had one prior TQ Midget start in Syracuse, NY earlier this year for the annual Len Sammons Productions Indoor Auto Racing Series event.
Joey Payne III is also expected to make his 2022 ATQMRA debut this weekend at Waterford. Expect to see Payne III behind the wheel of his #67 Badger at Turkey Derby XLIX this November.
Tentative ATQMRA Waterford Entry List
1. #1B- Joey Bailey
2. #2- Mike Glaser
3. #22- Kyle Taraska
4. #23- Avery Stoehr
5. #24- Kyle Herve
6. #33- Tyler Ferris
7. #36- Buddy Sload
8. #39- Ronnie Mullen
9. #51- Tyler Wagner
10. #51J- Matt Janisch
11. #55- Steve Craig
12. #67- Joey Payne III
13. #73- Cole Mullen
14. #75- Mark Yoder
15. #76- Brianna Page
16. #95- Jeff Kot
The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA fueled by VP Racing Fuels is set to compete in the 2022 Championship Points finale, at The New London-Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday, October 15th. For a full schedule of events and ticketing information, please visit Speedbowlct.com.
Ryan Tidman in Wall Stadium Victory Lane- Ed Malik Photo
Kyle Taraska hoists the VP Checkered Flag in Wall Stadium Victory Lane for the third time this season; Sean Case Photo)
(Jeff Kot Celebrates in Victory Lane with the VP Racing Fuels Checkered Flag and Dino Oberto at Mahoning Valley Speedway- Sean Case Photo)
(Kristen Cocca Photography)
(#76 Team celebrates in victory lane: Sean Case Photo)
Staff Report | Monday, July 25th, 2022
WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ- Brice’s NAPA Auto Supply, the official auto shop of the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA, fueled by VP Racing Fuels, will be sponsoring this Saturday’s race at Wall Stadium Speedway.
All teams that enter the race will be given various products, sponsored by Brice’s Auto Supply, helping teams maintain their 750cc TQ Midgets as the series begins the second half of the racing season.
Another strong car count is expected led by championship points leader Kyle Taraska (#22 Personal Comfort). Taraska carried a lot of momentum into the summer break by winning the prestigious JJ Lane Memorial on June 25th. Taraska looks to hold off Buddy Sload (#36, Spitfire Chassis), the 2015 ATQMRA Champion, who is a favorite to win every week.
(#22 Kyle Taraska and #36 Buddy Sload battle for position- Sean Case Photo)
Through five points paying events and six feature races (twin-20s for cumulative points on 6/4/22), Sload has earned three feature victories compared to Taraska’s two. The other feature win this season was earned by defending ATQMRA Champion Joey Bailey (#1B Boyd Chassis) in the series’ return to Evergreen Raceway this past May.
(#5z Zack Burd, RYNO Rookie of the Year Points Leader- Sean Case Photo)
Zack Burd (#5z Burlington Chevrolet) will enter Wall Stadium with the RYNO Rookie of the Year points lead; a position he has held throughout the first half of the season. Burd continues to excel and work on his craft behind a TQ Midget, even traveling to Evergreen Raceway during the summer break to compete with the wingless East Coast TQ Midgets.
Burd will look to hold off a crop of RYNO Rookie contenders. These contenders include Rich Barlow, Chris Pelcher and Mike Turton.
Barlow, the up and coming racer out of Beachwood, NJ, has been competing for top-10s on a consistent basis. Pelcher, who makes the long-trek from Pittsburgh, PA each weekend, is also knocking on the door to earn top-10 finishes alongside East Windsor, NJ’s Mike Turton.
Speaking of knocking on the door, Brianna Page (#76 Stavola, A&A Truck Parts) is inching ever closer to his first career feature ATQMRA victory. Page continues to run top-5 pace as the 2021 RYNO Rookie of the Year, looks to add to the prestigious history of the ATQMRA in 2022.
(#76 Brianna Page leads a strong field of cars- Sean Case Photo)
Jeff Kot (#95 Behrents Performance Warehouse) has already earned the “tough luck” award of the year. Two on-track incidents caused by none of his doing have greatly impacted his championship campaign in a negative way. Nonetheless, Kot’s #95 team has consistently shown a lot of speed and will be a contender this weekend.
Brick, NJ’s favorite father-son duo Cole and “The Rocket” Ronnie Mullen are also expected to be in attendance. Ronnie enters Wall Stadium this weekend after making the long-trek to Lancaster, PA and earned a top-10 finish with The Mighty TQ Midgets this past Saturday. Both Ronnie and Cole will continue to look to carry their momentum at NAPA Night this weekend.
(#33 Ferris vs #39 Mullen- Sean Case Photo)
Tyler Ferris (#33 Hamer Heating and Cooling) will be looking to run double duty on Saturday for Brien Hamer, in both his TQ Midget and Sportsman Modified. Ferris is another exciting young talent searching for his first career feature win in both divisions.
(Zack Bealer to make his ATQMRA debut this Saturday for MJ12 Motorsports- Sean Case Photo)
Michael Murray’s MJ12 Motorsports team will be back in action with a new invader. Zach Bealer, a veteran race driver that has driven several different forms of race cars during his driving career. Bealer has seen action steering 305 PASS MASS Sprint Cars, 600 Wingless and Winged Micro Sprints, Speedway Entertainment Speedstrs, and ATQMRA TQ Midgets on the Indoor Racing Series. In 2021 Bealer scored a PASS MASS sanctioned winged 305 Feature event win at the famed Bloomsburg Fairgrounds Speedway. (Courtesy of Tom Wenner Media Group).
(#51J Matt Janisch returned to racing action on June 25th at Wall Stadium- Tommy Lane Photo)
Alan Mollot will be fielding two cars in the same race for the second time this season. Matt Janisch will pilot the #51J Yuhas Chassis while The Jerzy Jet Joey Payne will be back in action in Mollot’s #51 Lindblad Badger. Both teams are expected to be extremely competitive at Wall Stadium as always.
Veterans Steve Craig (#55 Craig Bulk Carriers) and Mark Yoder (#75 Ames Construction) will look to contend for their first victories of the season as well. Yoder currently sits 4th in the championship standings.
(The Class of the 3rd Annual JJ Lane Memorial on 6/25/22 sporting NAPA Auto Parts Hats courtesy of Brice's Auto Supply- Sean Case Photo)
The star studded lists of entrants for NAPA Night presented by Brice’s Auto Supply tentatively include:
1. #09 Rich Barlow, Beachwood, NJ
2. #5z Zack Burd, Maple Shade, NJ
3. #12 Zack Bealer, Lehighton, PA
4. #22 Kyle Taraska, Woodbridge, NJ
5. #33 Tyler Ferris, Hackettstown, NJ
6. #36 Buddy Sload, Glennmore, PA
7. #39 Ronnie Mullen, Brick, NJ
8. #44P Chris Pelcher, Pittsburgh, PA
9. #51 Joey Payne, Brick, NJ
10. #51J Matt Janisch, Nazareth, PA
11. #73 Cole Mullen, Brick, NJ
12. #75 Mark Yoder, Ephrata, PA
13. #76 Brianna Page, Brick, NJ
14. #95, Jeff Kot, Doylestown, PA
15. #723 Mike Turton, East Windsor, NJ
*Entry list subject to change
The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA fueled by VP Racing Fuels returns to action this Saturday, July 30th at Wall Stadium Speedway, the official “Home Track” of the ATQMRA.
Staff Report | Monday, June 20th, 2022
WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ- The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA fueled by VP Racing Fuels is preparing for the 3rd Annual JJ Lane Memorial race, taking place this upcoming weekend on Saturday, June 25th, 2022.
JJ Lane, a long-time photographer at Wall Stadium added to his family’s legacy in racing photography particularly within the ATQMRA. The annual memorial race was established to pay homage to JJ and those we have lost within our racing community.
While JJ Lane remains as the namesake for this annual event, the ATQMRA will also recognize the legacy’s of Bob Menschner, Bud Sload and Bob Emmons. All of who have made a tremendous impact on the ATQMRA.
Adding to the prestige of this race, the JJ Lane Memorial will now feature a “Turkey Derby” style qualifying format.
The exciting group qualifying format that ATQMRA fans have become accustomed to each November, will set the field once again on June 25th.
The Bud Sload Fast Time Award will be earned by the fastest qualifier in time trials in the early evening. The Bob Emmons Up & Comer Award will be earned by the highest finishing driver who has never won an ATQMRA feature prior to June 25th, 2022.
Both awards will be respective $100 bonuses, courtesy of Paul Dodorico Racing.
There will be $50 bonuses paid out to the 8th and 10th place finishers as well, in honor of Bob Menschner.
The stars of the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA fueled by VP Racing Fuels will be signing autographs on the concourse during the evening’s intermission period. This is a great opportunity for fans to say hello and receive a signed hero card from their favorite drivers.
Buddy Sload enters the event leading ATQMRA Championship Standings. Sload is also the 2X defending winner of the JJ Lane Memorial. Zack Burd continues to lead the RYNO Rookie of the Year championship standings.
For ticketing information, visit wallspeedwayracing.com.
3rd Annual JJ Lane Memorial Qualifying Format
1. Groups are set in reverse order from practice speeds (fastest cars in last group). Each group will receive 4 green laps to set their quick time.
2. Top 2 qualifiers are guaranteed to start in the first 3 rows after redraw.
3. Redraw procedures based on car count:
• 13 Cars or less (top 8)
• 14-18 cars (top 10)
• 19 cars or more (top 12)
*The Feature Race will be 30 laps*
3rd Annual JJ Lane Memorial Preliminary Entry List
1. #09 Rich Barlow
2. #1B Joey Bailey
3. #2 Mike Glaser
4. #5z Zack Burd
5. #22 Kyle Taraska
6. #33 Tyler Ferris
7. #36 Buddy Sload
8. #39 Ronnie Mullen
9. #44P Chris Pelcher
10. #51J Matt Janisch
11. #55 Paul Dodorico
12. #55C Steve Craig
13. #73 Cole Mullen
14. #75 Mark Yoder
15. #76 Brianna Page
16. #91 Bobby Watkins
17. #95 Jeff Kot
18. #723 Mike Turton
