Rudolph Turkey Derby Champ Bests ATQMRA Field of 35 cars

PHOTO CREDIT: WHEELS OF SPEED

By: Blu Metz
November 28, 2015

Belmar, NJ. Eric Rudolph from Ransomville, NY was not only good but lucky at the 2015 ATQMRA Turkey Derby at Wall Stadium on Saturday. Rudolph led every lap reroute to pocketing the $1,000 winners share in the Mark Lafler owned Lafler House car in his first outing on Wall's inner oval. Matt Janisch set fast time with Matt Roselli earning a B-Main win. Four of the top finishing cars were disqualified following the race by the ATQMRA Officials for a tread width infraction. Next up for the ATQMRA is a General Membership Meeting this coming Sunday at 10:00 am in Fort Washington, Pa.

Ransomville New York's own Eric Rudolph is an accomplished racer in countless divisions beyond the world of TQ midget racing. He has wins in Modified stock cars on pavement and dirt as well as documented success in TQ midgets indoors. He used his talent as a race car driver coupled with a little luck to earn the thousand dollar winners share at the ATQMRA Turkey Derby. Rudolph drove his way into the redraw by turning the ninth fast lap in qualifications and was lucky enough to pull the number one pill that gave him the pole for the scheduled 30 lap race.

2015 ATQMRA Champion and two time feature winner on Wall's flat track as well as track record holder Buddy Sload charged from his fifth starting position to third on the initial race start. Sload worked his way into second by lap five to challenge Rudolph for the lead. A lap 7 restart would send Sload flipping entering the first turn ending his day. Sload was shaken but unhurt following the incident.

The incident put Ryan Flores into second. He would dog Rudolph the rest of the way but was unable to take the lead away from the Ransomville flyer. His chances for getting the win were cut short as a result of the race being shortened due to the impending storm front that was moving in.

The TQ midgets haven't had this strong of a field of cars at the annual Turkey Derby at Wall in many years. With 35 cars on hand and only 26 positions open for the feature it set up a situation where some racers were going to be watching the feature. Qualifications for the race were done by way of European style Time trials where 5 groups of seven cars were given four green flag laps to run their fastest lap. The top twelve would go into a redraw and the next 12 would go into the A-main straight up from time. The final two positions would be the top two finishers in the B-Main.

2014 ATQMRA Champion and the winner of that year's Turkey Derby Matt Janisch would set fast time. Janisch would redraw 7th but would be taken off the track as a result of putting down fluid. Matt Roselli who is normally a strong time trailer had a mechanical issue that relegated him to the B-Main which he won followed by Brett Conklin to advance to the A-Main.

In an unfortunate turn of events four of the top running cars were disqualified for a tread width infraction that was found during post race inspection. This put Ryan Susie in second position followed by Anthony Payne moving into a podium finish of third place in his first race on Wall's inner oval. Tom Fraschetta was fourth with perennial ATQMRA Championship contender Ryan Tidman fifth and 2014 ATQMRA Rookie of the year Geoffrey Sutton sixth. Tim Proctor finished seventh followed by ATQMRA regular Shawn McCaughey, Mark Yoder was ninth with Jeff Kot rounding out the top ten.

A follow up meeting to the October 21st Elections meeting is scheduled for Sunday December 6th at 10am.  The meeting will be held at the Best Western Ft Washington, 285 Commerce Drive, Fort Washington, PA.  It is located right at the exit from the turnpike.  An agenda will be sent out by December 1st. The meeting will give all those with an interest in continuing the growth of the ATQMRA an opportunity to voice their opinions about the direction of the organization.

ATQMRA News and Notes:The ATQMRA Turkey Derby was a who's who of indoor three Quarter midget racing with cars and stars that frequent the indoor events put on by the Sammons family each year. Countless wins were represented in the field with Liquid Lou Cicconi racing the car that Ted Christopher used to win numerous indoor feature events. The team battled gremlins in the engine management system all day. ATQMRA and ARDC Veteran Steve Craig made a return to the ranks of the ATQMRA after a several year absence. Joey Payne III made laps on the day in the Bruce Leote 26 car making his first Turkey Derby appearance in TQ competition and also marking the first time he was on track in competition with his father Joey Jr. and brother Anthony.

ATQMRA Turkey Derby 2015 Results

1. Eric Rudolph $1,000 2. 38 Ryan Susie 3. 45 Anthony Payne 4. 57 Tom Fraschetta 5. 1B Ryan Tidman 6. 46 Geoffrey Sutton 7. 98x Tim Proctor 8. 17v Shawn McCaughey 9. 75y Mark Yoder 10. 95 Jeff Kot 11. 15a Avery Stoehr 12. 27 Mark Rogers 13. 98 Matt Roselli 14. 11 Steve Whitt 15. 64 Brett Conklin 16. 16 Buddy Sload 17. 17 Pat VanVarick 18. 48 Matt Janisch 19. 55 Steve Craig 20. 71 Chris Allen 21. 75 Lou Cicconi 22. 73B Brett Michalski
DQ 15 Ryan Flores 5 Joey Payne 9 Jonathon Reid 07 Patrick Emerling

48 Matt Janisch set fast time

B-Main 1. 98 Matt Roselli 2. 64 Brett Conklin 3. 66 Rob Vivona 4. 39 Ron Mullen 5. 65 Mike Occhopinti 6. 26 Joey Payne III 7. 49 BJ MacDonald 8. F8 Mike Glaser 9. 33 Brianna Page

Sload Caps a Championship Season by Winning Mahoning

By: Blu Metz

October 26, 2015 Lehighton, PA    

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ATQMRA goes 4 wide to salute the fans

Buddy Sload did what he had to do to earn the 2015 ATQMRA Championship by winning the feature to earn his first ATQMRA Championship after spending several seasons in the bridesmaid position. Ryan Tidman's third place finish in the Boyd Owned 1B earned the team the 2015 car owner's Championship. Mike Glaser of Jackson, NJ capped his first full season with the ATQMRA by earning the coveted title of ATQMRA Rookie of the year. Next up for the ATQRMA is the Annual Turkey Derby at Wall Stadium that will feature an indoor rules package and $1,000 to win. Heat Races were won by Buddy Sload and Mahoning Valley Modified Star Kris Graver.

The front row of Mike Glaser and Shawn McCaughey led the field in an impressive four abreast parade lap salute to the fans. The start saw McCaughey accelerate into the lead with Championship contender Ryan Tidman advancing from his fifth starting spot to second. Tidman overtook McCaughey on lap four and started to open an advantage on the field.

A caution on lap nine set off a sequence of events that would affect the championship outcome. Calls were made against Tidman, who is exceptionally good on starts, for jumping the restart not once by twice relegating him to the back of the pack for the restart. Several cars were involved in incidents on the aborted starts but were given their positions back as a result.

This sequence of events put the hard charging Buddy Sload the outside pole for the restart alongside McCaughey. Tidman would be relegated to making his championship charge from the rear of the field. Sload would take the lead on the ensuing restart and Tidman would begin his charge back through the field. 2014 ATQMRA Champion Matt Janisch would move into second but wasn't able to mount a serious challenge to Sload.

Tidman raced through the field in impressive fashion finishing a solid third place on a track that has been very good to him over the years. It was enough to earn the Car owner's Championship for the 1B car owned by Lenny and Donna Boyd but not enough for him to earn another driver's title.

In his first full season of circle track racing after a successful drag racing career Mike Glaser of Jackson, NJ won the 2015 ATQMRA Rookie of the year title with a fourteenth place finish. Glaser ran very well in his heat race but struggled in the feature. After a spinning and dumping the car on its side he was able to recover to finish fourteenth out of the 19 cars at the event earning enough points to best his fellow Rookie of the year candidate Patrick Force.

Buddy Sload ran away with the first heat race besting McCaughey Jeff Kot Tidman, and Jansich with Mark Rogers earning the final transfer position.

Thee second heat saw a continuation of the impressive laps posted by Mahoning Valley Speedway Modified Star Kris Graver in the Janisch 48x that won the 2014 ATQMRA Championship. He posted the second fastest lap in practice being bested by only the Sload racing 53 driven by BJ MacDonald. Graver was followed across the line by 2013 ATQMRA Rookie of the year Joey Bailey, Pat VanVarick, Mike Glaser, 2015 NEMA Lites Champion Anthony Payne making his first ATQMRA Start, and BJ MacDonald.

ATQMRA News and Notes:    2015 NEMA Lite Midget Champion Anthony Payne made his first start with the ATQMRA at Mahoning Valley Speedway. Payne is the son of multi-time ATQMRA and NEMA midget Champion and Supermodified Star Joey Payne and the grandson of Joe Payne Sr. who is considered royalty in ATQMRA circles. This makes Anthony a third generation of Payne racing with the ATQMRA. His night was cut short after turning impressive laps in the immaculately prepared Laffler Chassis car when he tangled with a lap car. 2015 NYPA Champion Kyle Hutchinson took on the ATQMRA regulars and was running competitive laps on the tricky Mahoning Valley circle when he was involved in a tangle on an aborted restart ending his day. Top running ATQMRA Racer Matt Roselli who is always a threat to win at Mahoning Valley had his day cut short by an uncharacteristic engine failure in practice.  

Heat Race 1

1 16 Buddy Sload 

2 17v Shawn McCaughey 

3 95 Jeff Kot 

4 1B Ryan Tidman 

5 48 Matt Janisch 

6 27 Mark Rogers 

7 51 Avery Stoehr 

8 88 Kyle Hutchinson 

9 18 Patrick Force 

dns 98 Matt Roselli

---

Heat Race 2

1 48x Kris Graver 

2 02 Joey Bailey 

3 17 Pat VanVarick 

4 F8 Mike Glaser 

5 45 Anthony Payne 

6 53 BJ McDonald 

7 75Y Mark Yoder 

8 46 Geoffrey Sutton 

9 46v Kristian Aleixo 

---

Feature 25 laps

1 16 Buddy Sload

2 48 Matt Janisch 

3 1B Ryan Tidman 

4 48x Kris Graver 

5 02 Joey Bailey 

6 17v Shawn McCaughey 

7 53 BJ McDonald 

8 46 Geoffrey Sutton 

9 75Y Mark Yoder 

10 27 Mark Rogers 

11 95Jeff Kot 

12 17 Pat VanVarick 

13 51 Avery Stoehr 

14 F8 Mike Glaser 

15 18 Patrick Force 

16 45 Anthony Payne 

17 46v Kristian Aleixo 

18 88 Kyle Hutchinson 

dns 98 Matt Roselli
 

Penultimate Challenge Round at Wall goes to Tidman Besting a field of 26 Cars Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic ATQMRA

(September 19, 2015) Wall Stadium, Belmar, NJ By Blu Metz

Ryan Tidman had to earn the win at Wall Stadium on Saturday giving himself max points at Wall's Fan Appreciation night over a full field of 26 cars. The win over a hard charging Pat VanVarick gives Tidman a 4 point lead heading into the season points finale at Mahoning Valley Speedway in Lehighton on Saturday October 24th over a third place finishing Buddy Sload. Heat Races were won by Geoffrey Sutton, Pat VanVarick and Nick Ladyga. Brice's NAPA Auto Parts presented NAPA hats to each of the Quarter Midget racers on hand and the organization received support from Behrent's Performance Warehouse.

The feature race saw a front row of Shawn McCauhey and 2013 ATQMRA Rookie of the year Joey Bailey take the green with the two tangling in the first turn with Bailey getting the worse of the exchange ending his race. At the other end of the first lap several cars tangled exiting the fourth turn with Matt Janisch ending up with the wheels knocked off of the Cicconi 75 mount he was racing. Modified racer Steve Whitt was also involved in the altercation but was able to make repairs and return to action.

The second attempt at the initial start saw a pair of 17 cars at the point with McCauhey and Pat VanVarick race into the corner with VanVarick gaining the edge with McCauhey close in tow. Jeff Kot charged into third with Tidman riding fourth. Kot in a what turned out to be the fastest race car at the track set a new wall flat track record during the feature turning a lap of 13.365 seconds. Kot used the speed to charge into second and started applying pressure to VanVarick. Tidman moved into second and was able to overtake VanVarick on lap 9. It was then VanVarick's turn to apply the pressure.

Several restarts bunched the field and gave VanVarick an opportunity to work Tidman over but to no avail as Tidman was able to hold on and earn a hard fought victory. Jeff Kot's chances at a strong finish came to an end on lap 21 when he was turned around. He made a mad charge back through the field to return to a respectable 11th place finish.

Buddy Sload entered the race with a 4 point lead over Ryan Tidman. Sload hung out in the top five throughout the course of the 25 lap race but had to settle for a third place finish and saw his point lead become a deficit of 4 points which is one position on the track heading into the season Points finale at Mahoning Valley on October 24th.

The Rookie battle between Mike Glaser and Patrick Force tightened up with Force finishing just ahead of Glaser narrowing the gap to 28 points heading into the finale.

The ATQMRA participated in Wall Stadium's fan appreciation night having the 26 cars in attendance on track for the Fan Party on the track before racing started. Brice's NAPA Auto Parts supplied NAPA hats to teams as a part of their participation in the ATQMRA Brice's NAPA Auto Parts Clean Start Program. Each of the Quarter Midget racers was given an autographed hat for each TQ in the feature and was able to get their pictures taken with the Podium finishers in Victory Lane following the race. Racers were able to meet their fans on track, sign autographs and hand out promotional items. Joey Bailey, Geoffrey Sutton, and Brianna Page who all raced and won at Little Wall's Quarter midget track before beginning their TQ racing careers took part in a group photo with the current Quarter Midget racers at Little Wall during fan fest.

The ATQMRA had a banner night at Wall Stadium for their Fan appreciation night. The organization's transition to the inner oval has had its detractors but teams are voting loud and clear with their cars boosting the venerable organization's car count to 26 for the day. The racing on the short track has become increasingly competitive since the club's debut on the flat track with drivers becoming more comfortable with the intricacies of this style of racing. The racing is competitive with passing opportunities at every turn. The slide job has become a regular occurrence. The cross over move is becoming prevalent. Racers have shown the ability to run side by side with an outside groove developing and out-braking your opponent has become an advantage.

The TQ NYPA TQ midgets that race in the Western New York area in conjunction with track management are hosting an open competition wingless TQ Midget race at Chapel Hill Speedway on Saturday October 3rd. Carbureted and Fuel injected engines will compete head to head on the tight confines of the Chapel Hill Speedway. Full details for the event will be made available shortly. The event looks to spearhead an era of cooperation between the ATQMRA and the NYPA organizations moving forward. The last time the ATQMRA cars went north to Chapel Hill it was Matt Janisch earning the win.

ATQMRA News and Notes: The full field of 26 cars signed into the pits is a high mark for the organization for many years and appears to be a sign of good things coming in the future. Teams are embracing the racing on the smaller track with reduced speeds and increased competitiveness with each of the 16 cars finishing the race remaining on the lead lap. A pair of Teammates, Geoffrey Sutton and Ron Mullen in the Metz Racing TQ midgets, were also teammates in the Modified Division running a pair of Paul Hartwig Modifieds on the night with Mullen earning a top ten finish. Mullen incidentally raced in four divisions Saturday night. It was a pleasure seeing Rudy Boetticher Sr. at the track where his cars earned numerous victories over the years with sons Rudy Jr. and Robert behind the wheel. Nick Ladyga from Norwich, CT was impressive in his heat race win and worked his way through the field racing as far forward as fourth before an engine gremlin ended his day early. A pair of Lehigh Valley Quarter Midget Graduates Matt Roselli and Geoffrey Sutton had up and down nights. Both raced from the back of the pack to the top ten several times before Sutton settled for an eight place finish with Roselli rolling across the line 13th.

Jeff Kot established a new track record for the Wall Stadium inner oval turning a lap of 13.365 sec.

25 Lap Feature

1 1b  Ryan Tidman 

2 17  Pat VanVarick 

3 16  Buddy Sload 

4 11  STeve Whitt 

5 75  Mark Yoder 

6 51John Gambuti 

7 75  Don Zrinski 

8 46  Geoffry Sutton 

9 0  Brett Conklin 

10 33  Brianna Page 

11 95  Jeff Kot 

12 39  Ronnie Mullin 

13 98  Matt Roselli 

14 06  Chad Parks 

15 18  Patrick Force 

16 f8  Mike Glaser 

17 27  Andrew Krause 

18 26  Bill Force Jr. 

19 73  Matt Guadagno 

20 38  Nick Ladyga 

21 77  Avery Stoehr 

22 53  BJ McDobald 

23 17v  Shawn McCaughey 

24 02  Joey Bailey 

25 75  Matt janisch 

2627  Mark Rogers

Heat 1

1 46 Geoffry Sutton 

2 53 BJ McDobald 

3 75 Matt janisch 

4 95 Jeff Kot 

5 11 STeve Whitt 

6 02 Joey Bailey 

7 39 Ronnie Mullin 

8 06 Chad Parks 

9 18 Patrick Force 

Heat 2

1 17  Pat VanVarick 

2 1b  Ryan Tidman 

3 51  John Gambuti 

4 17v  Shawn McCaughey 

5 75  Don Zrinski 

6 33  Brianna Page 

7 27  Andrew Krause 

8 26  Bill Force Jr. 

Heat 3

1 38  Nick Ladyga 

2 16  Buddy Sload 

3 75  Mark Yoder 

4 0  Brett Conklin 

5 77  Avery Stoehr 

6 73  Matt Guadagno 

7 f8  Mike Glaser 

8 98  Matt Roselli

Joey Bailey Snags Oswego Bud Classic Win Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic ATQMRA

By: Blu Metz

PHOTO CREDITS: Alex Borland Race Media / Robert J Clark

(9/5/2015) Oswego, NY
Young Joey Bailey of Helmetta, NJ inherited the lead in the ATQMRA Bud Classic at Oswego Speedway on the white flag lap and held off a hard charging Jon Gambutti to cement the Victory. Bailey followed a heated battle between Matt Janisch and Ryan Tidman before both were sidelined after the white flag was shown. Heat races were won by Janisch and Tidman. Gambutti finished second with Geoffrey Sutton on the podium in third. $175 was paid to each car that competed at Oswego with Bailey pocketing $350 for the win. Next up for the ATQMRA is a trip to Wall Stadium for wingless racing on the facility's inner oval on Saturday September 19th with the season points finale at Mahoning Valley Speedway in Lehighton on Saturday October 24th.

Following their dominant victories in the heat races the ATQMRA Bud Classic shaped up to be a showdown between Reigning ATQMRA Champion Matt Janisch in his own 48 TQ midget and the multiple Championship winning Flying Ryan Tidman in the Boyd Racing 1B. The pair of racing Engineers did not disappoint. Pole Sitter Mark Yoder and Joey Bailey led the field into the first turn with Bailey leading the initial circuit only to relinquish the lead to Matt Janisch who charged from his sixth starting position to take the lead on lap four. Bailey maintained second until lap seven when Tidman took over the runner up position.

Tidman worked to put himself into a position to overtake Janisch until a lap 12 caution flew for a tangle between Mike Glaser of Jackson, NJ and The Flying Chiropractor Greg Richardson from Nearby Rochester, NY. Both would have their Classic races cut short by the incident.

The ensuing restart let the tires cool down and gave Tidman the opportunity he needed. The Janisch car picked up a push after the caution allowing Tidman to make the decisive move and take the lead. From here it looked like Tidman would cruise to victory. Still running second Janisch would take the white flag and have his engine expire entering the first turn. He would roll to a stop at the top of the second turn.   Tidman would spin entering the third turn on the same lap with the caution flag falling. This handed the lead over to the youngster, Joey Bailey, for a green white checker shootout with Hotrod Jon Gambutti.

Bailey an Engineering Student in his freshman year at Fairleigh Dickinson University had his hands full with a hard charging Supermodified racer and past ATQMRA Champ Hotrod Jon Gambutti hot on his tail. Gambutti in the Alan Mollot badger 51 applied pressure and appeared to have the edge in speed but Bailey held on to earn his first ATQMRA Bud Classic Victory at Oswego Speedway. Gambutti settled for second with Geoffrey Sutton crossing the line third. Current Point leader Buddy Sload would finish fourth with Jeff Kot rolling across the line fifth. Tidman would recover to finish sixth with Janisch seventh.   Chad Parks had one of his best ATQMRA finishes rolling across the line eighth.

Heading into the final lap Bailey was running third and didn't expect to get the victory. Joey said, "We don't like to win them this way but we will take it." Bailey went on to thank his Father Russ for providing him a well prepared car and the Zuzallo family for giving him the opportunity to race their lightening fast 02.

In winning the heat race Janisch set a new track record by lapping the Oswego inner loop in 14.322 seconds.

The ATQMRA Next heads to Wall Stadium for some short track racing on the Wall Stadium inner oval on Saturday September 19th. The flat track has reduced the speeds of the cars but the level of competition has increased. The short track style of racing has garnered the club positive attention from the media and is helping increase car counts. The final Points paying race for the ATQMRA will be on October 24th at Mahoning Valley Speedway where the 2015 ATQRMA Champion will be crowned.

ATQMRA News and Notes:   Sixteen cars were on hand for the Classic at Oswego. Making his first TQ midget start was Sprint car racer Bill Case in the Metz Racing 46v. Local Racer Greg Richardson picked up the former Justin Mapes Casey's 03 and 04 NYPA Championship winning car.

Past ATQMRA Champion Joey Payne had a good weekend of racing. He didn't take part in the ATQMRA Classic since he was busy winning the Iron Mike Scrivani Memmorial NEMA Midget race at Monodnock. On Sunday Joey was the hard charger of the race in moving from his 24th starting position to finish third, missing second by a nose in the Oswego Supermodified Classic. 

2014 ATQRMA Rookie of the year Geoffrey Sutton backed into a podium finish of third at Oswego and made his Modified Stock car debut on Sunday at Chemung Speedrome a good one by racing from an 18th start to finish tenth in the Paul Hartwig Modified. Sutton incidentally made his debut at the former track of his namesake Geoffrey Bodine in the type of car that made Bodine famous, a Modified

Alison Cumens who won an ATQMRA Classic a few years back started the ISMA Supermodified feature from the pole position but had her chances of victory end with a blown engine. 

Rookie of the year contender Patrick Force gained four Markers on rookie point leading Mike Glaser tightening that battle heading into the penultimate race at Wall. 

While the ATQMRA isn't paying a front loaded purse they are paying a generous purse through the field. Teams taking a green at the Classic at Oswego received $175 for their efforts. 

Matt Roselli seemed snake bitten at Oswego for the Classic, He had a fast car all day but a series of maladies prevented him from earning a good finish. 

Mark Yoder made his first trip to Oswego with his Hyper Hugger and was thrilled with its performance on the big track running very competitive laps but was relegated to a DNF in the final tally. 

Mark Janisch, noted engine builder and Father of ATQMRA Superstar Matt made his Oswego Speedway debut in the Janisch's 2014 Championship winning car. He ran some fast laps but was a DNS for the feature.

Heat Races were won by Matt Jansich and Ryan Tidman

1 02 Joey Baliey

2 51 John Gambutti

3 46 Geoffrey Suton

4 16 Buddy Solad

5 95 Jeff Kot

6 1B Ryan Tidman

7 48 Matt Janisch

8 06 Chad Parks

9 98X Matt Roselli

10 75Y Mark Yoder

11 18 Patrick Force

12 F8 Michael Glaser

13 4 Greg Richardson

14 46V Bill Case

15 48x Mark Janisch

16 53 Bj MacDonald

Sload Earns ATQMRA Hat Trick

By Blu Metz
 
Wall Stadium, Saturday August 22, 2015. Buddy Sload pulled off the Hat Trick by winning the 25 lap ATQMRA feature in the Colin Martin 16. As it has been in each of the last three races Sload had to take the lead from Geoffrey Sutton who finished second followed by Matt Roselli. Heat Races were won by Marc Rogers, Steve Whitt, and Sutton. Next up for the ATQMRA is a trip north to Oswego Speedway for the International Classic that is paying $175 to take a green with $350 to go to the winner.  
 
For the ATQMRA's second trip outing on Wall's inner oval the organization had 20 TQ midgets in the pits. 17 made the call to take a green with Buddy Sload once again driving to victory. The first outing on the flat track at Wall yielded a tight pack of cars racing nose to tail. The second outing was much different. Teams went home and did their homework and worked on their setups and came back and put on a show of slide jobs, cross over moves and side by side racing for the lead.
 
Geoffrey Sutton and Ryan Tidman took the initial green with Sutton taking advantage of the inside starting spot to take the lead. Tidman was tight on Sutton's bumper through the early laps when he tangled with Sutton bringing out a caution. Tidman went pit side but returned to the track to fight his way back to an eighth place finish. Sload was second for the restart and was dogging Sutton race long. Sload moved to the outside and raced side by side with Sutton for several laps before Sutton was able to gain the advantage. A close running Matt Roselli was also in hot pursuit and started battling with Sload for second position. The pair crossed one another over and returned the favor several times before Sload raced solidly into second. The battle for second allowed Sutton to gain a slight advantage as the laps clicked down.
 
By lap 19 the brake rotors on both Sutton's Metz Racing mount and Sload's Spitfire were glowing red but Sload had enough brake left to run Sutton down and make the pass for the lead. A late caution bunched the field for a shootout to the finish. Sutton and Roselli dug down deep and gave everything they had but Sload was able to open enough of a gap to keep them at bay. Sutton rolled across the line second followed by Roselli with Don Zrinski posted another top five in fourth with Marc Rogers fifth. Steve Whitt advanced from his 17th starting position to finish sixth picking up the most passing points on the day for the MNO Hard Charger season long standings.
 
Heat Races were won by Steve Whitt who started the race from the sixth position to slice his way to the front. The second heat saw Wall Stadium Veteran Stock car racer Marc Rogers take his first ATQMRA heat race win. The third heat saw Geoffrey Sutton take his fourth heat win of the season and third consecutive heat race win. This heat was by far the most exciting. Sutton's win wasn't easy. First Matt Roselli made a move to the inside entering the first turn only to overshoot the turn allowing Sutton to cross him over coming off the second turn. Then Sload moved into second and swapped cross over moves with Sutton coming away with the heat race win.
 
Sload entered the race with a four point lead in the standings over his closest rival Ryan Tidman.  This marks the third race in a row where Sload earned max points by winning the race.  He won the last race at Wall on the inner oval and followed that up with a win at Borger's Speedway and completed the hat trick by winning the second race on the Wall inner oval.   When the official tally is done Sload should be on top by 36 markers with four races left. Mike Glaser finished one spot ahead of Rookie of the year rival Patrick Force keeping the Rookie race extremely tight.
 
Next up for the ATQMRA is a trip to Oswego Speedway for the International Classic on Saturday September 5th. The winners share is currently $350 with $175 in green money being offered to each car taking a green flag for the event. The ATQMRA will don the wings for this event being run in conjunction with the Winged ISMA Super modifieds. Racing at Oswego puts the tq midgets in front of one of the largest crowds the TQs race in front of all season long and it's the only paved track on the east coast that has a strong open wheel fan base.
 
ATQMRA News and Notes: Brianna Page and Kerry Irwin pulled double duty Saturday night running both TQ midgets and their Champ Karts on the inner oval. Irwin finished eleventh in the TQ on the tail end of the lead lap and third in the Champ race while Page finished 12th in the TQ race and one spot behind Irwin in fourth in the Champ race as well. Steve Whitt made his first ATQMRA start in impressive fashion winning his heat and charging from the rear to a very competitive sixth place finish.
 
Feature (25 Laps)
1. 16 Buddy Sload
2. 46 Geoffrey Sutton              
3. 98 Matt Roselli  
4. 75 Don Zrinski  
5. 27 Mark Rogers
6. 11 Steve Whitt
7. 95 Jeff Kot
8. 1B Ryan Tidman
9. 75 Mark Yoder
10. 17v Shawn McCaughey  
11. 46v Kerry Irwin
12. 33 Brianna Page  
13. F8 Mike Glaser
14. 18 Patrick Force
15. Brett Conklin
16. Pat VanVarick
17. 51 Jon Gambutti
18. Bud Sload DNS