Bailey Wins at Bethel; First Win Under Boyd Banner

Staff Report | Monday, August 17th, 2020

Photo Credit: Tommy Lane / Sean Hart Photos

SWAN LAKE, NY- Joey Bailey earned his 16th career Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels feature victory at Bethel Motor Speedway this weekend.

The stars and cars of the ATQMRA were in competition for the second week in a row this weekend at Bethel Motor Speedway in the scenic Swan Lake, NY. Entering the event, the ATQMRA had two different winners in two feature races. Those drivers being Jeff Kot at Mahoning Valley Speedway, and Buddy Sload at Wall Stadium Speedway just over one week ago. 

Just like at Wall Stadium Speedway, Kot and Sload won their respective heat races to kick off an evening of racing in the Catskills.

After the redraw, it was Mark Yoder of Ephrata, PA in the Ames Construction who drew pill number one to earn the right to lead the field to green. Five-time ATQMRA Champion “Flyin” Ryan Tidman started on the outside pole in Alan Mollot’s #51 Lindblad Badger.

Back to back self spins from Brianna Page and Joey Payne III, who was making his first start of 2020, kept the field bunched up early. This created many double file restarts and many opportunities to pass, which was surely a delight to the fans. 

Anthony Payne and the #12 Dent Zones TQ Midget took advantage of the early race restarts, rolling the outside lane moving from sixth to fourth. The #1B of Joey Bailey in the Art’s Radiator Boyd-Built Chassis sliced and diced his way up through the field as well, making three-wide passes to advance into third. However, Yoder still stayed strong maintaining the lead through much of the early going as the field battled aggressively behind him. 

Eventually, it was Joey Bailey making another thrilling three-wide pass on the bottom to get around both Yoder and Tidman, to take the lead on the seventh lap of the feature. 

Bailey would pull away to a big lead over the green flag run to follow, until Joey Payne III spun for a second time in the closing laps. This caution would bunch the field up one more time setting up a one-lap-shootout.

With the fans on their feet, Bailey led the field to green as Tidman stayed right on his tail. Tidman’s best shot at victory was to keep Bailey honest, hoping he would make a rare mistake. That would turn out to be wishful thinking, as Joey Bailey rounded turn four to take the checkered flag.

Ryan Tidman finished second, with teammate Geoffrey Sutton finishing third, placing both Mollot Racing cars on the podium. 

Last week’s winner Buddy Sload finished a “quiet” fourth to his Spitfire Racing team’s standards, but still a solid run nonetheless. Pole sitter Mark Yoder did a nice job of hanging tough to round out the top five. 

Anthony Payne managed a sixth place finish for the second week in a row, Jeff Kot and the Behrents Performance Warehouse TQ Midget finished one seventh, Avery Stoehr making the long trip from Assonet, Massachusetts in Phil DiMario’s #23 Badger finished eighth. 

Paul Dodorico earned his second top ten finish for in a row placing ninth. Tim Proctor would round out the top ten. 

Tim Proctor finished 10th, followed by Mike Glaser in 11th. Payne III, Page and Taraska all pulled off the track early experiencing various issues. These drivers rounded out the fourteen car field at Bethel Motor Speedway. 

In Joey Bailey’s sixteen career ATQMRA victory’s, this was the first driving for Donna and Lenny Boyd. In Bailey’s post race remarks, he was adamant that this victory was one of his best yet, as it was a “dream come true.”

The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels will take a week off, before heading to Connecticut to the New London-Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday, August 29th, 2020. This will be the organization’s first trip back to “The Speedbowl” since October of 2018. The ATQMRA will be on a winged-card with NEMA, as full midgets and “the lites” will be in attendance as well. 

For all the latest news and updates surrounding the ATQMRA, please visit our website at ATQMRA.com. Furthermore, please follow the ATQMRA on various social media websites including Facebook and Instagram. 

Race Results:

Heat 1:
    1.    #95 Jeff Kot
    2.    #51 Ryan Tidman
    3.    #1B Joey Bailey 
    4.    #51S Geoffrey Sutton 
    5.    #55 Paul Dodorico 
    6.    #76 Brianna Page 
    7.    #27 Mike Glaser 

Heat 2:
    1.    #36 Buddy Sload 
    2.    #12 Anthony Payne 
    3.    #98 Tim Proctor 
    4.    #22 Kyle Taraska 
    5.    #75 Mark Yoder 
    6.    #67 Joey Payne III
    7.    #23 Avery Stoehr 

Feature:
    1.    #1B Joey Bailey 
    2.    #51 Ryan Tidman
    3.    #51S Geoffrey Sutton 
    4.    #36 Buddy Sload 
    5.    #75 Mark Yoder 
    6.    #12 Anthony Payne 
    7.    #95 Jeff Kot 
    8.    #23 Avery Stoehr 
    9.    #55 Paul Dodorico
    10.    #98 Tim Proctor 
    11.    #27 Mike Glaser 
    12.    #67 Joey Payne III
    13.    #76 Brianna Page 
    14.    #22 Kyle Taraska

Buddy Sload Wins JJ Lane Memorial in Emotional Night

Photo Credit: Jim Smith, AARN

Staff Report | Monday, August 10th, 2020

WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ- Buddy Sload earned the victory at Wall Stadium Speedway in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels JJ Lane Memorial. 

Sload started off the evening in his #36 Spitfire Chassis winning the first heat race. Jeff Kot, coming off his big win at Mahoning Valley Speedway, carried his momentum to a win in the second heat driving the Behrents Performance Warehouse TQ Midget.

After the redraw, it was Anthony Payne in the #12 Dent Zones TQ Midget who led the field to green. However, it wouldn’t take long for Geoffrey Sutton in the #51S Yuhas Chassis to power past Payne for the lead. Sload eventually follow through into second. 

Sload would snag the lead from Sutton, racing wheel to wheel powering down the backstretch through turns three and four. Sload led the sixth lap by a bumper, which ultimately paid big dividends for driver #36. Bill Force Jr., in his return to the ATQMRA, looped his #6 machine off of turn 2 bringing out the first caution of the evening. Sload was able to retain the lead and control the following restart thanks to the pass he made on Sutton the previous lap. 

Making his first start since Turkey Derby last November, Mike Glaser’s Aqua Solutions #27 Machine came to a halt after a spin in turn 4 for the second caution of the evening. This caused a complete restart as the field resorted back to the line-up from the previous caution.

Sload would eventually take advantage of the clean air around him and begin to set sail the field. However, a herd of hungry drivers maintained respective pace behind behind him. These drivers Geoffrey Sutton in second, Ryan Tidman in third, Joey Bailey in forth and Jeff Kot in fifth. 

As the race approached halfway, Brianna Page spun out in turn three to bring out the third caution of the evening. This yet again stacked the field up for a double file restart putting on a great show for the fans. 

Sload would break out to the lead again. While much of the top-5 remained the same, it was Kyle Taraska in the Chick-fil-A #22 machine working the outside lane to muscle his way from sixth fifth on the restart. 

With Sutton chasing down Sload, the #51S team experienced a heartbreak with seven laps remaining. A water hose came loose on his 750CC engine, causing Sutton to slip in his own water and spin in turn three in front of the leaders. Sutton was done for the evening, as his final results will not show how strong the team was this evening.

After a lengthy red flag for clean-up, the field restarted single file with seven laps remaining. Buddy Sload would never look back hang on and earn the victory in the JJ Lane Memorial.

Joey Bailey earned his first podium finish in the #1B Boyd-Built Chassis finishing 2nd, and Ryan Tidman earned his first podium finish of the year finishing third. Kyle Taraska would finish forth and Jeff Kot had another strong outing finishing 5th in the feature.

“Team Easy Street” drivers Joey Bailey and Kyle Taraska were the biggest movers in the race. After respectively starting eighth and ninth, the two drivers finished second and forth as mentioned. 

After starting on the pole, Anthony Payne finished a respectable sixth. 

Tim Proctor, in his first race back at Wall Stadium Speedway after experience a viscous flip in Turkey Derby last November, finished a strong seventh. Mark Yoder finished eighth. These were great runs for both of these drivers after experiencing mechanical failures at Mahoning Valley Speedway two weeks ago. 

After starting on the outside pole, Paul Dodorico earned another solid top-10 finish earning ninth in his first race of the season.

The feel-good story of the evening, Tommy Lane, who entered the event in Joey Payne III’s #67 Badger in an effort to honor his brother John John, rounded out the top-10.

In the ATQMRA’s first scheduled event at Wall Stadium Speedway this year, series officials worked together with the staff at the speedway to create a special event to honor the-late John John Lane.

In a community effort, drivers came together and autographed two banners featuring a commemorative logo in JJ’s honor. One banner was presented to the Lane Family during a special pre-race ceremony, the other will be hung proudly on the property Wall Stadium Speedway. A big thank you to Natural Designs, Kyle Taraska, Buddy Sload, Jeff Kot and Wall Stadium Speedway staff in making this a reality.

While at times this weekend there was a void felt without the warm presence of John John in the pits, we as a community have proven we will never let JJ be forgotten. On behalf of the entire ATQMRA, we extend our sincere appreciation to the Krause Family for hosting the event, and competitors from all divisions to come together to honor our friend and colleague in a very special night. Godspeed John John Lane.

The Hoosier Tire-Mid Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels will be back in action this upcoming weekend on Saturday, August 15th, 2020 at the Bethel Motor Speedway in Swan Lake, NY. 

Race Results:

Heat 1:
1. #36 Buddy Sload
2. #51 Ryan Tidman
3. #1B Joey Bailey 
4. #75 Mark Yoder
5. #22 Kyle Taraska 
6. #23 Avery Stoehr 
7. #67 Tommy Lane 
8. #6 Bill Force Jr. 

Heat 2:
1. #95 Jeff Kot 
2. #51S Geoffrey Sutton 
3. #12 Anthony Payne 
4. #98 Tim Proctor 
5. #55 Paul Dodorico 
6. #76 Brianna Page 
7. #91 Bobby Watkins 
8. #27 Mike Glaser

Feature:
1. #36 Buddy Sload 
2. #1B Joey Bailey 
3. #51 Ryan Tidman 
4. #22 Kyle Taraska 
5. #95 Jeff Kot 
6. #12 Anthony Payne 
7. #98 Tim Proctor 
8. #75 Mark Yoder 
9. #55 Paul Dodorico 
10. #67 Tommy Lane 
11. #76 Brianna Page 
12. #27 Mike Glaser 
13. #6 Bill Force Jr.
14. #23 Avery Stoehr 
15. #51S Geoffrey Sutton
16. #91 Bobby Watkins

Jeff Kot Wins at Home Track Mahoning; The Jack Bertling Memorial

Staff Report | Monday, July 27th, 2020

Jeff Kot started on the pole and never looked back, leading wire to wire earning victory in The Jack Bertling Memorial at Mahoning Valley Speedway this past weekend.

In a monumental day, the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels officially began their 2020 campaign after being delayed due to lockdowns pertaining to the COVID-19 Pandemic. For the first time this year, all three major TQ Midget Touring Divisions (ATQMRA, NYPA and Can-Am) ran events across the Northeastern United States and Canada. 

Heat races kicked off the evening of racing. Defending ATQMRA Driver’s Champion Joey Bailey won the first heat race, in his official debut in Donna and Lenny Boyd’s #1B Home-Built Chassis. Geoffrey Sutton debuted in Bailey’s former ride, winning the second heat race. The newly rebranded #51S is still owned by defending ATQMRA Owner’s Champion, Alan Mollot.

When the field re-drew for position, all eyes were on the provisional pole sitter Jeff Kot. Unofficially, Kot turned the fastest lap in practice which averaged approximately a blistering 96 MPH around the 1/4 mile bullring.

The ATQMRA honored Bertling with a missing man formation on the parade lap with fans and drivers waving to pay respects to an amazing racing career.

When Bertling’s daughter, Tiffany Bertling Hoffman dropped the green flag, Kot shot off like a rocket into turn 1 setting early pace on the field. Heat race winner Geoffrey Sutton bursted out into second and the race was on from there.

Sutton would maintain decent pace with Kot through the early stages of the race, as heavy hitters Ryan Tidman, Buddy Sload and Joey Bailey lurked in the back. Sload and Bailey especially, who had to slice and dice their ways through the field after drawing the 6th and 8th place positions respectively. 

Sload in Colin Martin’s #36 Spitfire Chassis would make a late charge, after passing Sutton for second with six laps remaining. While Kot’s lead shrunk, Sload’s charge was no match as Jeff Kot and his Behrent’s Performance Warehouse TQ Midget went on to victory at his home track at Mahoning Valley Speedway in 4 minutes flat. 

Buddy Sload would finish second while Geoffrey Sutton finished third. Joey Bailey made a late-race pass on Five-Time ATQMRA Champion Ryan Tidman for fourth, while Tidman’s #51 Lindblad Badger rounded out the top-5.

Kyle Taraska finished 6th, in his newly sponsored Chick-fil-A #22 machine in his first full, official race at Mahoning Valley. Brianna Page managed a seventh place finish in her first start at Mahoning Valley since 2013.

After a promising start to the afternoon showing a lot of speed in his practice and heat race, Anthony Payne’s #12 Dent Zones TQ Midget experiences a mechanical issue six laps into the 25 lap feature event, ending his evening prematurely. Payne was officially scored in 8th.

Mechanical issues plagued much of the ATQMRA pit area yesterday. Mark Yoder experienced a fuel pump issue during the pace laps of the feature. Tim Proctor found an oil line issue after the second round of practice. Unfortunately, neither driver officially started the 25 lap feature.

The ATQMRA honored 3X Champion Jack Bertling Saturday night, he was a staple of the TQ Midget Racing Community. Bertling, who earned two of his ATQMRA Championships with preciously mentioned Alan Mollot, earned his stripes not only on the touring circuit but also at Pine Brook Speedway as well.

Tiffany Bertling Hoffman, was on hand for a special pre-race photo with the ATQMRA drivers, waved the green flag to start the 25 lap-feature, and was on-hand to present the race winning check and plaque to winner Jeff Kot.

The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels will be in action at Wall Stadium Speedway, on Saturday August 8th, 2020, for the second race of the season. For all the latest news and updates revolving around the Premier TQ Midget Racing Division, please visit atqmra.com or our various social media sites including Facebook and Instagram. 

Race Results:

Heat 1:
    1.    #1B Joey Bailey 
    2.    #95 Jeff Kot 
    3.    #51 Ryan Tidman 
    4.    #75 Mark Yoder
    5.    #76 Brianna Page 

Heat 2:
    1.    #51S Geoffrey Sutton
    2.    #12 Anthony Payne 
    3.    #36 Buddy Sload 
    4.    #22 Kyle Taraska 
    5.    #98 Tim Proctor DNS

Feature:
    1.    #95 Jeff Kot 
    2.    #36 Buddy Sload 
    3.    #51S Geoffrey Sutton
    4.    #1B Joey Bailey 
    5.    #51 Ryan Tidman 
    6.    #22 Kyle Taraska 
    7.    #76 Brianna Page 
    8.    #12 Anthony Payne DNF 
    9.    #75 Mark Yoder DNS 
    10.  #98 Tim Proctor DNS

Bailey Earns Bethel Victory & Championship

Staff Report | Monday, November 4th, 2019

Joey Bailey is the 2019 Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels Series Champion. Bailey solidified his championship by earning his series leading sixth feature victory of the year.

Bethel Motor Speedway was the sight of this weekend’s ATQMRA action, hosting the 12th and final points paying event of the 2019 campaign.

Ryan Tidman and Geoffrey Sutton earned heat race victories before the sunset on a brisk evening of racing. Each driver, along with Buddy Sload, were mathematically eligible to chase down points leader Bailey and win the championship heading into the event.

After handicapping, Mark Yoder led the field to the green for the 30 lap feature in his Ames Construction Hyper Chassis. Jeff Kot and the Behrents Performance Hyper Chassis kept Yoder honest in the opening laps. Kot, along with Anthony Payne in the Dent Zone Lafler Chassis pulled away from a large pack of cars in third.

It wouldn’t be long for Tidman and Bailey to make their way up through the field, picking off drivers one by one as they battled each other for the eventual lead.

After a strong showing up front, Yoder was passed for the lead by Tidman on lap 8. Tidman, followed by Bailey would clear the leaders, and battle it out amongst themselves throughout the remainder of the event.

Tidman’s hand was forced when both he and Bailey approached lapped cars Joey Payne III and Bobby Watkins. While Payne III and Watkins had their own battle for 10th, Tidman and Bailey were fighting to claim the checkered flag with only two laps remaining.

Tidman went low, Bailey went high. Bailey, with championship implications on the line, made a daring 4-wide outside pass on leader Tidman and the lapped traffic on the back straightaway.

Bailey powered to the lead, bringing the crowd to their feet. Bailey went on to lead the final two laps of the event, bringing home both the feature victory and the 2019 championship title.

After an impressive showing in speed, a dejected Tidman brought his Boyd Chassis home in second. With his second place finish, Tidman remarkably jumped from 4th to 2nd in final championship standings.

Mark Yoder ran his best race of the year, rounding out the podium. Championship contender Geoffrey Sutton finished 4th. Sutton would end his season third in series standings.

Long Island, NY invader Richie Davidowitz finished a respectable 5th in only his third start of 2019.

Anthony Payne finished 6th, Jeff Kot brought his machine home in 7th, and New England invader Avery Stoehr finished 8th.

Buddy Sload experienced mechanical issues throughout the duration of the afternoon. Sload’s championship run ended prematurely due to his issues, as he was only able to salvage a 9th place finish. After a strong season featuring three feature wins, Sload concludes his 2019 campaign fourth in standings.

Dodorico, Payne III, Taraska, Gorbatuk, Watkins and Craig rounded out the fifteen cars to take the green. Mike Glaser did not start the feature after an on-track incident in his heat race.

Joey Bailey, who began his racing career racing quarter midgets at “Little” Wall Stadium and various facilities across the country, earned his first career ATQMRA Championship this weekend. Bailey, at age 22, is one of the youngest drivers to earn the ATQMRA’s highest honors in organization history.

Bailey’s 2019 efforts include six feature victories and an average finishing position just shy of second throughout the season. Joey Bailey and the #51B Yuhas Chassis Championship Winning Team is led by father Russ Bailey, and storied ATQMRA car owner Alan Mollot.

The Hoosier Tire-Mid Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels will officially conclude their season at the non-points running of Turkey Derby XLVI at Wall Stadium Speedway on Saturday, November 30th, 2019.

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Race Results:

Heat 1:

1. #1B Ryan Tidman

2. #75 Mark Yoder

3. #51B Joey Bailey

4. #95 Jeff Kot

5. #12 Anthony Payne

6. #02 Kyle Taraska

7. #67 Joey Payne III

8. #16 Mike Glaser

Heat 2:

1. #51 Geoffrey Sutton

2. #23 Avery Stoehr

3. #25 Richie Davidowitz

4. #55 Paul Dodorico

5. #36 Buddy Sload

6. #32 Dave Gorbatuk

7. #91 Bobby Watkins

8. #55C Steve Craig
   

Feature:

1. #51B Joey Bailey

2. #1B Ryan Tidman

3. #75 Mark Yoder

4. #51 Geoffrey Sutton

5. #25 Richie Davidowitz

6. #12 Anthony Payne

7. #95 Jeff Kot

8. #23 Avery Stoehr

9. #36 Buddy Sload

10. #55 Paul Dodorico

11. #67 Joey Payne III

12. #02 Kyle Taraska

13. #32 Dave Gorbatuk

14. #91 Bobby Watkins

15. #55C Steve Craig

16. #16 Mike Glaser DNS