Payne Honors Father, Wins Thrilling Payne Sr. Memorial

Staff Report | Monday, June 28th, 2021

BETHEL, NY- In an effort of speed and fate, Joey Payne in Paul Dodorico’s #55 Dr. Martha Baker D.M.D, CheckerWon Manufacturing Spitfire Chassis earned a thrilling victory in the $670 to win Joe Payne Sr. Memorial this weekend at Bethel Motor Speedway. 

This past off-season, The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels lost one of their own, with the passing of Joe Payne Sr. Members of the ATQMRA collaborated to honor Payne this weekend at Bethel Motor Speedway. Bethel was the last speedway Payne Sr. ever attended, to watch his grandsons compete in November of 2019.

Many eyes were on Payne Sr.‘s son, Joey Payne, who earned a one-off deal with series regular Paul Dodorico. Payne started the evening off strong by earning the first heat race victory of the evening. Joey Bailey would go on to win the second heat. With the #55 car’s handicap, Payne earned the pole position for the 25 lap feature.

After an emotional missing man formation with John Payne pacing the field in his TQ Midget, the action started off hot and heavy at the drop of the green flag. 

Payne held off outside pole sitter and RYNO Classifieds Rookie Contender Tyler Ferris. Ferris and the #33 Hamer Heating and Cooling TQ Midget made their debut at Bethel this weekend. 

An early caution for fellow RYNO Rookie Contender, Brianna Page and the #76 A&A Truck Parts, Stavola Companies TQ Midget had an early solo spin to bunch the field up after completing one lap. 

On the following restart, Ryan Tidman in the 51T entry for Alan Mollot made an aggressive three-wide move to the inside of Payne and Ferris on the exit of turn two. Joey Bailey in the #1B Boyd Chassis tried to follow Tidman through. However, Bailey misjudged the timing of his move, as Tidman went for the lead underneath Payne. This caused the two cars to collide and spin into the infield. After pitting for repairs, both drivers would continue in the race. 

On the restart, Kyle Taraska’s #22 Chick-fil-A, Personal Comfort TQ Midget made an daring move to the inside of leader Joey Payne, forcing a three-wide move into turn one. The move paid the greatest dividends for Ferris, who stormed to the lead around the outside of the second turn. However, the glory of the lead was short lived as the Buddy Sload overtook Ferris in the third turn. Sload the  took a commanding lead as he looked to extend his feature win streak to four in a row.

Taraska and Ferris would battle hard for second with Taraska eventually earning the spot. Payne and the #95 Behrents Performance Machine of Jeff Kot battled it out in the latter half of the top-5. In the meantime, Bailey and Tidman began to charge through the field making up for lost ground.

In what appeared to be another runaway victory for Sload’s #36 Spitfire Chassis Team, an ultimate flat right front tire sent Sload hard into the outside guardrail in the first turn. Thankfully, Sload walked away from the incident healthy. In a major turn of events, it was Kyle Taraska who inherited the lead once the red flag was lifted, setting up a three-lap shoutout to the finish with Joey Payne restarting second. 

On the restart, Taraska commanded the lead briefly until he slipped up on the exit of the second turn. This opened the door for the determined Payne to regain the lead in what he described this week as “the most important race of his life.”

Taraska and Payne raced wheel to wheel down Bethel’s backstretch, as Payne cleared Taraska into turn 3. Payne slipped as Taraska attempted the cross-over but couldn’t get the traction to make the move work. In an absolute thriller of a finish, Payne came back around holding off Boyd Racing teammates Taraska and Bailey to earn the coveted victory in the $670 to win Joe Payne Memorial Race.

In a heartbreaker, Kyle Taraska earned a second place finish. Joey Bailey rounded out the podium. 

Jeff Kot would finish in fourth and Ryan Tidman finishing fifth. 

Tyler Ferris was the RYNO Classifieds Rookie of the Race, edging out fellow Rookie Contender Tyler Wagner. Wagner had a busy day competing triple duty across three divisions. Both drivers finished sixth and seventh respectively.

Kudos to Steve Craig, after having an engine expire on him at Waterford one week ago, made the quick turn around to make the trip to Bethel to earn an eighth place finish. What a valiant effort by the racing veteran. 

Bobby Watkins brought his #91 Badger out for his first show of 2021. Many folks in the pit area were pleased to have Bobby back behind the wheel this weekend as he earned a ninth place finish. 

While Joey Payne might have stolen the spotlight, the evening of racing would have been no where near as special without the attendance of Joey Payne III. Payne III made his first start of the 2021 season in his grandfather’s memorial race, driving the famous #67. While Payne may of had a quiet night behind the wheel, he went on to earn a 10th place finish. Payne III kept his nose clean and brought the car home in one piece, doing his grandfather and family proud. While not in the running order this weekend, it was great to have Joey III’s brother and ATQMRA regular Anthony Payne in attendance to support the event. Even car owner Michael Murray was seen in the pit area as well. 

Brianna Page unfortunately experienced overheating issues during the red flag period, ending her evening prematurely in 11th. Buddy Sload rounded out the 12 car field with his noted right front issue. 

This weekend was all for the Payne Family. With a storied history of open-wheel racing, particularly ATQMRA TQ Midgets dating back to the 1960’s, it was an honor to have so many family members on-site to celebrate the life of Joe Payne Sr. Saturday will certainly go down as a historic evening for not only the family, but the ATQMRA as a whole. 

To commemorate the event, a special plaque was presented to Joey Payne in a trophy presentation in victory lane, as well as a large $670 check featuring livery in his late-father’s honor. 

The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels will celebrate Independence Day weekend with no racing, prior to returning to Bethel Motor Speedway on Saturday July 10th, 2021.

Joe Payne Sr. Memorial Race Results

Heat 1:

1. #55 Joey Payne

2. #36 Buddy Sload

3. #95 Jeff Kot

4. #22 Kyle Taraska

5. #55C Steve Craig

6. #67 Joey Payne III

Heat 2:

1. #1B Joey Bailey

2. #33 Tyler Ferris*

3. #51T Ryan Tidman

4. #32 Tyler Wagner*

5. #76 Brianna Page*

6. #91 Bobby Watkins

Feature:

1. #55 Joey Payne

2. #22 Kyle Taraska

3. #1B Joey Bailey

4. #95 Jeff Kot

5. #51T Ryan Tidman

6. #33 Tyler Ferris*

7. #32 Tyler Wagner*

8. #55C Steve Craig

9. #91 Bobby Watkins

10. #67 Joey Payne III

11. #76 Brianna Page*

12. #36 Buddy Sload

*RYNO Classifieds Rookie Contender 

Sload Wins at Waterford; Third in a Row

Staff Report | Monday, June 21st, 2021

WATERFORD, CT- Buddy Sload and the #36 Spitfire Racing team earned the victory in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels feature this weekend at The New London-Waterford Speedbowl. This was Sload’s third feature victory in a row.

Brianna Page #76 A&A Truck Parts, Stavola Companies team led the field to the green. An exciting initial start with three and even four wide action saw Ryan Tidman break out to the lead down the frontstretch and into turn 1.

Tidman, making his debut in the Mollot #51S entry, set quick time in practice and was a top contending car throughout the afternoon.

“Flyin” Ryan’s moment on top of the mountain was short lived, as Sload powered around him for the lead as the field exited turned two heading down the backstretch.

While the leaders consisting of Sload, Tidman, Joey Bailey and Jeff Kot strung themselves out up front, tight two-wide racing remained mid-pack.

Steve Craig and Brianna Page battled for fifth, Kyle Taraska, Jake Trainor and Ken Moody Jr. remained in tow. It would be Taraska and the #22 Chick-fil-A, Personal Comfort breaking free of the pack next as he began his hunt to chase down the leaders.

Steve Craig’s day ended prematurely as his engine began to expire. Another week of showing a lot of speed and a lot of promise, ended in frustration for the veteran from Levittown, PA.

RYNO Classifieds Rookie Contender, and NEMA Lite superstar Jake Trainor made the long trip back from Indianapolis Raceway Park after competing in the rebirth of Thursday Night Thunder, to make his ATQMRA debut at Waterford this weekend.

Unfortunately, Trainor’s day also ended early due to an expired engine and left a hefty amount of oil on the racing surface. This led to a lengthy caution and also a restart just prior to halfway with 14 laps remaining.

On the restart, Joey Bailey was a man on a mission from third staying hot on Sload’s tail on the restart, powering to the inside of Tidman to move up to second.

Taraska, trying to make up for lost time due to being boxed in on the start, raced wheel to wheel with the Behrents Performance Warehouse Machine of Jeff Kot down the backstretch into turn three. Kot was able to power around Taraska on the outside and maintain the fourth position.

Ken Moody Jr was putting one of his best runs together since his ATQMRA debut last month. Unfortunately, a mechanical issue caused his car to come to a halt outside of the racing groove. This would bring out the final caution with about 8 laps to go, setting up a single file restart.

On the restart, Sload resumed his dominance. The leaders remained single file in their positions. Brianna Page put a nice run together taking advantage of Taraska’s mistake in turn 2, to move herself into the top 5 with three laps remaining. Page was the top finishing RYNO Classifieds Rookie of the Race and earned back-to-back top-5’s at Waterford dating back to last October.

In the end, it was Buddy Sload putting the “speed” in “The Speedbowl” earning the hat trick by claiming the ATQMRA feature victory this weekend.

Joey Bailey remains consistent, earning his third, second place finish in the last three starts during the 2021 points season. Ryan Tidman, Jeff Kot and Brianna Page rounded out the top five.

Kyle Taraska, Ken Moody Jr., Jake Trainor and Steve Craig rounded out the field.

For the second time in his career, Buddy Sload earned a hat trick, with his first coming in 2015. Sload dedicated this victory to his father “Big Bud,” and was able to give him his requested Father’s Day gift, a trophy from Waterford. “Big Bud” is home recovering from some recent health issues that did not permit him to take the trip to Connecticut this weekend. We wish him a speedy recovery and are excited to have him back at the track very soon.

The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels will be back in action this Saturday, June 26th, at Bethel Motor Speedway for the Joe Payne Sr. Memorial.

25 Lap Feature Results:

1. #36 Buddy Sload

2. #1B Joey Bailey

3. #51S Ryan Tidman

4. #95 Jeff Kot

5. #76 Brianna Page

6. #22 Kyle Taraska

7. #01 Ken Moody Jr.

8. #25 Jake Trainor

9. #55C Steve Craig

Sload Wins ATQMRA Garden State Classic; Back-to-Back Wall Victories

Staff Report | Monday, June 7th, 2021

WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ- Buddy Sload and the #36 Spitfire Racing Team earned their second victory of the 2021 season, leading wire to wire in Wall Stadium’s ATQMRA Garden State Classic.

Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels team competed at Wall Stadium Speedway this weekend for the third time in the last four weeks. In front of a packed house and scorching sun, things certainly felt back to normal post-pandemic at the historic racing facility.

Buddy Sload and Joey Bailey put on a great battle for the fans in the first heat with Sload coming out on top. Defending Wall Stadium Turkey Derby Champion Kyle Taraska, in the Chick-fil-A, Personal Comfort TQ Midget won the second heat of the evening. With this being the first race of the season with a handicap setting the starting grid, veteran Steve Craig started on the pole for the 25 lap feature.

Sload wasted no time with Craig on the start, with Sload clearing the #55C team off of turn two. Geoffrey Sutton in the #51 Yuhas Chassis followed in tow, rolling the outside lane to second.

Eventually, Boyd Racing Teammates Kyle Taraska and Joey Bailey settled into third and fourth.

The first and only caution of the evening came out on lap 5 when Paul Dodorico Dr. Martha Baker D.M.D, CheckerWon Manufacturing #55 team experienced a mechanical failure brining him to a stop in the middle of the backstretch. Dodorico was forced to retire from the event.

On the restart, Sload jumped out to a big lead as Sutton, Bailey and Taraska sliced and diced for second. After starting near the rear of the field, Jeff Kot and the Behrents Performance Warehouse TQ Midget made huge gains and charged up to the top 5 early on. Kot recovered early in the feature, from a flat right front tire in his heat race earning him an unfavorable starting position.

Bailey and Sutton battled side-by-side for a lap or so, with Sutton eventually winning the battle. However, it was Bailey who won the war. Sutton experienced motor issues under green, causing Sutton to pull off into the pits under green. Unfortunately the #51S team’s evening ended prematurely after what was a solid run.

In another battle of attrition, ‘Flyin’ Ryan Tidman flew through the field after starting shotgun due to a rear-end gearing issue he experienced in his heat race. The 5X ATQMRA Champ stormed up to fifth in a hard battle with Jeff Kot to round out the top five.

While the racing remained hot and heavy throughout the field, Buddy Sload cruised to victory, his second of the 2021 season. Sload follows up with back-to-back Wall Stadium Feature victories after ending the first race of this three-race home stand on his side due to following victim to an on-track incident.

Defending ATQMRA Champion Joey Bailey put another solid second place together, as the top two finishers experienced deja vu from the race prior. Kyle Taraska earned a competitive third, earning the Boyd Racing Team two of the three podium positions

The two hard chargers of the race, Jeff Kot and Ryan Tidman, rounded out the top five finishers. Both drivers were the biggest movers of the race, each gaining six positions from their original starting positions.

Mark Yoder #76 Ames Construction team earned a quiet but solid sixth place finish. Tyler Ferris finished seventh as the top RYNO Classifieds Rookie Contender. Ferris will extend his Rookie points lead with tonight’s finish.

#76 Brianna Page A&A Truck Parts, Stavola Companies team finished in eighth. Page overcame brake issues from earlier in the afternoon.

Pole Sitter Steve Craig finished in ninth. Geoffrey Sutton and Paul Dodorico rounded out the field in 10th and 11th respectively. Rookie Robert Willis attempted to race in this weekend’s event, however, a transmission failure ended his day of racing early after the second round of practice.

The ATQMRA would like to give an honorable mention to former champion Mike Tidaback. Mike was seen in the pit area throughout the evening interacting with many members and teams of the organization. Mike was in great spirits and showed signs of good health and it was great to have him at the track.

The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels will take a week off before heading to Waterford, Connecticut for race 5 of the 2021 season on Saturday, June 19th.

---

Race Results:

Heat 1:

1. #36 Buddy Sload

2. #1B Joey Bailey

3. #75 Mark Yoder

4. #33 Tyler Ferris

5. #95 Jeff Kot

Heat 2:

1. #22 Kyle Taraska

2. #51S Geoffrey Sutton

3. #55C Steve Craig

4. #55 Paul Dodorico

5. #76 Brianna Page

6. #51 Ryan Tidman

Feature:

1. #36 Buddy Sload

2. #1B Joey Bailey

3. #22 Kyle Taraska

4. #95 Jeff Kot

5. #51 Ryan Tidman

6. #75 Mark Yoder

7. #33 Tyler Ferris

8. #76 Brianna Page

9. #55C Steve Craig

10. #51S Geoffrey Sutton

11. #55 Paul Dodorico

Sload Dominates in Wall Feature

Staff Report | Monday, May 24th, 2021

Buddy Sload and the #36 Spitfire Racing Team swept the weekend by winning both their heat and feature for the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels at Wall Stadium Speedway.

After failing to complete a lap due to an on-track incident one week prior, Buddy Sload was a man on a mission this past Saturday at Wall Stadium. Prior to putting on a clinic in the feature, Sload held off RYNO.co Rookie Contender Tyler Ferris and the Hamer Heating and Cooling Team in Heat 1. Geoffrey Sutton and the #51S Yuhas Chassis owned by Alan Mollot earned a hard fought victory in heat 2.

Ten of the fifteen cars to make up Saturday night’s field redrew for position, earning Mike Glaser and the Aqua Solutions Team the pole position.

Havoc plagued the race early as mechanical failures were the theme of the early portion of evening. A clutch failure on Brianna Page’s #76 A&A Truck Parts TQ Midget brought out the caution just after the completion of 1 lap. On the immediate restart, defending Wall Stadium feature winner from one week ago Kyle Taraska and the Chick-fil-A, Personal Comfort team, experienced a mechanical failure ending his night prematurely. Neither driver had a fair shot as they rounded out the field of cars to take the green in the finishing order.

It didn’t take long for Sload to take advantage pole-sitter Glaser, earning him the lead early in the feature. Defending ATQMRA Champion Joey Bailey in the #1B Boyd Chassis stayed in tow with Sload, moving up to second quickly after starting in the third position.

As the race went on and continued to stay green, Sload was able to gap himself from the field while Bailey put in a valiant effort to keep him honest.

A three car battle emerged for the final podium position, between Mollot Racing Teammates Ryan Tidman, heat winner Sutton, and the Behrents Performance Warehouse Machine of Jeff Kot. After experiencing heartbreak one week prior, Kot was the biggest mover of the race starting from the 12th position before settling into a tight battle with Sutton and Tidman.

However, no driver was a match for Buddy Sload, who went on to earn his first feature victory of the 2021 Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels season.

Joey Bailey finished second, with Tidman ultimately winning the three car battle for third. Jeff Kot earned a strong fourth as Geoffrey Sutton rounded out the top five.

Tyler Ferris earned an impressive sixth place finish, and lead all RYNO.co Rookie Contenders. Ferris was also the last car to finish on the lead lap.

Pole sitter Mike Glaser backed up last week’s top-5 finish with a seventh. Veteran Steve Craig put another good day together. After finished third in his heat race, Craig earned an eighth place finish at Wall Stadium this weekend.

Mark Yoder had to miss last week’s feature due to a personal matter, but his Ames Construction TQ Midget earned a nice ninth place finish. It was great to have Yoder back in ATQMRA competition this weekend. Rookie Robbie Willis earned his first career top-10 by finishing in 10th.

Tyler Wagner, and Paul Dodorico respectively rounded out the cars who finished the event in 11th and 12th. Taraska and Page finished their features in the pit area in 13th and 14th after their noted mechanical failures. Rookie Ken Moody Jr. was officially scored in 15th after failing to take the green due to a mechanical failure.

The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels will be taking Memorial Day weekend off from competition. The tour returns to Wall Stadium Speedway on Saturday June 5th to take part as the opening feature for The Garden State Classic.

---

Race Results:

Heat 1:

1. #36 Buddy Sload

2. #33 Tyler Ferris

3. #1B Joey Bailey

4. #76 Brianna Page

5. #2 Mike Glaser

6. #95 Jeff Kot

7. #27 Robbie Willis

8. #32 Tyler Wagner

Heat 2:

1. #51S Geoffrey Sutton

2. #51 Ryan Tidman

3. #55C Steve Craig

4. #22 Kyle Taraska

5. #75 Mark Yoder

6. #55 Paul Dodorico

7. #01 Ken Moody Jr.

Feature:

1. #36 Buddy Sload

2. #1B Joey Bailey

3. #51 Ryan Tidman

4. #95 Jeff Kot

5. #51S Geoffrey Sutton

6. #33 Tyler Ferris

7. #2 Mike Glaser

8. #55C Steve Craig

9. #75 Mark Yoder

10. #27 Robbie Willis

11. #32 Tyler Wagner

12. #55 Paul Dodorico

13. #22 Kyle Taraska

14. #76 Brianna Page

15. #01 Ken Moody Jr.

Kyle Taraska Wins Second Consecutive Wall Stadium Feature

Photo credit Eric Storch Photography

Staff Report | Monday, May 17th, 2021

WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ- Kyle Taraska of Woodbridge, NJ, took the checkered flag in his Chick-fil-A, Personal Comfort TQ Midget in Saturday’s Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels feature. 

Joey Bailey and the #1B Boyd Racing Team entry earned the victory in the first heat. Paul Dodorico and the Martha Baker D.M.D, CheckerWon Manufacturing Spitfire Chassis earned his first career ATQMRA heat victory in the second qualifier, outdueling one of the pre-feature favorites Buddy Sload. 

The action got hot and heavy at the drop of the green flag, when Joey Bailey missed his mark and made contact with pole-sitter Ryan Tidman and his #51 Lindblad Badger. Bailey went for a spin, and Buddy Sload’s #36 Spitfire Chassis went for spin to avoid Bailey, ultimately tipping on his side. The incident derailed Sload’s efforts by ending his evening prematurely. 

Ryan Tidman kept a commanding lead, fighting off a strong field through a series of restarts in the early portion of the race. 

Backing up his fastest lap in practice, Jeff Kot and the Behrents Performance Warehouse TQ Midget made a power move, out-dueling leader Tidman from the outside lane on a restart giving him the lead just prior to halfway. 

With Kot the leader, Kyle Taraska sliced and diced his way between the Alan Mollot owned entries of Tidman and #51S Geoffrey Sutton from fourth to second, setting up the stage for the two drivers to battle for the finish.

As Kot continued to lead with two laps remaining, and Taraska closing, contact was made between Kot, Taraska and the lapped vehicle of rookie Robert Willis and the #27 Supreme Manufacturing Machine. 

Willis was blacked flagged for the incident, for not holding his line around the leaders as stated in the ATQMRA rulebook. Willis chopped the nose off Kot, causing the 95 machine to check up. Taraska ran over the left rear of Kot. Kot returned to the pit area with a flat left rear tire, and fought hard to salvage his efforts with a seventh place finish. 

The late race caution set up a green-white-checkered finish with Taraska as the leader with Tidman and Sutton breathing down his neck. Taraska was able to hang on and capture the victory, his second consecutive at Wall Stadium Speedway. 

Ryan Tidman finished second with Geoffrey Sutton in third. Joey Bailey recovered from an early spin in fourth, and Mike Glaser’s Aqua Solutions team rounded out the top five finishers.

#76 A&A Truck Parts TQ midget by Brianna Page put a nice sixth place finish together, leading the RYNO Classifieds Rookie Contenders. 

Jeff Kot recovered to his previously noted seventh place finish, and veteran Steve Craig finished in 8th. Heat race winner Paul Dodorico finished 9th, the last car on the lead lap. 

A crop of RYNO Classifieds Rookie Contenders made up the next round of finishing positions. Ken Moody Jr, Robert Willis, Tyler Ferris and Chris Pelcher respectively finished 10th-13th. Buddy Sload rounded out the 14 car field.

The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA powered by VP Racing Fuels returns to Wall Stadium this Saturday, May 22nd for the third race of the 2021 season. 

Race Results: 

Heat 1:

1. #1B Joey Bailey

2. #51 Ryan Tidman

3. #95 Jeff Kot

4. #22 Kyle Taraska

5. #33 Tyler Ferris

6. #76 Brianna Page

7. #44P Chris Pelcher
   

Heat 2:

1. #55 Paul Dodorico

2. #36 Buddy Sload

3. #51 Geoffrey Sutton

4. #55C Steve Craig

5. #2 Mike Glaser

6. #01 Ken Moody Jr.

7. #27 Robert Willis

Feature:

1. #22 Kyle Taraska

2. #51 Ryan Tidman

3. #51S Geoffrey Sutton

4. #1B Joey Bailey

5. #2 Mike Glaser

6. #76 Brianna Page

7. #95 Jeff Kot

8. #55C Steve Craig

9. #55 Paul Dodorico

10. #01 Ken Moody Jr.

11. #27 Robert Wills

12. #33 Tyler Ferris

13. #44P Chris Pelcher

14. #36 Buddy Sload