|
CHRISTOPHER ACES SECOND CAREER GAMBLER'S CLASSIC TQ-MIDGET VICTORY
ATLANTIC
CITY, NJ -There is a certain pride that comes in winning the Gambler's Classic
TQ-Midget race at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.
Just
ask Ted Christopher.
The
former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion claimed his second career Gambler's
Classic title Saturday night.
"When
you think about this race and the history that is involved in indoor racing in
Atlantic City, it really means something special to win it," said Christopher
of Plainville, Conn. "We only come here once a year and we, as a team, put a
lot of effort into winning this race so I take a certain amount of great pride
with this victory."
Christopher
joins an elite group of Gambler's Classic winners as he joins Lou Cicconi Jr
and Joey Payne as the only two-time winners of the event. Christopher’s only
Gambler's Classic win came in 2009. Christopher visited AC Victory Lane last
season, but that victory came in the preliminary main event.
Matt
Janisch of Nazareth, Pa., was second in the final tally, while Billy Pauch of
Frenchtown, N.J. was third; Billy Wease of Noblesville, Ind., was fourth; and
Matt Roselli of Broadheadsville, Pa., was fifth.
Christopher's
victory came in a car that he purchased four years ago from Art Lawshe for a
small sum of $4500. The win on Saturday night earned Christopher a cool $5000.
But
it was the off-season preparation that provided Christopher with a car that was
simply "bad fast."
The
chassis and surrounding bars were tricked out and the car weighed-in at 826
pounds, one pound over the mandatory weight.
"I
owe it all to my crew guys and especially to Michael O’Sullivan,” Christopher
said. “He worked incredibly hard in getting this car ready for the toll that it
can take with the indoor racing."
Christopher
started seventh in the 26-car grid, but he wasted little time in showing his strength.
By
lap four of the 40-lap main event, Christopher already worked up to second
where he followed Joey Payne.
Payne's
night ended on lap seven when a radius rod broke which sent his car hard into
the outside turn three wall. Payne was not injured in the crash.
"I
saw the bolt come out on the backstretch," Payne said. "There wasn't anything I
could have done except to ride it out."
Christopher
was handed the lead spot while Janisch and Ian Cumens followed in the top
three.
The
scariest crash of the evening occurred on lap 22 when Ryan Smith was clipped
into the outside frontstretch wall. His car climbed the wall, rolled on its
side and slid down the frontstretch, drilling the turn one wall. He was not
injured.
Over
the final 18 tours, Christopher dominated the race as he defeated Janisch by
five car lengths at the line.
The
weekend was near perfect for Christopher as he set a track record on Friday and
he won his heat race on Saturday. A damaged left-front wheel sent Christopher
to the pits with five laps left on Friday. He was leading at the time.
Christopher,
Cicconi, Payne and Smith won heat races, while Ryan Greth and Frank Fischer won
B-Mains. Glenn Heverin won the Non-Qualifiers race.
Michael
Butler of Milford, N.J. won the Herr’s Snacks Slingshot main event over Tiffany
Wambold, Shannon Smith, Mario Page and Jim Houseworth.
Butler
earned $1500 for the victory, his first in Atlantic City and he dedicated the
win to his grandfather Oliver.
Modified
ace Rick Laubach won the B-Main.
Norman
Hynes of Lithicum, Md., earned $1500 for claiming the Champ Kart feature event.
Hynes led the entire 25-lap main event en route to scoring his first career win
in Atlantic City.
Ryan
Kendall was second, followed by TJ Laro, Eric Zeh and Donnie Nale.
Kevin
Orlando won the B-Main.
TQ-Midget
Feature Finish, 40 Laps: 1. Ted Christopher; 2. Matt Janisch; 3. Billy Pauch;
4. Billy Wease; 5. Matt Roselli; 6. Ryan Greth; 7. Danny Johnson; 8. Mike
Lichty; 9. Joe Lord Jr; 10. Chris Stockham; 11. Tim Proctor; 12. Shaun Carrig;
13. Mike Tidaback; 14. Dan Lane Jr; 15. Ian Cumens; 16. Paul Lotier Jr; 17.
Christopher Allen Jr; 18. Tim Buckwalter; 19. Ryan Smith; 20. Chris DeRitis;
21. Jeff Kot; 22. Joey Payne; 23. Lou Cicconi Jr; 24. Timex Morgan; 25. Mike
Stefanik; 26. Frank Fischer.
Slingshot
Feature Finish, 25 Laps: 1. Michael Butler; 2. Tiffany Wambold; 3. Shannon
Smith; 4. Mario Page; 5. Jim Houseworth; 6. Gary Hieber; 7. Matt Dealaman; 8.
Michael Glass; 9. Kyle Hieber; 10. Anthony Perrego; 11. Jimmy Spellman; 12.
Kurt Bettler; 13. Matt Hearn; 14. Jesse Hartman; 15. Jay Hartman; 16. Nick
Pecko; 17. Brad Arnold; 18. Vern McLaughlin; 19. Bobby Butler; 20. Anthony
Schlosser-White; 21. Rick Laubach; 22. Brandon Azzalina; 23. Jeff Hartman; 24.
Brett Bieber.
Champ
Kart Feature Finish, 25 Laps: 1. Norman Hynes; 2. Ryan Kendall; 3. TJ Laro; 4.
Eric Zeh; 5. Don Nale; 6. Kyle Ellwood; 7. Justin Bonsignore; 8. Ron Milford Jr;
9. Eddie Sickles; 10. Kevin Orlando; 11. Andrew Swisher; 12. Cameron Bellinger;
13. David Daniels; 14. David Calabrese; 15. Bryan Shields; 16. Mike Perry; 17.
Justin Strumpe; 19. Shawn Solomito; 20. Kevin Root; 21. Todd Root; 22. James
Hayden; 23. Jeremy Tuttle; 24. Steve Midford Jr; 25. Brad Davis; 26. Coby
Cressinger.
|
BUCKWALTER CLAIMS WILD TQ-MIDGET PRELIM;
CARPENTER ACES 600cc MICRO SPRINT MAIN
ATLANTIC
CITY, NJ - Crazy.
That's
how Tim Buckwalter, 22, of Douglassville, Pa., described Friday night's
TQ-Midget 30-lap preliminary feature event at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City,
N.J.
Buckwalter
claimed his first-ever indoor event in front of a large crowd that sat in
absolute awe over the transgressions of a race that had many leaving the gates with
absolute anticipation for Saturday night's 40-lap Gambler's Classic finale.
When
the race was all said and done, only four cars finished the distance after a
lap 25 crash took out or left 15 cars to
the pit area. And many of those sent to the pit area were the heavy hitters
like then-race leader Chris DeRitis, Lou Cicconi Jr, Joey Payne, Mike Lichty
and Ted Christopher, who survived the turn two crash but he was later black
flagged as his left-front wheel was busted.
"I
guess I was at the right spot at the right time," Buckwalter said. "Somehow, we
got through it and missed everything."
Buckwalter
is a guaranteed starter for Saturday night's main event along with Shaun Carrig
of Little Falls, N.J.; Matt Roselli of Broadheadsville, Pa.; and Mike Tidaback
of Little Falls, N.J. Christopher finished fifth in the main event as he
watched from the pit area.
DeRitis
of Philadelphia, Pa., who led laps one through 25, admitted his car suffered
mechanical problems which precipitated the multi-car incident.
"The
engine was registering 240 degrees and I knew 250 was the limit," DeRitis said. "When we restarted, I felt the engine burp and it started to spit some water
out."
DeRitis
was dominant until the lap 25 mark. He got the edge over Ian Cumens at the
start of the race and fought off several challenges from Cicconi, mainly on the
five separate restarts that slowed the race.
Mike
Stefanik of Coventry, R.I.; Ian Cumens of Lyndell, Pa.; Cicconi of Aston, Pa;
and Billy Pauch of Frenchtown, N.J., won heat events for the TQ Midgets. Luke
Thomas of Wyoming, Del., and Mark Yoder of Ephrata, Pa. won the non-qualifier
events.
Ted
Christopher of Plainville, Conn., set a record lap of 8.6352 seconds. Nineteen
cars eclipsed the previous track record.
Jimmy
Carpenter of Manchester, N.J., received the lead in the 600cc Micro Sprint Car
main event on lap 14 after Jason Ormsby and Jack Conover were involved in a
spectacular turn three double flip while contending for the lead.
Carpenter
led the final six tours to score the $1500 victory over teammate Rob Vivona of
Staten Island, N.Y.
"I
didn't even have a ride until last Tuesday," Carpenter said. "Rob called me and
said that if I wanted to run in this race then I better get my butt up to
Staten Island."
Justin
Moench of Brick, N.J., was third, followed by Pat Bealer of Walnutport, Pa.,
and Louis Horvath of Nazareth, Pa.
Ray
Sands posted quick time in the 600cc Micro Sprint Car class with a lap time of
9.0065 seconds.
In
Champ Kart action, Justin Bonsignore set a quick lap of 9.8638 seconds. James
Hayden, Todd Crenshaw and Jeremy Tuttle won the B-Mains.
Kyle
Hieber's lap time of 10.2357 seconds was fastest in Slingshot qualifying, while
Brad Arnold and Jim Housworth won the B-Mains.
Fanfest
begins Saturday at 5 p.m. with race action starting at 7. The night will
culminate with the 40-laps Gambler's Classic TQ-Midget main event.
Tickets
are still on sale and can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall box office.
TQ-Midget
Feature Finish, 25 Laps: 1. Tim Buckwalter; 2. Shaun Carrig; 3. Matt Roselli;
4. Mike Tidaback; 5. Ted Christopher; 6. Chris DeRitis; 7. Mike Lichty; 8. Lou
CIcconi Jr; 9. Joey Payne; 10. Mike Stefanik; 11. Ian Cumens; 12. Billy Weese;
13. Chris Stockham; 14. Mike Iles; 15. Mike Osite; 16. Christopher Allen; 17.
Ryan Smith; 18. Billy Pauch; 19. Paul Lotier Jr; 20. Ryan Greth; 21. Glen Reen;
22. Timex Morgan; 23. Tim Proctor; 24. Dan Lane Jr
600cc
Micro Sprint Car Feature Finish, 20 Laps: 1. Jimmy Carpenter; 2. Rob Vivona; 3.
Justin Moench; 4. Pat Bealer; 5. Louis Horvath; 6. Brett Michalski; 7. Steve
Walter;s 8. John Gearhart; 9. Ed Wilberg Sr; 10. Amanda Quinones; 11. Steven
Bracall; 12. Steve Kemery; 13. Jerry Mack; 14. Marc Guerard; 15. Jason Ormsby;
16. Jack Conover; 17. Chris Prychka; 18. Joe Mongeau; 19. Brett Schoenly; 20.
Rick Wegner; 21. Sierra Weaver; 22. Bob Maxwell Jr; 23. Mike Trimble; 24. Ray
Sand.
|
|
SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE NIGHT KICKS OFF GAMBLER'S CLASSIC WEEKEND AT BOARDWALK HALL
Atlantic City, NJ - More than 210 race cars showed up for practice at Boardwalk Hall
Thursday night in preparation for this weekend's 9th annual Gambler's
Classic.
"We,
by far, are excited for the next two days of racing action at Boardwalk Hall,"
said event promoter and organizer Len Sammons. "With a large turnout of cars
for practice along with more expected to enter on Friday, we expect this to be
a grand event for the fans and competitors."
Four
divisions of race cars - TQ-Midgets, 600cc Micro Sprint Cars, Slingshots and
Champ Karts - participated in the five hour practice session.
It
was not surprise that Lou Cicconi Jr of Aston, Pa., was the unofficial fastest
TQ-Midget in the field.
The
defending champion of the Gambler's Classic posted an unofficial lap time of
9.012 seconds, a few ticks off his 8.982 second record lap from 2009.
Cicconi's
fielding several cars this weekend including one driven by dirt Modified
standout Danny Johnson of Rochester, N.Y.
Johnson
has never competed indoors until he turned his first laps during practice on
Thursday evening.
"It's
quite an adjustment," Johnson said. "I'm in one of the best prepared cars, but
it is definitely different than what we do outdoors. Things happen so quickly.
I mean, you turning laps in less than 10 seconds."
Action
begins Friday with practice at 1 p.m. with time trials for all divisions
beginning at 4:30 p.m.
The
grandstands will open at 6 p.m. with racing action beginning at 8 p.m. The
night will culminate with the 20-lap 600cc Micro Sprint Car main event and a 30-lap
TQ-Midget feature race.
On
Saturday, Fanfest, which will give race fans an opportunity to meet the drivers
and get up close to the race cars, will kick off at 5 p.m., followed by racing
action at 7 p.m. Feature events will be held for the Slingshot division and Champ
Kart class.
The
night will end with the Gambler's Classic for TQ-Midgets, a 40-lap event
feature a field of 26 race cars.
Cicconi
(TQ-Midget), Kyle Hieber (Slingshots) and AJ Roderick (Champ Karts) are the
defending champions. Ted Christopher is the defending preliminary night winner
in the TQ-Midget class.
Tickets
for both nights are still on sale at the Boardwalk Hall box office.
|
BERTLING READY TO REHASH SOME GOOD MEMORIES OF BOARDWALK HALL
69 Year Old Set To Race In Gambler’s Classic Events
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ January 25, 2011 . . . Jack Bertling isn’t one to gloat over the number of wins he has at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.
He’s old school.
The checkered flags collected over the years were a product of what he did as a race car driver. The details are forgotten.
So when asked how many victories he collected over the years, Bertling, 69, answered in a matter-of-fact tone.
“I don’t really know, but I know it was a few times,” Bertling said. “I think my first might have been in 1969 and my last one was in 1979, but I don’t know how many total wins I have in Atlantic City.”
For the record, Bertling, a former New Jersey resident who now resides in Kannapolis, N.C., has five wins in Atlantic City, and he will return to the track this weekend for the Gambler’s Classic as he’ll drive a well prepared car that was formerly driven by Donnie Adams
“I always loved that race track,” Bertling said. “Man, we could fly around it. It had a great feel to it. Atlantic City. … my, I loved racing there.
“It’s not the same as it is now, you know. It used to be a lot bigger. We would actually vanish from the fans when we were on the straight stretches, because we went underneath the bleachers. Let me tell you, that place was really cool.”
Today, the ice hockey rink is transformed into a racing surface. When Bertling was racing indoors, Boardwalk Hall hosted many activities including the Liberty Bowl college football game.
“It was so big that they could play football in there,” Bertling said. “In fact, they even offered a money prize if someone could punt and throw a ball and hit the roof. I even once saw a helicopter in that building.”
The racing surface has been trimmed from the days when Bertling zipped around it, but there is still a common denominator that you still have to be aggressive behind the wheel.
“I am sure that hasn’t changed,” Bertling said. “I haven’t seen a race at Boardwalk Hall in two years, but I am sure you have to be up on the wheel.”
Bertling’s first time behind the wheel will come this Friday.
“I’d like to be competing in the practice session on Thursday, but I don’t believe we can pull it off,” Bertling said. “We’ll just have to be ready and get some practice time on Friday.”
It’s not like Bertling needs the practice.
He might be a bit rusty, but his experience and expertise of racing TQ-Midgets speaks volumes and will help when the engines are fired.
In fact, Bertling was so good in his time that he earned the nickname “Black Jack.”
“I got it from a promoter at Pine Brook Speedway,” Bertling said. “A lot of people didn’t like me and one night they had this deal at Pine Brook.
“I went there and the fans in the grandstands were wearing either blue or yellow shirts. It was incredible. I was like, ‘What the devil is going on?’”
Bertling was, in fact, the reason for the promotion.
“The blue shirts had I love Jack Bertling writing on them, while the yellow shirts had I hate Jack Bertling on them,” Bertling recalled.
It gets a bit worse.
“Before the feature, I went to walk on the track and the track crew said, ‘No Jack, hold on.’
“Out of nowhere, a stretched limousine pulls up. The door opens up and they tell me to get in. They ended up taking me to the frontstretch and when it stopped, they rolled out the red carpet. My, oh my, the fans started booing and I had nothing to do with it.”
Bertling, who is married to Nick Fornoro Sr’s daughter, spends his days and nights in North Carolina. He moved south just slightly more than six years ago.
He has sent out a countless number of resumes in search of involvement in some NASCAR-related team, but with the current state of the economy he is finding it hard to procure employment.
For this weekend, Bertling won’t care about finding a job.
Instead, he’ll focus on what makes him happy – driving and competing.
“I can’t wait for it,” Bertling said. “I can’t wait to get back racing behind the wheel of a TQ-Midget and I can’t wait to see a lot of my buddies from that area.”
Tickets for the Atlantic City Indoor Race are currently on sale through Ticketmaster (1-800-736-1420) or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Tickets are available with no extra fee applied at the Boardwalk Hall box office,
Activity in Atlantic City will begin on Thurs., Jan. 27, with paid practice from 5-10 p.m. Weekend activity will begin on Fri., Jan. 28, at 4:30 p.m. with time trials. The night will include heat events for TQ-Midgets and B-Mains for the 600cc Micro Sprint Cars, Slingshots and Champ Karts. It will culminate with a 20-lap 600cc Micro Sprint Car main event and a 30-lap TQ-Midget feature race.
The Sat., Jan. 29, program kicks off at 5 p.m. with the Fanfest, which will be held on the indoor racing surface.
The Saturday-night portion of the show is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Heat races and semis will lead up the 40-lap "Gamblers Classic" for TQ-Midgets, with Slingshots and Champ Karts also on the schedule.
|
WEASE BRINGING INDOOR RACING TALENTS TO GAMBLER’S CLASSIC
IN ATLANTIC CITY
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ January 16, 2011 . . . YouTube.
It’s a website for millions but for Billy Wease, 24, of Noblesville, Ind., he is using the Internet portal as an educational tool.
It’s where Wease is securing his knowledge to learn every angle of the indoor TQ-Midget oval that will host the Gambler’s Classic at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., next weekend.
“I’ve never driven TQ-Midgets,” Wease said. “I’ve driven 600cc Micro Sprint Cars and Midget Cars indoors before, but I have never been in a TQ-Midget.”
In fact, Wease has only ever driven in the state of New Jersey once over his storied race car career. Wease drove a Quarter-Midget Car at Wall Stadium.
Wease carries a nice list of indoor racing accolades.
In 2008, he swept both nights of the Rumble Series at the Ft. Wayne Expo Center in Ft. Wayne, Ind.
“I have the experience of racing indoors,” Wease said. “I’ve been some form of racing indoors ever since I was kid. In definitely enjoy it, because it is a challenge.”
Wease said he will drive a car prepared by two-time and defending Gambler’s Classic champion Lou Cicconi Jr. In addition to Wease, Cicconi will field a TQ-Midget entry for dirt Modified ace Danny Johnson.
Wease added that if he does well in Atlantic City, then he might follow the indoor TQ-Midget Series to the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, R.I., the next week.
“I know Lou and his talents of putting together a good car,” Wease said. “Lou knows what he is doing as a mechanic and as a driver.
“All I know is that you to hustle those TQ-Midget cars. A lot of doing well is staying out of trouble. I know that, but that is the nature of racing indoors. Now, for Atlantic City, it could be a whole different ballgame. At all the indoor tracks I have raced on, I never experience a wall on the inside and outside. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a track where there is an inside wall.”
But don’t think that will hold back Wease. He’s a born racer who can adapt to any situation.
The passion for auto racing is a family tradition as Billy’s father Bill raced Dirt Bikes and Late-Modifieds.
Wease began his own racing career at five years old in Quarter Midgets. He progressed to Kenyon Midgets at the age of 12 and later to full-sized Midgets at 14 years old.
At the age of 18, the Penske Racing team discovered Billy’s talent and signed him on as a developmental driver for the organization.
The year that pushed Billy Wease into the spotlight was ‘05. During this year, he was forced to run another limited schedule season. However it was anything but dull, he won four features, won numerous heat races, and set fast-lap records. The success of the season was incomparable to the news he received from Penske Racing.
The 18-year-old driver’s talent had caught the eyes of upper management in Penske Racing. Later in ‘05, Wease was signed to Penske Racing as a developmental driver.
As a developmental driver for Penske Racing in ‘06, Wease tested the Car of Tomorrow and regular Nationwide and Cup cars. Another milestone in his racing career was created when he participated in his first ACRA Series debut at Michigan International Speedway.
His talent was showcased on national television where he qualified eighth in his Kodak sponsored car. The second place finish was nothing to shun when the winner turned out to be NASCAR Sprint Cup driver David Stremme.
Wease’s race season was diversified with his limited USAC National Midget schedule with Western Speed Racing.
Within the limited schedule, he still managed to claim victories in the Gerhardt Classic and infamous Turkey Night Grand Prix.
“I would love to be the first driver from Indiana to win this race,” Wease said. “My plans are to be there for practice on Thursday and we can build from there and hopefully score a win on Saturday night.”
Tickets for the Atlantic City Indoor Race are currently on sale through Ticketmaster (1-800-736-1420) or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Tickets are available with no extra fee applied at the Boardwalk Hall box office and at the Area Auto Racing News office in Trenton, N.J. at 609-888-3618
Activity in Atlantic City will begin on Thurs., Jan. 27, with paid practice from 5-10 p.m. Weekend activity will begin on Fri., Jan. 28, at 4:30 p.m. with time trials.
The night will include heat events for TQ-Midgets and B-Mains for the 600cc Micro Sprint Cars, Slingshots and Champ Karts. It will culminate with a 20-lap 600cc Micro Sprint Car main event and a 30-lap TQ-Midget feature race.
The Sat., Jan. 29, program kicks off at 5 p.m. with the Fanfest, which will be held on the indoor racing surface.
The Saturday-night portion of the show is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Heat races and semis will lead up the 40-lap "Gamblers Classic" for TQ-Midgets, with Slingshots and Champ Karts also on the schedule.
|
DANNY JOHNSON STOKED FOR INDOOR TQ-MIDGET RUN IN ATLANTIC CITY
TRENTON, NJ - It’ll be a whole different experience.
That’s how dirt Modified ace Danny Johnson is looking at the upcoming indoor TQ-Midget Gambler’s Classic at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., on January 27-29.
“I’ve never driven a TQ-Midget let alone race indoors,” said Johnson, 50, of Phelps, NY. “It’ll be a whole new experience, one that I hope to fun at. In fact the only time I raced in the month of January was a few years ago when I competed in a snowmobile race.”
Johnson will drive a Lou Cicconi Jr-prepared second entry. Cicconi is the defending and two-time winner of the Gambler’s Classic.
“(Modified car owner) Mike Payne made it happen,” Johnson said. “I am pretty happy in knowing that I’ll be in one of Lou’s car. You can’t get in too much better TQ-Midget equipment that what Lou has for you.”
Johnson’s one-race foray in TQ-Midgets comes off one of his best season’s in recent memory.
The Doctor won 18 dirt Modified feature events in ’10. He came close to topping Stewart Friesen in the RoC Dirt Modified points title, finishing one spot behind the Canadian driver.
Johnson finished fifth in the Super DIRTcar Series Modified point standings. He captured two main events on the SDS schedule with 12 top-five finishes and 15 top-10 finishes.
Johnson’s late-season surge earned him a fourth career Super DIRTcar Series 358-Modified points title.
His 18-win season included victories at Ransomville Speedway (four), Accord Speedway (three),
Cayuga County Speedway (three), Canandaigua Speedway (two), Five Mile Point Speedway (two), Autodrome Drummond (one), Autodrome Edelweiss (one), Brockville Speedway (one) and Rolling Wheels Raceway (one)
But racing outdoors is a whole different experience than what he’ll experience on concrete indoors, which lies above the sometimes used ice hockey rink.
“I won’t be able to barreling into the turns like we do in a Modified, but as long as I have a good car then I’ll be able to hold me own,” Johnson said. “That’s how I’m approaching this event.
“Lou will give me a good car. I know that. I know I’ll be out of my element, and I know it’ll be easy to get stuck in traffic and everything is based on circumstance, but I really believe I can hold my own in this event.”
As soon as the Gambler’s Classic ends, Johnson will focus his attention outdoors where he plans to compete in the Super DIRTcar Series Winter Nationals at Volusia Speedway (Fla.) Park in February.
Tickets for the Atlantic City Indoor Race are currently on sale through Ticketmaster (1-800-736-1420) or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Tickets are available with no extra fee applied at the Boardwalk Hall box office and at the Area Auto Racing News office in Trenton, N.J. at 609-888-3618
Activity in Atlantic City will begin on Thurs., Jan. 27, with paid practice from 5-10 p.m.
Weekend activity will begin on Fri., Jan. 28, at 4:30 p.m. with time trials.
The night will include heat events for TQ-Midgets and B-Mains for the 600cc Micro Sprint Cars, Slingshots and Champ Karts. It will culminate with a 20-lap 600cc Micro Sprint Car main event and a 30-lap TQ-Midget feature race.
The Sat., Jan. 29, program kicks off at 5 p.m. with the Fanfest, which will be held on the indoor racing surface.
The Saturday-night portion of the show is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Heat races and semis will lead up the 40-lap "Gamblers Classic" for TQ-Midgets, with Slingshots and Champ Karts also on the schedule.
|
IAN CUMINS AIMS TO KEEP STREAK ALIVE IN UPCOMING TQ-MIDGET SERIES EVENTS
By JERRY REIGLE
TRENTON, NJ - Ian Cumens has an amazing streak and it’s one he doesn’t want to see end.
He has yet to sit on the sidelines for a Saturday night indoor racing program at either Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., or the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I.
He wants the streak to continue again as the indoor racing TQ-Midget racing series continues again in a few weeks as the 10th annual Gambler’s Classic in Atlantic City on Jan. 27-29 and the Coffee Cup in Providence on Feb. 5.
“We want to see that streak continue,” Cumens, 18, said. “I love racing indoors. You get to run with the best in the businesses. There is top Midget car driver like Joey Payne and Lou Cicconi at both events. Plus, you get the drivers from other classes too. Stewart Friesen has become a contender every time we go indoor racing.”
Cumens is carrying some major success himself.
The Downingtown West (Pa.) High School senior claimed the ATQMRA title, a year after his older sister Alison won it.
“The experience you get from racing indoors definitely helps in outdoor action,” Cumens said. “Indoors, you are so close lap after lap. I know of a few situations where it came into play this past racing season.
“There was a night at Bethel Motor (N.Y.) Speedway. We started 13th and ended up winning that night. That close-knit racing you get from racing indoors definitely helped us out at that event. The same can be said for the close racing at Mountain (Pa.) Speedway and Wall (N.J.) Speedway.”
Cumens will drive a family-owned Colin Martin-built Spitfire Chassis TQ-Midget. It’s the same car he drove the past few seasons in indoor racing action. The Spitfire Chassis is a bulkier car in comparison to the more compact TQ-Midget designed cars.
“It has bigger tubing, but I feel safe and comfortable in it,” Cumens said. “I know we’re just as competitive with the TQs as well.”
Also, this year marks the first time in history that the indoor races will be held on consecutive weekends.
“If it was up to me, we’d race indoors all winter,” Cumens said. “The good part of going back-to-back is you don’t have to wait for month until you race again. You go from Atlantic City right to Providence. On the bad side, if you get crashed in AC, then you have to rush to make the repairs for the next weekend.”
Cumens is hoping that there is no need to make those repairs. If history proves correct, he should be a contender in the A-Mains.
As for the future, Cumens, who was scheduled to test in the ARCA stock car series at Daytona International Speedway last month, will defend his ATQMRA title.
In addition, Cumens plans to enter a few North Eastern Midget Association-sanctioned events in ’11.
Tickets for the Atlantic City Indoor Race are currently on sale through Ticketmaster (1-800-736-1420) or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Tickets are available with no extra fee applied at the Boardwalk Hall box office and at the Area Auto Racing News office in Trenton, N.J. at 609-888-3618
Activity in Atlantic City will begin on Thurs., Jan. 27, with paid practice from 5-10 p.m.
Weekend activity will begin on Fri., Jan. 28, at 4:30 p.m. with time trials. The night will include heat events for TQ-Midgets and B-Mains for the 600cc Micro Sprint Cars, Slingshots and Champ Karts. It will culminate with a 20-lap 600cc Micro Sprint Car main event and a 30-lap TQ-Midget feature race.
The Sat., Jan. 29, program kicks off at 5 p.m. with the Fanfest, which will be held on the indoor racing surface.
The Saturday-night portion of the show is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Heat races and semis will lead up the 40-lap "Gamblers Classic" for TQ-Midgets, with Slingshots and Champ Karts also on the schedule.
Tickets for the Coffee Cup are available at the Dunkin’ Donuts box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.
TQ-Midgets and Champ Karts will share the one-day card which begins at 7 p.m.
|
MORGAN STOKED FOR MULTI-CAR ATLANTIC CITY
AND PROVIDENCE INDOOR RACING ASSAULT
By JERRY REIGLE
TRENTON, NJ – Timex Morgan is bringing a gun to the fight this time.
That’s how he describes the upcoming indoor TQ-Midget Car races in Atlantic City, N.J., and Providence, R.I.
Morgan has an arsenal of cars – three to be exact – ready for what will be the busiest two weeks of the winter season as the Rochester, N.Y., resident will be an entrant and owner in both the Gambler’s Classic, which is scheduled for Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., on Jan. 27-29, 2011, and the Coffee Cup, which is scheduled at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I., on Feb. 5, 2011.
“Until this year, we had the 600cc Micro Sprints and we were racing indoors against the TQ-Midgets,” Morgan said. “That’s like bringing a knife to a gunfight. Now, I feel as if we have a gun and we’re coming prepared to the gunfight.”
Preparation is an understatement.
Morgan has ace driver Joey Payne in one of his cars along with female driving star Jessica Zemken. Both will drive entries in Atlantic City along with Morgan in the third TQ-Midget entry.
Payne and Morgan will drive TQ-Midgets in Providence, R.I., and Zemken is a tentative entry dependent on her travel and outdoor racing plans.
And Morgan put an offer on the table for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car owner and driver Tony Stewart.
“Let me just say that if Tony wants a ride, we’ll make sure he has one,” Morgan said. “I know he has several options available if he wants a ride.”
Although Stewart has not committed to participate as a driver, he did attend last year’s Gambler’s Classic in Atlantic City, N.J., and he expressed an interest in possibly driving indoors.
Morgan has become the poster boy of racing indoors.
He landed Dunkin’ Donuts as a sponsor for his racing team as a result of taking part in the indoor racing events.
And he’s represented the business well on all fronts. He fields a two seat race car that offers fans and dignitaries an opportunity to experience the thrill of racing.
“We had a great experience this past year,” Morgan said. “Thanks to Dunkin’ Donuts, we had a child, who was part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, ride along with us. It was his thrill of a lifetime. It didn’t matter how bad out night was, and we did have a bad night, but the smiles from that child made everything go away.”
Although Morgan races outdoors, it is the indoor scene that he thoroughly enjoys.
“If it was up to me, we wouldn’t race outdoors,” Morgan said. “There is nothing like going 70 mph indoors with cars inches from you. It’s a battle of inches rather than one of feet.
“Plus, you get the regional top drivers at each event. Look at the entry list. There are guys who win in asphalt Modifieds, dirt Modifieds and so many other divisions who enter these indoor events. In think indoor racing separates men from the boys.”
Thanks to Mark Lafler of Lafler Chassis, Morgan will have his first true TQ-Midget at his disposal.
Payne drove one of the cars to victory already after claiming a division main at Wyoming County International Speedway in Perry, N.Y. Morgan was in contention of winning the Casey’s TQ-Midget Series title, but he finished second although he did claim the series Rookie of the Year title.
“It’s a big difference (switching car designs),” Morgan said. “Joey got out of his car and he said, ‘Now, that’s a race car that can win.’”
Despite it being a month away, Morgan is stoked for the best two weekends of the year.
“The adrenaline and anticipation is already building,” Morgan said. “I go back to what (multi-time Indy 500 veteran) Davey Hamilton said last year.
“He came in and asked us how we drive these things. He said Indianapolis is one thing, but this kind of racing is way harder. That was up in Providence.”
In addition to the TQ-Midget entries, Morgan is fielding a 600cc Micro Sprint Car for Ray Sands to drive in Atlantic City.
Tickets for the Atlantic City Indoor Race are currently on sale through Ticketmaster (1-800-736-1420) or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are available with no extra fee applied at the Boardwalk Hall box office and at the Area Auto Racing News office in Trenton, N.J. at 609-888-3618
Activity in Atlantic City will begin on Thurs., Jan. 27, with paid practice from 5-10 p.m.
Weekend activity will begin on Fri., Jan. 28, at 4:30 p.m. with time trials. The night will include heat events for TQ-Midgets and B-Mains for the 600cc Micro Sprint Cars, Slingshots and Champ Karts. It will culminate with a 20-lap 600cc Micro Sprint Car main event and a 30-lap TQ-Midget feature race.
The Sat., Jan. 29, program kicks off at 5 p.m. with the Fanfest, which will be held on the indoor racing surface.
The Saturday-night portion of the show is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Heat races and semis will lead up the 40-lap "Gamblers Classic" for TQ-Midgets, with Slingshots and Champ Karts also on the schedule.
Tickets for the Coffee Cup are available at the Dunkin’ Donuts box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.
TQ-Midgets and Champ Karts will share the one-day card which begins at 7 p.m.
|
FRIESEN READY FOR BACK-TO BACK TQ-MIDGET INDOOR EVENTS
TRENTON, NJ - Stewart Friesen wants another photograph in his garage.
The likeable Canadian driver, who now resides in Old Forge, N.Y., still looks at the picture that shows him, Joey Payne and Jack Hewitt in Victory Lane from the indoor TQ-Midget race in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
That picture brings a smile to his face as it marked the one and only indoor victory that Friesen, 27, scored when he was a mere 16-year-old driver.
Now, he wants more pictures and Victory Lane photos.
Friesen is stoked for the upcoming Gambler’s Classic indoor TQ-Midget race at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., on January 27-29, 2011, and the Coffee Cup indoor event at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I., on February 5.
“I love racing indoors,” Friesen said. “There is nothing like it for the drivers and fans.
“I think one of the reasons I enjoy it so much is due to the cross section of drivers you get at those events. You get guys from the dirt and asphalt world. You have drivers who run TQ-Midgets all season outside. You have guys who run the NASCAR Modified Tour. There are guys who run dirt Modifieds, Sprint Cars and Midgets. All of them seem to migrate to the indoor events.”
Friesen enters the winter indoor events as one of the most decorated drivers of ’10.
He tied NASCAR All-American Racing Series champion Keith Rocco for the most wins in the Northeast (25), as compiled by Area Auto Racing News.
Twenty-four of those wins came in dirt Modified racing, while another came in a 360 Sprint Car at Ransomville (N.Y.) Speedway.
His dirt Modified event victories came at Five Mile Point Speedway in Kirkwood, N.Y (10 wins); Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, N.Y. (five wins); Fonda (N.Y.) Speedway (two wins); Ransomville (N.Y.) Speedway (two wins); and one win each at the following tracks, Cayuga County Fair Speedway in Weedsport, N.Y.; Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, Pa.; the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, N.Y.; Penn Can Speedway in Susquehanna, Pa.; and Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.
Now, Friesen wants to focus his efforts on the indoor TQ-Midget world.
“The intensity of racing is something like you get at the dirt-track bullrings,” Friesen said. “I would equate the indoor circuit as the same intensity you get from racing at Accord, Five Mile Point or Penn Can speedways. It’s pretty incredible when you’re racing in Atlantic City and/or Providence and you’re constantly turning left, trying to avoid the guy in front and/or in back of you.”
There is another reason why Friesen likes the indoor racing TQ-Midget circuit.
“It is a homecoming of sorts,” he said. “My owner Mel Rapp gave me my first TQ-Midget ride when I was a teenager and that car I drove then is driven by James Michael Friesen.
“Mel’s given me a lot over the years. He’s given me an opportunity to race indoors and I appreciate his loyalty.”
The Friesen name is well represented in Atlantic City and Providence.
Stewart is joined by his cousins, James Michael and Curtis.
“For us, it’s like a family reunion,” Friesen said. “There is no better place to have a family reunion than at a race track. The sport has united our family for years.”
Tickets for the Atlantic City Indoor Race are currently on sale through Ticketmaster (1-800-736-1420) or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are available with no extra fee applied at the Boardwalk Hall box office and at the Area Auto Racing News office in Trenton, N.J. at 609-888-3618
Activity in Atlantic City will begin on Thurs., Jan. 27, with paid practice from 5-10 p.m.
Weekend activity will begin on Fri., Jan. 28, at 4:30 p.m. with time trials. The night will include heat events for TQ-Midgets and B-Mains for the 600cc Micro Sprint Cars, Slingshots and Champ Karts. It will culminate with a 20-lap 600cc Micro Sprint Car main event and a 30-lap TQ-Midget feature race.
The Sat., Jan. 29, program kicks off at 5 p.m. with the Fanfest, which will be held on the indoor racing surface.
The Saturday-night portion of the show is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Heat races and semis will lead up the 40-lap "Gamblers Classic" for TQ-Midgets, with Slingshots and Champ Karts also on the schedule.
Tickets for the Coffee Cup are available at the Dunkin’ Donuts box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000.
TQ-Midgets and Champ Karts will share the one-day card which begins at 7 p.m.
|
CICCONI READY TO MAKE HIMSELF A MAJOR PART OF THE GAMBLER'S CLASSIC HISTORY
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Lou Cicconi Jr. is prepared to defend his Gambler’s Classic TQ-Midget title.
The Aston, Pa., racing veteran verified this past weekend that he will be one of the more than 100 entries, who will do battle indoors at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., for the Ninth annual Gambler’s Classic crown.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Cicconi said. “That weekend has been circled on our calendar ever since it was officially announced. In fact, we had it circled before hand, because it pretty much falls the same time every year.”
The ’11 edition is set for January 27-29.
Cicconi said he plans to have female driver and United Racing Company 360 Sprint Car driver Becca Anderson in one of his immaculately-prepared cars for the indoor event.
“I’m sure we could have more, but we don’t have any cars rented right now,” Cicconi said. “I am sure that will change.”
Drivers and teams flock to Cicconi for good reason.
When he captured the most recent Gambler’s Classic, Cicconi set himself in elite company in the history of the race as he became only the second driver in the eight-year history of the race to have won the Gambler’s Classic twice.
Cicconi’s other win came in ’06, while Joey Payne is the only other driver to have won twice (’04 and ’07).
“There is a certain amount of luck that comes into winning an indoor race,” Cicconi said. “But a lot of it is about preparation and hard work it takes leading up to the race.”
One of Cicconi’s appeals is the car’s distinctive paint job.
"That thing is always fast," Cicconi said. "We always take pride in our cars and the way they look and perform on the track.”
In January’s race, Cicconi won the race in front of a thrilled grandstands which included NASCAR star Tony Stewart
“I was thrilled that he was there to see it,” Cicconi said. “I know he had a good time watching and I wouldn’t be too surprised to see him come back.
“I consider Tony a pal. If he wants to come and race in Atlantic City then I’ll have a car ready for him to drive.”
Before venturing to Atlantic City, Cicconi will serve as a mentor of sorts for Philadelphia, Pa., driver Chris DeRitis.
DeRitis plans to race in Ft. Wayne, Ind., on December 31-January 1.
“Chris bought one of my Midgets,” Cicconi said. “I plan to go out there with him to Ft. Wayne to help him out.”
The entry list for the Gambler’s Classic is beginning to grow daily.
Recent entries have included Sarah Arteta of Long Beach, Calif.; NEMA Midget ace Randy Cabral of Plymouth, Conn.; former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ted Christopher of Plainville, Conn.; ISMA ace Mike Lichty of Innerkip, Ont.; and dirt Modified veteran Billy Pauch of Frenchtown, N.J.
Also, the Friesen cousins – Curtis, James Michael and Stewart – have filed entries.
Stewart Friesen led the outdoor dirt northeast racing scene this past season with more than 20 victories. He captured the SEF Small Engine Fuels 200 at the New York State Fairgrounds.
Tickets for the Atlantic City Indoor Race are currently on sale through Ticketmaster (1-800-736-1420). Tickets are available with no extra fee applied at the Boardwalk Hall box office at 609-348-7100 and the Area Auto Racing News office in Trenton, N.J. at 609-888-3618
Activity will begin on Thurs., Jan. 27, with paid practice from 5-10 p.m.
Weekend activity will begin on Fri., Jan. 28, at 4:30 p.m. with time trials. The night will include heat events for TQ-Midgets and B-Mains for the 600cc Micro Sprint Cars, Slingshots and Champ Karts. It will culminate with a 20-lap 600cc Micro Sprint Car main event and a 30-lap TQ-Midget feature race.
The Sat., Jan. 22, program kicks off at 5 p.m. with the Fanfest, which will be held on the indoor racing surface.
The Saturday-night portion of the show is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Heat races and semis will lead up the 40-lap "Gamblers Classic" for TQ-Midgets, with Slingshots and Champ Karts also on the schedule.
|
|