STAFF REPORT | MONDAY, OCTOBER 23rd, 2023
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: Eric Storch
WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ- Buddy Sload and Colin Martin’s #36 Spitfire Chassis Racing Team have been crowned 2023 Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA fueled by VP Racing Fuels Champions. Ryan Tidman dominated to win his third Wall Stadium Speedway feature of the season for Paul Dodorico Racing.
Once overnight rains settled, the ATQMRA finally returned to the track this weekend for the first time since August 26th. The tour endured an unprecedented number of cancellations due to weather with a total of nine on the year.
Mother Nature would still look to make one last impact throughout the evening. While the Wall Stadium Speedway track crew did a phenomenal job drying all racing surfaces,to no fault of anyone; teams were forced to manage standing water in the grass area just below the groove in the second turn. ATQMRA competitors tend to naturally hit the dirt (pond this weekend) when exiting too low, making it a dynamic storyline of the weekend.
Joey Bailey (#1B Boyd Speed Shop) looked to end 2023 on a high note, and he started his evening off right evening by winning the opening heat race. Ryan Tidman won the second heat race as both drivers would remain in the headlines for the duration of the 25 lap feature.
Tidman redrew the pole for the feature while Bailey redrew fifth. The ATQMRA experienced one caution during the 25-lap championship feature, with Mike Turton of East Windsor, NJ spun exiting the fourth turn on lap 2. Unfortunately, Turton sustained left front damage from the incident and was unable to finish the race.
On the ensuing restart, Tidman once again got the jump ahead as the leader, with Bailey, Sload and Taraska all within reach. By taking the green flag, Buddy Sload earned the championship in both overall series standings and in the Hamer Heating and Cooling Hometrack Shootout standings as well. With that, the only thing on Sload’s (and everyone’s) mind was to earn the feature winning trophy.
Sload and Bailey wouldn’t hold back as an intense battle materialized between the two competitors. For multiple laps, Sload and Bailey swapped positions and rubbed nerf bars. Meanwhile, the treacherous standing water inside of turn 2 reappeared across the racing surface from a competitor dipping their tire into the pool of water as the field approached the halfway mark.
Drivers were in for a surprise as competitors found themselves in a 4-wheel drift, or more commonly known as “dirt tracking” in asphalt racing, for over 10 laps. Through the slick track conditions, Sload and Bailey continued to battle and there were no additional incidents caused by competitors from the conditions.
Bailey prevailed over Sload, setting his sights on Tidman. While Bailey closed a big lead, he ran out of laps as Ryan Tidman went on to dominate, leading wire to wire for this third feature victory of the season. With the victory, Tidman secures the 2023 VP Checkered Flag Award for earning the most feature victories of any driver. Paul Dodorico and the Dr. Martha Baker D.M.D, CheckWon Manufacturing Team earned a series leading 4 victories (Jeff Kot, Wall 8/26 being the other) on the tour this year.
Joey Bailey finished in second, with champion Buddy Sload rounding out the podium.
Kyle Taraska (#22 Personal Comfort) finished in 4th, earning him second in overall championship standings. Steve Craig (#55 Craig Bulk Carriers) had a fantastic run and earned a hard fought 5th. Craig has really turned things around putting together consistent strong runs the second half of this season.
The feel good story of the evening was Josh Patterson (#02 BELFOR Property Restoration, United Rentals). Currently leading the championship in the East Coast Wingless TQ Midget division, the Jx3 Racing Team made their Winged TQ Midget debut with the ATQMRA. Patterson started shotgun on the field in 13th and finished 6th, and was this weekend’s VP Racing Fuels Hard Charger, and RYNO Classifieds Rookie of the Race.
Cole Mullen (#73 Tom’s River Heating and Cooling) raced comfortably within the top-10 all evening to finish 7th. Tyler Ferris (#7 Hamer Heating and Cooling) debuting a brand new Kluth Chassis in preparation for the Indoor Auto Racing Championship this winter. Ferris experienced the best season of his career in the ATQMRA, earning 2nd in overall standings in the Hamer Heating and Cooling Hometrack Shootout, and 3rd in overall championship standings.
Mark Yoder (#75 Ames Construction) finished just inside the top-10 to earn a 9th. Recent NEMA Midget Champion Avery Stoehr returned to the ATQMRA this weekend with car owner Phil DiMario to round out the top-10.
Kyle Herve (#24 CARS Auto Body), Mike Glaser (#2 Aqua Solutions) and Mike Turton (#723 Sayreville PBA) rounded out the field respectively in positions 11 through 13.
Buddy Sload capped off his championship season earning one feature victory and earned a top-5 finish in every feature this season. With that, Sload never finished outside of the podium at Wall Stadium Speedway this year. The ATQMRA congratulates the Sload Family and Colin Martin on their 2023 accomplishments. Furthermore, we acknowledge and recognize their years of continued support of the ATQMRA. The ATQMRA would not be what it is today without the support of Buddy, Colin, Karen and team. The team honor’s the late-Bud Sload by earning this accomplishment.
Congratulations, 2X.
The Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic ATQMRA fueled by VP Racing Fuels would like to thank all members, fans, all officials, particularly Erik Graham, Nick Ballard, Dave Michel and John Cerny for their assistance this season. Thank you to our promoters Emily Krause (Wall Stadium Speedway), Jason Makarewicz (Evergreen Raceway) and Todd Baer (Mahoning Valley Speedway) for their continued support of this storied division of racing.
2023 series sponsors include title sponsor Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic and Precise Racing Products, presenting sponsor VP Racing Fuels, Hamer Heating and Cooling supporting a Wall Stadium Speedway specific points fund, and RYNO Classifieds for the third consecutive year supporting the ATQMRA’s Rookie of the Year Campaign.
The ATQMRA also extends their appreciation to the Brice Family for sponsoring NAPA Championship Night, providing various awards to drivers in all divisions. Furthermore, we thank Racing with Jesus Ministries, M.N.O., Green Flag Pitstop Media, and series photographers Sean Case, Tommy Lane, Eric Storch, Kristen Cocca, Scott Racz, Pete MacDonald and Bill Elkins of Edge of Traction Media. Last but not least, we thank AARN journalists Earl Krause, Dino Oberto and Robin Ervin for their support and coverage of the ATQMRA this year.
The ATQMRA will formally close our 68th season of competition, celebrating the golden anniversary, in the 50th running of Turkey Derby at Wall Stadium Speedway, on Saturday, November 25th, 2023. The ATQMRA will be providing event details on a future date.
RACE RESULTS:
FEATURE (25 LAPS):
#99 Ryan Tidman
#1B Joey Bailey
#36 Buddy Sload
#22 Kyle Taraska
#55 Steve Craig
#02 Josh Patterson
#73 Cole Mullen
#7 Tyler Ferris
#75 Mark Yoder
#23 Avery Stoehr
#24 Kyle Herve
#2 Mike Glaser
#723 Mike Turton
HEAT 1 (8 LAPS):
#1B Joey Bailey
#36 Buddy Sload
#73 Cole Mullen
#02 Josh Patterson
#55 Steve Craig
#723 Mike Turton
#2 Mike Glaser
HEAT 2 (8 LAPS):
#99 Ryan Tidman
#23 Avery Stoehr
#7 Tyler Ferris
#75 Mark Yoder
#22 Kyle Taraska
#24 Kyle Herve
FEATURE FAST FACTS:
Time of Race: 9:38.063
Leader: 1
Hoosier Lap Leader: #99 Ryan Tidman (25)
Cautions: 1
RYNO Rookie of the Race: #02 Josh Patterson (6th)
Hamer Heating Hot Lap: #99 Ryan Tidman (13.304)
VP Hard Charger: #02 Josh Patterson (+7)