Jeff Kot celebrates in victory lane at Wall Stadium Speedway on June 24th, 2023, Sean Case Photo
Staff Report | Monday, June 26th, 2023
Photography Credit: Sean Case
WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ- Jeff Kot and the Behrents Performance Warehouse Racing Team earned the victory at Wall Stadium Speedway this weekend for The Garden State Classic.
The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA fueled by VP Racing Fuels competed for the second time this season under threatening weather conditions. On a night where nearly every racetrack in the area cancelled, Wall Stadium Speedway took the gamble to race; the gamble paid off! A full feature program was completed prior to 10:00 PM after the track crew worked restlessly through two weather delays during the afternoon and evening.
Due to weather delays and track drying efforts, the ATQMRA did not complete qualifying heat races. ATQMRA officials elected for a pill draw to set the field for the 11-car feature, which earned Matt Janisch (#51J Yuhas Chassis) the pole position.
Slick track conditions provided some intense action for the duration 25 lap feature as we saw many “comers and goers” throughout the race.
Matt Janisch jumped to the early lead but was challenged by Joey Bailey (#1B Boyd Speed Shop) in a side-by-side battle. Bailey would hang tough on the outside of Janisch for multiple laps before briefly settling into second. The slick conditions caught Bailey off guard and a rare spin from the multi-time ATQMRA champion brought out the first yellow of the evening.
In a judgement call from the tower, it initially appeared Buddy Sload (#36 Spitfire Chassis) got into the back of Bailey causing him to spin. Unfortunately, Sload was sent to the rear under this caution. However, Sload would recover well (as would Bailey).
A scary moment under caution occurred for Ronnie Mullen (#39 Mullen Garage Door Services) as a fuel pump issue caused VP-C12 racing fuel to pour out of his car. Thankfully, the Wall Stadium Speedway Track Safety Crew attended to Mullen right away before a potential fire could occur.
Tight 3-wide racing between Cole Mullen (#73), Kyle Herve (#24) and Kyle Taraska (#22), Sean Case Photo
On the restart, Janisch led the field to the green top spot and Kot would restart in the 3rd position. Intense racing was found all throughout the pack. Three, and yes, even four wide racing was found in the back half of the top-10 while Kot and Janisch put on a thrilling battle for the lead.
Kot and Janisch swapped the lead four times in four laps, as they crossed each other over multiple times. Kot would ultimately prevail to earn the lead.
Matt Janisch (#51J), Tyler Ferris (#7) and eventual winner, Jeff Kot (#95) have an intense battle for the lead near the halfway mark, Sean Case Photo
As Kot and Janisch battled, it allowed Tyler Ferris (#7 Hamer Heating and Cooling) to sneak into the picture and move his way up to second, after a hard battle with Janisch.
As Ferris looked to enter the battle for the lead, the second caution of the evening was displayed near the halfway point. Kyle Taraska (#22 Personal Comfort) self-spun off turn 4 while running in the fourth position.
A pack of TQ's coming to the green for the final restart of the evening, Sean Case Photo
On the ensuing restart, Jeff Kot would lead the pack to the green and set sail on the field!
Intense racing throughout the top-5 put on a great show for the fans in the closing stages, but the top-spot couldn’t be touched in the closing stages.
Jeff Kot went on to earn the victory with Buddy Sload recovering from the early race “penalty” to earn another second-place finish. With back-to-back second place finishes, Sload has established himself as the early-season championship favorite in both overall and the Hamer Heating and Cooling “Hometrack” Shootout standings.
Coming off his 125-lap modified feature, Ferris put together 25 strong laps in his TQ, giving the Hamer Motorsports Group one of their strongest career runs in the ATQMRA. Ferris rounded out the podium in third.
After leading early and contending for the victory, Matt Janisch earned a fourth-place finish.
Joey Bailey woke up Saturday morning in Wiscassett, ME, with the intention of racing in the NEMA Lites Midget division. The NEMA program was canceled due to the pending weather forecast for the area. Bailey made the seven-hour trek back to New Jersey in time to race in Saturday night’s ATQMRA feature. Bailey recovered from an early spin to earn a fifth-place finish.
Multiple side by side battles in the closing stages of the ATQMRA's portion of The Garden State Classic, Sean Case Photo
Steve Craig (#55 Craig Bulk Carriers) had a strong 6th place run, as their program continues to improve race after race. Mark Yoder (#75 Ames Construction) earned a 7th place finish and Kyle Herve (#24 CARS Auto Body) was this week’s RYNO Rookie of the Race in 8th.
Kyle Taraska finished in 9th with Cole Mullen (#73 Toms River Heating & Cooling) rounded out the top-10. Cole’s father, Ronnie, scored in 11th.
Jeff Kot with his Behrents Performance Warehouse Hyper 600 and feature winning trophy in the pit area at Wall Stadium Speedway, Sean Case Photo
In a dominant evening for Jeff Kot, he would like to thank Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Mike Dicely at Hyper Racing, Bill and Sean Case, Bud Tidman, Matt, Don and Tom Fraschetta.
In consideration of the noted unfavorable forecast, ATQMRA appreciates the effort and commitment of the Krause Family and the Wall Stadium Speedway staff to run The Garden State Classic this past weekend.
The ATQMRA also extends their sincere appreciation for those who committed to running our feature this weekend and we look forward to welcoming many back (with a hopeful better forecast) at our next event.
TQ's gridded on pit road getting ready for the second round of practice, Sean Case Photo
The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA fueled by VP Racing Fuels returns to action on Saturday, July 8th at Wall Stadium Speedway. The ATQMRA is scheduled to be the opening feature for the NASCAR Wheelen Modified Tour night.
FEATURE RESULTS (25 laps):
1. #95 Jeff Kot
2. #36 Buddy Sload
3. #7 Tyler Ferris
4. #51J Matt Janisch
5. #1B Joey Bailey
6. #55 Steve Craig
7. #75 Mark Yoder
8. #24 Kyle Herve
9. #22 Kyle Taraska
10. #73 Cole Mullen
11. #39 Ronnie Mullen
FEATURE FAST FACTS:
Time of Race: 11:41.678
Leader(s): 2
Hoosier Lap Leader(s): #95 Jeff Kot (16), #51J Matt Janisch (9)
Cautions: 2
RYNO Rookie of the Race: #24 Kyle Herve (8th)
Hamer Heating Hot Lap: #95 Jeff Kot (13.196)
VP Hard Charger: #36 Buddy Sload & #55 Steve Craig (+3)