Huge, Talent Laden Field Set for NAPA Auto Parts Indoor Auto Racing Weeekend at A.C. Boardwalk Hall, Feb 1 & 2
Champ Karts and Slingshots complete the majority of their qualifying Friday and their features on Saturday night.
Last year’s winners indoors in Atlantic City were Erick Rudolph, who won the Gamblers Classic TQ race and both 600cc Micro main events, Ted Christopher, winner of the remaining TQ race, Simon Egan, winner of the Slingshot race and Chris Daley, victor in the Champ Kart main event.
All 2012 winners are among the entries for the 2013 NAPA Auto Parts Racing Weekend.
In the TQ Midget field are 78 entries. Past Boardwalk Hall Indoor race winners, besides defending race winner Rudolph include Ted Christopher, Plainville, Ct.; Lou Cicconi Jr., Lester, Pa.; Billy Pauch, Frenchtown, NJ; and Joey Payne, Fairlawn, NJ.
Impressive newcomers Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, N.Y.; asphalt Modified favorites Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J,; Ryan Preece, Berlin, Ct.; and Rowan Pennink, New Egypt, N.J. aim to challenge their more experienced Indoor TQ rivals.
“I’m looking forward to this,” said Blewett, who has never raced a TQ midget nor raced indoors. His late brother, John Blewett III, finished third in the 2007 Gamblers Classic in his one and only TQ start.
In the 600cc Micro class, thirty-nine drivers have filed entries. Several of the TQ drivers have separate cars for the 600cc Micro race.
Micro specialists entered include Jimmy Carpenter, Manchester, NJ; Slingshot specialists Gary and Kyle Hieber, Langhorne, Pa.; past Bridgeport, NJ Sprint Car champion Tim Iulg, Bridgeton, NJ; Hoosier Jason Ormsby, Warsaw, Ind., and perennial contender Rob Vivona, Staten Island, N.Y.
A whopping fifty-six Champ Karts are heading to Boardwalk Hall. Major contenders, beside defending race winner Daley include Justin Bonsignore, West Islip, N.Y; Danny Bouc, Plumsteadville, Pa.; Glen Meisenhelder of Feeding Hills, Mass.; top threat Ron Midford, Tolland, Ct.; much improved Michael Pares, Jr.. Wayne, N.J.; Fatleadz Indoor Series Indoor points leader Brandon Rusczek, Wallingford, Ct.; DJ Shaw, Center Conway, N.H.; and Andrew Swisher, West Chester, Pa.
Forty entries have been filed for the Slingshot class. Prominent among these are New York State dirt track Modified standout Andy Bachetti, Sheffield, Mass.; second generation standout Bobby Dmuchowski, Manville, N.J.; Orange County, N.Y., Sportsman standout Anthony Perrego, Montgomery, N.Y.; and Big Diamond, Pa., small block Modified driver Ricky Yetter, Easton, Pa.
The drivers who will be competing in Boardwalk Hall hail from fourteen different states and two Canadian provinces.
Tickets for the Atlantic City events are on sale at Ticketmaster outlets online at www.ticketmaster.com and at the Boardwalk Hall box office.
Good seats still remain. Children general admission tickets are just $5 for either day. Adult general admission tickets are $15 on Friday and $20 on Saturday. Tickets purchased the day of the event are $2 higher.
Check the event web-site at aarn.com for more details.
Sources: Steve Barrick/Ernie Saxton Communications