Tyler Ferris Earns First Career ATQMRA Victory; Turkey Derby 51
WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ – Tyler Ferris (#7 Hamer Heating and Cooling) fended off ATQMRA Champion Buddy Sload in an epic finish, earning his first career Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic ATQMRA fueled by VP Racing Fuels victory.
Steve Craig showed a lot of speed over the last week, dating back to Turkey Derby 51 practice. Craig earned the pole and battled for the lead early before earning a top-10 finish. -EJ O’Rourke Photo
Steve Craig earned the pole after a top-4 invert, leading the field of 21 cars, to the green flag. A caution flew on the initial start, due to a spin, caused by incidental contact with Tanner VanDoren (#12 Dent Zones, Bruce’s Speed Shop). The race officially started under single-file formation moments later.
The focus remained on 2024 Champion Buddy Sload (#36 Spitfire Chassis), who earned the lead after battling with pole sitter Steve Craig (#55 Craig Bulk Carriers), on the second lap. Sload was pursued by pre-race favorite Ryan Tidman (99x Martha Baker D.M.D., CheckerWon Manufacturing). Tidman earned the $50 bonus courtesy of NAPA Auto Parts, setting quick-time during time trials. Tidman entered Turkey Derby 51 winning the previous two renditions of the event.
Ryan Tidman (99x) and Don Zrinksi (75z) made contact near the halfway point of the race. This incident ultimately ended Tidman’s chances at a Turkey Derby 3-peat. -Eric Storch Photo
As the leaders battled lapped traffic, the event reached a climax just prior to halfway on lap 13. Ryan Tidman was involved in the second caution of the event involving an incident with Don Zrinski (75z). Tidman received the worst end of the incident, as the damage caused was too great to continue, retiring his Paul Dodorico Racing machine prematurely.
Sload maintained the lead from the restart, with Ferris now in second, and Tyler Wagner (#51 Linblad Badger) in third. The final caution flew on lap 20, when Wagner’s Alan Mollot Racing teammate Matt Janisch (#51J Yuma’s Chassis) and Steve Craig made contact, on lap 20. Both drivers would restart at the tail end of the field by rallying to finish within the top-10.
Matt Janisch’s spin created a cool photo but not a cool result, although he still managed a 10th place on the lead lap – Eric Storch Photo
The caution set the stage for a spectacular duel, as Ferris had to race the 3X Champ, Sload, to earn his first career feature win. Over the course of two laps, Ferris and Sload swapped the lead position three times, in a hard-fought clean battle. The best of the best of what makes the ATQMRA special, was showcased in front of a capacity crowd and to thousands of fans across the country on Racing America TV.
One of the best battles of the season, #7 Tyler Ferris and #36 Buddy Sload battling for the win in front of a capacity crowd -EJ O’Rourke Photo
Ferris would ultimately take the lead for good on lap 22, never looking back, to lead the final 8 laps, earning a coveted wreath, by winning ATQMRA Turkey Derby 51 at Wall Stadium Speedway.
Buddy Sload finished second, and Tyler Wagner rounded out the podium after racing in the top-5 for the entire feature.
Ryan Flores (#1B Boyd Speed Shop) made a surprise appearance in the ATQMRA this weekend for Donna and Lenny Boyd. The Indoor Auto Racing Series (driver) and NASCAR Cup Series champion (crew member) earned a fourth-place finish. Flores also earned a $50 bonus from NAPA Auto Parts for being the highest placed former quarter midget club driver.
#1B Ryan Flores and #22 Kyle Taraska earned a pair of top-5 finishes for the Boyd Speed Shop. Taraska gained 14 on-track positions during the race. – EJ O’Rourke Photo
Kyle Taraska (#22 Jersey Mike’s Subs, AC’s Lawn Service LLC) rounded out the top-5 in fifth. Taraska earned the NAPA Auto Parts Hard Charger Award, after starting 19th. An electrical failure prevented Taraska from posting a time in qualifying, earlier in the afternoon.
A career run for Kyle Herve (#24 CARS Auto Body, Nordot Adhesives), who had an equally impressive charge to the front from the 20th starting position. Herve ran top-5 lap times throughout the event and dialed in his Lafler Chassis ahead of the upcoming Indoor Auto Racing Series Championship season.
Section 8 Motorsports was well-represented with Briggs Danner and Kyle Herve battling in the top-10. Herve also gained 14 on-track positions during the race. -EJ O’Rourke
USAC Sprint Car racer Briggs Danner (#78 E. Schneider & Sons, Ironton Telephone) entered his first outdoor TQ Midget event since winning Turkey Derby 48 in 2021. Danner earned a seventh-place finish.
Multi-time NEMA Midget Champion Avery Stoehr (#23 Linblad Badger) gave Phil and Laurie DiMario’s machine a respectable eighth place finish. As noted, Steve Craig and Matt Janisch recovered from their lap-20 incident to round out the top-10 respectively.
Zack Burd (#5z AC/DT Dog Training, Burlington Chevrolet) and Josh Patterson (#02 BELFOR Property Restoration, Bob Hilbert Sportswear) rounded out the field of lead lap finishers in 11th and 12th.
Tyler Ferris began his career in WKA Karting at the age of 5, earning multiple victories and a National Championship in 2017. The Ferris’ partnered with long-time family friend Brien Hamer in late-2019, catapulting Tyler’s oval track career in TQ Midgets, 602 Sportsman’s, and Modifieds. After years of supporting the ATQMRA and Wall Stadium Speedway, we send kudos to The Hamer Motorsports Group, after earning their first career feature victory.
Tyler Ferris, Turkey Derby 51 Champion and officially an ATQMRA Feature Winner. What a way to win your first. – Eric Storch Photo
The Hoosier Tire ATQMRA fueled by VP Racing Fuels thanks our sponsors, competitors, promoters and fans on an incredible 2024 season. We thank additional Wall Stadium Series sponsors Hamer Heating and Cooling, and Brice’s & Van Wickle NAPA Auto Supply for their continued support.
The tour’s 69th annual season was a competitive one, capped off by a year that celebrated four first-time winners.
The ATQMRA will celebrate Driver Champion Buddy Sload, and Owners Champion Colin Martin at a public awards ceremony, at the Motorsports Racecar and Trade Show in Oaks, PA on Saturday, January 25th, 2025.
Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday season to all.
TURKEY DERBY 51 ATQMRA FEATURE RESULTS (30-LAPS):
1. #7 Tyler Ferris
2. #36 Buddy Sload
3. #51 Tyler Wagner
4. #1B Ryan Flores
5. #22 Kyle Taraska
6. #24 Kyle Herve
7. #78 Briggs Danner
8. #23 Avery Stoehr
9. #55 Steve Craig
10. #51J Matt Janisch
11. #5z Zack Burd
12. #02 Josh Patterson
13. #73 Cole Mullen
14. #2 Mike Glaser
15. #711 Joe Toth
16. #18 Patrick Force
17. #75z Don Zrinski
18. #95 Jeff Kot
19. #99 Ryan Tidman
20. #12 Tanner VanDoren
21. #0 Billy Cole
TIME TRIAL RESULTS (TOP-4 INVERT):
1. #99 Ryan Tidman 13.201 (4)
2. #36 Buddy Sload 13.225 (3)
3. #51 Tyler Wagner 13.276 (2)
4. #55 Steve Craig 13.302 (1)
5. #02 Josh Patterson 13.320
6. #7 Tyler Ferris 13.355
7. #1B Ryan Flores 13.429
8. #51J Matt Janisch 13.518
9. #12 Tanner VanDoren 13.582
10. #0 Billy Cole 13.613
11. #78 Briggs Danner 13.753
12. #75z Don Zrinski 13.778
13. #23 Avery Stoehr 13.860
14. #95 Jeff Kot 13.884
15. #73 Cole Mullen 13.895
16. #5z Zack Burd 13.922
17. #2 Mike Glaser 13.961
18. #711 Joe Toth 13.962
19. #22 Kyle Taraska NO TIME
20. #24 Kyle Herve NO TIME
21. #18 Pat Force NO TIME
FEATURE FAST FACTS:
Time of Race: 13:59.265
Leader(s): 3
Lap Leader(s): #36 Buddy Sload (20), #7 Tyler Ferris (9), #55 Steve Craig (1)
Cautions: 3
Fastest Lap: #7 Tyler Ferris (13.037)
Rookie of the Race: #1B Ryan Flores (4th)
NAPA Brice Auto Supply & Van Wickle Auto Supply $50 Bonuses:
Time Trial Quick Time: #99 Ryan Tidman (13.201)
Hard Charger: #22 Kyle Taraska (+14)
Highest Fin. 1/4 Midget: #1B Ryan Flores (4th)
The Hamer Motorsports Group celebrates in Wall Stadium Speedway Victory Lane as ATQMRA Turkey Derby 51 Champions – EJ O’Rourke Photo
Sources: Kyle Taraska/ATQMRA PR
Photography Credit: EJ O’Rourke, Eric Storch