Modified Stock Car Ace Jeff Strunk Enters Allentown Indoor Auto Race
Modified Standout Jeff Strunk is Late Entry in Allentown Ironton Telephone Avaya Indoor Races Set for January 2
ALLENTOWN, PA December 23, 2015 . . . Ten-time Grandview Speedway NASCAR Modified champion Jeff Strunk is the latest driver to enter the Ironton Telephone Avaya Indoor Auto Races set for Saturday, January 2 at the new PPL Center in Allentown, Pa.
Strunk, one of the northeast’s most prolific winners of Small Block Modified races during a career that has spanned over fifteen years, has been named to drive one of Lou Cicconi, Jr.’s fleet of newly built TQs, replacing DJ Shullick.
Strunk has never driven at TQ Midget nor has he ever raced Indoors, but he’s been a regular visitor and crew member at events held annually in Atlantic City, NJ.
Len Sammons, event organizer of the Len Sammons Motorsports Productions (LSMP) inaugural event in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, is enthused about Strunk’s entry. “Jeff proved over the last two years by racing a SpeedSTR at Kutztown’s Action Track that he is a versatile driver who can win in anything,” Sammons said.
Strunk was fortunate to have been able to find a ride at this late date. The TQ Midget and Slingshot entry lists for the first running of the Ironton Telephone Avaya PPL Center Allentown Indoor has been full for over a month.
“The response for the first Allentown Indoor race been tremendous,” Sammons said. “This is a quality field of racers in both classes and we anticipate some excellent, crowd pleasing racing in both the TQ Midget and Slingshot divisions. Jeff was able to get into the field only because a previously entered car had a vacancy, but we’re glad to have another dirt Modified driver in the field to take on the pavement stars.”
Sprint Car driver Ryan Smith was also expected to drive a Cicconi entry, but he recently picked up a Sprint Car ride for the Winter Heat series in Arizona that is going on at the same time. USAC and ARDC MIdget Car driving star Alex Bright of Collegeville, Pa. has been named as his replacement. Bright, who has raced a TQ Midget with success indoors in Atlantic City in the past, is also expected to be a top runner.
The Allentown race is the first of three events in the Indoor Auto Racing Championship Series Fueled By VP Racing Fuels. Racing in Atlantic City, NJ and Trenton, N.J., complete the Series slate.
The TQ Midget list has peaked at 80 entries. Past LSMP Indoor event winners include veteran dirt Modified driver Will Cagle of Tampa, Fla., Ted Christopher of Plainville, Ct., Lou Cicconi. Jr., of Lester, Pa., Andy Jankowiak of Buffalo, N.Y., Mike Lichty of Innerkip, Ontario, Canada, Joey Payne of Fair Lawn, N.J., Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, N.Y. and Anthony Sesely of Matawan, N.J. Lehigh Valley, Pa., are drivers expecting to compete for the victory
Also included are Brandon Azzalina of Saylorsburg, Pat Bealer of Slatington, Louie Horvath of Walnutport, Matt Janisch of Nazareth, Stephen Nederostek of Walnutport. Earl Paules of Palmerton and Matt Roselli of Brodheadsville.
Vahlco Racing Wheels, a heavy hitter in the racing wheels market, is posting the $10,000 Perfect Performance Bonus if a driver can sweep the three TQ Midget feature events in Allentown, Pa.’s PPL Center on Saturday, January 2, 2016, at Atlantic City, N.J’s Boardwalk Hall on Saturday, January 30, 2016 and at Trenton, N.J.’s Sun National Bank Center on February 27, 2016.
Tickets for the Allentown race are selling at a rapid pace and available exclusively through PPLCenter online, by phone at 610-347-TIXX, or in person at the Mealey’s Furniture Box Office located on 7th & Hamilton St. at PPL Center. Event information can be found at aarn.com.
Sources: Steve Barrick/Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc.