Lichty Scores Impressive Coffee Cup Victory At Dunkin’ Donuts Center
Providence, RI — Mike Lichty was hoping this would come one day.
For the past five years, the Innerkip, Ontario, driver has been chasing an indoor auto racing victory.
On Friday night at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I., Lichty, 22, got his wish as he claimed a wild 30-lap TQ-Midget main event that saw him and the rest of the feature field wrestle through numerous caution flags.
“I’ve been hoping for this day for a long time,” Lichty said. “(Car owner) Larry Turnbull has given me a top car, but we haven’t got the right breaks over the years.
“We’ve finished in the top five many times. We’ve had second, third and fourth place finishes indoors, but we’ve never been able to get a win.”
[Photo Gallery] by Matt Wiernasz
Lichty topped indoor expert Lou Cicconi Jr. of Aston, while Matt Janisch of Nazareth, Pa., Ted Christopher of Plainville, Conn., and Paul Lotier Jr. of Lebanon, Pa. completed the top five spots.
Lichty fought off several bids for the lead from Christopher and Cicconi.
Cicconi passed the former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion for the runner-up spot for good on lap 26. Christopher had steering issues after contact with the wall late in the race.
Lichty had problems of his own.
“My throttle was sticking,” he said. “I was really concerned, because you’re going so quick here, and it doesn’t take much to land in the wall.”
Mike Osite finished sixth, while Mike Tidaback, Christopher Allen, Billy Pauch and James Michael Friesen completed the top 10 spots. Multi-time Indianapolis 500 starter Davey Hamilton finished 19th, while NASCAR driver David Reutimann finished 26th.
Heat race wins went to Christopher, Cicconi, Frank Fischer of Flemington, N.J., and Tim Buckwalter of Douglasville, Pa. Tim Proctor of Hamilton, N.J. and Davey Hamilton of Jamestown, Ind., won the consolations.
Christopher set fast time with a lap of 8.0733 seconds.
Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville, N.Y., won the 25-lap Champ Kart main over Nick Hadden of Binghamton, N.Y., two-time Dunkin’ Donuts Center winner Chris Daley of Pleasant Valley, N.Y., Gavin Soraghan of Harwinton, Conn., and Tammy Smith of Pleasant Valley, N.Y.
Dailey, Soraghan and Bonsignore won heat races, while Michael Sullivan of Somerset, Mass., and Adam Gage of Plainfield, N.H., won the consolation races. Eric Zeh of Selden, N.Y., had fast time with a lap of 9.3974 sec.
A complete program of heat races and feature events for TQ-Midgets and Champ Karts is scheduled for Saturday at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
Race time is 7 p.m.
TQ Midget Feature Finish, 30 Laps: 1. Mike Lichty; 2. Lou Cicconi Jr; 3. Matt Janisch; 4. Ted Christopher; 5. Paul Lotier Jr; 6. Mike Osite; 7. Mike Tidabach; 8. Christopher Allen; 9. Billy Pauch; 10. James Michael Friesen; 11. Ian Cumens; 12. Tim Buckwalter; 13. Danny Shirey; 14. Frank Fischer; 15. Russ Bailey; 16. Tim Proctor; 17. Jimmy Carpenter; 18. Glenn Heverin; 19. Davey Hamilton; 20. Christopher Haskell; 21. Matt Roselli; 22. Mike Iles; 23. Anthony Sesely; 24. Mike Stefanik; 25. Jeff Kot; 26. David Reutimann.
Champ Kart Feature Finish, 25 Laps: 1. Justin Bonsignore; 2. Nick Hadden; 3. Chris Daley; 4. Gavin Soraghan; 5. Tammy Smith; 6. Ron Midford Jr.; 7. Adam Dion; 8. John Hillman; 9. Evan Beaulieu; 10. Chris Martel; 11. Glen Brehio; 12. Greg Simmons; 13. Eric Zeh; 14. Todd Root; 15. Dale Friedly; 16. Jay Dimond; 17. Ryan Kendall; 18. George Bark Jr; 19. Michael Sullivan; 20. Adam Gage; 21. Andrew Swisher; 22. Clinton Mills; 23. Rob Murray; 24. Mike Perry. Did Not Start: Andrew Holewiak.
Sources: Jerry Reigle/AARN