RGeeProductions
02-17-2016, 12:19 PM
TIM BUCKWALTER, PAUL LOTIER JR. READY FOR INDOOR THREE QUARTER (TQ) MIDGET SUCCESS; LEN SAMMONS MOTORSPORTS PRODUCTIONS FINALE SET FOR FEB. 26-27 IN TRENTON, NJ
Win a TQ Midget race indoors! That was the goal, when driver Tim Buckwalter and car owner Paul Lotier, Jr. formed a partnership last spring. Their day may come in the third annual Battle Of Trenton, set for the weekend of February 26-27 inside Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, N.J.
In early 2015, Buckwalter signed on to drive for Lotier in weekly SpeedSTR competition at the Kutztown Action Track USA, and take over the driving duties of Lotier’s newly built TQ Midget. The plan was simple, build chemistry during the summer and continue that into the Indoor Championship Series fueled by VP in the winter months.
Dirt track SpeedSTR, Modified and Midget car driving veteran Buckwalter, 27 of Douglassville, Pa., likes his chances in Trenton after solid performances first in Allentown, Pa. and then in Atlantic
City, N.J. “I really like the car Paul built this year,” Buckwalter, 27, said. “The car is comfortable and easy to drive. I think our car may be better on the smaller track in Trenton like it was in
Allentown.”
Car owner Lotier, 30, of Lebanon, Pa., built the car Buckwalter is driving. Lotier has devoted his attentions to car building these days after a successful outdoor driving career racing on dirt and asphalt. He's also a past Indoor TQ Midget Series competitor.
“It’s kind of a new car,” Lotier said. “There were a dozen things we wanted to change on the old car from last year and realized it would be cheaper to build a new car than it would have been to cut the old one up. The car is an evolution of the old design. The biggest difference is the motor we have this year."
Buckwalter, 2015 indoor series champion Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, NY, Jeff Strunk of Pottstown, Pa., Neal Williams of Pittsgrove, NJ and Mike Isles of Medford, NJ all enjoy racing a TQ MIdget on the concrete floors of the indoor arenas in the winter. Come summer they each compete during the outdoor season on area dirt tracks with big and small-block powered dirt Modifieds.
Kyle Lick, of Slatington, Pa., who was a surprising fourth in the Atlantic City race, is an accomplished dirt racer in Micro Sprint and SpeedSTR competition. Alex Bright of Collegeville, Pa. is seeking indoor success with a TQ Midget on the concrete, after excelling in a dirt Midget indoors in January at the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, OK.
The Battle Of Trenton in the Sun National Bank Center will be the third and final event of the 2016 Indoor Racing Series Fueled By VP, produced by Len Sammons Motorsports Productions (LSMP).
After winning in Atlantic City, Anthony Sesely of Matawan, NJ, an asphalt Modified
competitor, is the current point leader.
After suffering through an uncommonly bad weekend in Atlantic City, veterans Ted Christopher of Plainville, CT and Lou Cicconi of Aspers, Pa. hope to return to glory in Trenton. It won't be easy, however, with the likes of Jimmy Blewett, Andy Jankowiak, Mike Lichty, Justin Bonsignore, Zane Zeiner, Earl Paules and Matt Janisch also seeking a victory in Saturday, February 27's 40 lap A-Main.
The Friday schedule of events consists of TQ Midget Qualifiers and a complete card of Champ Karts culminating with a 20-car, 20-lap feature. The TQ Qualifiers were a huge hit in Atlantic City with top qualifiers starting mid-pack in these events. In Atlantic City, Rudolph blasted from 10th to win his 20 lap race, while new winners were able to go to victory lane in the other Friday showcase events.
On Saturday, TQ Midgets continue their qualifying to pare the field down to 24 starters for the Battle Of Trenton.
A complete program of qualifying events and a feature event will be held for the Champ Karts on Friday and Slingshots on Saturday.
Access to the pre-race trackside Saturday Fanfest is included with admission for Front Row or Lower Level Reserved Seats for Saturday ticket holders. All families with a young child will also be invited to Fanfest.
Tickets are available online at www.comcastix.com or by phone at 1-800-298-4200. Tickets may also be purchased at the Sun National Bank Center Box Office on Monday through Friday from 10am until 5:30pm and on Saturday from 12 noon through 4pm. All ticket prices do not include a $2 facility charge; facility charge increases to $5 for tickets purchased on the day of the event.
A third day of the Battle Of Trenton is on Sunday, Feb. 28 with a closed-to-the-public card dedicated to Quarter Midget racers and Micro Stocks.
Check www.aarn.com for more information on the event or phone 609-888-3618.
Ernie Saxton
Win a TQ Midget race indoors! That was the goal, when driver Tim Buckwalter and car owner Paul Lotier, Jr. formed a partnership last spring. Their day may come in the third annual Battle Of Trenton, set for the weekend of February 26-27 inside Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, N.J.
In early 2015, Buckwalter signed on to drive for Lotier in weekly SpeedSTR competition at the Kutztown Action Track USA, and take over the driving duties of Lotier’s newly built TQ Midget. The plan was simple, build chemistry during the summer and continue that into the Indoor Championship Series fueled by VP in the winter months.
Dirt track SpeedSTR, Modified and Midget car driving veteran Buckwalter, 27 of Douglassville, Pa., likes his chances in Trenton after solid performances first in Allentown, Pa. and then in Atlantic
City, N.J. “I really like the car Paul built this year,” Buckwalter, 27, said. “The car is comfortable and easy to drive. I think our car may be better on the smaller track in Trenton like it was in
Allentown.”
Car owner Lotier, 30, of Lebanon, Pa., built the car Buckwalter is driving. Lotier has devoted his attentions to car building these days after a successful outdoor driving career racing on dirt and asphalt. He's also a past Indoor TQ Midget Series competitor.
“It’s kind of a new car,” Lotier said. “There were a dozen things we wanted to change on the old car from last year and realized it would be cheaper to build a new car than it would have been to cut the old one up. The car is an evolution of the old design. The biggest difference is the motor we have this year."
Buckwalter, 2015 indoor series champion Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, NY, Jeff Strunk of Pottstown, Pa., Neal Williams of Pittsgrove, NJ and Mike Isles of Medford, NJ all enjoy racing a TQ MIdget on the concrete floors of the indoor arenas in the winter. Come summer they each compete during the outdoor season on area dirt tracks with big and small-block powered dirt Modifieds.
Kyle Lick, of Slatington, Pa., who was a surprising fourth in the Atlantic City race, is an accomplished dirt racer in Micro Sprint and SpeedSTR competition. Alex Bright of Collegeville, Pa. is seeking indoor success with a TQ Midget on the concrete, after excelling in a dirt Midget indoors in January at the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, OK.
The Battle Of Trenton in the Sun National Bank Center will be the third and final event of the 2016 Indoor Racing Series Fueled By VP, produced by Len Sammons Motorsports Productions (LSMP).
After winning in Atlantic City, Anthony Sesely of Matawan, NJ, an asphalt Modified
competitor, is the current point leader.
After suffering through an uncommonly bad weekend in Atlantic City, veterans Ted Christopher of Plainville, CT and Lou Cicconi of Aspers, Pa. hope to return to glory in Trenton. It won't be easy, however, with the likes of Jimmy Blewett, Andy Jankowiak, Mike Lichty, Justin Bonsignore, Zane Zeiner, Earl Paules and Matt Janisch also seeking a victory in Saturday, February 27's 40 lap A-Main.
The Friday schedule of events consists of TQ Midget Qualifiers and a complete card of Champ Karts culminating with a 20-car, 20-lap feature. The TQ Qualifiers were a huge hit in Atlantic City with top qualifiers starting mid-pack in these events. In Atlantic City, Rudolph blasted from 10th to win his 20 lap race, while new winners were able to go to victory lane in the other Friday showcase events.
On Saturday, TQ Midgets continue their qualifying to pare the field down to 24 starters for the Battle Of Trenton.
A complete program of qualifying events and a feature event will be held for the Champ Karts on Friday and Slingshots on Saturday.
Access to the pre-race trackside Saturday Fanfest is included with admission for Front Row or Lower Level Reserved Seats for Saturday ticket holders. All families with a young child will also be invited to Fanfest.
Tickets are available online at www.comcastix.com or by phone at 1-800-298-4200. Tickets may also be purchased at the Sun National Bank Center Box Office on Monday through Friday from 10am until 5:30pm and on Saturday from 12 noon through 4pm. All ticket prices do not include a $2 facility charge; facility charge increases to $5 for tickets purchased on the day of the event.
A third day of the Battle Of Trenton is on Sunday, Feb. 28 with a closed-to-the-public card dedicated to Quarter Midget racers and Micro Stocks.
Check www.aarn.com for more information on the event or phone 609-888-3618.
Ernie Saxton