12/20/17 - Indoor Auto Racing Series News

DIRT TRACK MODIFIED ACE DANNY BOUC ENTERS 2018 INDOOR AUTO RACING SERIES THREE QUARTER MIDGET EVENTS STARTING WITH ALLENTOWN, PA ON JANUARY 5-6, 2018


Danny Bouc, a three time dirt Modified Stock Car feature winner at New Egypt Speedway in 2017 and the third ranked driver in season standings, has filed an entry for the Indoor Auto Racing Series fueled by VP. Bouc will be in the Three Quarter (TQ) Midget field beginning with the Ironton Telephone Allentown races on January 5-6, 2018 at the PPL Center.

“It’s a new challenge that I’m looking forward to,” Bouc, 27, of Pipersville, Pa., said. “I’ll be driving one of Lou Cicconi’s cars, the ‘Hyper Hugger,’ 600 Micro. It’s the only one of his cars I can fit in,” Bouc laughed.

The 600 Micro that Bouc will be driving was fast in a recent Atlantic City Boardwalk effort with driver Tim Iulg behind the wheel.

While Bouc is a novice to TQ Midget racing in general, he is not a newcomer to Indoor Auto Racing. For seven years, Bouc was a perennial contender in the Champ Kart Indoor events. Though he sold all of his Kart equipment, he savors the chance to race indoors again as a Cicconi driver.

Bouc and Cicconi became close at New Egypt Speedway when Cicconi was dabbling in Modified racing at the same time Bouc was coming into his own.

“Lou knows a lot more about indoor racing than I do, that’s for sure,” Bouc said.

Bouc will not have an easy time of it in the Indoor Auto Racing Series. A formidable mix of established, proven Indoor Auto Racing stars coupled with an impressive array of teenage sensations, most with top notch equipment and limitless desire are in Bouc’s way.

Defending series champion Ryan Flores of Mooresville, N.C. won both events in Allentown last year. Erick Rudolph, whose 2017 Atlantic City win gave the Ransomville, N.Y., driver a series high eight indoor victories can never been counted out. His win total also includes a win in Allentown the previous season.

Anthony Sesely, three time Atlantic City winner, will return to his own No. 16 “Hyper Hugger” 600 Micro Sprint full-time this season. It is a car and driver combination that proven: Sesely has earned three Indoor Racing Series wins,

Canadian Super Modified ace Mike Lichty is a former series winner who rejoins the series this year with a brand new car. Tim Buckwalter of Royersford, Pa. comes to Allentown after winning both the SpeedSTR and 600cc Micro Sprint title in 2017 at the Kutztown Action Track.

Top asphalt Modified drivers entered include local favorites Earl Paules and Zane Zeiner. Nationally known drivers in the field include Conn. NASCAR stars Ryan Preece, Justin Bonsignore and Keith Rocco as well as New York star Andy Jankowiak.

Preece, a NASCAR Xfinity series winner this year for Joe Gibbs Racing, will be driving the same car that was designed and built by Donnie Preece and the late Ted Christopher. .

Bouc won’t be the only Dirt Modified racer. New York state DIRTcar drivers Ryan Bartlett, Mike Maresca and Billy Whittaker are entered. Mike Iles, a former series winner, will also be full-time in his always sharp No. 711.

Eight talented teenagers are among the TQ Midget competitors as well.

They include Briggs Danner, 16, of Allentown, Andrew Molleur, 15, of Shelton, Ct., Tyler Thompson, 17, from Fulton, N.Y., Cole Mullen, 17, from Brick, N.J., the Catalano brothers, Tommy. 19 and Timmy. 17, out of Ontario N.Y., and second generation entrant, Anthony Payne, 18. of Fair Lawn, N.J. who will run as a teammate with his father Joey. The elder Payne, is a two-time Indoor Auto Auto Racing Series winner, in the Atlantic City Gambler’s Classic (2004, 2007).

The Ironton Telephone Allentown race is the first of three Indoor Auto Racing Series events under the Len Sammons Motorsports Productions auspices.

The January 5-6, 2018 Ironton Telephone Allentown event schedule calls for racing to start at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Three Quarter (TQ) Midgets will run a full program of racing with feature events both nights. Champ Karts will be racing in a complete show on Friday night, with the Slingshots on Saturday night.

For choice Ironton Telephone Allentown Indoor race tickets, contact the PPL Center Box Office by phone at 610-347-TIXX (8499), online at pplcenter.com. Those wishing to avoid online fees may purchase directly at the Box Office, but are encouraged to do so in advance, as the 2016 event was a sell-out.

The series moves next to the NAPA Auto Parts Indoor Auto Racing Weekend in Atlantic City. For tickets, contact Ticketmaster, the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, or the Area Auto Racing News office at 609-888-3618.

The finale will be a first annual event in New York State, on February 9-10, 2018 in the Times Union Center in downtown Albany, N.Y. For choice tickets, contact the Times Union Center Box Office, charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000, or visit online at ticketmaster.com



Ernie Saxton