01/04/2004

SUPERSTAR DRIVERS READY TO SHINE IN ATLANTIC CITY INDOOR RACE

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - The Atlantic City Indoor Race at Boardwalk Hall has quickly become a major date on the Northeast motorsports calendar. For proof all one needs to do is look at the star-studded entry list for the two-day affair, which is scheduled to rock the seaside resort's famed Boardwalk Hall with complete racing programs on Fri., Jan. 9 and Sat., Jan. 10.

Some of the biggest names in regional short-track racing will step away from the cars they usually drive and climb into Three-Quarter Midget machines--small, 750-pound cars that are purpose-built for racing and carry motorcycle-type engines--to quench their off-season competitive thirsts. They will do fast-and-furious, bumper-to-bumper battle with dozens of cars on an oval track laid out on the concrete surface that encircles the Hall's hockey rink.

The third- and fourth-turn end of the track sits in front of the stage where the Miss America pageant is held each year. Indoor racing was an Atlantic City wintertime tradition in Boardwalk Hall from 1965-1981, but it disappeared from the scene until returning last January.

Now everybody wants to be part of the excitement again.

"It's a good way to start the year," said fulltime professional Sprint Car driver Fred Rahmer of Salfordville, Pa., a dirt track specialist who will make his first-ever start on an indoor concrete-surfaced oval. "If you're a racer, you don't want to miss a chance to get in a race car during the winter and have some fun in front of a big crowd."

When Rahmer takes to the small track laid out around the Hall's hockey rink, he'll almost get the feeling that he's running at a central Pennsylvania dirt speedway. One of his arch rivals on the Sprint Car circuit, Lance Dewease of Fayetteville, Pa., is also entered in the Indoor Race.

A host of driving standouts from other racing disciplines have Indoor Race plans. Among those entered are Billy Pauch of Frenchtown, N.J., and 20-year-old Stewart Friesen of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. (dirt Modifieds); Ted Christopher of Plainville, Conn., and Frank Polimeda of Fort Lee, N.J. (asphalt Modifieds); Lou Cicconi Jr. of Aston, Pa., Joey Payne of Fair Lawn, N.J., and Bobby Santos III of Franklin, Mass. (Supermodifieds); Mike Dicely of Lewisbury, Pa., and Kevin Bastian of Emmaus, Pa. (Micro-Sprints); Danny Sammons of Bordentown, N.J. (USAR Hooters ProCup stock cars); and Blane Heimbach of Selinsgrove, Pa. (Sprint Cars).

"This event is developing into an all-star race for drivers from all over the Northeast," said A.C. Indoor Race organizer Len Sammons. "It's unique in that drivers from so many different divisions meet together on a neutral track."

Despite their experience and vast credentials, the regional stars will have to work hard to defeat the regulars in the Three-Quarter Midget racing class. After all, last year's race was won by TQ Midget shoe Andy Mackereth of Mississauga, Ont., and plenty of drivers from the division want to follow in his tire tracks.

Perhaps no TQ racer craves an Atlantic City victory more--and is better suited to pull it off--than Don Adams of Robbinsville, N.J. The multi-time TQ Midget champion welcomes the challenge of taking on invaders from other racing divisions under the Hall's roof.

"I think it's good for the [TQ Midget] division," said Adams. "It brings more attention to the TQs, which I think are the best, most exciting race cars you can drive."

A near sellout crowd packed the Hall's balcony seating area for last January's A.C. Indoor Race. The event's success led Sammons to schedule two complete nights of racing competition this year.

The Saturday TQ Midget format will remain almost identical to the one presented in 2003, but the practice-only Friday card offered last year has been replaced by a full-fledged night of action. A 30-lap feature will top Friday's preliminary card and a 50-lap finale offering $2,000 to win highlights Saturday's finale.

"Everyone was so excited about racing returning to Boardwalk Hall that the big question we received was: Why can't we run more shows?" said Sammons. "We'd love to do that, but there are two big reasons we can't--the cost of putting on the show and schedule conflicts with the building.

"But we've come up with what we hope is the answer to everyone's desire for more racing: back-to-back nights of racing. We figured that once everything is set up and everyone has traveled to Atlantic City, we might as well run two events in as many nights."

Over 70 cars are entered in the event. Racing starts at 8 p.m. on Friday and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Racing as an undercard both nights will be the Slingshot division, small, full-bodied cars that normally compete on dirt tracks. Briggs & Stratton will sponsor 20-lap feature events for the class on Friday and Saturday. Tickets purchased in advance for Friday's event are priced at $20, $15 for adults and $12 for children 12 and younger. Saturday's advance tickets are $25, $20 and $17 for children 12 and younger. Two-day combination tickets are available for $42, $32 and $26 for children 12 and under. Tickets purchased at the Box Office on the day of event will cost an additional $2.

Tickets are currently on sale. They are available at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office; all Ticketmaster locations; by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420; or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information call 609-888-3618.

Sources:  AARN/LongIslandJam.com
Posted:  January 6, 2004