The driver roster has been announced for the upcoming event
for three-quarter size race cars (TQ-Midgets) at the Dunkin’
Donuts Center in Providence on March 6-7.
Defending NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ted
Christopher leads the way. The Plainville, Conn., racer won the
Gambler’s Classic at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., on
January 17.
But Christopher will have plenty of competition.
Previous Atlantic City winners who will attempt to qualify
for the first race held in Rhode Island in 50 years include Joey
Payne (2004 and 2007), Lou Cicconi Jr. (2006), Mike Tidaback
(2008) and Jeff Heotzler (2005).
Entries were accepted from drivers or their respective cars
that qualified for at least one of the two feature races held at
the recent two-day (Jan. 16-17) indoor event in Atlantic City.
Seven-time NASCAR Whelen Modified champion Mike Stefanik of
Coventry, R.I., will drive an entry owned by Colin Martin, who
fielded a car driven by Frank Fischer in Atlantic City.
Bobby Santos III of Franklin, Mass., will pilot a TQ-Midget
owned by Johnny Payne. Santos competed in AC for Lou Cicconi Jr.
Billy Pauch Jr. of Frenchtown, N.J., is set to race in a car
that his father drove to Victory Lane in a preliminary feature
last month.
Other drivers include Stewart Friesen, James Michael Friesen,
Joe Lord Jr., Tim Proctor, Don Zrinski, Amanda Quinones, Heath
Hehnly, Jeff Kot, Glenn Heverin, Jon Holmquist, Matt Janisch,
Ryan Smith, Ian Cumens, Alex Bright, Bob Watkins Jr., Mike
Lichty and Timex Morgan.
The top 10 drivers in AC time trials who did not qualify for
a main event were accepted. Those drivers included Mike Iles,
Matt Roselli, Chris Haskell (car driven by Curtis Friesen),
Alison Cumens, Jeff Heotzler Jr., Ryan Bartlett, Mike Osite,
Billy Murphy, Mark Yoder and Randy Cabral.
Paul Lotier Jr., the TQ-Midget winner at the Wall Stadium
(N.J.) Turkey Derby in November, was accepted as he won the
Slingshot main event in AC, a division not on the Providence
card.
Jack Spence, Tim Adams, Jonathan Reid and Chris Allen will
participate in the indoor race based on the support they’ve
given to the AC indoor events since Len Sammons Productions
began promoting races there in 2003. Spence and Adams are
drivers who have competed at every Boardwalk Hall event, while
Reid’s car owner Harry Macy, and Allen’s owners John and Ed
Malik have been loyal to the AC events.
Richie Coy, Monnie Wonder and Steve Craig are listed as event
alternates in the order in which they timed in AC.
Drivers for inaugural Dunkin’ Donuts Center TQ Midget race:
Ted Christopher, Mike Stefanik, Stewart Friesen, James Michael
Friesen, Mike Tidaback, Joesph Lord Jr., Tim Proctor, Don
Zrinski, Jeff Heotzler, Amanda Quinones, Heath Hehnly, Jeff Kot,
Glenn Heverin, Jon Holmquist, Matt Janisch, Ryan Smith, Joey
Payne, Ian Cumens, Alex Bright, Bob Watkins Jr., Bob Santos III,
Billy Pauch Jr., Lou Cicconi Jr., Mike Lichty, Timex Morgan,
Mike Iles, Matt Roselli, Chris Haskell, Alison Cumens, Jeff
Heotzler Jr., Ryan Bartlett, Mike Osite, Billy Murphy, Mark
Yoder, Randy Cabral, Paul Lotier Jr., Jack Spence, Tim Adams,
Jonathan Reid, Chris Allen. Alternates: Richie Coy, Monnie
Wonder and Steve Craig.
Source: Len Sammons
Productions PR
Posted:
February 3, 2009
