The sound of racing engines will finally be heard in the
state of Rhode Island as the small, but
powerful Three-Quarter Midget Cars will take to Dunkin’ Donuts
Center in Providence, R.I., on March 6-7.
The two-day event, which will include Senior Champ Kart
racing both nights, has received much hype and attention
throughout the state and entire northeast corridor.
“I don’t want to miss an event of this caliber,” said
defending NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ted Christopher.
“This is a first time for a motorsports event in 50 years in the
state of Rhode Island, and I want to be a part of it.”
The Rhode Island Auditorium hosted the last sanctioned race
in the Ocean State on April 18, 1959. The race was won by Jerry
Wall of Wallenburg, N.J. Wall’s victory came at the final race
of a three-event series at RIA. Other winners were Joe Lacy and
Tony Bonadies.
Below are a few story lines to watch as the TQ Midgets take
to the floor of the Dunkin’ Donuts Center:
HOMESTATE HERO: Rhode Island fans can cheer for their
own as Mike Stefanik, 50, of Coventry, R.I., will compete
indoors for the first time in his career. Stefanik was named the
second greatest NASCAR Modified driver of all-time in 2003. He
has nine overall NASCAR-sanctioned championships (seven Modified
and two Busch North).
THREE STATE WINNER?: Ted Christopher is the defending
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion and he’s already off to a
top season. If Christopher can win in Providence, it’ll mark the
third different state he’s won a race in this year. In January,
Christopher won the Gambler’s Classic TQ Midget race at
Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. In early February,
Christopher won four Tour-Type Modified races at New Smyrna
Speedway in Samsula, Fla.
SEVEN STATES AND CANADA: Highways south of Providence
will be busy leading up to the event. Pennsylvania has the
highest driver representation with 16 drivers, while New Jersey
is second with 10. Others include New York (six), Delaware
(three), Massachusetts (three), Connecticut (one) and Rhode
Island (one). Canada has three drivers entered for the TQ event.
BREAKING THE TIE: The Dunkin’ Donuts Center could give
Lou Cicconi Jr. or Joey Payne indoor bragging rights. From 19
selected indoor venues in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region,
the two are tied with six wins. Cicconi of Aston, Pa., won his
last regional event on Jan. 21, 2006, in Atlantic City, N.J.,
while Payne of Fairlawn, N.J., last won on Jan. 13, 2007, in AC.
DIRT CHAMPION: Mike Iles of Medford, N.J. doesn’t shy
away from competing on pavement indoors, but one would
understand if he would. See, Iles is a weekly dirt Modified
driver and he won last year’s track title at Bridgeport (N.J.)
Speedway.
ALL IN THE FAMILY: Thanksgiving is eight months away
and that’s a good thing for some Providence entries. It will
give them time to solve any problems that arise from the indoor
race. The entry list features three relatives including Ian and
Alison Cumens (brother and sister), James Michael and Stewart
Friesen (cousins) and the father/son combination of Jeff
Heotzler and Jeff Heotzler Jr.
BUSY DRIVER: Ryan Smith, 21, of Kunkletown, Pa., is
multi-tasking this season. Smith will compete in the TQ Midget
class in Providence, just as he did in January at Atlantic City.
But Smith will get busy when the outdoor season begins as he is
scheduled to drive a winged 270 cc Micro Sprint, wingless 600 cc
Micro Sprint, ARDC Midget and USAC Silver Crown Series this
year.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: Frenchtown, N.J.’s Billy Pauch
Jr. is following in his father’s footsteps. Literally. Pauch
will drive the No. 8 Ingalls Racing entry in Providence. He is
the son of the legendary Billy Pauch, who coincidentally won a
preliminary feature in Atlantic City in January.
HOLIDAY CHEER: The Holiday season is a distant memory,
but it’s not for a few DDC entries. Paul Lotier Jr. of Lebanon,
Pa., won the TQ Midget portion of the Turkey Derby XXV at Wall
(N.J.) Speedway, while Bobby Santos III of Franklin, Mass., won
the USAC Midget Turkey Night Grand Prix at Toyota (Calif.)
Speedway. Also, Lou Cicconi Jr. topped NASCAR star Tony Stewart
in a Midget Car race in Fort Wayne, Ind., three days after
Christmas.
BONUS MONEY: Extra cash always makes drivers race
harder. The Behrent’s Bonus $500 award is available to any
driver who can win both TQ Midget feature races. The award is
courtesy of Behrent’s Performance Warehouse. Also, Dr. William
Lowe will provide money to the driver who posts the fast time in
time trial qualifying.
Tickets can be purchased at the Dunkin’ Donuts Box Office,
all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling 1-800-745-3000 or online
at: www.ticketmaster.com.
Friday tickets are $20 (front row for adults and children),
$15 (adult seats) and $10 (children age 12 and under). Saturday
tickets are $25 (front row for adults and children), $20
(adults) and $10 (children age 12 and under).
Show information is available at Len Sammons Productions by
calling 609-888-3618 or online:
www.aarn.com.
Source: Len Sammons
Productions PR
Posted:
March 1, 2009
