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Atlantic City, NJ – For decades, Atlantic City has been the heart of indoor racing, with legendary drivers like Doug Craig, Tony Romit, Nick Fornoro Jr., Jack Bertling, Johnny Coy, and Bobby Cicconi cementing the city’s reputation as a dream win for a driver. Today, two of the sport’s top talents, Andy Jankowiak and Anthony Sesely, are chasing their own piece of history as they aim for a fifth victory in the prestigious 23rd annual NAPA Auto Parts Gambler’s Classic.
Craig’s record five wins during the George Stockinger era (1965-1981) at what was then known as Atlantic City’s Convention Hall set the bar high. Since Len Sammons took over promoting the events in 2003, only 11 drivers have claimed Gambler’s Classic victory in the last 22 years. Jankowiak and Sesely stand out with four wins each. A fifth victory on Saturday, February 1st, would place either driver in rare air, etching their names atop the racing legends at what is now known as Boardwalk Hall.
Jankowiak, from Tonawanda, NY, has dominated the event in recent years. He secured Gambler Classic victories in 2019, 2020, 2021 (a Covid make-up race held in 2023), and again in 2024. With four wins in five years, he has already matched Doug Craig’s historic feat of three straight wins in Atlantic City from 1971-72.
Sesely, from Matawan, NJ, was the first to claim four Gambler’s Classics, with wins in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2023. A fifth victory would instead place him ahead of all others that raced in Atlantic City.
Boxer Evander Holyfield won a record seven bouts in Atlantic City during his career. Since Jankowiak (2015) and Sesely (2014) each have won a Friday night preliminary night feature, they enter this year’s event two wins away from becoming tied with him for most wins by any national sports figure in the building! A sweep this year by either driver would tie him with the former World Heavy Weight Boxing Champion for wins in the historic building.
Other past Gambler Classic champions with multiple wins include Erick Rudolph (three-time winner), Ted Christopher (two-time winner), Joey Payne (two-time winner), and Lou Cicconi (two-time winner).
Ryan Flores of Davidson, NC, has emerged as a major force on the Indoor Auto Racing series, tied for all-time wins with Rudolph with nine victories. Flores added the 2024 Friday Night Black Jack 21 in Atlantic City to his career achievements last year which also includes a Gambler’s Classic win in 2018. Flores, however, is eager to avenge two recent near-misses in the Gambler’s Classic: in 2022, a post-race technical issue cost him a win, and in 2024, he was spun out while leading the race with the checkered flag about to fall.
Flores currently leads the series point standings after a stellar performance at the most recent Allentown, PA, PPL Center event. Jankowiak follows in second, 15 points behind, after his first-ever win at Allentown in his 15th try. Despite battling brake issues, Sesely finished fourth in both Allentown races, placing him in third, just 15 points behind Jankowiak.
The Ironton Auto Body $10,000 challenge, unclaimed in Allentown, is now up for grabs in Atlantic City. Flores, Jankowiak, and the winner of Friday’s Black Jack 21 will be eligible for the prize if they win the Gambler’s Classic on Saturday, February 1st. This would mark the richest payday ever for a TQ Midget event if one of these three drivers win it, thanks to added support from the Atlantic City Sports Commission, Visit Atlantic City, and The West at Caesars, which is hosting the official after-party. The Friday and Saturday night winner will receive $1,500 for attending the after-party at The West pushing the Saturday’s earnings to as much as $10,000.
A competitive field of over 50 TQ Midget competitors from across the country have pre-entered the two-day Atlantic City race weekend which includes complete shows of qualifying and feature events both nights. for the TQ Midgets. The Slingshots, Champ Karts, and Dirt 600 Micro Sprints will also be in competition racing qualifying races on Friday and feature events only on Saturday. Drivers from 13 different states and two Canadian Providences will be in competition!
The grandstands open at 6 PM on Friday with racing beginning at 7 PM. Stop by the Fan Zone on the concourse for a pre-race show that includes driver autographs prior to the racing.
On Saturday the grandstands open at 5 PM with fans with reserved seats allowed access to on-track Fan Fest that runs until 6:15 with racing starting at 7 PM.
At Fan Fest, the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Funny Car driver Ron Caps and the newly crowned Ms. Motorsports 2025 will be signing autographs as will every driver entered in the four classes running at the event. The entire field of cars racing will be positioned around the track and fans will be allowed access to the racing surface.
Tickets start at just $20 for adults, with children’s general admission tickets available for only $5 on the day of the event. Premium seating and reserved tickets are also available for an additional fee. Prices exclude facility and ticketing fees. Fans with lower-level reserved tickets can enjoy an exclusive pre-race FanFest on the arena floor, where they can walk the track and meet their favorite drivers.
Tickets are available for purchase via Ticketmaster or the Boardwalk Hall box office. For more information about the Indoor Auto Racing Series, including hotel deals and a direct link to ticket sales, visit [IndoorAutoRacing.com](http://IndoorAutoRacing.com).
