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Photo Michael Jaworecki/Myracenews
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ, January 27,2025 – In the modern era of Indoor Auto Racing in Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, 31 headline TQ Midget feature events have been held in the last 22 years, but only 12 drivers have gone to victory lane!
Winning the first has proven to have been extremely difficult, but a second is nearly insured. Of the 12 winners, eight of them have won multiple times including Andy Jankowiak and Anthony Sesely with a record tying five victories, four each in Saturday’s prestigious Gambler’s Classic.
When NAPA Know How weekend returns to Atlantic City on Friday, January 31st and Saturday, February 1st, only four of the 50 plus TQ Midget drivers entered have ever hoisted an Atlantic City winning trophy and they’ve each won multiple times. That includes pre-race favorites Jankowiak, Sesely and two-time winners Ryan Flores and Tim Buckwalter.
The list of those seeking a first ever win will have two chances, the second annual Black Jack 21 on Friday night and the 23rd annual Gambler’s Classic on Saturday. Last year, Flores won on Friday and Jankowiak on Saturday, so it won’t be easy but the list of candidates is long and very talented.
Among those at the top list to get a first win is Tommy Catalano, one of four brothers entered, who led the 2024 Gambler’s Classic on Saturday night a year ago until his motor went south on a late restart.
Legendary driver Billy “The Kid” Pauch won a Friday night race in Atlantic City in 2009. His son, Billy Jr., now a star in dirt Modifieds, will also be competing for his first win in a Jason Simmons Racing No. 98p. His teammate, former Oswego Classic winner, Tyler Thompson is expected to be in the hunt as well.
Joey Payne is a two time Gambler’s Classic winner. His son, Anthony Payne who picked up an Indoor Racing Series win in Albany, NY, would love to become the first father-son to have ever won TQ Midget racing’s biggest event.
Family roots run very strong. The late Ted Christopher won two Friday preliminary events and two Saturday Gambler’s Classics before losing his life in an airplane crash. His nephew Michael Christopher Jr., who went to victory lane at a young age with his uncle, is now seeking to his name among Atlantic City winners. Christopher’s Trey Hoddick teammate Scott Kreutter, owns an Indoor Series win in Allentown, but he has not shined the brightest in Atlantic City.
Lenny Boyd was an Atlantic City winner during the 1965-1981 Stockinger promotion days in Atlantic City in 1980. As a car owner, he’s come close during the modern era, but it’s hopes that driver Joey Bailey can send him and and wife Donna to glory as well this year.
A young lion and a grizzle veteran will be seeking a first Atlantic City win after scoring an Indoor Series victory in Allentown. Tanner VanDoren shockingly won in his Indoor start in Allentown last year and then challenged for the win in the Gambler’s Classic last year only to find that effort come up short on the last lap. The teenager has huge talent, he could become the youngest ever Atlantic City winner this year.
Matt Janisch has been racing in Atlantic City in a TQ Midget since 2006. During this period he’s qualified for every Gamblers Classic and posted several top five finishes without scoring a win.
Kyle Lick won the dirt 600 Sprint feature in Atlantic City last year, but it’s the TQ Midget win that he desires badly. He comes to Atlantic City off two impressive finishes in Allentown that finds him ranked fourth in the Indoor Auto Racing Series points.
Another candidate is Briggs Danner, a podium finisher last year in the Gambler’s Classic. Fast in Allentown, the winner of three USAC National Sprint Car races last year, will be in the hunt not only for a first Atlantic City, but his first on the series after several many near misses.
The two-day Atlantic City race weekend 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 providence’s 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
