0
0
Indoor Auto Racing Photo
Atlantic City, NJ – The Indoor Auto Racing Championship Series will celebrate a major milestone in January when the series returns to Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ for the 25th running of the NAPA Auto Parts Indoor Auto Races on Friday, January 29 and Saturday, January 30, 2027.
Tickets for the Atlantic City Indoor Races will go on sale Tuesday, September 22 through Ticketmaster and at the arena box office.
The event will mark the 25th running of the event dating back to 2003, run under the Len Sammons Productions / Indoor Auto Racing Series banner. Atlantic City has a rich history of indoor auto racing, with the first event held as early as 1938. Events were held annually from 1965-1981, in what was then known as Atlantic City’s Convention Hall.
“When we held our first event in 2003, I never imagined we would still be doing it 25 years later,” stated Len Sammons. “We have endured several major snowstorms, a pandemic and a host of other problems along the way, but I am proud that it has become an event, racers and attendees look forward too and plan their winter around.”
For a quarter-century, Boardwalk Hall has provided the backdrop for some of indoor auto racing’s most memorable moments. The 2027 weekend will continue that tradition with two nights of intense TQ Midget competition, along with racing for Champ Karts, Slingshots and 600 Micro Sprints.
“Celebrating the history of the event has always been a priority of ours, with special awards named in honor of the heroes from the 1960s like Doug Craig, Larry Michael, Nick Fornoro Jr., Tony Romit and others,” added Sammons. “Now after 25 years, we have a new group of stars, legends and memorable moments that people reflect on.”
Starting with Andy Mackereth in 2003, twelve drivers have scored prestigous Gambler’s Classic victories. Anthony Sesely and Andy Jankowiak lead the list with four victories a piece, followed by Erick Rudolph with three wins. Ryan Flores, Ted Christopher, Joey Payne and Lou Cicconi Jr. each collected two, while Mackereth, Jeff Heotzler, Mike Tidaback, Tim Buckwalter and the 2026 winner Trevor Catalano have one to their name. The winners have traveled from Ontario, Canada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Connecticut to hoist the big trophy in victory lane.
The 2026 Atlantic City NAPA Auto Parts weekend saw USAC star Briggs Danner sweep the spotlight, winning Friday night’s BlackJack 21 before earning his first Indoor Auto Racing Championship title. Saturday’s Gambler’s Classic produced another first-time winner, as Ontario, NY’s Trevor Catalano survived a thrilling side-by-side battle with Kyle Lick to capture the $6,500 victory.
Friday night’s featured event will be the BlackJack 21 for TQ Midgets, which was introduced in 2024 and has quickly become a fan favorite. Saturday night will feature the prestigious Gambler’s Classic, one of the premier events on the Indoor Auto Racing calendar.
The Indoor Auto Racing Championship will open its 2027 season at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA on Friday, Jan. 8 and Saturday, Jan. 9. The series will feature TQ Midgets, Champ Karts and Slingshots.
Event and series sponsorship opportunities are available for all budgets. Interested parties should contact Danny Sammons at danny@aarn.com or 609-888-3618.
For more information on the Indoor Auto Racing Championship, visit IndoorAutoRacing.com.
