Ryan Tidman makes it three in a row at Mountain Speedway

Fan Appreciation Night

Ryan Tidman makes it three in a row at Mountain Speedway Fan Appreciation Night Ryan Tidman (right) celebrates in victory lane with second place finisher Robin Johnston (middle) and Bob Watkins the third place finisher (left). Ryan Tidman makes it Three in a row at Mountain Speedway’s Fan Appreciation night   Ryan Tidman’s father Bud had more on the line this night than anyone else.  His hair was on the line.  He told Ryan if he won three races in a row he would let him shave his head.  Ryan was true to form taking his third ATQMRA feature in a row and removed his father’s locks.  Bud graciously lived up to his part of the bargain.    This is the second time Tidman accomplished the feat in the Mollot Badger previously having won three in a row at Mahoning Valley in 2005.    Rookie of the year contender Tim Behmer took advantage of his pole starting position to lead the most laps on the night. Behmer fought valiantly to keep veterans Bob Watkins, Robin Johnston, and Tidman at bay until the fifteenth lap when Tidman made an outside move to take the lead.   Behmer has been on the edge of cracking into victory lane all year.  His first career win cannot be far away.    Robin Johnston came across the line in second with points leader Bob Watkins third followed by Don Adams in fourth with Behmer settling into fifth.  Mike Tidaback finished a solid sixth in his second race of the year at Mountain Speedway with Matt Janisch seventh.  Don Zrinski making his 2007 debut in the family owned Quality Painting 75 came across the line eighth with Zack Martini and Frank Fischer rounding out the top ten.    Ryan thanked co-car owners Alan Mollot and BJ MacDonald of Competition Classics for providing him with a car that handled perfectly all night in his TV interview for Blue Ridge Cable TV sports.    Heat races were won by Bob Watkins and Robin Johnston.    Fan Appreciation night was a success with race fans having the opportunity to meet the drivers and see the cars up close.  Teams handed out candy, Hot Wheels cars, autograph cards, programs and ATQMRA T-shirts to the fans.  Many of the kids got the treat of climbing into the blistering fast TQ midgets for pictures.  Check out www.ATQMRA.com for pictures.    News and Notes:  21 ATQMRA TQ midgets were in attendance with 19 competing on the night.  Mike Osite made his first trip to Mountain Speedway taking hot laps in the Howard Boss 55 car.  ARDC Midget regular Chris Zrinski raced the Family 25 car for his first ATQMRA event in a number of years since making the transition to the wingless dirt midgets.  The ATQMRA will next appear at Wall Township Speedway for the Ray Evernham Racing for a Reason night to help fund the ongoing research to find a cure for cancer through Ray Evernham’s charity for Leukemia and Lymphoma research.  www.racingforareason.org.        Heat Race 1 91Bob Watkins96Don Adams69Tim Behmer Jr75Don Zrinski16Dave Williams8XJeff Werner 91ABruno Leombruno66Jim Peruto66PJoey Payne Jr46Matt Janisch   Heat Race 2 13Robin Johnston51Ryan Tidman43Mike Tidoback35Chris Deritis25Chris Zrinski55Howard Boss29Zack Martini33Frank Fischer90John Leombruno   Keenan Motors ATQMRA Feature 51Ryan Tidman13Robin Johnston(M+R)91Bob Watkins96Don Adams(M+R)(Shadow)69Tim Behmer43Mike Tidaback(NAPA South Plainfield)46Matt Janisch75Don Zrinski29Zack Martini33Frank Fischer16Dave Williams(Brice’s Napa)25Chris Zurinski91ABruno Leombruno35Chris Deritis8XJeff Werner 66Jim Peruto66PJoey Payne Jr90John Leombruno