Paul Lotier Jr. Wins the ATQMRA Turkey Derby

Congratulations to Paul Lotier Jr and Lenny and Donna Boyd on their Exciting Turkey Derby Triumph

Video of the beginning of the race >>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGQTedegg7Y

Video clips of the end of the race and Victory Lane >>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fotxc5Cdwss

 

The Boyd 1B team celebrates in Victory lane. Photo Courtesy Mike Calla check out  http://www.wheelsofspeed.com

Paul Lotier Jr. earned victory in the ATQMRA Turkey Derby at Wall Township Speedway on Friday November 28^th in the exciting feature race.  This was Lotier’s First Career ATQMRA Feature race win in the Lenny and Donna Boyd Spitfire.  Lotier was followed across the line by Mike Tidaback and Robin Johnston with Tim Proctor and Zack Martini rounding out the top five. 

 

The first heat was won by Don Adams in the Alan Mollet Lindblad Badger with a fast lap that averaged just over 100 mph. Adams win came in the oldest race car in the organization.  Lotier followed Adams across the line with Frank Fischer in third.

 

The second heat saw Dirt Micro Sprint star Heath Henley take the newest race car in the organization, the Colin Martin 36 that Spitfire Racing Chassis completed building for the Turkey Derby, win the second heat in impressive fashion over Tim Proctor in his converted Predator micro sprint followed by Frank Fischer in the Spitfire 26 house car.

 

A glance at the results of this race doesn’t truly tell the story.  While Lotier started from the pole and won the race it wasn’t a run away by any account.  On two different occasions Lotier lost the lead and was able to recover to win the race. 

 

From Lotier’s pole position he was able to open a substantial lead on second running Henley.  Last year’s Turkey Derby winner, Adams had his charge to the front slowed by a tangle with the Matt Janisch 48 at the drop of the green flag.  Adams recovered and began his charge to the front overtaking Mike Tidaback on lap 12 but found him a full straight away behind the leaders who were dealing with heavy lap traffic.  That allowed Adams to close and make it a three car battle for the lead. 

 

In what was probably the most exciting single lap of the 2008 ATQMRA season, coming off the fourth turn Lotier was dropped to third behind Henley and Adams when his line was blocked by a lapped car.  Adams made a bold move coming off the second turn to overtake Henley and put himself in the lead.  Unfortunately for Adams, he and Henley bumped wheels as they went three wide around the Bruce Leote 94 causing Adams’ right rear tire to blow out when he entered the third turn causing the car to turn over bringing out the red flag for the first stoppage of the race.  Adams exited his car unhurt and waved to the throngs of fans in attendance. Go to www.ATQMRA.com and check out the video of the race as well as pictures.

 

On the ensuing restart Henley had the pole as a result of leading the last completed lap and was able to get the jump on the lightening fast 1B of Lotier.  Henley opened up a lead when the caution flew for a spinning car.  Henley again resumed command with two laps to go when the Bob Watkins car spun closing the field up again.  With a green white checker finish coming Henley looked poised to take his second Turkey Derby only to have the rear, the only old part used in his car, fail costing him the race handing victory to Paul Lotier Jr.

 

Mike Tidaback was able to work his way into second at the finish in his first Turkey Derby in nearly ten years.  Robin Johnston followed Tidaback across the line to finish third with Tim Proctor in fourth and Zack Martini in fifth. 

 

ATQMRA News and Notes: Adams was making his bid to take two Turkey Derby’s in a row albeit in the Mollet Lindblad Badger this time after winning last year’s race in the Jeff Kot owned Badger.  Federal Express delivery driver Mike Tidaback made his first Turkey Derby in years after making special arrangements have the retail Mega day off from work almost making the special delivery in the feature race.  Veteran ATQMRA and ARDC midget racer Steve Craig returned to competition with the ATQMRA for the first time since the late 80s and plans to run both ARDC and ATQMRA events in 2009 similar to the Zack Martini 2008 schedule.  Craig who is always in great condition was a bit sore at the Turkey Derby after running a 5K Thanksgiving Day foot race. Don Adams posted the fastest lap of practice at 11.943 seconds with Matt Roselli posting the second fastest lap of 12.067 seconds.  Lotier Jr. was the only other driver to post a lap in excess of 100 MPH with a 11.987 seconds on lap 6 of the feature.  The ATQMRA General Membership meeting will take place Wednesday December 3^rd at the Route 512 Best Western in Bethlehem, Pa at 7:00 pm.  The officials of the ATQMRA are putting together a solid schedule for the ATQMRA for 2009.  Congratulations to Lenny and Donna Boyd on adding another Turkey Derby Triumph to their racing Resume.

Chris Gore Photos http://chrisgore.smugmug.com/

 

Mike Calla Photos

 

ATQMRA Turkey Derby 08 1 1B Paul Lotier Jr. 2 43 Mike Tidaback 3 13 Robin Johnson 4 98  Tim Procter 5 46  Zack Martini 6 91 Bob Watkins Jr. 7 36 Heath henley 8 94 Bruce Leote 9 39 Alison Cumens 10 95 Jeff Aot 11 48 Mike Janisch 12 51 Donnie Adams 13 19 Matt Roselli 14 26 Frank Fischer 15 55 Steve Craig

Heat Race 11 51 Donnie Adams 2 1B Paul Lotier Jr. 3 26 Frank Fischer 4 46 Zack Martini 5 43 Mike Tidaback 6 39 Alison Cumens 7 95 Jeff Aot 8 19 Matt Roselli

Heat Race 2  1 Heath Henley 36 2 98 Tim Procter 3 13 Robin Johnson 4 48 Matt Janisch 5 91 Bob Watkins Jr. 6 55 Steve Craig 7 94 Bruce Leote

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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