The Spring Fling thunder at Mountain Speedway near Hazleton, Pa on Saturday April 21st Presented by Keenan Motors, Spitfire Chassis, Team Risqué and Dart Racing Chassis was won by Russ Bailey in the Alan Mollot Badger 51.  Bailey
outlasted Joe Payne who came back to finish fifth after running out of fuel in the closing laps.  Second place finisher Robin Johnston was followed across the line by Doug Sherwood in Third.  The fans were treated to an exciting race.

The race was red flagged before the first lap was complete as a result of a multi-car crash entering the third turn.   John Saunders, Jeff Kot, Tim Behmer, John Saunders, Mike Moroney, both Zrinski cars driven by Don Zrinski and Doug Sherwood, Mike Blair in the X, Ed Deitz, Don Adams Chris Deritis and Joe Payne were involved in the melee.  Behmer, Jeff Kot, Mike Blair and Don Adams suffered the hardest hits in the 11 car
pile up and were unable to continue.  Joe Payne went into the pits for service and made a charge from the rear of the field.  

Pole-sitter Jim Fleishman looked like the car to beat early but fell victim to engine gremlins after leading the first two circuits.  Bailey assumed the lead on Lap 3 but was overtaken by Joe Payne and Robin Johnston by the eighth lap.  After Payne completed his charge from last place following the red flag he stayed in command and looked to be the car to beat when he ran out of fuel with two laps to go.  

The Deciding moment of the race was just before the caution was brought out for Payne's car running out of fuel when Bailey made the race winning move to take over second from Johnston.  When Payne retired to the pits to re-fuel Bailey was at the point and held on to secure the $1,000 first prize for the event.  Car owner Alan Mollot had mixed emotions following the race.  He was happy to have the race win with the 51car but was sorely disappointed as crew chief on Payne's car. 

Young lion and quarter midget racer Paul Hartwig took some fast laps in the Mollot 51 in Friday's practice session.  He also made the call to ad extra fuel to the 51 car to ensure Bailey had enough to make the distance.  During post race  tech inspection officials had to go all the way to the bottom of the tank to get a fuel sample.  Bailey was not only good but lucky on this day.  It was a winning weekend overall for the Bailey family with Russ' son Joey taking his first feature win since moving up to Senior Honda at Little Wall.  It made for a Bailey family weekend sweep. 

Several drivers made their first starts in TQ midgets outdoors at Mountain on Saturday.  Robbie Pecorari made his first start in the Dan Deritis Team Risqué 69 with impressive results.  Hooters Pro-Cup racer Jeff Kot made his outdoor debut in 95 Badger, the former Don Adams mount.  Jeff was impressed with the performance of the lightening fast TQ midgets.    Hooters Pro Cup racer Jeff Kot made his outdoor TQ midget debut in the 95 Badger,  the former Don Adams car.  Jeff was impressed with the performance of the lightening fast TQ midgets.Kot ran some impressive laps in his first outdoor race in a TQ midget finishing fifth in his heat.  He was an unfortunate victim of the first lap pile up that ended his chances early.

Quarter Midget ace Tim Buckwalter made his TQ midget racing debut in the Colin Martin Spitfire Development car 36.  Tim, cousin of Steve Buckwalter who won this event in 06 turned in some of the fastest laps of the weekend but saw his chances end early.  We look forward to seeing more of him during the season.

Zack Martini who loves a few minutes from Mountain Speedway made the first pavement start of his career in the Howard Boss Mountain City Transportation and Recycling TQ midget.  Zack moved up after much success in the quarter midgets and winning numerous races at the Blue Mountain Quarter Midget Track to race winged and non-winged dirt sprint cars.  The Martini team recently purchased the Bill Courtwright midget and plans to run a full schedule of ARDC midget events as well as running regularly with the ATQMRA in 07.

Notes:  31 TQ midgets were on hand for the weekends events.  3 from the Casey's Lancaster groups with the rest from the ranks of the ATQMRA.  Heat races were won by Robin Johnston, Don Adams and Joey Payne.  Tim Behmer and JR Haywood received M&R gift certificates, Ed Deitz received the Ultrashield award and the AutoTrim Design Custom Logo shirt goes to Don Zrinski.   Design 500 $200 gift certificates go to Russ Bailey and Joe Payne Jr.
 

The next race for the ATQMRA will be at Mountain Speedway this coming Sunday April 29th.