"Liquid Lou" Cicconi and Mike Tidaback Split ATQMRA Double Features

Tim Behmer Sets fast time in F1 Style qualifying

by: Gene Ostrowski

.  “Liquid” Lou Cicconi and Mike Tidaback scored the feature wins in the dual ATQMRA main events.

The afternoon began with ATQMRA midget qualifying, which was held “Formula One style”.  Tim Behmer ran the fastest lap with a time of 12.759 seconds and Lou Cicconi was second quickest with a 12.774.  Almost half of the field was inverted for the start of the 20-lap feature, which put Jeff Kot on the pole position.

 Kot led to the drop of the green, but outside pole sitter, Robin Johnston, made a pass for the lead before a lap was scored.  After three laps of racing, Tim Behmer was second, followed by “Liquid” Lou Cicconi, Frank Fischer and Chris Deritis.

 Slowly but surely, Matt Janish moved through the field from his eight starting spot.  Also moving through the field was Ryan Tidman, who found himself in third, twelve laps into the contest. 

Trouble struck Tidman on the following lap, when he lost an engine in turns two.  The track crew quickly rushed to the scene and extinguished the flames, but Tidman’s hopes of victory were diminished.

After the restart, Cicconi shot by Johnston for the top spot and Janish followed into second.  Cicconi never looked back and cruised on to victory over Janisch, Johnston, Fischer and Tidaback.

The ATQMRA midgets took the stage for their second main event of the evening with Tim Behmer leading the field to the drop of the green flag. 

 Immediately after the start, Robin Johnston shot out front and appeared to have the victory wrapped up early, but things changed after he jumped two restarts following several cautions.  On the final lap four restart, Johnston was sent to the rear of the field, which handed the lead to Chris Deritis.

 Deritis led one circuit after the restart before being overtaken by Mike Tidaback as the two raced out of turn two.  Unfortunately for Deritis, the contact forced him to spin and brought out the caution.  He rejoined the tail end of the field for the restart.

 Tidaback led the remaining laps and grabbed his first Mountain ATQMRA win of the season over Matt Janish and Robin Johnston, who had worked his way back towards the front.  Dave Williams finished fourth and Frank Fischer rounded out the top five.

 The Doylestown Quarter Midget Racing Club was on hand for to help promote their racing efforts and several of the young competitors ran a handful of laps during intermission.  The youngsters also gave the command for the start of the first ATQMRA feature event.

 ATQMRA feature #1 (20- laps) 1. LOU CICCONI 2. Matt Janisch 3. Robin Johnston 4. Frank Fischer 5. Mike Tidaback 6. Tim Behmer 7. Dave Williams 8. Chris Deritis 9. Jeff Kot 10. Paul Lotier 11. Scott Campbell 12. Lew Ingalls 13. Richie Coy 14. Ryan Tidman 15. Zack Martini 16. Austin Fehr

ATQMRA feature #2 (20- laps) 1. MIKE TIDABACK 2. Matt Janisch 3. Robin Johnston 4. Dave Williams 5. Frank Fischer 6. Austin Fehr 7. Tim Behmer 8. Scott Campbell 9. Matt Roselli 10. Ryan Tidman 11. Lew Ingalls 12. Chris Deritis 13. Richie Coy 14. Paul Lotier 15. Zack Martini