Lotier Wins Bethel

Saturday May 29     White Lake, NY

Paul Lotier Jr. of Lebanon, Pa found his way to victory lane at a track he felt owed him a win after being fast there in 09.  Heat Races were won by Robin Johnston and Ian Cumens.  The next stop for the ATQMRA is Sundance Vacation Speedway Saturday June 5^th.

Side by side racing was the order of the day before a packed grandstand at Bethel Motorsports Park.  Jeff Kot and Ian Cumens comprised the front row for the first heat race and raced side by side for several laps before Cumens was able to close the deal on the outside.  Cumens won the qualifier followed by Frank Fischer, Lotier and Kot, Bj MacDonald in the Alan Mollet 51 followed by Tim Behmer.

Robin Johnston made quick work in taking the lead from Austin Fehr and cruising to a convincing heat race win over Joe Lord Jr, Austin Fehr, Buddy Sload and Matt Roselli.

The front row of Jeff Kot and Matt Roselli brought the field down for the green but the initial start was aborted when Lotier and Tim Behmer tangled spinning Behmer ending his night. 

On the restart the same front row took the green with Kot jumping out to an advantage opening several car lengths on second running Ian Cumens before being passed by a hard charging Lotier on lap 5.  Lotier opened up a half straight away lead before last year’s race winner Frank Fischer worked into second.  Fischer was able to close the gap and looked ready to challenge lotier for the lead when a lap 21 caution fro debris on the track slowed the action. 

On the restart Fischer had to fend off Robin Johnston allowing Lotier to drive to victory by several car lengths over second finishing Fischer, followed by Robin Johnston Ian Cumens, and Buddy Sload (Rookie of the Race)

During post race tech inspections the tread width on Fischer’s car was determined to be too wide disqualifying his fine finish as a result of what was explained to be a slightly different wheel offset. 

ATQMRA News and Notes:  This was the first of two races for the organization at the challenging Bethel oval.  BJ MacDonald returned to the Alan Mollet Lindblad Badger 51 that he raced to victory in 2005 at Bethel to post a fine 6^th place finish.  2009 ATQMRA Sundance Vacation Speedway Champion Tim Behmer seems snake bit whenever he travels to race in the Catskills.  In 09 Behmer penalized for jumping a start and ended up out of the race before it started.  Matt Janisch raced the Howard Boss 28 to a solid 9^th place finish when his familiar 48 broke in warm ups.  Tim Proctor had the Paul Binz 98 Predator TQ out for the first time in 2010.  Next up for the ATQMRA is the Evergreen Reunion Night at Sundance Vacation Speedway featuring $5.00 grandstand admission.    An autograph and camera session is also planned at intermission where fans will have the opportunity to go down on the speedway and receive treats, autographs and photos with their favorite ATQMRA and Garden State Vintage Stock car Club drivers.  ATQMRA friend Donnie Allesio was on hand promoting the June 26^th Running of the Annual Tony Romit Memorial Race at Wall Stadium.  

Feature Race (25 Laps)         1. 1B Paul Lotier   (Travelsmith’s Hard Charger)  2. 13 Robin Johnston   3.  79  Ian Cumens   4.  53  Buddy Sload (Brice’s NAPA Award) (Rookie of the Race)   5.  95 Jeff Kot   6.  51 BJ MacDonald  7.  73 Austin Fehr  8.  39 Alison Cumens  9.  28 Matt Janisch   10.  9 Joe Lord  11.  43 Mike Tidaback  12.  16 Daniel Lane
13.  98 Matt Roselli  14.  46 Josh Dalrymple   15.  35 Chad Jones  16.  98X Tim Proctor
17.  96 Tim Behmer  18.  48 Howard Boss (DNS)  26 Frank Fischer (DQ Technical infraction)