Dramatic TQ Turkey Derby

Lotier Wins the Race

Alison Cumens 2009 ATQMRA Champion

Robin Johnston's Lucky 13 tops owner standings

 

 www.ATQMRA.com

11/28/2009 Wall Stadium, Belmar, NJ

 

The 09 ATQMRA Turkey Derby was the most dramatic ever.  Paul Lotier Jr. won his second consecutive Turkey Derby.  The two odds on favorites for the Championship both faltered opening the door for Alison Cumens to take the driver’s Championship and Robin Johnston’s 13 car to top the car owner standings.  Heats were won by Paul Lotier Jr., Tim Buckwalter, and Robin Johnston.  Next up for the ATQMRA is the 53rd Annual awards Banquet is being held at the Williamson's Restaurant at 500 Blair Mill Road Horsham Dec 12th, 2009.

 

Double points were up for grabs on the night putting 7 drivers and 9 cars within striking distance of the championship.  The odds on favorites for the driver title were Ian Cumens and Matt Janisch.  Their cars and the Tim Behmer Jr. 96 looked secure to settle the season long battle among themselves. 

 

The Feature race saw a front row of point leader Matt Janisch and Matt Roselli bring the field to the Kyle McGowan green flag only to have the initial start aborted due to a spinning Mike Tidaback’s blown engine.  When racing got under way Matt Janisch jumped out to the lead followed by Paul Lotier Jr. 

 

Janisch put on a clinic negotiating lap traffic moving high and low to open a few car lengths on Lotier.  His advantage was negated by a multi car crash on lap 11 between Kyle Gardner, Bob Watkins and Andy Gamble.  Gamble and Watkins suffered the worst damage from the crash with Gamble nearly leaving the stadium when his car flipped.

 

On the ensuing restart Lotier used the outside line to move past Janisch and take the lead.  Janisch meanwhile had his hands full with fellow championship contender Ian Cumens all over his bumper.  Cumens was working the outside in an effort to pass Janisch when on the 20^th lap the two collided coming off the fourth turn sending both cars to the pits for repairs opening the championship chase to Ian’s sister Alison. 

 

On the restart Lotier bested second running Tim Buckwalter to go on to record his second consecutive Turkey Derby Win for car owner’s Lenny and Donna Boyd.  His run landed the 1B within 4 points of winning the car owner’s championship. 

Alison Cumens made her charge to a fifth place finish.  Seven cars stopped in victory lane not knowing who would be crowned champion.  When the totals were finally tallied it was determined that Alison had accumulated enough points to become the first female ATQMRA champion in the organization’s storied history.  An hour after the race the spread sheets were updated and Robin Johnston was crowned the 2009 car owner’s champion by a mere 4 points over the Boyd 1B.

 

Alison Cumens is a dynamic racer with 10 top five finishes on the season which is only equaled by Janisch.  Cumens is still searching for her first win after battling at the front season long. Alison is a Gymnast and a student at Penn State University with an interest in Physical Therapy or to be a personal trainer.  Alison is another graduate of the quarter midget ranks winning numerous championships along the way.  By being the first female to win the ATQMRA Driver’s championship she has made her mark in the ATQMRA.

 

ATQMRA News and Notes:             The ATQMRA had 25 cars signed into the pits for the event.  Russ Bailey made his season debut in the famous Zuzalo 02 fielded by Team Boyd for the race.  This was the first race for this car in several years.  Bridgeport Modified Regular Mike Iles made his debut in his beautifully prepared 7-11 Cicconi car with Sam Wesctott Jr. in the Iles micro sprint.  Linda’s Speedway 600 racer Josh Dalrymple raced the Metz racing 46 to an 11^th place finish in his ATQMRA debut.  Wall Modified Standout made his Raced his uniquely configured Badger 27 for the first time in preparation for the indoor races.  Chris DeRitis ran his first race in a newly built Cicconi car in preparation for the indoor series.  Jeff Kot raced the Scott Campbell 4 with Gary Betsey in Kot’s 95 for the day’s racing.  1982 ATQMRA most improved driver Mark Pritchard made his return to action in the Bryant Ingalls 8 with Joey Payne III racing the JP Cossman 20.  Wall Street Stock veteran and US Navy reservist Andy Gamble raced the Mark Pell 01 but suffered a flip in the feature.  Gamble will be deployed to Afghanistan for a six month tour of duty in the next few weeks.  The ATQMRA family wishes him and all our soldiers defending our freedom well. 

 

 

Heat Race 1  1.1B Paul Lotier Jr. 2.48 Matt Janisch 3.79Ian Cumens 4.26 Frank Fischer 5.4 Jeff Kot 6.711xSam Westcott Jr. 7.8 Mark Pritchard 8.20Joey Payne 9.95 Gary Betsy

 

Heat Race 2   1 36  Tim Buchwalter 2 39  Alison Cumens 3 98  Matt Roselli 4 96  Tim Behmer 5 02 Russ Bailey 6 46 Josh Darlyrimple 7 7-11  Mike Isles 8 43 Mike Tidaback

 

Heat Race 3   1 13  Robin Johnson 2 51  Donnie Adams 3 73  Austin Fehr 4 F8  Kyle Gardner 5 66 Chris DeRitis 6 01  Andy Gamble 7 27  Shaun Carrig 8 91  Bobby Watkins

ATQMRA Turkey Derby 25 laps 11/28/09 1.1B Paul Lotier Jr. Racing with Jesus Ministries Award 2. 36 Tim Buchwalter 3. 13 Robin Johnson 4. 26 Frank Fischer 5. 39 Alison Cumens 6. 51 Donnie Adams 7. 73 Austin Fehr 8. 02Russ Bailey Brice’s NAPA Contingency Award 9. 96 Tim Behmer 10. 7-11 Mike Iles Travelsmith’s Hard Charger Award 11. 46 Josh Darlyrimple 12. 79 Ian Cumens 13. 98 Matt Roselli 14. 48 Matt Janisch 15. 711x Sam Westcott Jr. 16. 4  Jeff Kot 17. 27 Shaun Carrig 18. 66 Chris DeRitis 19. F8  Kyle Gardner 20. 91 Bobby Watkins 21. 8 Matt Pritchard 22. 01 Andy Gamble 23. 20 Joey Payne 24. 95 Gary Betsy 25. 43 Mike Tidaback