Mike Iles of Medford , N.J. , pulled off
a huge upset Friday night at the Dunkin Donuts Center by claiming the 20-lap
TQ Midget feature race.
Iles is the defending Modified champion at the dirt 5/8th-mile
Bridgeport Speedway.
Iles made history with the win at the Dunkin Donuts Center as the
race was the first held in Rhode Island in 50 years.
“It is very cool to win in Rhode Island since the state hasn’t had
a race in so long,” Iles said. “It is a real honor.”TQ Midget star Joey
Payne of Fairlawn , N.J. , finished second, while Ryan Smith of Kunkletown,
Pa., was third, Timex Morgan of Rochester, N.Y., was fourth and Matt Roselli
of Broadheadsville, Pa., completed the top five spots.
Although Iles was fast and captured the main event, a crash on lap
16 ultimately changed the complexion of the race itself. Lou Cicconi Jr., a
top name on the indoor Midget Car racing circuit, was running in the second
spot and pressuring Iles for the lead when a water line broke and sent his
car and others into the wall in turn one. Cicconi’s car crashed and
collected many other front runners including cars driven by Matt Janisch,
multi-time NASCAR Modified champion Mike Stefanik, defending NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour champion Ted Christopher, Mike Lichty and Jeff Heotzler.
Heotzler, a dirt Modified ace, got out of his car under his own power but he
was later transported to a nearby hospital for observation.
Prior to the big crash on lap 16, Iles was leading after he passed
Janisch for the lead position on the backstretch.
“I love racing this TQ Midget indoors,” Iles said. “We race on the
big track on dirt, but this indoor stuff keeps you sharp. ”Iles also praised
Cicconi in the post-race interview session. “Lou and his father helped with
a lot with the set-up of the car,” Iles said. “Although I own this car, it
is a Hyper Chassis that Lou designed so much of the credit has to go to
him.”
Heat race action went to Cicconi, Iles, Ian Cumens and Lichty. Jeff
Kot and Chris Haskell won the consolation races. Cicconi posted a fast lap
speed of 8.6325 seconds.
Chris Daley of Pleasant Valley,
N.Y., captured the 20-lap Champ Kart, while Justin Bonsignore, Ron Milford
Jr., Eric Zeh and George Bark Jr. completed the top five .Daley and
Bonsignore won the Champ Kart heat races.
Racing action continues Saturday with the second night of action. A
complete show of TQ Midget and Champ Kart fills the card.
TQ Midget Car Feature Finish, 20 Laps: 1. Mike
Iles; 2. Joey Payne; 3. Ryan Smith; 4. Timex Morgan; 5. Matt Roselli; 6.
Jeff Kot; 7. Don Zrinski; 8. Ian Cumens; 9. Ted Christopher; 10. Lou Cicconi
Jr.; 11. Matt Janisch; 12. Jeff Heotzler; 13. Mike Stefanik; 14. Mike Lichty;
15. Alison Cumens; 16. Richie Coy Jr.; 17. Christopher Allen Jr.; 1. Tim
Adams; 19. Bobby Santos III; 20. Joe Lord Jr.
Champ Kart Feature Finish, 20 Laps: 1. Chris Daley; 2.
Justin Bonsignore; 3. Ron Milford Jr.; 4. Eric Zeh; 5. George Bark Jr.; 6.
Tammy Smith; 7. Tim Buckwalter; 8. Jay Dimons; 9. Dennis Perry; 10. Andrew
Swisher; 11. Nick Hadden; 12. Clinton Mills; 13. Paul McCollum; 14. Bryan
Ray; 15. Evan Beaulieu; 16. Ryan Arsenault; 17. Tyler Robertson; 18. Andrew
Hutchinson; 19. John Hillman; 20. TJ Laro.
|
