BALTIMORE, MD – Mike Lichty, of Innerkip, Ontario, the only Canadian driver in the field, drove to a dramatic victory in the first ever Fatheadz Eyewear Indoor Three Quarter (TQ) Midget race at 1st Mariner Arena in downtown Baltimore, Md., Saturday night.
Lichty, who started tenth in the 23-car starting field, managed to avoid several early mixups that took out several of his rivals, and was in front of the field by the halfway point of the race. The most pressure packed part of the race for Lichty came in managing numerous double file restarts over the final ten laps with first Ryan Smith, Kunkletown, Pa., and then Matt Janisch, Nazareth, Pa., on his outside. Janisch ultimately prevailed to take second over Smith with Anthony Sesely, Matawan, N.J. fourth and Ted Christopher, Plainville, Ct., fifth.
The TQ feature got off to a rocky start when Joey Payne Fair Lawn, N.J., flipped while attempting to take the lead. Rowan Pennink, New Egypt, N.J., was also among the early leaders until he faltered. An unusual crash took place in the fifth TQ Midget heat race. Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, N.Y., who had been contending for the lead, tangled with Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma..
As the field was being reassembled for the restart, Rudolph, racing to catch up with the about-to-restart field, apparently experienced a stuck throttle and slammed into the concrete wall full bore. He was not hurt but was out of action for the night. Then, in the TQ B-Main that determined the final qualifiers for the feature, Erik Musto, Lockport, N.Y., spun after contact with Ryan Tidman, Levittown, Pa.
A post race scuffle in the pit area resulted in Tidman’s car being disqualified after he had earned a starting spot. The companion Champ Kart 25-lap main event was won by DJ Shaw of Center Conway, N.H., with Brandon Rusczek , Wallingford, Ct., second and Cody Sieber, Mifflntown, Pa., third.
The Indoor race was the first of its kind in ‘The Charm City’ and drew raves from the large crowd in attendance for its competitiveness and efficiency – the entire program was completed in less than three hours. The next event that is part of the Fatheadz Eyewear Indoor Auto Racing Series presented by Len Sammons Products is set for New Year’s Eve at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I.
Baltimore Fatheadz Eyewear Indoor TQ Midget Feature (40 Laps): 1. Mike Lichty; 2. Matt Janisch; 3. Ryan Smith; 4. Anthony Sesely; 5. Ted Christopher; 6. Tony DiMattia; 7. Tim Buckwalter; 8. Lou Cicconi Jr.; 9. Christopher Allen; 10. Ryan Greth; 11. Dan Lane Jr.; 12. Chris Deritis; 13. Rowan Pennink; 14. Patrick Emerling; 15. Matthew Roselli; 16. Joey Payne; 17. BJ MacDonald; 18. Glen Reen; 19. Jon Gambuti; 20. Mike Osite; 21. James-Michael Friesen. DQ: Ryan Tidman.TQ Heat Winners: Joe Payne Jr., Ryan Smith, BJ MacDonald, Ryan Greth, Rowan Pennink. TQ B Main Winner: Matt Janisch: TQ C Main Winner: Ryan Susice TQ Non-Qualifiers: Richie Coy
Champ Kart Feature (25 Laps): 1. DJ Shaw; 2. Brandon Rusczek; 3. Cody Sieber; 4. Chris Daley; 5. Matt Fenn; 6. Brian Sullivan; 7. James Folds; 8. John Berger; 9. Coby Cressinger; 10. Gavin Soraghan; 11. Brianna Page; 12. Stephen Beattie; 13. Tim Sullivan; 14. Glen Meisenhelder; 15. Tom Kelly; 16.Danny Bouc; 17. Justin Bonsignore; 18. Ron Midford Jr.; 19. Zach Smith; 20. Andrew Swisher; 21. Bryan Shields 22. Todd Crenshaw.Champ Kart B Main: Andrew SwisherChamp Kart Heats: Tim Sullivan, Zach Snitb.
Race results story written by Steve Barrick
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