ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Ryan Flores took maximum advantage of a front-row starting position in Friday night’s Indoor Auto Racing Championship BlackJack 21 for TQ Midgets and found victory lane for the eighth time in series history.
Flores’ premium starting position was earned in a game of Blackjack with fellow TQ Qualifier winner, Anthony Sesely.
Flores said post-race that this was a special victory. “I’m a very happy winner tonight,” Flores said. “What makes it special for me is that it’s a new event with a different format. And it’s a format, obviously that I liked.”
Tanner VanDoren finished a close second with Tommy Catalano third, Anthony Sesely fourth and Kyle Lick fifth.
A lap 18 caution collected Timmy and Trevor Catalano. Both were part of a seven-car crash that saw both siblings flip violently in tandem. Neither Catalano was hurt. The crash also took out contenders Briggs Danner, Matt Janisch and Tyler Lindsay.
The Gambler’s Classic Finale on Saturday night will decide the Indoor Auto Racing Series Concrete Series championship. Flores, with 300 points, brings a one-point lead into the finale over VanDoren’s 299 markers. Tommy Catalano, with 244 points, is still in contention heading into the finale.
Indoor Auto Racing Series competition returns to Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall tomorrow, Saturday, January 24 with the annual running of the prestigious NAPA Auto Parts Gambler’s Classic for TQ Midgets over a 40-lap distance.
Slingshots, Champ Karts and 600 Micros will also run features over 25 laps for the Slingshots and Champ Karts and 20 laps for the 600 Micro Sprint, making for an action-packed night of racing. Series point champions will also be crowned in the TQ Midget, Champ Kart and Slingshot classes Saturday night.
Feature Finish (21 Laps)
1. Ryan Flores, 2. Tanner VanDoren, 3. Tommy Catalano, 4. Anthony Sesely, 5. Kyle Lick, 6. Andy Jankowiak, 7. Ryan Bartlett, 8. Steve Kemery, 9. Timmy Buckwalter, 10. Jeremy Haudricourt, 11. Shawn Nye, 12. Matt Swanson, 13. Jonathan Reid, 14. Nick Ladyga, 15. Tyler Ferris, 16. Billy Pauch Jr., 17. Bobby Holmes, 18. Matt Janisch, 19. Trevor Catalano, 20. Tyler Lindsay, 21. Timmy Catalano, 22. Briggs Danner.