ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Matt Swanson executed a textbook late-race restart to muscle past Ryan Flores and score a hard-earned victory in the Ironton Global Allentown Indoor Race Saturday night at the PPL Center.
The win marked the Harvard, Mass., driver’s first triumph with the Indoor Auto Racing Championship.
“I can’t really describe what this means,” Swanson said post-race. “It’s definitely one of the biggest achievements of my career. I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to drive this car. We had a phenomenal weekend, showed speed every time out, stayed out of trouble, and put ourselves in position when it counted.”
Swanson’s patience and precision in the closing laps sealed the victory in front of a packed Allentown crowd, turning a fast weekend into a defining moment of his Indoor Auto Racing career.
Swanson started third when the 40-lap feature went green. He hovered around a podium spot for most of the event, racing elbows up with Tommy Catalano, Flores, Scott Kreutter and Tim Buckwalter.
With 11 laps to go, Swanson followed Flores’ tire tracks to dispatch Catalano for the runner-up spot. After a caution a lap later allowed him to line up alongside Flores, Swanson stalked one of Indoor racing’s greatest like an animal hunting its prey.
He hammered the front of his No. 89 into the rear of Flores’ No. 15 in an attempt to root him off the bottom of the speedway. Flores was not budging, however, it wasn’t over for Swanson as the final yellow flag flew five laps from the checkered flag.
When green replaced yellow. Swanson got the restart of his life. He kept his car locked down in the rubber off turn four, which allowed him to stay alongside Flores and fly down the inside going into turn one and rocket off turn two with the lead.
While Flores applied relentless pressure in the closing laps, Swanson wasn’t thrown off his game and he ripped off turn four under the checkered flag. Catalano rounded out the podium.
The victory also carried special meaning for the Swanson team, who continue to compete with the craftsmanship and influence of Jeff Ulrich – the car builder who tragically and suddenly passed away in 2025.
Bob Hilbert Sportswear sponsored the $200 TQ Fast Time Award Saturday, with Matt Swanson’s blistering lap of 7.812 seconds pacing the field of 40. Shawn Nye (7.870), Briggs Danner (7.873), Jon Reid (7.879) and Ryan Flores (7.886) rounded out the top five in the zippy session.
Aqua Duck Water Transport sponsored the Saturday night TQ Midget B-Main’s. Nick Ladyga
Quentin Graham Jr., of Richland, PA, inherited the lead on lap six after making contact with T.J. Reed in turn one before fending off Doug Stearly, who was running him down like a freight train, to win a caution-free 20-lap Champ Kart feature by a nail biting 0.060 seconds.
Dylan Hoch, of Mertztown, PA broke out the broom by withstanding late race contact from Jared Silfee and scooting away from the pack by nearly a second to win the 20-lap Slingshot feature.
The finish:
TQ Midgets (40 Laps) – 1. Matt Swanson 2. – Ryan Flores 3. – Tommy Catalano 4. – Kyle Lick 5. – Andy Jankowiak 6. – Matt Janisch 7. – Timmy Catalano 8. – Scott Kreutter 9. – Tyler Ferris 10. – Shawn Nye 11. – Kyle Herve 12. – Joey Bailey 13. – Nick Ladyga 14. – Briggs Danner 15. – Anthony Payne 16. – Jonathan Reid 17. – Tim Buckwalter 18. – Trevor Catalano 19. – Stephen Kemery 20. – Paul Hartwig III 21. – Logan Watt 22. – Ryan Tidman 23. – Billy Pauch Jr 24. – DJ Shaw 25. – Jeremy Haudricourt
