ALLENTOWN, Pa. — When the Indoor Auto Racing Collection returns to the PPL Heart ifor a tenth time on January 9-10 for the Ironton International race weekend, Huntersville, N.C., driver Ryan Flores will as soon as once more be the odds-on favourite to win a minimum of one of many two TQ Midget options contested on Friday and Saturday evening.
Flores’ document on the PPL Heart’s concrete ground speaks for itself. In 17 TQ Midget occasions held to this point, the New Jersey native has captured an unbelievable seven victories. Remarkably, all seven wins have are available the identical white No. 15 TQ Midget that Flores will return with for his tenth yr of Allentown competitors.
Solely Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, N.Y. – the inaugural winner in 2016 – has multiple Allentown victory, with two. Seven different drivers have every gained as soon as, together with final yr’s champion Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, N.Y. Jankowiak scored his first Allentown victory on Saturday evening in 2025, snapping an 0-for-14 drought on the venue, after Flores gained Friday’s sequence opener.
Jankowiak, who will probably be testing in Daytona Seaside, Fla., within the days main as much as the Allentown occasion, could miss Friday evening’s program however is anticipated to return Saturday to chase a second PPL Heart win.
Different one-time winners seeking to repeat embrace Pennsylvania drivers Matt Janisch and Tanner VanDoren, together with New York’s Scott Kreutter.
Greater than 40 extra TQ Midget drivers from eight totally different states will probably be readily available, all in search of their first-ever Allentown victory. The entry checklist consists of Allentown native Briggs Danner, who completed third within the sequence standings final yr behind Jankowiak and Flores.
Mathematically, the Catalano household of Ontario, N.Y., could have the perfect odds of success, with 4 brothers entered. Oldest brother Tommy, a perennial Allentown contender, completed fourth within the standings final season. Tyler positioned tenth, Trevor – who competes towards Tommy on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour – was eleventh, and Timmy completed outdoors the highest 20. All 4 certified for the 24-car function discipline in Allentown final yr.
One other asphalt Modified standout, Matt Swanson of Harvard, Mass., is anticipated to contend for an indoor win driving Ken Sebring’s No. 89. Swanson completed a career-best second to Flores within the 2025 Indoor Collection finale in Atlantic Metropolis, ending the season sixth in factors.
Becoming a member of Swanson as a teammate is Asphalt Late Mannequin star D.J. Shaw of Conway, N.H., who will pilot the No. 21.
Midget automobile racer Joey Bailey of Gardnerville, N.Y., returns to Lenny and Donna Boyd’s iconic yellow No. 1B following a fifth-place end within the Atlantic Metropolis finale and ninth within the standings. Tyler Ferris of Wall, N.J., enters with momentum after profitable the ATQMRA season-ending Turkey Derby at Wall Stadium Speedway for the second consecutive yr within the Brien Hamer-owned No. 7.
Ryan Tidman of Southampton, Pa., a multi-time ATQMRA winner, rejoins the sequence driving Tyler Bartlett’s No. 93 from Watertown, N.Y. One other New York–New Jersey pairing options Billy Pauch Jr. returning with Fulton, N.Y., automobile proprietor Jason Simmons as they seek for a second Allentown victory. Pauch’s teammate will probably be rising Supermodified standout Josh Sokolic, who will make his TQ Midget debut driving for his hometown proprietor.
New Jersey automobile proprietor Mike Corigliano enters his second Indoor TQ Midget season with Tyler Wagner and his uncle Don Wagner driving the crew’s No. 19 entries. With a yr of expertise beneath their belts, each PA drivers will probably be in search of their first indoor win.
Paulie Hartwig III, final yr’s sequence Slingshot champion, will make his Indoor TQ Midget debut driving the Tolerico Motorsports No. 83. The 14-year-old from Galloway, N.J., completed a formidable third within the standings on the southern SMART Asphalt Modified Tour final season.
One other 14-year-old, Mason Hanel of Clarence Heart, N.Y., has landed a TQ Midget trip with automobile proprietor Invoice Pippard, who beforehand loved sequence success with Tim Buckwalter. Buckwalter has since moved to a Lou Cicconi-owned TQ, which can make its debut in Allentown.
The TQ Midgets will contest a 30-lap function on Friday evening and a 40-lap fundamental occasion on Saturday. Drivers will once more have the chance to assert the Ironton Auto Physique Problem by profitable each options.
Friday’s winner will probably be supplied a assured beginning place in Saturday’s fundamental occasion—supplied they begin tenth. Accepting the problem earns a $1,000 bonus, with an extra $4,000 awarded in the event that they cost from tenth to win Saturday’s function. Mixed with Saturday’s purse, a weekend sweep would whole $10,000. Flores gained Friday evening’s occasion final yr, accepted the challenger, however got here up simply quick ending in second place to Jankowiak.
If the problem is just not accomplished, Ironton Auto Physique will roll over a portion of the bonus to the Atlantic Metropolis Indoor Race. Flores achieved the feat final season on the NAPA Gambler’s Traditional, incomes $10,000 together with problem bonus cash and help from the Atlantic Metropolis Sports activities Fee and Go to Atlantic Metropolis.
Friday evening may also function the Will Cagle Shootout, sponsored by Ricky Harring, pitting the highest 10 qualifiers in a 15-lap sprint the place drivers select their beginning positions. The pole place pays $240 to win, rising by $120 per place. A driver profitable from tenth would earn $1,320.
The headline TQ Midget division will probably be joined by Slingshots and Champ Karts.
