MARTZ WINS SEASON OPENER

Defending champion Tate Martz won his tenth MTQRL feature on Saturday night May 14th when the Midwest TQ Racing League presented by Vincennes University opened their 2011 season at the Shelby County Fairgrounds in Shelbyville, Ind.

When the green flag waived to start the feature second row starter Chris Phillips was slow on the frontstretch. Jason Willis had nowhere to go, clipped Phillips, and sheared off his left front.

On the restart, polesitter Chris Mann took command pulling away from Rick Robinson, Martz, Jon Steed and Will Wilson. A caution on lap five for Wilson’s spin slowed the action and erased the sizeable lead Mann had built on the field.

When racing resumed Mann’s car began to develop fueling issues and slowed in the corners. Robinson capitalized on Mann’s misfortunes taking the lead on lap eleven. On lap twenty-two Martz went high in turn three, swept to the outside, and took the lead. Martz went on to pace the final four laps scoring the win over Robinson, Steed, Jake Moore, and Mann.

Four rookie drivers made their MTQRL debut with Moore’s fourth place finish besting Kyle McIntosh, Corey Eaglin and Cody Kiewitt earning him the Tony Stewart Racing Rookie of the Race. Heat winners were Robinson, Willis and Martz. Qualifications and the Jackson Oil & Solvents Duel for Fuel were scrapped due to weather concerns.

The MTQRL returns to action in two weeks when they visit the Twin Cities Raceway Park in Vernon, Ind. on May 28th.


MIDWEST TQ RACING LEAGUE™ presented by Vincennes University
May 14, 2011 – Shelbyville, Indiana – Shelby County Fairgrounds

Heat 1 – 1. 12 Rick Robinson, 2. 24 Chris Mann, 3. 91 Jake Moore, 4. 65 Will Wilson, 5. 6 Brayton Leisure, DNS 11 Bill James.

Heat 2 – 1. 25 Jason Willis, 2. 7 Jon Steed, 3. 14 Brett Hankins, 4. 83 Caleb Faulkner, 5. 15 Corey Eaglin, DNS 71 Chad Hankins.

Heat 3 – 1. 1 Tate Martz, 2. 64 Chris Phillips, 3. 40 Cody Kiewitt, 4. 17 Kyle McIntosh, DNS 41 Scot Quintel, DNS 57 Rob Walton.

Feature – 1. 1 Tate Martz, 2. 12 Rick Robinson, 3. 7 Jon Steed, 4. 91 Jake Moore, 5. 24 Chris Mann, 6. 11 Bill James, 7. 6 Brayton Leisure 8. 65 Will Wilson, 9. 17 Kyle McIntosh, 10. 83 Caleb Faulkner, 11. 15 Corey Eaglin, 12. 64 Chris Phillips, 13. 40 Cody Kiewitt, 14. 14 Brett Hankins, 15. 25 Jason Willis, 16. 57 Rob Walton, DNS 41 Scot Quintel, DNS 71 Chad Hankins.

Lap Leaders – 1-10 Chris Mann, 11-21 Rick Robinson, 22-25 Tate Martz.

Tony Stewart Racing Rookie of the Race – Jake Moore.

Point Standings – 1. Tate Martz-135; 2. Rick Robinson-120; 3. Jon Steed-110; 4. Chris Mann-100; 4. Jake Moore-100, 6. Bill James-75; 6. Brayton Leisure-75; 6. Will Wilson-75; 9. Kyle McIntosh-70, 10. Chris Phillips-68.

Next Race – May 28 – Vernon, Indiana – Twin Cities Raceway Park

For More Information – www.mtqrl.com