[Sandy Lowe]

NICK SPEIDEL WINS AT COLUMBUS



Muncie’s Nick Speidel continued his hot streak on Saturday night when the Midwest TQ Racing League presented by Jenmarco.com opened their season at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds in Columbus, Ind.

Speidel, with two wins already under his belt this year in non-sanctioned competition, snatched the victory from Cody Kiewitt as the pair raced out of turn four on the final lap. Kiewitt, who led the first 24 circuits, followed Speidel across the line in second place with Brett Hankins (Connersville), defending MTQRL champion Tate Martz (Rushville) and Rick Robinson (Columbus) rounding out the top five. Polesitter Caleb Faulkner of Columbus, Chris Mann (Shelbyville), Jon Steed (Milroy), Jamie Ross (Shelbyville) and John Doyle (Martinsville) completed the top ten.

Hankins started the evening off by setting quick time when he turned a lap of 18.194 seconds around the quarter mile oval in qualifications. Robinson led all four laps to win the Jackson Oil & Solvents Duel for Fuel, Kiewitt and Ross won the qualifying races, and Perfect North Slopes heat winners were Speidel, Kiewitt and Logan Arnold of Franklin.

Dustin Wheeldon (Indianapolis) won the drawing for the Jackson Oil & Solvents gift certificate and Hankins was awarded the Indy Race Parts hard Charger for racing his way from tenth to third in the feature. Arnold dropped out of the feature on the opening lap and was named the Duane & Sonja Alexander Hard Luck Driver. There were no rookie drivers that made the feature so the Tony Stewart Rookie of the Race went unclaimed.

Kiewitt, the 2011 Tony Stewart Racing Rookie of the Year from Dudleytown, currently sits atop the point standings with 157 points. Hankins and Robinson are tied for second place with 153 points each and Speidel (144) and Martz (141) round out the top five.

The next race on the MTQRL schedule is June 2nd at the Shelby County Fairgrounds in Shelbyville, Ind. Please check www.mtqrl.com for the status of this race due to a fire that destroyed their historic wooden grandstand early Saturday morning.



MIDWEST TQ RACING LEAGUE presented by Jenmarco.com
May 19, 2012 – Columbus, Indiana – Bartholomew County Fairgrounds



QUALIFICATIONS – 1. 14 Brett Hankins-18.194; 2. 1 Tate Martz-18.643; 3. 12 Rick Robinson-18.663; 4. 25 Jason Willis-18.775; 5. 8 Bobby Walton-18.816; 6. 7 Jon Steed-18.835; 7. 21 Nick Speidel-18.927; 8. 43 Logan Arnold-19.153; 9. 40 Cody Kiewitt-19.277; 10. 83 Caleb Faulkner-19.349; 11. 24L Brandon Ladyman-19.468; 12. 24 Chris Mann-19.672; 13. 16 Craig Eaglin-19.676; 14. 88 Jamie Ross-20.000; 15. 91 John Doyle-21.645; 16. 33 Stephen Arnold-No Time; 17. 35 Dustin Wheeldon-No Time; 18. 39 Kyle May-No Time.



JACKSON OIL & SOLVENTS DUEL FOR FUEL – 1. 12 Rick Robinson, 2. 25 Jason Willis, 3. 14 Brett Hankins, 4. 1 Tate Martz.

QUALIFYING RACE 1 – 1. 40 Cody Kiewitt, 2. 8 Bobby Walton, 3. 24L Brandon Ladyman, 4. 7 Jon Steed, 5. 43 Logan Arnold, 6. 21 Nick Speidel, 7. 83 Caleb Faulkner.

QUALIFYING RACE 2 – 1. 88 Jamie Ross, 2. 91 John Doyle, 3. 33 Stephen Arnold, DNS 16 Craig Eaglin, DNS 24 Chris Mann, DNS 35 Dustin Wheeldon, DNS 39 Kyle May.

PERFECT NORTH SLOPES HEAT 1 – 1. 21 Nick Speidel, 2. 14 Brett Hankins, 3. 25 Jason Willis, 4. 83 Caleb Faulkner, 5. 16 Craig Eaglin, 6. 33 Stephen Arnold.

PERFECT NORTH SLOPES HEAT 2 – 1. 43 Logan Arnold, 2. 1 Tate Martz, 3. 8 Bobby Walton, 4. 88 Jamie Ross, 5. 24L Brandon Ladyman, DNS 35 Dustin Wheeldon.

PERFECT NORTH SLOPES HEAT 3 – 1. 40 Cody Kiewitt, 2. 12 Rick Robinson, 3. 24 Chris Mann, 4. 7 Jon Steed, 5. 91 John Doyle, DNS 39 Kyle May.

FEATURE – 1. 21 Nick Speidel, 2. 40 Cody Kiewitt, 3. 14 Brett Hankins, 4. 1 Tate Martz, 5. 12 Rick Robinson, 6. 83 Caleb Faulkner, 7. 24 Chris Mann, 8. 7 Jon Steed, 9. 88 Jamie Ross, 10. 91 John Doyle, 11. 8 Bobby Walton, 12. 24L Brandon Ladyman, 13. 25 Jason Willis, 14. 43 Logan Arnold, 15. 16 Craig Eaglin, DNS 33 Stephen Arnold, DNS 35 Dustin Wheeldon, DNS 39 Kyle May.

Lap Leaders – 1-24 Cody Kiewitt, 25 Nick Speidel

Indy Race Parts Hard Charger – Brett Hankins (+7)

Duane & Sonja Alexander Hard Luck Driver – Logan Arnold

Jackson Oil & Solvents Duel for Fuel Winner – Rick Robinson

Tony Stewart Racing Rookie of the Race – N/A

Perfect North Slopes Heat Winners – Nick Speidel, Logan Arnold & Cody Kiewitt

Jackson Oil & Solvents Gift Certificate – Dustin Wheeldon

POINT STANDINGS – 1. Cody Kiewitt-157; 2. Brett Hankins-153; 2. Rick Robinson-153; 4. Nick Speidel-144; 5. Tate Martz-141; 6. Jason Willis-107; 7. Jamie Ross-105; 8. Caleb Faulkner-101; 8. Bobby Walton-101; 10. Jon Steed-100.

Next Race – June 2 – Shelbyville, Indiana – Shelby County Fairgrounds




For More Information – www.mtqrl.com

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Photo's by Janet Smith