MTQRL - Nearly $2,000 Raised for the Tony Stewart Foundation
 

Ronnie Combs Wins “Tony Stewart Foundation Night” at the Bartholomew County Fair

The Midwest TQ Racing League presented by Jenmarco.com raced at the Bartholomew County Fair on July 14th where Ronnie Combs drove his Tony Stewart owned three-quarter midget to victory in “Tony Stewart Foundation Night.”

The MTQRL and the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair collaborated for this event to raise awareness of the Tony Stewart Foundation in Stewart’s hometown of Columbus, Ind. The Tony Stewart Foundation is dedicated to serving children who are critically ill or physically disabled; animals at-risk or endangered; and drivers injured in the sport of motor racing. More information can be found at www.tonystewartfoundation.org.

Nearly $2,000 was raised for the Tony Stewart Foundation Tuesday evening. Drivers donated their race winnings, which were matched by MTQRL founders Mark and Jen, and $1 of each grandstand ticket sold was added, making a total of $1,929 raised for this worthy cause.

Hometown driver Matt Arrington started the evening off by setting fast time, turning a lap of 17.543 seconds around the quarter mile oval. Another Columbus driver, Rick Robinson, won the Jackson Oil & Solvents Duel for Fuel, and qualifying race winners were Callie Wolsiffer and Tyler Wooten.

Perfect North Slopes heat wins went to Arrington, Combs and Steve Arnold, who held off a challenge from Matt Hedrick on the final lap when he used a nifty crossover move to Hedrick’s turn four slide job.

The feature would begin with Jason Setser and four-time MTQRL champion Tate Martz on the front row. When starter Dave Wilson’s green flag dropped, Martz used his outside starting position to his advantage to take the lead with Combs following and Setser dropping back to third.

The caution would waive on lap three when Logan Arnold spun in turn four while running in seventh place. Martz would continue to lead on the restart followed by Combs, Setser, Hedrick and Kevin Blue.

Combs pressured Martz and on the fifth circuit, he was able to get under him in turn four and take the lead. Combs would begin to pull away from the field, leading by nearly a quarter lap, when Dalton Miller spun in turn four and collected defending MTQRL champion Cody Kiewitt, Steve Arnold, Logan Arnold, Wooten and Jon Steed.

When racing resumed Combs continued to hold the point over Martz, Setser, Hedrick and Arrington who had broken into the top five just before the halfway point. Arrington’s charge to the front would be derailed just four laps later when he would retire to the infield with mechanical issues.

The red flag would be displayed on lap twenty-two when the sixth and seventh place cars of Blue and Wolsiffer made contact on the backstretch which caused Blue to barrel roll several times. Blue was not injured in the incident.

On the restart, Ronnie Combs continued to pull away and won his fourth feature of the season in the #14S Tony Stewart Racing / Acro Racing / Adams Engines / Tony Stewart Foundation / Asher Pallets / Jen Mascaro / Slinkard Racing Beast Kawasaki. The win was also his fifteenth in MTQRL competition, just four behind all-time win leader Tate Martz.

Martz’s runner-up finish was his best showing of the season. Jason Setser finished third followed by Matt Hedrick and Rick Robinson. Callie Wolsiffer, Joey Paxson, Kyle May, Dalton Miller and Steve Arnold completed the top ten.

Paxson was the nights Steed Motorsports Hard Charger improving six positions in the feature. His car owner, and brother Mike, also won the $50 gift certificate from Jackson Oil & Solvents.

Kevin Blue was the Duane and Sonja Alexander Hard Luck Driver, and Callie Wolsiffer was the Tony Stewart Racing Rookie of the Race.

The MTQRL would like to thank Brad and Tara Armstrong of Armstrong Garage Doors for their generous contribution to the purse, which raised the winners share to $500. Each position was increased by a minimum of $25, paying $125 to start the feature and $100 tow money.

The MTQRL would also like to thank Lawrenceburg Speedway who provided complimentary tickets to their July 25th race to the first 300 paying adults in the grandstands.

The Bartholomew County Fair Board persevered through a challenging week of weather, which saw thunderstorms and torrential rain pound the fairgrounds the week prior to our race. With flooding causing several roads leading to the fairgrounds to be closed before and during our race it became a challenge to get to and from the fairgrounds. The MTQRL wishes to thank the many volunteers on the fair board that made this event possible.

Coaches Aid was on hand to film the nights racing action and On-Demand Video and DVD’s should be available for purchase by the end of the month.

The MTQRL season will resume on Friday July 24th at the Shelby County Fairgrounds in Shelbyville, Ind. Practice is scheduled for 7:00 pm and racing will begin at 8:00. Grandstand admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children under the age of 12. Pit passes are $25 for all ages.

For more information on the MTQRL please Like Us on Facebook at “Midwest TQ Racing League” or visit our website www.mtqrl.com.



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