MARTZ WINS AT MONTPELIER

Tate Martz made a dominant return to victory lane on August 10th when the Midwest TQ Racing League presented by Jenmarco.com three-quarter midgets competed at the Montpelier Motor Speedway in Montpelier, Ind.

Martz, the four-time and defending MTQRL champion from Rushville, Ind., had been shut out of the winners circle this season by Nick Speidel and a duo of drivers in Tim Lynch’s potent #5L machine. Speidel, the current point leader, had won four of the six features to date with Christopher Bell and Tanner Thorson each scoring a single win driving for Lynch.

Twenty cars were on hand to battle Saturday night with current Lynch driver Ross Rankine, Martz and Speidel scoring Perfect North Slopes heat wins. Although Speidel was victorious in his heat race mechanical problems would sideline his father Joe’s #21 machine for the rest of the evening. Speidel was not the only driver to suffer mechanical woes as Brett Hankins, second in points coming into the nights races, blew a motor in his heat race.

Elwood Sanitarium Haunted Attraction Polesitter Rankine would lead the 18-car field to the green flag with Martz starting alongside and Speidel tagging the rear in Wayne May’s #39. The veteran Martz would get the jump on Rankine with the two drivers pulling away from the rest of the field.

A caution at the halfway point would place Rankine on Martz’s rear bumper followed by Chad Hankins, Bobby Walton and Jon Steed. When the race restarted Martz and Rankine again pulled away with Rankine hounding Martz for the lead.

Coming to the white flag Rankine closed on Martz and the two drivers raced into turn one. Rankine made his move for the lead in turn two and just as he attempted the pass his driveline exploded causing his car to slow. Martz went on to lead the final lap unchallenged winning his 18th MTQRL feature driving Roger Ramsey’s #1 Old Canal Smokehouse Beast/Honda TQ.

Chad Hankins followed Martz to the checkers with Bobby Walton, Robbie Roland and Jon Steed rounding out the top five. Dustin Wheeldon, Logan Arnold, Nick Speidel, Cody Kiewitt and Dalton Miller completed the top ten. Rankine slowed to a stop in turn four and was credited with a fifteenth place finish.

Miller, the highest finishing rookie driver, was named the Tony Stewart Racing Rookie of the Race. Brett Hankins was named the Duane & Sonja Alexander Hard Luck Driver and Robbie Roland was the Indy Race Parts Hard Charger after advancing eight positions to finish fourth. Dustin Wheeldon won the Jackson Oil & Solvents gift certificate and Chris Mann won the American Racer tire for his 13th place feature finish.

The next race on the MTQRL schedule will be Saturday August 17th at the Shelby County Fairgrounds in Shelbyville, Ind. The MTQRL three-quarter midgets and 600cc non-wing sidewinders will be competing with racing scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm.

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




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