By Lou Modestino
Redemption will be on the mind of top Three Quarter (TQ) Midget driver Erick Rudolph at the New Year’s Eve Indoor races in Providence, R.I.’s Dunkin’ Donuts Center. Rudolph slammed into the concrete barrier at the end of the
straightaway on December 8 at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Md.
Fans who missed the crash heard the concussion. That’s how terrifying the crash was that heavily damaged one of the fastest Indoor TQ Midgets. The Ransomville, N.Y, driver was bruised and confused – but not hurt.
The Dunkin’ Donuts Center Coffee Cup race is the second of three events that make up the Fatheadz Eyewear Indoor Racing Series.
The Indoor auto racing events are produced by Len Sammons Motorsports Productions.
Rudolph’s car owner and constructor Mike Lafler, also of Ransomville, subsequently diagnosed the problem as a stuck throttle
cable. “That will not happen again,” Lafler has assured his driver. Rudolph finished second in both Dunkin’ Donuts Center races in March of 2012 and was a winner in Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City in 2012 as well. Over forty TQ drivers have entered the Dunkin’ Donuts Center Providence Indoor race.
Notables, in addition to the out-for-redemption Rudolph are NASCAR Modified past champion Ted Christopher, Plainville, Ct.; Modified
Touring Series star and late season Seekonk Speedway race winner Rowan Pennick, New Egypt, N.J.; Modifed Tour and Wall Stadium sensation Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J.; SK Modified racer Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma.; Chris Allen., Jr., Old Bridge, N.J.; 2012 ARDC Midget driving champion Tim Buckwalter, Pottstown, Pa.; NASCAR Modified past Rookie Of The Year Patrick Emerling; and second and third place Baltimore TQ finishers Matt Janisch, Nazareth, Pa. and Ryan Smith, Kunkletown, Pa.
The TQ Midgets will be joined in Dunkin’ Donuts Center by Champ Karts – caged go-karts that are slightly less fast, but much more
nimble – than the TQs. Among the top entries is Frank Duquette. Duquette. 28, of Fall River, Mass., races stock cars each Saturday night during race season at Seekonk, Mass. Speedway.
“I enjoy racing wherever I can,’ said Duquette, who owns ten career feature victories over the years at Seekonk. “When my friend Jay Dimond asked me if I wanted to try Indoor racing last March with his kart, I said, ‘why not?” “We ran pretty well in March but have a long way to go to be in contention to win,” admitted Duquette. “But I think we learned enough in the spring race to move up this time.”
Another top Kart entry is D.J. Shaw of Center Conway. N.H. Shaw will be looking to repeat his December 8 win in Baltmore’s 1st Mariner Arena. It was Shaw’s first career Indoor victory.
Duquette and Shaw will be challenged in their quests by past Champ Kart Dunkin’ Donuts Center winner Glen Meisenhelder, Feeding Hills, Mass.; Brandon Rusczek of Wallingford, Ct.; Daniel Gamache Jr., of Woonsocket, R.I.; Mike Perry of Dighton, Mass.
The Providence race in the Dunkin‘ Donuts Center is the fifth Indoor race meet at that venue promoted by Sammons. The December 31 scheduling – on New Years Eve – has provided race teams and their followers with a rare opportunity to compete against one another, then party the night away and herald the coming of the New Year.
A two-race weekend finale is scheduled for February 1-2, 2013 in Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. Tickets are available in advance at Tickemaster.com or on the day of the race at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center box office. Information is available by calling 609-888-3618 or by visiting the comprehensive website at aarn.com.