When the Indoor Auto Racing Series returns to the PPL Center in Allentown, PA for a tenth time on January 9 and 10 for the Ironton Global race weekend, Huntersville, N.C. driver Ryan Flores will once again be the odds-on favorite to win at least one of the two TQ Midget features contested on Friday and Saturday night.

Flores’ record on the PPL Center’s concrete floor speaks for itself. In 17 TQ Midget events held to date, the New Jersey native has captured an incredible seven victories. Remarkably, all seven wins have come in the same white No. 15 TQ Midget that Flores will return with for his tenth year of Allentown competition.

Only Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, N.Y. – the inaugural winner in 2016 – has more than one Allentown victory, with two. Seven other drivers have each won once, including last year’s champion Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, N.Y. Jankowiak scored his first Allentown victory on Saturday night in 2025, snapping an 0-for-14 drought at the venue, after Flores won Friday’s series opener.

Jankowiak, who will be testing in Daytona Beach, Fla. in the days leading up to the Allentown event, may miss Friday night’s program but is expected to return Saturday to chase a second PPL Center win. Other one-time winners looking to repeat include Pennsylvania drivers Matt Janisch and Tanner VanDoren, along with New York’s Scott Kreutter.

More than 40 additional TQ Midget drivers from eight different states will be on hand, all seeking their first-ever Allentown victory. The entry list includes Allentown native Briggs Danner, who finished third in the series standings last year behind Jankowiak and Flores.

Mathematically, the Catalano family of Ontario, N.Y. may have the best odds of success, with four brothers entered. Oldest brother Tommy, a perennial Allentown contender, finished fourth in the standings last season. Tyler placed 10th, Trevor – who competes against Tommy on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour – was 11th, and Timmy finished outside the top 20. All four qualified for the 24-car feature field in Allentown last year.

Another asphalt Modified standout, Matt Swanson of Harvard, Mass., is expected to contend for an indoor win driving Ken Sebring’s No. 89. Swanson finished a career-best second to Flores in the 2025 Indoor Series finale in Atlantic City, ending the season sixth in points. Joining Swanson as a teammate is Asphalt Late Model star D.J. Shaw of Conway, N.H., who will pilot the No. 21.

Midget car racer Joey Bailey of Gardnerville, N.Y. returns to Lenny and Donna Boyd’s iconic yellow No. 1B following a fifth-place finish in the Atlantic City finale and ninth in the standings. Tyler Ferris of Wall, N.J. enters with momentum after winning the ATQMRA season-ending Turkey Derby at Wall Stadium Speedway for the second consecutive year in the Brien Hamer-owned No. 7.

Ryan Tidman of Southampton, Pa., a multi-time ATQMRA winner, rejoins the series driving Tyler Bartlett’s No. 93 from Watertown, N.Y. Another New York–New Jersey pairing features Billy Pauch Jr. returning with Fulton, N.Y. car owner Jason Simmons as they search for a second Allentown victory. Pauch’s teammate will be rising Supermodified standout Josh Sokolic, who will make his TQ Midget debut driving for his hometown owner.

New Jersey car owner Mike Corigliano enters his second Indoor TQ Midget season with Tyler Wagner and his uncle Don Wagner driving the team’s No. 19 entries. With a year of experience under their belts, both PA drivers will be seeking their first indoor win.

Paulie Hartwig III, last year’s series Slingshot champion, will make his Indoor TQ Midget debut driving the Tolerico Motorsports No. 83. The 14-year-old from Galloway, N.J. finished an impressive third in the standings on the southern SMART Asphalt Modified Tour last season.

Another 14-year-old, Mason Hanel of Clarence Center, N.Y., has landed a TQ Midget ride with car owner Bill Pippard, who previously enjoyed series success with Tim Buckwalter. Buckwalter has since moved to a Lou Cicconi-owned TQ, which will make its debut in Allentown.

The TQ Midgets will contest a 30-lap feature on Friday night and a 40-lap main event on Saturday. Drivers will again have the opportunity to claim the Ironton Auto Body Challenge by winning both features. 

Friday’s winner will be offered a guaranteed starting position in Saturday’s main event—provided they start tenth. Accepting the challenge earns a $1,000 bonus, with an additional $4,000 awarded if they charge from tenth to win Saturday’s feature. Combined with Saturday’s purse, a weekend sweep would total $10,000. Flores won Friday night’s event last year, accepted the challenger, but came up just short finishing in second place to Jankowiak.

If the challenge is not completed, Ironton Auto Body will roll over a portion of the bonus to the Atlantic City Indoor Race. Flores accomplished the feat last season at the NAPA Gambler’s Classic, earning $10,000 including challenge bonus money and support from the Atlantic City Sports Commission and Visit Atlantic City.

Friday night will also feature the Will Cagle Shootout, sponsored by Ricky Harring, pitting the top 10 qualifiers in a 15-lap dash where drivers choose their starting positions. The pole position pays $240 to win, increasing by $120 per position. A driver winning from tenth would earn $1,320.

The headline TQ Midget division will be joined by Slingshots and Champ Karts, with full programs and main events for all three classes. Champ Kart teams will tow in from 12 states and Ontario, Canada, while Slingshot competitors will represent PA, NY, NJ, and Quebec.

Lower-level reserved ticket holders for Saturday night receive access to a special pre-race FanFest, allowing fans to walk the track and meet drivers and teams prior to the 7 p.m. green flag. 

Ticket information and special hotel rates are available through links at IndoorAutoRacing.com.

Lower-level reserved ticket holders for Saturday night receive access to a special pre-race FanFest, allowing fans to walk the track and meet drivers and teams prior to the 7 p.m. green flag. 

Tickets are available through a ticketmaster link at IndoorAutoRacing.com or at the box office the day of the events. Check the website for more information.

Indoor Auto Racing PR

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – The International Hot Rod Association announced big plans Tuesday for the future of Heartland Motorsports Park after officially taking ownership of the facility.

The IHRA said the history, soul, and footprint of the property will make their vision possible. For more than 30 years, Heartland Motorsports Park thrived with races and events until a tax dispute between Shelby Developments and Shawnee County closed its gates in 2023.

In 2024, Shelby put Heartland Park up for auction, ultimately putting it in the hands of placeholder “Topeka 77.” The future of the property remained in question until Tuesday.

“It came as a surprise,” said Eric Prill with the Sports Car Club of America.

Prill said he’s excited to hear the IHRA is ready to hit the ground running with renovation planning to begin immediately.

“The bit that we do know about the new owners IHRA is that they make things happen,” he said.

Prill said SCCA had utilized Heartland Park for events that bring in hundreds of people from across the nation. They hope the new ownership allows them to bring those events back.

“People come from all over the place that their goal is to get on a track and to enjoy themselves and have fun but they’re gonna stick around for a couple of days they’re gonna stay in hotels. They’re gonna go out and and eat at local establishment,” he said.

As someone who’s hit the track himself, Prill said he’s excited to be in that atmosphere once again.

“Obviously, the drag strip is very famous world famous you know one of the fastest places on earth. The excitement that the fans get from the power of NHRA and IHRA drag racing, it’s just quite an experience,” he said.

Prill said he’s hopeful to start planning events at Heartland Park in the new year.

International Hot Rod Association owner Darryl Cuttell took ownership of the association at the start of this year. Already, the group has moved rapidly to purchase multiple racetracks. At least nine, including Heartland, this year alone, according to a review of its website.

Copyright 2025 WIBW. All rights reserved.

In the rolling hills of Sparta, Kentucky, a once-thriving hub of high-octane excitement now sits largely silent, its grandstands echoing with memories of roaring engines and checkered flags. Kentucky Speedway, a 1.5-mile tri-oval that burst onto the NASCAR scene in the early 2000s, has faced a steady decline since its last Cup Series race in 2020.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Recent news of a proposed zoning change by the Gallatin County Planning Commission has reignited fears among fans that the track could be repurposed for industrial use, potentially sealing its fate as a racing venue. With a public hearing scheduled for January 6, 2026, to discuss reverting the property’s zoning from a specialized “Motor, Equine, Entertainment District” back to “Heavy Industrial,” the question looms: Is Kentucky Speedway doomed?

A Brief History of Glory and Gridlock

Opened in 2000, Kentucky Speedway quickly climbed the ranks of American motorsports. Located in the small city of Sparta—population around 250—the track was designed as a state-of-the-art intermediate oval, hosting its first NASCAR Cup Series event in 2011 after years of lobbying and infrastructure upgrades to handle massive crowds. For nearly a decade, it was home to the Quaker State 400, drawing tens of thousands of fans and injecting millions into the local economy. However, challenges mounted: notorious traffic jams on race days, declining attendance, and criticism of the track’s banking and surface, which limited overtaking and led to processional racing.

A 2016 repave and reconfiguration aimed to address these issues, but by 2020, NASCAR pulled the plug on the Cup Series event amid shifting priorities toward more short tracks, road courses, and urban venues. Owned by Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) since 2008, the facility has hosted sporadic lower-tier events, music festivals like a 2022 EDM rave, and even served as overflow storage for Amazon trailers during the pandemic. Today, it’s classified as “inactive” for major racing, with Ford also leasing space for vehicle storage, helping offset maintenance costs estimated at around $1 million annually.

The Zoning Rewrite: A Red Flag for the Future?

The latest controversy stems from Gallatin County’s effort to streamline its comprehensive plan. In 2008, the speedway’s zoning was customized to “Motor, Equine, Entertainment District” to encourage diversified development, including potential horse racing or entertainment complexes that never fully materialized. Now, planners propose reverting to the original “Heavy Industrial (I-2)” designation—still permitting automobile racing but broadening appeal for industrial buyers like warehouses or data centers. Officials describe it as a procedural cleanup to make the property easier to market, insisting it doesn’t preclude racing.

However, this has sparked alarm. Social media buzzes with speculation that SMI might sell the 1,000-acre site, especially given its underutilization. Some reports and online posts erroneously claim the track was already “sold and repurposed” in 2022, but these appear to stem from misinformation; SMI remains the owner, and the facility isn’t officially on the market. Local leaders, including those at the nearby Capital City Airport Authority, emphasize the track’s ongoing viability for events, noting its modern infrastructure and economic potential amid regional growth.

Fan Fears and Expert Insights

NASCAR enthusiasts aren’t buying the optimism. On platforms like Reddit and Facebook, fans lament the zoning shift as a “death knell,” drawing parallels to defunct tracks like North Carolina Speedway or Chicagoland, which faced similar fates. “It’s just sitting there hoping somebody will bring it back to life,” one poster shared alongside sunset photos of the empty venue. Critics point to the track’s history of unfulfilled promises—early traffic woes alienated fans, and post-repave racing remained lackluster until the Next Gen car’s introduction elsewhere showed promise for intermediates.

Driver Denny Hamlin, in a 2024 interview, suggested Kentucky could thrive with upgrades under the current car package, but NASCAR’s 2026 Cup Series schedule tells a different story: No slot for Sparta. Instead, the calendar prioritizes short tracks like North Wilkesboro and road courses, with additions like Chicagoland’s return signaling a selective revival strategy. Speculative Reddit threads from 2025 floated a possible 2026 comeback, but those proved unfounded.

That said, the track isn’t entirely dormant. NASCAR Racing Experience programs are slated for June 20 and August 15, 2026, allowing fans to drive laps themselves. And while major races are absent, the facility’s role in logistics and occasional events keeps it operational.

Echoes of Other Tracks: Lessons from Revival and Ruin

Kentucky’s plight mirrors other ovals sidelined by NASCAR’s evolution. Rockingham Speedway, dormant for years, saw a revival in 2025 with Xfinity and Truck Series races before its sale to the IHRA, which plans to maintain racing. Chicagoland, once shuttered, reappears on the 2026 schedule, proving comebacks are possible with investment. Conversely, tracks like Nazareth or Pikes Peak faded into oblivion, repurposed for non-motorsports uses.

For Kentucky, the zoning hearing could be pivotal. If approved, it might signal SMI’s intent to divest, especially as industrial demand surges in the region near Cincinnati. Yet, officials stress the change doesn’t ban racing, and with no sale announced, the track’s infrastructure—valued at hundreds of millions—remains intact.

Verdict: On the Brink, But Not Buried Yet

Is Kentucky Speedway doomed? Not imminently, but its future as a premier racing destination hangs by a thread. Without a NASCAR return or significant reinvestment, the zoning shift could accelerate a pivot to industrial uses, fulfilling fans’ worst fears. As the January 6 hearing approaches, all eyes are on Sparta. For now, the engines may be quiet, but the checkered flag hasn’t waved just yet—though it might be fluttering in the wind.

Motorsports Competition has long captivated humanity, evolving from gritty tests of mechanical ingenuity to pulse-pounding virtual battles on glowing screens. What began as raw contests of strength and craftsmanship now thrives in hyper-realistic simulations so lifelike they’re eerie—bridging playground rivalries to global esports arenas. Yet through every shift, the core thrill endures: the rush of competition.

As an offshoot of these virtual motorsports worlds, race fans and participants often extend the adrenaline rush beyond the track, testing their nerve and sharpening quick decision-making in online environments like platincasino-ie.ie or jackpotcity-casino.ie. These platforms prove that today’s battleground no longer requires a stadium, workshop, or even a steering wheel—just a screen and split-second choices. This seamless journey from turning gears to tapping keys illustrates how technology continually reshapes the boundaries of skill, chance, and fair play.

By tracing this arc—from wrench-turning duels to pixel-perfect precision—we uncover patterns that forecast the next frontier. This journey explores mechanical origins, electronic gaming’s spark, the ascent of virtual arenas, and hybrid futures where human grit merges with AI smarts. For drivers, engineers, fans, and designers, grasping this evolution unlocks more inclusive, innovative ways to race.

The Roots of Mechanical Competition

Long before engines roared, motorsports demanded mastery over moving parts, unyielding hands, and brute endurance. The first official automobile race, Paris-Rouen in 1894, wasn’t just speed—it was survival on rutted roads, where breakdowns tested a driver’s mechanical wizardry as much as nerve. Early racers doubled as pit crews, tweaking carburetors mid-race or patching tires with whatever lay nearby.

The Industrial Revolution fueled this fire: steam-powered contraptions and early autos turned workshops into proving grounds. Building a faster engine or fine-tuning a chassis became public spectacles, fostering innovation as rivals swapped tips (or spied on them). Spectators cheered visible drama—sparks flying, gears grinding—while strict rules emerged: every bolt secure, every lap timed. Winners landed jobs or sponsorships overnight, embedding fairness through judges, standards, and clocks.

Today’s robot combat or maker fairs echo these origins, proving friendly mechanical dares still ignite progress.

The Shift to Electronic Gaming

The mid-20th century flipped the script with arcades, swapping wrenches for joysticks and circuits. Atari’s *Space Race* (1973) kicked off the genre with simple spaceship duels, evolving into *Night Driver* (1976) and blockbuster *Pole Position* (1982)—the first with a steering wheel and realistic tracks. Home consoles like the NES brought these thrills indoors, turning living rooms into virtual circuits.

This era transformed rivalry in three ways: barriers plummeted (no garage required), software enabled instant rule tweaks for endless replayability, and digital leaderboards connected players worldwide. TV spotlights crowned arcade kings, while 1990s tournaments packed halls—pixels rivaling pistons. Milestones like *Indy 500: The Simulation* (1989) bridged fun to fidelity, laying groundwork for esports empires.

Digital Models and Virtual Arenas for Motorsports

Modern sims shatter physical bounds, crafting worlds where pros prep for glory. High-fidelity platforms like iRacing (2008) replicate tire wear, aerodynamics, and track bumps with physics engines rivaling reality—drivers like Max Verstappen log hours here before real laps. Cloud-based “digital twins” mirror factories or circuits, optimizing for efficiency in virtual showdowns.

AI elevates it further: as coach, it dissects laps; as foe, it adapts unpredictably. Metrics evolve beyond lap times—factoring strategy, resource use, and teamwork—while streams blend avatars with data viz. Victory now crowns adaptability over reflexes, democratizing access for diverse talents.

Where Motorsports Competition Goes Next

Tomorrow’s tracks fuse flesh, code, and metal in thrilling hybrids. VR headsets immerse racers in 360-degree cockpits; AR overlays digital foes on real streets; wearables track biometrics for live spectator stats. AI co-pilots predict strategies, blurring human-machine lines, while esports pros leap to real grids—like 2025’s sim-to-pro transitions.

Fairness debates loom—who owns data? How to curb algorithmic bias?—but history offers answers: transparent rules and shared gains. Schools could score via team sims; firms hire from virtual derbies. Whatever the arena, motorsports’ essence persists: pushing limits, bonding rivals, and savoring that electric win.

NASCAR icon Mark Martin joins Paul Tracy on Racers Unchained for a wide-ranging, brutally honest conversation about racing, confidence, aging, and the evolution of the sport.

With 40 Cup Series wins, 49 Busch/Xfinity Series wins, five IROC championships and inductions into both the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Motorsports Hall of Fame, Mark reflects on what truly made him competitive – not raw aggression, but building a better race car.

Mark opens up about:

• Why he knew it was time to walk away from driving
• Getting back behind the wheel at Laguna Seca years after retirement
• How processing speed and confidence define elite drivers
• His deep involvement in car setup during his years at Roush Racing
• The shift from “eyeball engineering” to simulation-driven racing
• What he believes NASCAR got wrong with the Next Gen car
• Why closer fields don’t always mean better racing
• The importance of cars looking right to fans