From Jerry Reigle of AARN
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ December 17, 2009 . . .– This change is for the better.
Race fans and race drivers attending the Gambler’s Classic indoor racing event on January 29-30, 2010, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., will notice a subtle and welcoming change to the race track.
Turns three and four will widen by approximately five feet as the inside of the track will be moved more onto the hockey rink.
The slight alteration will make for a rounder corner and wider exit, which will improve side-by-side racing.
For race fans, sightlines will be better for viewing.
“I like the rounder-type corners,” said Mike Lichty of Innerkip, Ont., Canada, when asked about the corner difference between the track in Atlantic City, N.J., and the one at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. “You are able to carry better momentum through the turns.
“Atlantic City is a great place to race indoors. However, with the way the track was designed, the inside was more like a long rectangle. You had to be very careful exiting the turns (with the way the inside corner cut into the track) and it was sometimes tough entering them.”
Lichty scored his first indoor Three-Quarter (TQ) Midget race victory on December 4 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. He followed his victory with a runner-up finish to winner Mike Stefanik in the Dec. 5 Coffee Cup.
Lichty already entered to take part in the upcoming Gambler’s Classic.
“You can run a smoother line (with the wider turn exit),” Lichty said. “I think the race fans will be pleased with the change.”
Last January, Lou Cicconi Jr., posted a record-setting 8.982-second lap at Boardwalk Hall.
While fans could notice faster speeds, the most notable change will be a better viewing of the race surface.
By moving the racing more to the center of the arena the fans will be able to get a better view of the cars.
The high-powered, TQ-Midget cars will headline the two-day card for the eighth consecutive year at Boardwalk Hall. Some 100 drivers are expected to contend for the Gambler’s Classic title.
The Slingshot and Champ Kart race cars, which provide just as much entertainment as the TQ Midgets, will be on the card each night as well. Defending champions are Paul Lotier Jr. of Lebanon, Pa. (Slingshots) and Ryan Kendall of East Greenbush, N.Y. (Champ Karts).
Fans can purchase tickets by calling Ticketmaster at (800)-736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Information on the event is available at aarn.com or by calling (609)-888-3618.
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