Fighting the Uncontrollable
Atlantic City is always a big weekend of racing for the indoor series. With two separate race days on Friday and Saturday — each with its own unique format — it always creates competitive and unpredictable racing. With 50+ cars showing up both days, trying to make the A-Main, we were ready to compete.
The weekend started with practice on Thursday. Unfortunately, we missed rounds 1 and 2, but we were ready for round 3. Knowing we made changes, we wanted to go out early, shake the car down, and continue building our notebook. That’s when the first struggle of the weekend happened. We went out and got 10 solid laps in. The track was still very slick and wasn’t taking much rubber, so right before our run the track officials sprayed it to help build rubber. Unfortunately, that glazed our tires during the run. We tried going back out twice, but the car just wouldn’t turn, and I had to pull off after one lap each time.
We regrouped, figured out the tire situation, and got ready for the fourth practice of the night. That session went much better and gave us good insight into what we needed to focus on for Friday, and it helped me get comfortable with the track.
On to Friday
Friday, we continued to build off Thursday’s practice and ran solidly. We were still trying to guess what the track was going to do. Unlike the last few years, the track just wasn’t taking rubber the same way.
With all the focus on improving the car, I had my eyes on time trials. Unfortunately, something I couldn’t control happened. For indoor time trials, we go out in groups of three. I went out first, assuming the two cars behind me would go with me so we’d have an open track. But the third car in line went extra slow, and we caught him on lap 2. I tried stopping in turn 3 to give myself a chance on lap 3, but we caught him again quickly and had to settle for qualifying 42nd out of 52. A frustrating time trial, but I can only control driving my own car. On to the night of racing.
Since we didn’t make the A-Main at Allentown, we were placed in a 12‑lap “craps race” with the other non‑qualifiers, trying to lock ourselves into Friday night’s A. We started 5th and rode around, getting as high as 3rd while saving the car for later. Unfortunately, a car behind us on a restart forgot we had more racing to go, spun us out, and we ended up 7th.
The car was good, though, so we made minimal changes and were ready for the qualifier — one of the 20‑lap races featuring 21 cars fighting for 10 transfer spots into the A-Main. We started 7th, got to 6th, and survived a few restarts to finish 6th. We ran the second-fastest lap in the race but knew we were in a transfer spot and just needed to finish.
The Qualifier
We started 20th and knew we needed to pick them off one by one and let the race come to us. And that’s exactly what was happening. The car was hooked on the bottom, and we were making steady progress with the help of a few cautions. Unfortunately, on lap 7, I had to pull off as the car was overheating — another “what could’ve been” race. We had the speed, and I was excited to see how it was going to play out. I really thought we had a car capable of qualifying.
Reset for Saturday
Indoor racing forces you to have a short memory. Friday was frustrating, but we reset and moved on to Saturday. We had one round of practice that went well. We got solid laps in and continued working on the car.
For time trials, we went out in group 7 of 18. This session went much better, placing us 23rd out of 52. I felt I still left a little on the table, but overall it was a much better result.
This put us starting 4th in heat 6, needing to pick up one spot with the top 3 transferring to the A-Main. We got a decent start and were fighting to keep 4th when the 2nd- and 3rd-place cars tangled, putting us restarting 3rd. We held 3rd on the restart and were right on 2nd’s bumper. Another caution came out, and we were able to get by for 2nd. We rode there for a few laps, but coming to the white flag, we got passed by two cars and fell back to 4th — missing the transfer by one spot. I just didn’t have the drive they did, but we knew what to work on.
On to the Consi — Our Last Shot
We started 2nd, with only the top 2 transferring. The goal was simple: get a good start, get out front, and lead all the laps. We got a great start, clearing the pole sitter into turn 1. Unfortunately, he forgot that the corner turns and drove straight into our LR. We spun, kept it going with a 360, but the left-rear tire went flat. Night over.
We did exactly what we needed to do — and just got driven through. A tough end to the 2026 indoor season.
Final Thoughts
Indoor season is one of my favorites, but it’s always frustrating when things don’t go your way because it’s only two weekends of racing. You leave wanting more — but also fired up for next year. Our gears are already turning on what to do for 2027.
I can’t thank my guys enough for the long hours they put in at the shop this offseason, preparing the car and making the changes from Allentown to Atlantic City. Thank you to Nick G for allowing me to drive the 34.5, my crew chief Mark G for all the hours and effort making the car faster each run, my outdoor spotter Timmy for the long hours and for following me to every race, and Dave G for getting the car to the track and always helping us. And a huge shoutout to my mom and dad for being some of my biggest supporters and attending both races this year.
Lastly, none of this would be possible without my sponsors. Thank you, Mertz Racing, Ashaway Performance Engines, NH Oil Undercoating, Skilled Trade Partners, and P1 Web Development.
Atlantic City has me fired up and hungry for success with the modified. On to the outdoor season!
