SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Justin Bonsignore bested Erick Rudolph Friday night in the 40-lap TQ Midget Indoor Auto Racing Series Fueled By VP Race Fuels in a titanic fight to the finish between two past series champions.
“You never have to worry about racing with Erick (Rudolph). He’s tough to beat but he races you clean,” Bonsignore said.
The pair swapped the lead six times officially and many more times that during their wheel-to-wheel battle.
Timmy Solomito finished third in his best effort yet in Indoor TQ racing followed by Mike Bednar who was making just his third career start in a TQ indoors and first as a driver for car owner Earl Paules.
Andy Jankowiak was fifth after spinning from the top five 11 laps into the race and restarting last.
Rudolph leads Bonsignore by six points heading into Saturday night’s TQ Series finale.
T.J. Reed moved from third to first with one lap left in the 20-lap Champ Kart feature after leader Mike Perry spun after contact from behind from challenger Todd Crenshaw.
Race officials penalized Crenshaw, opening the door for Reed to run out the final lap to victory.
Reed not only came from behind to win at the end, he also had to win the Champ Kart B-Main to gain a starting spot into the field.
Brandon Rusczek finished second followed by Eric Zeh, J.J. Pacovich and Dan Marsden.
The Slingshot 20-lap feature was won by Austin Silfee, who made contact with leader Craig Whitmoyer following a late-race restart. Whitmoyer settled for second with Kurt Bettler, Danny Buccafusca and Kyle Herve trailing.
The finish:
Justin Bonsignore, Erick Rudolph, Timmy Solomito, Mike Bednar, Andy Jankowiak, Matt Janisch, Tim Buckwalter, Joey Payne, Eddie Strada, Jeremy Haudricourt, Ryan Tidman, Marc Johnson, Randy Cabral, Pat Bealer, Jonathan Reid, Earl Paules, Brett Conkling, Chad Parks, Anthony Sesely, Steve Kemery, Tyler Thompson, Timmy Catalano, Anthony Payne, Ryan Bartlett, Kyle Hutchinson, Joey Jarwicz Jr.