ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — The Atlantic City Gambler’s Classic, the signature event of the Indoor Auto Racing Series, has expanded its offerings dramatically for its 2023 running Jan. 28-29.
The two-day event will feature a first “Double Down” schedule, with two main events and two Gambler’s Classic Cup trophies being handed out for the TQ Midgets, one on Friday night and another on Saturday night.
Adding another flair to the weekend and bonus for attendees, will be herald the return of 600 micro sprint racing inside the historic Boardwalk Hall Atlantic City venue for the first time in a decade.
“The 2023 race weekend will be our 20th hosting the event in Atlantic City and we are going all in to make it the best weekend yet,” stated series promoter Len Sammons. “The dirt micro sprint division gives us a different look and, hopefully, brings in a different group of drivers to experience the fun in Atlantic City.”
Wingless dirt 600 micro sprints will qualify Friday for their feature Saturday. There is also a scheduled Thursday night practice for all divisions.
The first Wingless Dirt Micro race was held in Atlantic City in 2011 and was own by division regular Jimmy Carpenter. Erick Rudolph, a three-time TQ Midget Gamber’s Classic winner, won the 2012 running of the dirt micros. In 2013, two features were run, won by Rudolph and the other by another dirt micro regular, Kyle Lick.
New, restricted rules are in place to limit competition to 600cc micro sprints that run on dirt and eliminate specialty built cars for indoor racing competition on concrete. Team entering this division will be required to run Hoosier dirt treaded tires, either a RD20 or the U6SA/ASCS spec compound only.
Entries for the “dirt” micro sprint division will be limited.
The Indoor Auto Racing series will kick off its 2023 campaign at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa., Jan. 6-7. The TQ Midgets will again headline that event along with the Slingshots and Champ Karts which will run double features at that event.