ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Highly regarded asphalt modified specialist Mike Christopher Jr. will make his TQ Midget Indoor Auto Racing Series debut on Jan. 7-8 during the Allentown Indoor Race inside the PPL Center in downtown Allentown, Pa.
Christopher, 22, of Wolcott, Conn., will be driving a new car owned by Trey Hoddick. Scott Kreutter, an experienced TQ Indoor racer, will be Christopher’s teammate.
Christopher’s car will carry the No. 82 in the Indoor Auto Racing Series events.
“Trey said I could put any number on the car I wanted so I’m bringing the number 82 from my modified,” he shared.
Christopher said he had been prepared to race in the 2020 Indoor Auto Racing Series finale.
“I was going to run the last race of season in Syracuse. We were all set to go the day before. I was ready to leave and before I did, the whole thing got shut down because of COVID.
“The car has been sitting on a shelf since then. I called Trey a few weeks ago, and he said, ‘a deal’s a deal’, everything’s ready to go,” Christopher shared.
Christopher said one of his main obstacles he must face is getting comfortable in the close TQ Midget cockpit.
“I had a problem getting my knees to fit in and at the same time get my head low enough. I’m bringing a bunch of padding with me to help with that,” Christopher said.
“What I want to do is come into the Allentown race, make the feature and come out of there clean and with a plan for the next race. If I can’t get comfortable in the car, I’ll just have to suck it up,” Christopher bottom-lined.
Though he has yet to turn a wheel in a TQ Midget, Christopher has seen his share of highlight reel footage. His late uncle Ted Christopher won five TQ Indoor features and back to back series titles, in 2010 and 2011.
“I wish I could talk to him and ask him questions about Indoor racing. I saw him have so much success in Indoor races,” Christopher admits. “I know it’s going to be tough to get into the feature but Trey will be giving me a good car. It’s all up to the driver.”
To do well, Christopher, who is used to racing primarily in his native New England region, will have to outrun a solid contingent of greater Lehigh Valley, Pa., racers.
Kyle Lick of Lehighton, Pa., returns to the PPL Center driving a car owned by his father. Tyler Lindsay, Micro Sprint dirt track specialist at Shellhammers Speedway, riding out of Slatington, Pa., will compete driving a family owned car.
Earl Paules of Lehighton, Pa., a perennial favorite, is entered in a car sponsored in part by E. Schneider & Sons Scrap of Allentown, Pa. Mike Bednar of Lehighton, Pa., will be driving Mike Murray’s highly touted No. 12 TQ Midget.
In addition, western New York teams, Hoddick’s neighbors, are also planning to fight for victory in the PPL Center Series opener.
Ryan Susice, of Ramsomville, N.Y., Tyler Thompson, of Oswego, N.Y., Jonathan Reid of Lockport, N.Y., and Ryan Bartlett of Watertown, N.Y., have all filed race entries.
Christopher will also be up against one other New Englander. Derek Robbie of Bellingham, Mass., has entered in a car owned by Nick Giordano.
The biggest Indoor Auto Racing Series PPL Center TQ Midget race winner is Ryan Flores of Mooresville, N.C. Flores, who works for Roger Penske’s NASCAR Cup organization, will be seeking his fifth victory in January, with his eyes set on becoming the winningest TQ driver in series history. Christopher is a close friend of Flores.