Allentown, PA (Saturday, Jan. 10) – Matt Swanson executed a textbook late-race restart to muscle past Ryan Flores and score a hard-earned victory in the Ironton Global Allentown Indoor Race Saturday night at the PPL Center.
The win marked the Harvard, Mass. driver’s first career triumph with the Indoor Auto Racing Championship.
“I can’t really describe what this means,” Swanson said post-race. “It’s definitely one of the biggest achievements of my career. I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to drive this car. We had a phenomenal weekend, showed speed every time out, stayed out of trouble, and put ourselves in position when it counted.”
Swanson’s patience and precision in the closing laps sealed the victory in front of a packed Allentown crowd, turning a fast weekend into a defining moment of his Indoor Auto Racing career.
Swanson started third when the 40-lap feature went green. He hovered around a podium spot for most of the event, racing elbows up with Tommy Catalano, Flores, Scott Kreutter and Tim Buckwalter.
With 11 laps to go, Swanson followed Flores’ tire tracks to dispatch Catalano for the runner-up spot. After a caution a lap later allowed him to line up alongside Flores, Swanson stalked one of Indoor racing’s greatest like an animal hunting its prey.
He hammered the front of his No. 89 into the rear of Flores’ No. 15 in an attempt to root him off the bottom of the speedway. Flores was not budging, however, it wasn’t over for Swanson as the final yellow flag flew five laps from the checkered flag.
When green replaced yellow. Swanson got the restart of his life. He kept his car locked down in the rubber off turn four, which allowed him to stay alongside Flores and fly down the inside going into turn one and rocket off turn two with the lead.
While Flores applied relentless pressure in the closing laps, Swanson wasn’t thrown off his game and he ripped off turn four under the checkered flag. Catalano rounded out the podium.
The victory also carried special meaning for the Swanson team, who continue to compete with the craftsmanship and influence of Jeff Ulrich – the car builder who tragically and suddenly passed away in 2025.
Bob Hilbert Sportswear sponsored the $200 TQ Fast Time Award Saturday, with Matt Swanson’s blistering lap of 7.812 seconds pacing the field of 40. Shawn Nye (7.870), Briggs Danner (7.873), Jon Reid (7.879) and Ryan Flores (7.886) rounded out the top five in the zippy session.
E Schneider & Sons sponsored the Saturday night TQ Midget heat races. Ryan Flores, Tommy Catalano, Kyle Herve and Billy Pauch Jr. claimed the four intense affairs.
Aqua Duck Water Transport sponsored the Saturday night TQ Midget B-Main’s. Nick Ladyga survived a war of attrition to win the first one, while Shawn Nye emerged victorious in the hectic second one.
Quentin Graham Jr., of Richland, PA, inherited the lead on lap six after making contact with TJ Reed in turn one before fending off Doug Stearly, who was running him down like a freight train, to win a caution-free 20-lap Champ Kart feature by a nail biting 0.060 seconds.
West End Equipment Rentals sponsored the Saturday night Champ Kart heat races, which were won by Tyler Brown and Doug Stearly. Max Pfeifer captured the B-Main.
Dylan Hoch, of Mertztown, PA broke out the broom by withstanding late race contact from Jared Silfee and scooting away from the pack by nearly a second to win the 20-lap Slingshot feature.
Dylan Cordier whizzed around the PPL Center in 9.295 seconds Saturday to claim the Bagel Rack sponsored $150 Slingshot Fast Time Award.
GMC Speed Supplies sponsored the Saturday night Slingshot heat races. Division heavyweights Paulie Hartwig III and Brett Bieber came out on top in the action-packed event. Michael Lapicki won the night’s final preliminary, the Slingshot B-Main.
Atlantic City is the next stop for the Indoor Auto Racing Championship as the TQ Midgets, Champ Karts and Slingshots will be in action at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall Jan. 30 & 31 for the NAPA Auto Parts Indoor Midget Car Race. Tickets for both nights can be purchased on Ticketmaster.
For additional details on the Indoor Auto Racing Championship, visit http://www.indoorautoracing.com. The Indoor Auto Racing Championship returns on Friday, January 30 and January 31 for the NAPA Auto Parts Atlantic City Indoor Races at Jim Whelen Boardwalk Hall
Race Results
TQ Midgets (40 Laps) – 1. Matt Swanson 2. – Ryan Flores 3. – Tommy Catalano 4. – Kyle Lick 5. – Andy Jankowiak 6. – Matt Janisch 7. – Timmy Catalano 8. – Scott Kreutter 9. – Tyler Ferris 10. – Shawn Nye 11. – Kyle Herve 12. – Joey Bailey 13. – Nick Ladyga 14. – Briggs Danner 15. – Anthony Payne 16. – Jonathan Reid 17. – Tim Buckwalter 18. – Trevor Catalano 19. – Stephen Kemery 20. – Paul Hartwig III 21. – Logan Watt 22. – Ryan Tidman 23. – Billy Pauch Jr 24. – DJ Shaw 25. – Jeremy Haudricourt
Slingshots (20 Laps) – 1. Dylan Hoch 2. – Tyler Ulsh 3. – Brett Bieber 4. – Cody Kline 5. – Tanner Jones 6. – Matthew Mertz 7. – Mark Mohr 8. – Cody Kohler 9. – Jared Silfee 10. – Michael Lapicki 11. – Paulie Hartwig III 12. – Brett Putnam 13. – Mason Pittenger 14. – Isaac Graby 15. – Alex Reinsmith 16. – Garrett Chillot 17. – James Benz 18. – Cody Bleau 19. – Dylan Hahn 20. – Dylan Cordier
Champ Karts (20 Laps) – 1. Quentin Graham Jr 2. – Doug Stearly 3. – Todd Crenshaw 4. – TJ Reed 5. – Shawn Conklin 6. – Missy Bootes 7. – Brandon Tiezzi 8. – Brandon Rusczek 9. – Tanner Emmons 10. – Oliver Quinney 11. – Tyler Brown 12. – Andy Kirby 13. – AJ Roderick 14. – Gabrian Goley 15. – Spencer Smolders 16. – Cody Crenshaw 17. – Preston DeMello 18. – Max Pfeifer 19. – John Berger 20. – Ryan Kendall