Dirt Modified Driver Marc Johnson To Sub For Billy Pauch Jr. In Ironton Global Allentown Indoor Races

 

Allentown, PA – When the Indoor Auto Racing Series fueled by VP takes the green flag this weekend inside the PPL Center in downtown Allentown, Dirt Modified star Marc Johnson will be subbing for injured driver Billy Pauch Jr.  The decision was announced on New Year’s Eve by TQ Midget series car owner Jason Simmons.

 

Pauch injured his back in a late season dirt Modified crash at Del.’s Georgetown Speedway. He had high hopes he would get approval from doctors to return to racing in time to compete at this weekend’s Ironton Global sponsored two-day event on Friday and Saturday, January 5 and 6 presented by BELFOR Property Restoration. It wasn’t until late last week that it was suggested by his doctors it was best for his full recover if he not return to racing for a few more weeks.

 

“The Black Night” is excited to be back in Indoor competition and to be driving for Simmons top team this weekend as a teammate to Tyler Thompson.

 

Johnson is also a top dirt Modified racer. He competes on a high-level weekly at N.Y.’s Albany-Saratoga and Lebanon Valley speedways where he won four big-block Modified features in 2022. Taking his talent on the road last season, he was a top runner as a rookie on the Super DIRTcar Series finishing seventh in the points.

 

Johnson comes to Allentown for the second time to compete in a TQ Midget. After making his debut in a Ken Sebring owned TQ at an event at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. in 2012, Johnson than ran the series opener in Allentown in 2013. The 43-year-old driver struggled to find success in his first two attempts.

 

The Guilderland, N.Y. resident, however, than competed in Atlantic City, NJ and Syracuse, NY improving each time he was on the track. In his last outing, he finished a career best 12th on the Indoor series.

 

Good seats remain for the Allentown event. They can be purchased online through a link on the show website, indoorautoracing.com or at the box office on the day of the event. For those who cannot attend, the event will be available on DTD Pay-Per-View for $64.99 for the weekend or $29.99 for Friday and $39.99 for Saturday.

 

In Allentown on Friday, racing begins at 7:30 PM with the TQ Midgets headlined in three Ironton Auto Body A-Qualifier main events. The top-three in each event lock into Saturday’s main and the Dash. The winner of each of these races will now receive $1,000 thanks to Ironton Auto Body and the Dash winner another $500!

 

Saturday’s events, sponsored by Future Homes, begins with FAN FEST when the doors open at 5 PM. Racing begins at 7 PM headlined by a 40-lap TQ Midget feature. The Champ Karts and Slingshots run complete shows with features on both nights.

 

Pauch, the popular driver from Frenchtown, N.J., was very disappointed he could not compete this weekend. He feels confident, however, he will be released in time to race in the two-day NAPA KNOW HOW Weekend inside Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on Friday and Saturday, January 26 and 27.

 

Simmons has assured Pauch that he and his son Tyler Thompson are the drivers of his two-car team. Johnson is only doing him a favor and subbing for Pauch in Allentown while he continues to recuperate.

 

It was in Allentown last year that Pauch made his debut driving for Simmons. On Friday a year ago, he took Simmons’ No. 98 to victory lane in a Friday night 20-lapper. He then positioned himself for a shot at the feature win, before being spun out late in the race. He rallied back to finish ninth.

 

Pauch was so impressive he was offered the ride for the remainder of the 2022 Indoor season. He regrettably turned down the offer because his sister was getting married during the Atlantic City weekend and he had dirt Modified obligations when the series finale was being held in Syracuse, N.Y.

 

With no such conflicts this season, Pauch had agreed to run the entire TQ Midget Indoor Series for Simmons. While Johnson will be in the TQ that had been prepared and lettered for Pauch to drive this weekend in Allentown, Pauch will get two big chances to compete for Simmons in Atlantic City.

 

To make-up for an event cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions in 2021, there will be two Gambler’s Classics held this year in Boardwalk Hall. The “Double Down” weekend, the 20th under Len Sammons Promotions in Atlantic City, will feature two sets of qualifying events and two 40- lap features one each on Friday and Saturday night.

 

For more information, including ticket information, host hotel rates and racer entry forms visit the series website www.indoorautoracing.com.