Editor’s Note:
Area Auto Racing News’ J.J. Andrews caught up with many of the drivers of the Indoor Auto Racing Championship Fueled by VP Racing Fuels heading into the NAPA KNOW HOW Atlantic City Indoor Races at Boardwalk Hall. Excerpts from his Area Auto Racing News article will be broken down into multiple stories highlighting the drivers to watch this weekend.

The NAPA KNOW HOW Atlantic City Indoor Races take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. Racing action kicks off Friday, January 27 and continues Saturday, January 28. Tickets for the event are available at www.ticketmaster.com or at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office.

Story By: J.J. Andrews
It’s HEEEEERE! The much anticipated Atlantic City Indoor race brought to you annually from Boardwalk Hall right on the ocean in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It’s an annual trip for me and several friends, every year since the races came back to Boardwalk Hall in 2003. We love the race, the city, and the happening!

I was able to get in contact with several of the TQ drivers, who gave me some of their thoughts about the upcoming event in Atlantic City. Thank you to all of the drivers who took time out of their busy schedules for me!

Needless to say, Ryan Flores is pretty jacked up about the event, held January 27th and 28th. “I’m just really excited to head to AC. The Gamblers Classic weekend is probably my favorite weekend in racing.” That’s pretty high praise, considering the North Carolina resident has a full-time job in NASCAR, working for Team Penske at the cup level, working on the test team, and front tire guy for the Wood Brothers No. 21 team on Sundays. After sweeping both the Friday and Saturday night events in Allentown at the last indoor event, Flores comes into AC as the point leader. Confidence naturally is at a high level.

“I feel that we have a really good shot at running up front again if we stick to our plan and execute,” said Flores. Due to his residence in North Carolina, Flores’ keeps his car at friend Jimmy Blewett’s shop in New Jersey. “I actually haven’t seen the car since Allentown, because it’s in N.J. at Jimmy Blewett’s shop. Jimmy is really thorough and he did find some issues with our car after Allentown and found a couple things we feel that could make it better for A.C.,” said Flores. “I’m very thankful to have a friend like him who takes such good care of us.”

I asked if the car was prepared differently for Atlantic City vs. the other indoor events.

“We don’t really change much from track to track. The track at Allentown was the closest to AC I’ve seen, because they made the straightaways much longer than last year. Boardwalk Hall does have two different corners, but only because of the grate that is right in the racing groove off turn two. So sometimes you have to adjust for that.”