by BARRY ANGSTADT

Trenton, NJ (November 26) – It’s not just a cliché` or something made up by the media. Momentum is indeed a race driver’s friend. When you’ve got “Ol’ Mo” on your side, you feel almost invincible.
One of the best young talents in 600 Micro Sprint racing (and there are many top notch talents still in their teenage years in the division) will carry some major momentum into the Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton, NJ, for the 2nd edition of the East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals from December 13 through 15.
The driver who is riding the biggest wave of momentum right now, based on two recent victories on tracks that are somewhat similar in size to the oval inside the Cure Insurance Arena, is 16-year-old Tyler Lindsay.
Lindsay, who hails from Slatington, PA, is completing just his second full season of 600 Micro Sprint competition. But his first pair of 600 wins have come in the past two months, and in some high profile events.
The former Quarter-Midget racer recorded his very first 600 triumph in mid-October at the World Series of Dirt Racing in Selinsgrove, PA. On the 1/5-mile bullring known as Selinsgrove Raceway Park, Lindsay utilized a mid-race restart to sneak under veteran Pat Bealer to grab the lead. He then waltzed away from the field to score his initial triumph in just the second appearance – ever – by the 600’s at SRP.
Lindsay’s second victory came about three weeks later, in the first-ever 100-lap Battle at the Bullring at Airport Speedway in New Castle, DE. The junior at Northern Lehigh High School started 22nd in that one…second to last but he knew there was plenty of time to get to the front.
“I bided my time and avoided the wrecks,” he explained afterward, “and steadily worked my way to the front. Our set-up was dead-on and I didn’t want to mess it up.”
Lindsay took command with just 20 laps remaining and once again, it was Pat Bealer who he passed for the lead.
“At the end of the (outdoor) season, we just kind of threw things at the car because we were not happy with our basic set-up. We definitely found a good baseline set up at Selinsgrove and then again at Airport, so we are cautiously optimistic going into Trenton. We’ll use the Selinsgrove set up to start out there and see how it goes.”
Lindsay was part of the inaugural East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals in 2017, but failed to get out of the C-Main…he missed transferring to the B by only one spot.
“We had a different car last year and we really missed on the set up,” offered Lindsay. “The track seemed to change quite a bit last year and it was a challenge to try and keep up with the changing conditions, and we struggled in that aspect. My goal for this year is to just do better and try to get the car working well, and keep up with the track. Qualifying will be very difficult because of the big field and the caliber of drivers who will be there. To qualify for the A-Main would be awesome; that would make my weekend.”
Lindsay pilots a 2017 Hyper Chassis, and his power comes from Dave Orange Motors. Sponsorship support includes Lindsay Lawn & Landscaping; East Coast DJ Entertainment; and Earl Wieder Excavating.
The East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 13, with an invited field of All Star Slingshots joining the non-wing 600 Micro Sprints. Friday’s action gets underway at 7:00 when an invited group of Champ Karts will also be on the menu with the 600’s in an evening of clay-pounding action presented by Freiberger Excavating.
Saturday’s racing, presented by Oliver Communications Group, is exclusively for the 600 Micros, and the Last Chance races will lead up to the 40-lap A-Main. Saturday’s program begins at 5 p.m.
Other event sponsors include Hoosier Racing Tires, VP Racing Fuels, and JR Michalski Heating & Air Conditioning.
For tickets and other information, please refer to www.indoorautoracing.com.