Midwest TQ Racing League

01/30/2018

The MTQRL wishes to congratulate longtime league supporters Duane and Sonja Alexander who received the 2017 Pat O’Connor/Bryan Clauson Memorial Award at the Hoosier Auto Racing Fans banquet Sunday afternoon.

Presented for the first time in 1968, this award is voted on by the executive board of HARF and presented only in years when they feel there is someone who lives up to the spirit and the ideals on which this award is based.

When the criteria for this award was being formed, HARF members said they would look for such things as devotion, cooperation and constant effort to make auto racing the sport of which they are all proud — traits that the Alexander’s definitely possess.

Previous winners of this award include Larry Rice (1973 and 2009), Mel Kenyon (1974), Tom Bigelow (1984), Jeff Gordon (1992), Dave Darland (1999), Eddie Cheever (2000), Sarah Fisher (2010) and Ed Carpenter (2013).

07/18/2017

Eight years ago today, July 18, 2009, the Midwest TQ Racing League three-quarter midgets made their only appearance at the Johnson County Fair in Franklin, Ind., where Tim Lynch won his first MTQRL feature. Take a trip down memory lane and check out these highlights.

FAST QUALIFIER
Tate Martz, #22, 12.312 seconds

JACKSON OIL & SOLVENTS DUEL FOR FUEL
Tate Martz, #22

HEAT WINNERS
Patrick Bruns, #98
Jamie Ross, #88
Kevin Rice, #7
Tim Lynch, #23
Joe Miller, #24

FEATURE
1- Tim Lynch, #23
2- Tate Martz, #22
3- Nick Speidel,
4- Joe Miller, #24
5- Jamie Ross, #88
6- Kyle Lux,
7- Patrick Bruns, #98
8- Chris Mann, #16
9- Will Wilson, #65
10- Jeff Bruce, #9
11- Don Epley,
12- Kevin Rice, #7
13- Brett Hankins, #41
14- Eddie Gagnon, #14
15- Chris Guinn,
DNS Jason Willis, #25

LAP LEADERS
1-2 Patrick Bruns
3-14 Nick Speidel
15-21 Tate Martz
22-25 Tim Lynch

07/11/2017

Way to go CJ! Back-to-back USAC Sprint Week wins! Congratulations on your win tonight at the Gas City I-69 Speedway!

07/11/2017

Congratulations to the MTQRL's 2010 Tony Stewart Racing Rookie of the Year CJ Leary on his first USAC Indiana Sprint Week win last night at the Lawrenceburg Speedway!

LEARY LOWERS THE BOOM FOR FIRST ISW WIN AT THE BURG By: Richie Murray – USAC Media Lawrenceburg, Indiana………C.J. Leary will be the first to tell you ho...

07/08/2017

PAUL GRAYBROOK CELEBRATION OF LIFE

A celebration of life for Paul Graybrook has been set for Tuesday, July 18th at the Barn at Bay Horse Inn, located at 1468 W. Stones Crossing Rd. in Greenwood, Indiana, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. The funeral service will take place at 6:00 pm.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the USAC Benevolent Foundation at http://www.usacbf.org/ and/or the Wounded Warrior Project at http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/.

07/04/2017

The Midwest TQ Racing League is saddened to announce that Paul Graybrook, 60, of Greenwood, Ind., passed away this morning after injuries sustained in last night’s USAC D2 Midget event in Springfield, Ill.

We wish to extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Suzin, family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all.

05/26/2017

Fourteen-year-old CJ Leary, of Greenfield, Ind., won the first MTQRL feature of his career on July 4, 2010, at the Rush County Fairgrounds in Rushville, Ind.

Other than qualifications, where he timed in fifth quick, the third generation driver was perfect on the night winning both of his heat races, the feature and the Green Tech July 4th Challenge (a $1,000 winner-take-all event encompassing the top ten drivers from the Fourth of July weekend races).

Leary would go on to finish the season with three feature wins, twelve top fives, and no finishes worse than seventh in fifteen starts. He placed third in the final point standings and was awarded the Tony Stewart Racing Rookie of the Year for his accomplishments.

05/19/2017

Jason Willis scores the first “Clean Sweep” in MTQRL history on August 29, 2009, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Madison, Ind.

Driving his father Wayne’s Willis Racing Team #25, Jason bested all qualifiers when he turned a lap of 15.266 seconds to set quick time. Next up was the Jackson Oil & Solvents Duel for Fuel where Willis started last but had a tremendous start, taking the lead exiting turn two on the opening lap. He went on to lead all four laps, taking the win over Tim Lynch, Nick Speidel, and Tate Martz.

Next up was his heat race where Jason came from the sixth starting position to battle with Lynch for the runner-up position most of the race. Willis was finally able to get around Lynch, then track down race leader Brett Hankins on the final circuit where he made a pass stick on the outside of turns three and four to beat Hankins to the finish line for the heat race win.

Willis would have his work cut out for him in the 25-lap feature as an inversion of ten saw him start on the outside of the fifth row with all of the faster cars in front of him.

Polesitter Tad Cheek took the lead at the drop of the green flag as Willis began slicing his way through the field. After just a few laps Jason was up to fourth place behind Cheek, Joe Miller, and Nick Speidel. A few laps later he was able to get by both Miller and Speidel and began to track down race leader Cheek.

On lap nine leader Cheek would spin exiting turn four handing the lead over to Willis. Willis went on to lead the final seventeen laps and secure the “Clean Sweep” over Speidel, Tim Lynch, Brett Hankins and Tate Martz.

05/04/2017

The Midwest TQ Racing League wishes to extend its deepest sympathies to Nick Speidel and family upon the death of his mother, Diane, on Tuesday, May 2nd. Out thoughts and prayers are with the Speidel and Osborn families at this difficult time.

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Diane L. Osborn Speidel
September 5, 1962 - May 2, 2017

Diane L. Osborn Speidel, 54, passed away on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital with her family by her side.

She was born in Rushville on September 5, 1962, the daughter of John and Alice (Gasser) Osborn. Diane attended Muncie Schools and graduated from Northside High School in 1980. She worked as a CNA and medical assistant for several years. Diane also went to Amber’s Beauty School. She was the owner of Pro Clean Services and D.A.K. Simulators.

Diane enjoyed many years and was very active in three-quarter midget racing with her son Nick. Diane and the love of her life, Kent Lane enjoyed many miles of RVing, boating, motorcycling, and visiting with her grandchildren. She was an active member of The Jar Community Church.

Survivors include the love of her life, Kent Lane; her son, Nick Speidel (fiancé, Kimberely); daughter, Whitney Perine (husband, Larry) of Navarre, Florida; her mother, Alice Osborn of Muncie; brothers, Tim Osborn (wife, Anita) of Clearwater, Florida and Jay Osborn (wife, Penny) of Muncie; five grandchildren, Aaliyah, Jasmine, Lucas, and Logan Perine of Navarre, Florida and Skylar Speidel of Parker City; her special dog, Sadie Mae; along with several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Diane was preceded in death by her father, John R. Osborn; paternal grandparents, Bert and Myrtle Osborn; and her maternal grandparents, John and Lottie Gasser.

Services will be 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 5, 2017, at The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory, Washington Street Chapel, with Pastor Chris Bunch officiating. Family and friends may call from 3:00 until 6:00 p.m. on Friday at the mortuary.

Memorial contributions may be directed to I.U. Health Ball Memorial Hospice.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.meeksmortuary.com.

05/02/2017

Missing Perfect North? Come out and join us for the June 3rd Mud-Stash, mud obstacle event!
Information about registration, groups, kids course and obstacles can be found at perfectnorth.com
It is always a great event and a fun way to kick off summer for the whole family!

04/29/2017

HANKINS AND RATEKIN WIN HONORS DURING TQ MIDGET RACING SEASON
Rushville Republican, November 2, 1959

Russ Hankins, of Rushville, and Bill Ratekin, of Indianapolis, shared top honors in TQ midget racing during the past season, it was announced today.

Hankins, driver of the Canary Harley out of Plainfield, captured the Midwest TQ Midget Assn. driving crown while Ratekin, former local resident, won the Mutual TQ Midget Assn. title. Ratekin earlier had won the Ohio Indoor Championship.

Following Hankins in the Midwest standings was Ratekin which gives him a total of two driving crowns and the runner-up spot for the season. In third spot was Mel Harpring of Greensburg, and fourth spot went to Rick Meyer of Napoleon, last year’s Midwest point champion.

Richard Northam of New Castle, won fifth and also picked up a new nickname “Mr. Upsidedown.” Northam luckily escaped injury in three multiple flipping accidents.

Sixth spot went to Bob Hamilton of Columbus, Ohio, and seventh ended in a tie between Roy Young of Rushville and Dr. Billy Paynter of Salem. Dick Cecil of Piqua, Ohio, won ninth and also captured the national championship event at the Zipp Speedway in Indianapolis. Tenth spot went to Dave Baldwin of Seymour.

In the Mutual TQ Midget Assn. standings Ratekin was followed by Paynter in second and Hankins, third. Fourth was taken by Don Ralston of Louisville, Ky., and Meyer was fifth.

Hankins will be honored at the Midwest TQ Midget Assn. banquet on November 14 at the Durbin Hotel in Rushville. This banquet will be open to the general public and will be $2.50 per person. Henry Banks, the USAC Director of Competition, will be the featured speaker. Persons interested in attending the banquet may purchase tickets from Mike Wolf or Dave Knight in Rushville before November 10.

Ratekin will be honored at the Mutual TQ Midget Assn. banquet on Dec. 5 at Salem.

04/28/2017

HANKINS WINS FEATURE RACE AT LINTON TRACK
Rushville Republican, September 21, 1959

Russ Hankins of Rushville won the final feature race in the Midwest Three-Quarter Midget Racing Association last night. The racing program was held at the Linton track.

Mel Harpring of Greensburg had the fastest qualifying time and Pat Wolf of Arlington, second, and Hankins, third. Harpring won the first heat race; Bill Campbell of Columbus, second heat race and Hankins, third heat race. Bill Ratekin of Indianapolis copped first in the trophy dash.

Hankins won out in the 75-lap feature race. The program concluded the Midwest TQ season.