Trenton, NJ (February 13, 2024) – Tim Buckwalter will be vying to become the first repeat winner of the East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals when the prestigious event returns to Trenton’s CURE Insurance Arena on February 23-24.
“It was a blast last year,” said Buckwalter, brimming with confidence. “I’m thrilled to be back in Trenton and try to pull it off again.”
The Douglassville, PA racer knows the challenge is steep. While he finished fourth in the inaugural event (2017), his 2018 and 2020 attempts resulted in 18th-place finishes. Yet, Buckwalter believes his experience and familiarity with the indoor racing scene give him a strong edge.
“I’ve got a decent shot,” he asserts. “My experience, especially the laps I’ve logged in these cars, is a big advantage. Plus, running indoors consistently for the past decade helps.”
Buckwalter understands the fast-paced, tactical nature of indoor racing. “Things happen quickly, and you need to anticipate,” he explains. “We need to start strong on Friday and secure a spot in Saturday’s main event, where anything is possible.”
Despite a spin that knocked him out of the top five in last year’s 50-lap main event, Buckwalter never gave up. His comeback drive showcased his resilience and understanding of the dynamic track conditions.
“The Trenton track changes constantly,” he says. “It’s tough to predict who’ll have the fastest car at the end. Some might be quick initially, but the track gets slick in certain areas.”
Buckwalter will once again pilot the Barry and Cheryl Greth-owned No. 71 car that carried him to victory in 2023. “Driving for the Greths is incredible,” he expresses. “They handle everything upfront, so I can focus on the car and tire strategy.”
He encourages fans to attend the event, promising an electrifying experience. “The atmosphere is unbelievable,” he says. “This year’s format includes a new Friday night A-Main, adding even more excitement. Every race has been thrilling, with no front-runners dominating.”
The action unfolds on Saturday with doors opening at 4 PM, followed by an autograph session for qualified A-Main drivers at 5 PM. Racing heats up at 6 PM with “alphabet soup” transfer races. Top finishers in the C, D, and E-Mains advance, while the twin B-Mains send their top seven drivers to the 24-car A-Main field.
An exciting addition for 2024 is a Friday night A-Main featuring top performers from that day’s qualifiers. After four 15-lap qualifying races and a 20-car B-Main, a 25-lap A-Main will crown the Friday night champion.
The top five Friday finishers and the next five highest points earners will secure coveted spots in Saturday’s A-Main. Friday’s grandstands open at 6 PM, with racing starting at 7 PM.
Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com and indoorautoracing.com, as well as at the arena box office on race days. Fans unable to attend can witness the action live on DirtTrackDigest.TV Pay-Per-View for $64.99 for the weekend or $29.99 for Friday and $39.99 for Saturday.
For more details about the BELFOR Property Restorations East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals, visit www.indoorautoracing.com.
This rewritten version summarizes the key points of the press release in a more concise and engaging manner, focusing on Buckwalter’s quest for a repeat victory and the overall excitement of the event. I hope this is helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.
