Column By: TOM WENNER / RPW – ALLENTOWN, PA – Michael and Tara-Kerr Murray have selected veteran driver Mike Bednar to steer their MJ12 Motorsports TQ on the Indoor Auto Racing Series Powered by VP Fuels.
In 3 short weeks the Indoor Auto Racing Series returns to action after a year layoff. The MJ12 Motorsports Team has kept their equipment fresh and are fully ready to attack the 3 race indoor racing series season.
The action starts on January 7 & 8th at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA, moves to Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall on January 28 & 29 and wraps up the series in Syracuse, NY on March 11 & 12, 2022.
The Murray MJ12 Motorsports Team is coming off a successful 2020 Indoor season with a 6th Place finish in points with Anthony Payne behind the wheel. Mike Bednar ran the 2020 Indoor Season and finished in 13th place in points. The pairing of the MJ12 Motorsports Team and Mike Bednar for the Indoor Auto Racing Series is certainly a powerful combination.
The chassis of choice is a Lafler built machine. Lafler TQ’s have become the popular choice of indoor racing drivers in recent seasons. The MJ12 Motorsports Lafter chassis is powered by Dave Orange 750cc Racing Engine and certainly lacks no issues for horses between those frame rails. The teaming of Mike Bednar and MJ12 Motorsports immediately puts them as a force for victory lane and the series point championship.
Mike Bednar started racing at the young age of 4 steering a Go-Cart. Mike moved into Quarter Midget competition at age 5 and raced those until he was 15 years old. Mike saw great success behind the wheel of a Quarter Midget in winning National and Quarter Midget Grands Events. The family team travelled all over the USA in Quarter Midget competition.
Mike was well versed behind wheel as he drove Go Carts in Road Racing action as a young adult. After taking a break from racing to attend Penn State University, Mike graduated with an Engineering Degree and looked to get involved with racing again. This time Mike followed his Road Racing experience over to the famed SCCA circuit campaigning full bodied race cars for several years successfully.
In 2013, Friend John Kovatch tabbed Mike to join his team and race the Speedway Entertainment USAC Speedstr Racing Series. In 2015 Mike was the Regional and National USAC Speedstr Division Champion. Mike also grabbed Driver Of The Year laurels that season. Mike’s versality has allowed him racing opportunities in several divisions such as a Nascar Asphalt Modified at Mahoning Valley Speedway.
A 600 Wingless Micro Sprint at the Trenton NJ Indoor Dirt Nationals event 3 years ago saw Mike set fast time over 89 cars that night. Finishing 4th or 5th in the A Main. Mike’s indoor experience has come from close friend Earl Paules. Mike has had some memorable indoor racing runs behind the wheel of the Paules family owned TQ’s. In 2019 at Syracuse, NY Mike scored a 2nd Place finish in the TQ A Main behind Erick Rudolph. Mike qualified 4th that night as well.
Mike shares that racing for him is family deal. It was that way for him as he grew up and now most importantly it remains that way. Mike was recently married to Rachel and she supports him in everything he does. Rachel is beside him at every race event. Racing and the Bednar family go hand and hand.
In 2021 Mike steered the family owned USAC Speedstr at several area tracks, While scoring a popular win at Bridgeport Speedway in NJ. Aside from his own efforts to race, Mike’s garage is very full. The Bednar’s own 14 Quarter Midget Race Cars. A combination of Dirt and Asphalt specific cars are ready for racing action at moments notice. Mike & Rachel’s kids – Braden 10, Brody 8, and Brad 7 all race Quarter Midgets and are very active in sports outside of racing.
Mike and Rachel lead a very active lifestyle and love the family based aspect of racing that comes from it.
The MJ12 Motorsports Team would like to offer special Thanks to all of their Marketing Partners for the 2022 season.
The Dent Zones LLC, Daves Equipment Sales, Spike N Go, Bruces Speed Shop, Dan Ballentine Well Drilling, Eibach, Xtreme Graphics of NJ, Rod End Supply, J&M Towing, Phil’s Machine, Wenner Media Group, M.P.H Construction, Tony Power Motorsports, Natural Design Wraps & Apparel LLC, Amanda’s Mobile Notary Services,
Some additional notes of the Indoor Auto Racing Series Powered by VP Fuels @ the PPL Center in Allentown, PA on January 7th & 8th. Ironton Global, the leading international provider of cloud-based communication services, headquartered in Coplay, PA, is the title sponsor
for the Allentown event.
Future Homes of Kunkletown, PA, a home construction company, specializing in residential, multi-family, and energy efficient buildings, has also returned as the presenting sponsor for the Saturday night card of racing.
The Allentown schedule calls for doors opening at 6:00PM with racing getting underway at 7:30 PM on Friday. On Saturday, doors open and Fan Fest begins at 5 PM with racing starting at 7:00PM sharp.
The on-track Fan Fest is available at no extra charge to ticket holders who chose the option when making their purchase. This allows access to the speedway where the cars competing will be on display for photos and drivers available for free autographs.