Matice coasts to victory in ECT Tilley Youth Athletic Foundation 250
In what can only be described as an incredibly efficient race, East Coast Thunder regular Milt Matice took home the checkered flag in his #19 Ameriquest Ford at the Richard Tilley, Sr. Youth Athletic Foundation 250 at Daytona International Speedway. The race, run at 6:30 pm on Sunday, October 3, brought out 21 different drivers from across the Sim Racing community.!
The race was held to directly benefit the Richard Tilley, Sr. Youth Athletic Foundation. The foundation, formed in the early months of 2009, was founded in the memory of Richard Tilley, Sr: a father, football coach, and role model to hundreds of children growing up in Kernersville, North Carolina. The aim of the foundation is “…to help disadvantaged children participate in athletic programs and pursue excellence both on and off the field. The foundation tirelessly works to provide a positive, healthy atmosphere for kids to grow and learn.” Through the efforts of ECT and the Quackenbush Family, the event raised over $1,000 to directly benefit the foundation. Matice took two tires and less than a full tank of fuel with less than 30 laps to go in his final pitstop, following ECT member Mica Williams into the pits. With a little help from lapped traffic, Matice was able to get back in front of Williams, and never looked back. And even though Matice was forced to coast across the finish line with an empty gas tank, he was still able to win with just under a thirty-second lead. Williams was force to drop out due to electrical problems on his car with less than ten laps to go.
Lee Helmer, winner of the rain interrupted first run of the Richard Tilley, Sr. Youth Athletic Foundation 250, finished the night in the second place position. ECT regular Dave Soja finished in third, followed closely by Bill Driscoll. ECT owner Pete Sindone, in the #1 Tilley Youth Athletic Foundation car, rounded out the top 5. Matice started on the outside of the front row, with Chuck McClure starting on the pole. The course of the race saw 33 lead changes between 12 drivers, including Jeff Bacchus, Ed Battaglia, Driscoll, Helmer, Fred Hill, Robby Neises, Sindone, Gregg Trogdon, Wayne Quackenbush, and Williams. The broadcast was sponsored by the Richard Tilley, Sr. Youth Athletic Foundation, Boomr’z Restaurant in Winston-Salem, NC, ECT, and RaceLM. To learn more about ECT, visit their website at www.eastcoastthunder.com. ECT will return to the RLMtv airwaves on Sunday, October 31, for the 8th Annual Helloween 500.
