RPW Exclusive: Alex Payne Teams With The Bartlett Family For ’25 Indoor TQ Championship Series

Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – HOPEWELL, NY – Who know when opportunity will strike. Just ask 2024 Super DIRTcar Series Rookie of the Year Alex Payne.

For Payne, his chance to run a TQ Midget in both of the Indoor Auto Racing Championship events for 2025 started a year ago with a chance discussion with fellow racer Ryan Bartlett.

That nonchalant conversation between two competitors led to a text message from Bartlett just before Christmas, asking Payne if he’d like to run the potent machine that has been a contender for victories in the past.

“Ryan sent me a message the other day about getting in the car and it was honestly a surprise,” Payne said. “We talked a year or so ago when I was looking to see if they knew anyone with an open seat.”

Come to find out, Ryan did know someone.

“Here we are a year later and I have the opportunity to race the event,” he said. “Not only that, I’ve got a shot to run these races in an extremely competitive car with a team that has 27 years of Indoor Midget racing experience.”

That car, owned by Ryan’s brother, Tyler Bartlett, who is the promoter of the Can-Am Speedway, is a very strong Lafler Chassis powered by a very strong Duchak Race Engine.

That has to be a big shot in the arm for Payne who has never turned a competitive lap indoors.

“I’m super excited for this chance,” he said. “Their car is a winning car and this has been something I’ve wanted to do for a few years now.”

The team is ramping things up to get ready for the first event of the indoor season, this weekend in Allentown, PA. While they haven’t gotten together in person just yet, Payne and the Bartlett’s are going full speed ahead for both events.

‘Luckily, the seat in the car’s the right size,” he said. “We’re going to do a few things on Friday to get me set up in the car. Ryan and I have been bouncing different things off of each other and both he and Tyler have been helping me get a better understanding of it all.”

The car, prepared by David Bartlett and carrying sponsorship from the family’s race track, DP Bartlett & Sons, FX Caprara Honda, PSI Marine Enterprise and 24 Carrots Catering can be in contention for victory in each event. Does Payne feel pressure to perform?

“To be perfectly honest, I think actually helps my confidence more than hurts it,” he said. “Especially with the fact that I’ve never sat in one of these cars. It’s a good reminder of how good the equipment is.”

Knowing how competitive Payne is, and the fact that he’s never turned a lap, does he have a goal for these two events?

“Win,” he said emphatically. “With the team and equipment I’ll be driving for, my immediate goal is to go win both of these shows.”

He’s extremely grateful for the chance.

“Having Ryan, Tyler, Michelle (Tyler’s wife), David and the entire Bartlett family believe in me enough to give me this shot means the world,” he said.  “I just hope I can get the results that they deserve and that the car is capable of.”

Does anyone who knows Alex Payne have any doubt he’ll up on the wheel this weekend in Allentown? If you do, you may not know him as well as you think you do.

With the Bartlett’s behind him, victory may just be on the horizon.