Garden State Classic at Wall Stadium Saturday

By tim morris

Modified drivers will be in the spotlight on Saturday night when Wall Stadium presents the 100-lap Garden State Classic.

Manahawkin’s Dave Michel is the defending champion, but he will have his hands full in his bid for two straight.

Freehold’s Harry Reed and Howell’s Jimmy Blewett and Ken Woolley are among the leading contenders.

Toms River’s Tim Arre made a statement last Saturday night that he is a serious contender as well when he won the final 30-lap warm-up to the Classic. It was his second feature win of the season at the Shore speedway.

Arre was very opportunistic as he used a restart of lap 25 to move into contention behind Blewett, who had been controlling the race at the front since taking the lead on lap six.

Blewett’s run to the flag came apart, however, when his clutch failed him. Arre then raced to lead and held off Cream Ridge’s Sam Russo to the finish line. JR Helberg of Union was third at the line followed by Brick’s Mike Carpenter and Dave Cranmer.

Englishtown’s Glenn Higgins won his second straight 15-lap Truck Series main event, holding off points leader Chris Kilbride of Marlboro.

George Andretta won the 25-lap Pro Stock headliner and with the win, took over the points lead. Andretta trailed Kenny Reaves of Piscataway early, but took the lead before the halfway point and never looked back. Reaves remained in second with John Kapp of Trenton, third.

Brick’s Ron Frees ran away from the field to win the 20-lap Street Stock feature. He took the lead on the seventh lap and then motored away from everyone else. Bill Vanderveen of Beachwood was a distant second at the checkered flag.

The Legends Cars 20-lapper was won by Ben Seitz of Skillman. It was his second win of the season.

Saturday night’s program will get under way at 6:30 with a special time trial for the Modified drivers. The eight fastest drivers in the time trials will automatically advance to the Garden State Classic field. Everyone else will have to qualify through the heat races.

Following the time trial, the first races will go off at 7. All five stock car divisions will be in action.

At East Windsor Speedway last Friday night, veteran Kenny Brightbill of Sinking Springs got his long overdue first win of the season. The defending Small-Block Modified Division champion had been waiting a long time for his 30th career win at the half-mile clay oval. He got it last Friday night in his old dominating fashion. He started the race in the 15th spot and by the half-way point of the race was in second place. It took him just one lap to roar by Darren McCaughey of Oldwick and into the lead. Once in front, it was like old times as the three-time track champion increased his lead on every lap.

Bill Pauch of Frenchtown arrived at the finish line in second place with Doug Hoffman of Allentown, Pa., third. Freehold’s Eddie Bohn was seventh.

It was a night for first time wins as Ryan Godown of Ringoes, won his first 20-lap Sportsman Division race of 2000. He used a pass of the 15th lap to pave the way to the win. Jack Swain of Mount Laurel was holding the lead when Godown passed him on the 15th circuit. Swain held on to take second.

Blair Guker III of Toms River will long remember last Friday night as he raced to his first-ever win capturing the 15-lap Street Stock feature.

All three stock car division return to action this Friday night, but children will take center stage as well for the Big Wheel Races. Youngsters will get a taste of racing when they compete in drag races down the front stretch.

Action will start at 7:30.

At New Egypt Speedway, Tom Carberry of Hopewell picked up his second Modified win of the season Saturday night. Carberry led for all 30 laps, but had to come-from-behind on the last lap. Keith Hoffman staged a late-race charge and actually caught Carberry in lapped traffic on the final lap and nosed ahead. But Carberry surged ahead and won a homestretch spring from the Whitehall, Pa., challenger. Allentown’s Mark Bitner was fifth.

New Egypt’s own Ron John Koczon won the 20-lap Sportsman feature. It was his third win of the year. He took the lead after a restart on lap 12. Howell’s Mike Reutter Jr., one of the top Rookies of the year, was ninth.

Pat Conaway of Williamstown won his second straight and third of the season in the Street Stock Division. Conaway started at the back of the pack, but an early lap pile-up allowed him to move up in the field quickly and he took charge of the 15-lapper with five to go.

It was Grand Slam Little League Night at the speedway with the drivers participating in a Home Run Derby. Three drivers, Mickey Kessler, Koczon and Kenny Guyer slammed home runs and collected bonus money.

All three divisions will be in action this Saturday night along with the URC Sprint Cars. Racing will start at 6:15.