Coors Light Classic tops Labor Day card at Wall Modified drivers to race over 70 laps

Staff Writer

By tim morris

Coors Light Classic tops Labor Day card at Wall
Modified drivers to race
over 70 laps

Labor Day weekend means double points and extra distance races for the stock car drivers at Wall Stadium.

Highlighting Saturday’s card will be the Coors Light Classic 70-lap feature for the Modifieds.

Time trials will be the method of qualifying for this special race. The eight fastest drivers will advance directly to the final while the others will have to qualify through heat races.

Toms River’s Tim Arre stamped himself as a contender after winning the 30-lap Modified feature Saturday night. Arre had to hold off Freehold’s Harry Reed to the finish line.

Arre rebounded from a dismal showing at the Twin-30s the week before to capture his third win of the season and keep his 2000 title hopes alive.

He took control of the race from the start grabbing the lead early. However, he quickly had company at the front in Reed, who boldly moved his way through the field to challenge.

With Reed all over his bumper, Arre stayed in control all the way to the finish line.

Arre credited his pit crew for the win.

"They won this race," he said in victory lane. "After last week they had to put a new front clip (frame section) on the car and they did it on the shop floor. It was perfect.

"There is just a little change that we need to make the car even better and we know just what to do," he added.

Defending champion Dave Michel of Manahawkin was third at the line followed by Barnegat’s Tom Mauser, fourth, and Farmingdale’s Adam Warren, fifth.

Michel and Mauser were tied for first place at the start of the race. Michel now owns a two-point lead after edging Mauser out for third place.

Using the outside lane on the high-banked Wall Stadium oval, Farmingdale’s Rob Williams circled the competition in the 25-lap Pro Stock headliner. It was his fourth triumph of the season.

Neptune’s George Andretta, who led the race early before Williams passed him on the high groove, held on for second. Manalapan’s John Therkildsen was third followed by Charlie Kremer III of Toms River and Jackson’s Ray Gastelu, in fourth and fifth.

The 20-lap Street Stock went to Beachwood’s Bill Vanderveen on the last lap. It was July Fourth again over that final lap with the drivers providing the fireworks.

Vanderveen was locked in a duel with leader Jeff Gibson of Wayside.

The two cars touched in turn two. Vanderveen was able to take the lead when Gibson got loose.

Vanderveen and points leader Larry Thompson of Parlin stayed out of trouble and raced home first and second.

Mike Brennan of Morganville, Port Monmouth’s Anthony Crimaldi and Farmingdale’s John McCormack were able to avoid the mayhem in front and finished in third through fifth place.

Glenn Higgins’ only concern in the 15-lap Truck Series main event was his blown clutch.

The Tuckerton driver was so dominating in the feature that he was able to nurse the truck home with the clutch trouble and stay in the lead.

Phil Naylor and Dennis Buckley of Freehold were closing the gap at the finish.

Fourth place went to Marlboro’s Tim Buckley, the series’ defending champion, while 2000 points leader Chris Kilbride of Colts Neck was fifth.

Del George Jr. of Denville posted the fastest time in the time trials and then went out and won the double-points Legend Cars’ 30-lap final. Tim Henry, the defending champion and points leader, was second followed by Howell’s Bryan Gardella.

The race for the 2000 track championships will be much clearer following Saturday night’s features.

The Modified drivers won’t be the only ones going extra distance for double points, the Street Stock drivers will be racing over 50-laps in their feature.

Racing will start at 7.

New Egypt Speedway

Double-points will be at stake Saturday night at New Egypt Speedway and the driver to beat in the big-block Modified race is Billy Pauch of Frenchtown.

Pauch remained on his roll last Saturday night, capturing his 13th feature win of the season.

Everything seems to be breaking Pauch’s way this year and competitors have to be shaking their heads wondering what it’s going to take to beat him.

Even when he isn’t the fastest car on the track, he wins.

Mike Hendershot of Hackettstown appeared headed for victory lane in the 30-lap Modified headliner. He was in charge through the first 20 laps when a left rear tire-flat ended his night.

The opportunistic Pauch, who was in second at the time, swept into the lead and held it over the rest of the way.

Win No. 13 was a birthday gift for his wife Barbara, who was celebrating Saturday night.

Kenny Brightbill of Sinking Springs, Pa., made a late run to take second place.

Tim Tanner Jr., Ivyland, Pa., was third followed by Rick Grosso Jr. of Belle Mead and Keith Hoffman of Whitehall, Pa. Allentown’s Mark Bitner was 10th.

Hendershot did get to celebrate a win, however, as he took the checkered flag in the special 20-lap Future Winner’s event, a bonus race for Modified drivers who have never won a feature race on the NES clay track.

John Koczon scored another win for his hometown New Egypt, winning his fifth Sportsman feature of the summer.

He took the lead on lap eight and over-