Fornoro Jr. makes history with win at Wall Speedway
WALL TOWNSHIP — Veteran racecar driver Nick Fornoro Jr. of Reeders, Pa., enjoyed another first in his storied career Saturday night as he won the first-ever 100-lap championship race contested by SuperModified racecars at Wall Township Speedway.
It was the first time the International SuperModified Association has ever presented a race on the third-mile, high-banked, paved oval and a large crowd was on hand to witness the action.
Jamie Timmons of North Andover, Mass., led the first four laps of the contest from his pole-starting position before Randy Ritskes of Oswego, N.Y., took command. Ritskes then led the following 56 laps, surviving restarts forced by several caution flags forced by relatively minor incidents.
Meanwhile, Fornoro was always in the hunt from his sixth-starting spot as he worked to stay with the leader while still trying to save his tires for the closing laps. At the halfway mark, Fornoro closed on Ritskes’ bumper and then, in tight-lapped traffic, Fornoro forged into the lead with a daring inside pass in the fourth turn on lap 60.
From then on Fornoro raced on to the win, while defending series champion Chris Perley of Rowley, Mass., and Russ Wood of Pelham, N.H., throttled into second and third in the late going. Ritskes settled for fourth and Scott Martel of Bradford, Mass., was fifth.
"In the early part of the race I just wanted to stay with the leader and keep my tires for the end," Fornoro said. "After halfway, my chance came to take the lead and I took it. I think it was a pretty good race. A lot of people wondered if the SuperModifieds could pass here. I think it was proven tonight that we can."
In the companion 25-lapper for the Street Stocks, Charlie DiGiantamasso of Jackson led the way through the first 15 laps of competition before the pressure became too much. Parlin’s Eric Gerchak had moved into second with 10 laps complete and immediately went to work on the leader before powering to the front after a lap 16 restart.
From then on Gerchak held off rookie Jared Okerson of Freehold to grab his first win of the season. The fight for third was a good one right to the finish as Long Island’s Ken Matlach held on for the spot, while defending champ Ron Frees of Brick was fourth and Dave Gould of Jackson was fifth.
Frank Polimeda of Fort Lee, who also races regularly in the Modified division here, raced from eighth on the grid to win the Legend Car 20-lapper. Polimeda needed nine laps to advance to second and then hounded early leader Steve Stull of Hamilton for five laps before taking the lead and eventual win. Stull was second at the stripe, while father and son Rich and Ricky Losh, both of Joppa, Md., were third and fourth. Charlie Phillips was fifth.
Bernie Bailey of Parlin crossed the finish line first in the 20-lapper for the Truck Series racers, but when his vehicle failed a post-race tech inspection, Jim Bruno of Smithville was awarded the trophies. Keith Mullineaux of Egg Harbor Township was second, Bill Weichert of Chatham, third, Jerry Stanzione of Keansburg, fourth and Brian Worth of Brick was fifth.
After having off on Saturday night, the Modifieds return this Saturday in a 35-lap main event, while the Pro Stocks, who also had Saturday night off, will be back in a 25-lapper. Also on the card will be the Street Stocks, Legend Cars and the TQ Midgets. Truck Series racers have the night off. Racing is set to start at 6 p.m. and grandstand seating opens at 4 p.m.

