WALL TOWNSHIP — Veteran Modified stock car driver Harry Reed showed great speed during the race and survived a post-race protest to win the Memorial 50 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Modified stock car race at Wall Township Speedway Saturday night.
It was the Freehold resident’s second win of the season.
The double point extra-distance event started off on a sour note, as nearly half the 23-car field was involved in a front stretch pile-up at the drop of the green flag. When action finally settled down, Steven Reed, the eventual winner’s son, was the leader.
Steven led the pack through the early going, but Harry was on the move, as he soon advanced to second. Finally, on a lap 18 restart, Harry Reed raced to the outside of Steven to take the lead. From that point on, it was Harry Reed’s race as he stretched his advantage while Frank Polimeda of Fort Lee was able to maneuver his way into second. Jimmy Blewett of Howell was third, with Kevin Flockhart of Jackson and Howell’s Ken Woolley Jr. wrapping up the top five.
"This is all because of how hard this crew works on this car," Reed said in the winner’s circle. "My son, Steven, also helped me to win tonight. The car handles so well because he does all the set-ups on the car. That made this car get through the corners, and that’s what I needed to pass him on the outside."
Along with the on-track action, Reed’s No. 14 was also forced to stand up to a post-race protest posted by the Blewett race team. After the engine in Reed’s car was almost completely disassembled, it was declared to be legal and Reed was declared the winner early Sunday morning.
The companion main event for the Street Stocks was also extra-distance, and Beachwood’s Bill Vanderveen came from 10th on the grid to take the win. Most of this 35-lapper offered side-by-side competition for the top spots between several racers.
Ray Minieri of Bayshore, N.Y., was a front runner, as was Carl Thomas of Hazlet. Thomas led much of the early going as a host of contenders tried to knock him out of the top spot. Jim Downey, Ken Matlach and point leader Dave Jennings were among those trying to wrestle away the win. Finally, in the late going, Vanderveen found his way into second and then took the lead with a handful of laps remaining with a daring pass in the outside lane.
Vanderveen then raced to the holiday weekend win, with Cliffwood Beach’s Downey second and Adam LaCicero of Lavallette, third. Although Jennings was involved in a lap 27 tangle, his crew made repairs and the Howell resident salvaged a fourth-place finish, while Minieri settled for fifth.
The 25-lapper for the Pro Stocks saw Wall’s George Andretta pad his point lead by taking the victory. The final laps saw Jason Burdge and Chas Okerson, both of Freehold, race right in Andretta’s shadow to the checker flag. Kenny Reaves of Piscataway and Bob Sweeten were fourth and fifth.
Former champ Bill Weichert of Chatham also padded his point lead by winning the 20-lapper for the Truck Series racers. Steve Naylor was the early leader in this one and held off Weichert for several laps. Weichert finally made the winning pass in the outside lane with just four laps remaining.
Jim Bruno of Smithville was third behind Weichert and Naylor, with Jim Weiss and Keith Mullineaux wrapping up the top five.
Jim Tomaino of Bayville made it obvious that he is searching for a title by winning the 20-lapper for the Legend Cars. Rich Losh of Joppa, Md., chased him across the line for second, while Polimeda was third. Mike Fulton and Ricky Losh were fourth and fifth.
The Modifieds return this Saturday in a 35-lap main event, while the Street Stocks and Pro Stocks will each race in a 25-lap feature event. Truck Series, Legend Cars and TQ Midget racers are each set for 20-lap features, while the vintage race cars of the Garden State Vintage Stock Car Club will also be on hand. Racing is set to start at 6 p.m., while grandstand seating opens at 4 p.m.