WALL TOWNSHIP – Former Wall Township Speedway track champion Kevin Flockhart, of Jackson, used his quiet determination to sweep the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series modified division Saturday night.
The 2004 WTS NASCAR Modified champ received the 40-lap feature pole after splitting the three 10-lap heats with Tom Farrell and Justin Gumley. The Blackwood Jewelers Boardwick Chevrolet-Sisco No. 12 driver repelled Farrell, and eventual runner-up John Blewett III by .159 seconds the whole way for his seventh career victory.
Dave Jennings, of Howell, and Gregg Miranda, of Hazlet, scored their respective first career sportsman and street stock victories, and Karl Schlechtweg, of Jackson, triumphed in the truck run.
Kevin Gardella, of Brick, was the provisional Legends Cars winner, while a technical infraction gave Gary Pein, of South Amboy, the factory stock feature. Ferrell fell behind Blewett III for third. Defending track titlist Dave Michel and Jimmy Blewett – who won the May 6 season opener – rounded out the top five of 13 finishers.
The 2004 street stock champ, Jennings made his second sportsman start a winning one by keeping ahead of Billy Weichert and eventual runner up Chris Andretta all 25 laps. Divisional king Andretta, who was awarded last week’s feature, came from eighth starting spot to finish .158 seconds behind Jennings’ Stagecoach Transportation Pontiac GTO-Troyer No. 51. Charlie Kremer III and Chaz Okerson further demoted Weichert to fifth.
Miranda’s 21 years of racing paid off when he ousted polesitter Carl Thomas on lap 10 of the street stock feature. The Steve Bogus Electric Pontiac-powered Ford Taurus No. 09 driver earned a .299-second victory margin after 25 laps over John McCormick, Thomas, Adam LeCicero and Jared Okerson. Divisional champ and last week’s winner Bill Vanderveen dropped out after one lap.
Schlechtweg overcame an understeer condition, caused by left front fender almost torn off in an opening lap scuffle with poleman Jesse McLaughlin, to win the 20-lap truck race. The No. 1 Chevrolet Silverado driver had Brunning Auto Body teammate Jerry Stanzione behind him until a shorted alternator put him eighth on the last lap. Keith Mullineaux, last week’s winner Gordon Neil, Brian Worth and Jim Worth completed the top five.
Pein thought he had finished second to Vern McLaughlin in the 20-lap factory stock feature until technical inspectors said they found an illegal rear end on the winner’s car. McLaughlin’s subsequent disqualification elevated the No. 38 driver to first, followed by Felix Ciattarelli, Mark Tischler, Gregg Clerico, and last week’s winner, Rob Longo.
Defending Legends Cars champ Gardella finished first over 2004 titlist Frank Polimeda but a question over whether Gardella actually owns the 600 Racing-Yamaha No. 14NJ was to be determined by the INEX sanctioning body in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday. Gardella, A.J. Wright and Mike Stull split the heats.
The trucks make way for the American Three Quarter Midget Racing Association while the other divisions continue 7 p.m. Saturday.
– Walter Elliot