A nthony Sesely of Matawan grabbed perhaps the biggest victory of his young Modified stock car driving career on June 25 as he won the 51st anniversary Garden State Classic at Wall Stadium, Wall Township. Sesely started ninth in the 23-car field and patiently worked his way toward the front before taking the lead just past halfway.
The winner’s sister, Amanda Sesely, also made Wall Stadium history when she became the first lady driver to start the Garden State Classic from the No. 1 position.
Amanda Sesely took the lead at the outset, but Farmingdale’s Billy Cole soon raced into the lead. Cole held off the strong advances of Shaun Carrig of Little Falls in the early going while also surviving several restarts.
Meanwhile, Anthony Sesely picked his way toward the front of the pack and arrived in fourth behind Cole, Carrig and Jason Hearne of New Egypt by lap 55.
The turning point in the race came on a lap 66 restart after the track had been covered with oil from a competitor’s engine. While the track crew did an admirable job in cleaning up the slick mess, the drying agent that was used made for treacherous conditions.
When the green flag returned, pole sitter Cole wrestled to control his car while Carrig and Sesely charged into the top two spots. Moments later, Sesely advanced to the lead for good.
Carrig shadowed Sesely for the remainder of the 125-lap distance before settling for second place, while Howell’s Ken Woolley Jr. was third. Ron Frees of Browns Mills and Amanda Sesely wrapped up the top five.
“This is a big win for us,” Sesely said in victory lane. “I had to be patient coming through the pack, but that restart with all the speedy dry on the track was pretty crazy. I was really out of control. It was one of the scariest things I’ve done on a race track.”
Howell’s Chris Lane came from fifth in the 18-car field to win the companion 25- lapper for the Blewett Recycling Sportsman cars. Brick Township’s Robert Sutphin was second, while defending champion Kevin Eyres of Colts Neck was third. Zach Alspach of Willingboro and Joe Mongeau of Brick Township wrapped up the top five.
Shannon Mongeau of Bradley Beach came from the 15th starting spot in the 22- car United Crane Factory Stock 25-lap feature to grab his sixth win in as many tries.
Derek Hopkinson of Toms River raced from ninth to take the lead and the win in the INEX Legend Car 25-lap feature.
Action at Wall Stadium will resume on July 2.