A pril 28 was a date that Modified stock car driver Steven Reed and his girlfriend Katie Messina will never forget.
Returning to Wall Stadium after a season long layoff, the Freehold speedster powered his family-owned No. 55 to victory at theWall Township race track. During his winner’s circle interview, Reed grabbed the microphone, dropped to one knee and asked his girlfriend for her hand in marriage, and she accepted.
“I dreamed of proposing this way and was going to wait until I got this win,” Reed said. “Nobody knew except me and my sister. She carried the ring and gave it to me when she got to the car.”
Reed’s drive in the season-opening 40- lap feature was nearly as perfect as his proposal. Starting on the pole by the luck of the draw, he rocketed to the lead and held off the advances of brother-in-law Chas Okerson of Freehold.
Howell’s Ken Woolley Jr. then fought his way into second by the 15th lap and wrestled for the top spot until the duo touched on a lap 21 restart. Reed then raced on to the win with Okerson second, defending champion Anthony Sesely of Matawan, third, Woolley, fourth, and Lafayette’s Roger Coss, fifth.
The companion 30-lapper for the Sportsman cars offered battles for the lead from start to finish. Defending champion Kevin Eyres of Colts Neck was the top man most of the way, holding off assaults from Charlie Kremer III of Toms River, Andrew Krause of Holmdel and others.
Late in the race, Howell’s Eric Mauriello scratched his way into the second spot and eventually used a lap 26 restart to power into the lead in the outside lane. Mauriello then cruised to the win.
Eyres held on for second, while brothers Trevor and Zach Alspach, both of Willingboro, were third and fourth. Kremer crossed the line fifth.
Defending Street Stock champion Howie Conk of Jackson also started the year off on the right foot with a main event win over Jerry Stanzione of Keansburg, Mike Tillett of Bayville, Holmdel’s Dominic Casola and Nick Shaw of Chatham.
Scott Riggleman of Manchester led from start to finish to win the 25-lapper for the Factory Stocks. Jim Downey of Cliffwood Beach, Howell’s Steve West, Brick Township’s Ronnie Mullen and John Bowers of Point Pleasant completed the top five.
Derek Hopkinson of Toms River started his title defense on the right foot by winning the 25-lapper for the Legend Cars. Howell’s Robert French fought for the lead until the end and finished second.