A lthough the Wall Stadium regular stock car racing season will continue through the end of September, racer Adam Gordon knew his campaign would end on Aug. 18 as he was scheduled to take off to York (Pa.) College at the end of this week.
Gordon, 18, of Brick Township, will have happy memories and a winning trophy to take to school with him after he won his first 30-lap Sportsman main event at the Wall Township one-third mile paved oval on Aug. 18.
Gordon took full advantage of his second row starting position, but was forced to fight off many of his 19 fellow starters through the duration of the race.
Freehold’s Elliott Wohl and Holmdel’s Andrew Krause were early contenders, before Charlie Kremer III of Toms River took his shots at the leader. Late in the contest, Eric Mauriello of Howell and Willingboro’s Trevor Alspach moved in to challenge, but Gordon fought off all foes for the victory.
Mauriello, Trevor Alspach, Kremer and Zack Alspach of Willingboro completed the top five.
“I have to thank my mom and dad for this. They live their lives for me,” Gordon said in the winner’s circle. “I also have to thank everyone on my crew and the guys on the No. 50 team, too. I’ll have a dorm room at college and one of these trophies will be in it.”
Although Krause was a contender throughout the Sportsman race and finished sixth, he did even better in the companion 25-lapper for the Factory Stocks as he raced from fifth in the 19-car field to score the win. Brick Township’s Ronnie Mullen and Manchester’s Scott Riggleman were second and third, while Marty Van Druten of Toms River and Point Pleasant’s John Bowers wrapped up the top five.
When front-runner Robert French of Howell suffered a broken oil line to ruin his bid for a main event victory late in the Legend Cars 25-lapper, Mike Alcaro of Newton took over the lead and raced on for the win. Rob Hyer of South Amboy was second, while division points leader Derek Hopkinson of Toms River, Malcolm Campbell of Eatontown, and Brian Spencer of Edison were the remainder of the top five finishers.
Defending Street Stock driving champion Howie Conk of Jackson regained the division points lead by winning the night’s 25-lapper for the full-fendered cars. Jerry Stanzione of Keansburg, who raced side-byside with Conk for almost the entire distance, was forced to settle for second when a lapped car blocked his path in the final lap. Mike Tillett of Bayville, Jack Sayegh of South Toms River, and Anthony Donnamaria of Sayreville were third through fifth.
Ryan Tidman of Levittown, Pa., grabbed the lead early and then romped on to his third win of the year for the visiting Three Quarter Midgets. Jess McKeon of Point Pleasant celebrated a victory by winning a special 15-lap ladies’ race.
Wall Stadium’s stock car racing season continues on Aug. 25 with the annual running of the 76-lap John Blewett III Memorial for Modified stock cars. Grandstands will open at 5 p.m. and the first qualifying event takes the green flag at 6 p.m. Main events are scheduled for 7 p.m.