After time off, Sesely wins Spooky Spectacular in Wall

A fter taking the majority of the 2013 auto racing season off to pursue other interests, two-time track driving champion Anthony Sesely posted an impressive comeback by winning the 75-lap Modified stock car Spooky Spectacular race at Wall Stadium on Oct. 19. It was the Matawan resident’s first stock car win of the year.

Sesely chased pole sitter John McCormack of Farmingdale for the first 12 laps before powering to the lead on the inside lane of the third and fourth turns. Modified rookie Eric Mauriello of Howell followed him through the race-long battle for the lead.

Sesely then went on to survive several restart attacks by Mauriello as another Modified rookie, Derek Hopkinson of Toms River, chipped his way to the front before arriving in third near the halfway mark. The lead battle was then a three-car fight to the finish. In fact, Hopkinson was able to slip past Mauriello for the runner-up spot on the event’s final restart with just two laps remaining. Another Modified rookie, Trevor Alspach of Willingboro, was fourth, and New York state resident Tony Hanbury was fifth.

“I must be out of shape,” Sesely said after the event. “This race took a lot more time than the Sprint Car and Midget races I’ve been running this year. Those guys behind me were real fast and real good on the restarts. I’ll be working on the restarts before Turkey Derby. We want to win that race.”

After nearly destroying his racer during the late-September regular-season finale, Manasquan’s Kenny Van Wickle made the hard work of his crew pay off by winning the 50-lap Sportsman feature race. Van Wickle held off Alspach early before Andrew Krause of Holmdel challenged late in the race. Zack Alspach of Willingboro, Scott Branick of Brick and Howell’s Jason Caruso completed the top five.

Howell’s Robert French made his fifth Legend Cars win of the year a big one by taking top honors in the 30-lap Malcolm Campbell Sr. Memorial. French fought with Kevin Nowak early before Aidan Landauer moved into second late in the race. Trevor Alspach, Nowak and Rich Davidowitz wrapped up the top five.

Ken Matlach of New Hyde Park, N.Y., led nearly the entire 30-lap distance to win the Limited Late Model feature race. Long Islanders Chris Turbush and Corey Midgett were second and third, while Jack Sayegh of South Toms River and Howell’s Glen Conk were fourth and fifth.

Brick’s Joe Mongeau won the rain-shortened Factory Stock feature that was stopped after 18 of the scheduled 30 laps. The winner’s nephew, Shannon Mongeau of Farmingdale, was second, and Manchester’s Scott Riggleman was third. Rich Mongeau and Brick’s Ronnie Mullen were fourth and fifth.

The 30-lap 4-Cylinder feature race was postponed by rain.

All attention now turns to the 40th running of the season-ending Turkey Derby stock car classic. Held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, the event is presented during the daylight hours.

For information on the Turkey Derby, the speedway hotline number is 732-681-6400, while ckmotorsports@aol.com is the track’s email address. More information is also available at www.wallspeedwayracing.com.