Compared to the usual 30-lap feature, the 125-lap Garden State Classic is a marathon for Wall Stadium’s Modified stock car drivers.
A lot can happen in the span of that many laps around the 1/3-mile oval, and it did. It was Willingboro’s Trevor Alspach who outlasted everyone and captured the 54th edition of the Garden State Classic on June 28.
Howell’s Steve Reed pursued Alspach to the checkered flag, finishing second.
Freehold’s Chas Okerson, Matawan’s Anthony Sesely and Little Falls’ Shaun Carrig rounded out the top five.
Other winners on the racing card included Brick’s Robert Sutphin in the 30-lap Sportsman feature, Brick’s Randy Hart in the 25-lap 4-Cylinder Stocks race and Bayville’s Mike Tillett in the 25-lap Limited Late Model feature.
Heading into July and nearing the midpoint of Wall Stadium’s racing season, the race for season-long driving championships is very close.
Okerson, Brick’s Shawna Ingraham and Holmdel’s Andrew Krause are locked in a tight three-way battle for the top spot in the Modified Division. It will likely take all season to separate the trio. Among the leading three, Okerson is the only one with a feature win. In fact, no one has scored multiple wins. Reed and Sesely, who raced so well in the Garden State Classic, are among the other drivers with one checkered flag. It’s tight in the Sportsman Division, with Krause, Howell’s Kevin Davison and Manasquan’s Kenny VanWickle within six points of each other.
Jackson Township’s Howie Conk, Brian Doyle and Tillett are only six points apart in the Limited Late Model Division.
Manchester’s Scott Riggleman has built up a nice cushion in Factory Stock, and four feature victories have James Meyers well ahead in the 4-Cylinder Division.
Thanks to three feature wins, Howell’s Robert French has a commanding lead in the Legends Division.
There’s a tie in Powder Puff between Nancy Hills and Cassandra Deni. Each has a feature victory.
Racing continues on July 5 with Banner Night. Fans are invited to bring a banner or poster of their favorite driver, and prizes will be awarded to the three most creative and to all participants. The Batmobile replica will be making an appearance at Wall Stadium as well.
Highlighting the evening racing will be the 50-lap Factory Stocks feature. Modifieds, Sportsman, 4-Cylinder and Power Puff features are also on the card. The grandstands open at 5 p.m., and the first green flag waves at 5:30 p.m.
Visit wallstadium.com for more details.