Holmdel’s Andrew Krause had an opening night to remember at Wall Stadium Speedway, capturing his first Downs Ford Modified stock car race. Krause, the 2015 Sportsman driving champion, battled Jackson’s Steven Reed on numerous restarts before taking the win on the one-third-mile, high-banked paved oval open Opening Night April 23.
“This is just awesome,” Krause said of his initial Modified triumph in a prepared statement. “There is nobody better on restarts than Steven [Reed], so it was tough on every one of them. He always runs hard but he runs real clean. I thank him for that.”
At the drop of the green flag, Krause and Reed, the defending Modified champion, battled side by side for several laps before Krause was finally able to slip to the front. This same scenario played out on each of the event’s four restarts, with Krause able to slip back into the lead. Reed, who finished second, was never far behind. Freehold’s Chas Okerson was third, while Brick’s Shawna Ingraham and Howell’s Eric Mauriello wrestled their way into fourth and fifth in the 40-lap feature.
Shannon Mongeau of Manchester kept a win streak alive that dates back to November by winning the companion 30-lapper for the Snap On Sportsman cars. In a new car, Mongeau led all the way, while Dominic Fattaruso of Brick finished second. Ricky Collins of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, Manasquan’s Kenny Van Wickle and Tyler Truex of Mayetta wrapped up the top five.
Kevin Nowak of Medford, New York, took the 25-lapper for the Green Flag Driving Experience Legend Cars, while Rich Davidowitz of Center Moriches, New York, came from the rear of the pack to finish second. Mitchell Dowd, Nick Van Wickle and defending champion Robert French completed the top five.
Jerry Stanzione of Keansburg grabbed his first O’Shea’s Auto Repair Factory Stock 25-lap win over Union’s Joey Helberg, Wall’s Rob Haberstick, defending champ Joe Mongeau of Brick and Manchester’s Scott Riggleman.
Mike Lavery was also a first-time winner in the Surf Side Collision 4-Cylinder Stock main event over Todd Pilla and Jason Lane. Ray Minieri took the win in the Elite Maintenance Limited late Model event over Brian Doyle and Mike Tillett. Geoffrey Sutton won the 25-lapper for the visiting TQ Midgets.
Racing returns April 30 with “Fan Appreciation Night” action, which will kick off with a party on the track where drivers will meet the fans and display their race cars.
Grandstands will open at 4 p.m. with a discounted admission for all early arrivals until 5:30 p.m. The party on the track will run from 4:30 until 5:30 p.m. with qualifying to follow. Main-event action, which will start around 7 p.m., will see the Modifieds race in a 40-lapper, the Sportsman cars compete in a 30-lapper and the Limited Late Models, Legend Cars, Factory Stock and the 4-Cylinder Stocks compete in 25-lap main events.
The complete regular-season schedule, which runs on Saturday nights through the end of September, is available at www.wallspeedwayracing.com, as are the rules and regulations for all divisions. Postseason events, the “Spooky Spectacular” in October and the Thanksgiving weekend “Turkey Derby” are also being planned.
Wall Stadium is located on Route 34 in Wall Township, just one mile north of Garden State Parkway exit 98 and Interstate 195 exit 35B. The speedway hotline number is 732-681-6400 and email address is [email protected].