If the quality and quantity of race cars at the Nov. 12 Turkey Derby practice and the interest of other Modified stock car drivers can be any indication, the 43rd running of the Turkey Derby stock car classic at Wall Stadium Speedway will feature an all-star field. The event is presented on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 25-27) and set during the daylight hours.
On hand for the Nov. 12 practice and turning fast times were Tour Type Modified standouts Austin Kochenash of Danielsville, Pennsylvania; Dave Sapienza of Riverhead, New York; Howell speedster Eric Mauriello; Shaun Carrig of Little Falls; Les Hinkley of Windsor Locks, Connecticut; Holmdel’s Andrew Krause; Earl Paules of Palmertown, Pennsylvania; and Long Island racers Amber Fortin and Kenny Darch. Each one plans to compete in the 150-lap Tour Type Modified event.
The speedway’s own Downs Ford Modifieds were also well represented at the Nov. 14 test session, as newly crowned champion Steven Reed of Jackson; Ken Matlach of New Hyde Park, New York; Jason Hearne of New Egypt; Howell’s Chris Lane; Derek Hopkinson of Toms River; Wall’s Jack Ely; Robert Schwarz; and Sportsman hot shoe Ricky Collins were all turning laps at top speeds preparing for the Wall Modified 100-lap feature.
In fact, each division that will compete in Turkey Derby action was well represented at the practice session. Another practice session was held Nov. 19.
On the first day of the Turkey Derby Nov. 25, pit area gates will open at 6:30 a.m., practice will begin at 8:30 a.m. and grandstand seating will open at 9:30 a.m. Qualifying is set for 12:15 p.m., with feature racing scheduled to start at 2 p.m. The Snap-on Sportsman cars will compete in a 50-lap main event, the Elite Maintenance Limited Late Models will battle in a 50-lapper, and the O’Shea’s Auto Repair Factory Stocks and the Surf Side Collision 4-Cylinder Stocks will each battle in 40-lap races.
On Nov. 26, the pit area will again open at 6:30 a.m., with practice at 8:30 a.m. and grandstands opening at 9:30 a.m. Qualifying will start at 11 a.m. with main events set for 1 p.m. The Tour Type Modifieds are set for a 150-lap, $5,000 to win feature race, while the speedway’s Down Ford Modifieds will compete in a 100-lap feature race that offers $4,000 to the winner. Dirt Modifieds will also be on the card in a 50-lap feature, and the Green Flag Driving Experience Legends cars will compete in a 30-lapper. The TQ Midgets will race on the inner oval in a 30-lap race.
The Turkey Derby weekend will then wrap up Nov. 27, with pit gates opening at 10 a.m., practice starting at 11 a.m., qualifying at noon and main events set for 1 p.m. The Legend Cars will be competing in a 40-lapper and the Factory Stocks will race in a 50-lapper. The 4-Cylinder Stocks are set for a 75-lapper, while the Dirt Outlaw Stocks and the Dirt Sportsman cars have been added this season in 25-lap main events. A Demolition Derby will cap off the action.
Among special awards offered for the weekend will be the Larsen Brothers Memorial Fast Time Award for both the Tour and Wall Modified divisions. The fast qualifier in each division will pocket $200.
A special commemorative Turkey Derby 43 sweatshirt will be available during the weekend, and fans are reminded to bring small headset type radios to listen to the live call of the race events over the track’s 90.1 FM frequency. Campers are welcome, but they are urged to call the speedway office prior to the event to make mandatory reservations.
Turkey Derby rules, registration forms, ticket purchase forms and more detailed information are all available on the speedway website at wallspeedwayracing.com.
Wall Stadium Speedway is located on Route 34 in Wall Township, just 1 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].