WALL TOWNSHIP— John Blewett III of Howell scored his second straight Modified win Saturday night in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series 35-lap main event at Wall Township Speedway.
Coming from a 15th starting slot, Blewett raced into the lead for good with just 10 laps remaining.
Shanon Mongeau of Matawan and Brick’s Mike Carpenter were the stars of the show early on as they battled for the lead. This fight for first lasted until lap 16, when the two leaders touched and Mongeau went spinning. Mongeau obviously felt that Carpenter’s contact contributed to his spin, and more contact then occurred while the field was under caution. Shanon Mongeau’s father, Rich Mongeau, also got involved in the caution-period action before all three drivers were disqualified from the race.
The action handed the lead to Del George Jr. on the restart as Blewett continued his charge into third. When the second place running Curtis Truex Jr. of Mayetta slid out of second on the front stretch on lap 24, Blewett advanced to third and set his sights on the leader.
A lap-25 caution put Blewett right on George’s rear bumper, and Blewett then used the opportunity to dive to the inside lane and into the lead moments later. Blewett then raced to victory, while George crossed the line second for his best Modified finish ever. Frank Polimeda of Fort Lee, Freehold’s Steven Reed and Truex were third through fifth.
"I am just so happy for the people who work on this car," Blewett said. "They should get the credit. They put a lot of time in during the week and again on Saturdays."
In regards to the Carpenter/Mongeau incident Blewett said: "I think they should take a good look at what made them spin. The lap before, there was oil or something on the track up there that made it real slippery."
In just his first season of Pro Stock racing, Elliott Wohl of Freehold held off the best in the business to win his first-ever 25-lapper. Wohl took the lead from Wall’s Rich DeSarno on lap six before beating multi-time winners George Andretta of Wall and Chas Okerson of Freehold to the line in tight formation. DeSarno was fourth and Mike Smith was fifth.
After some very tough luck earlier this season, John McCormack of Farmingdale led wire-to-wire to take his first 25-lap Street Stock win of the year. Adam LaCicero of Lavallette, Jim Downey of Cliffwood Beach, Brick’s Ron Frees and point leader Dave Jennings of Howell wrapped up the top five.
Rich Losh of Joppa, Md., grabbed his first win of the year in the 20-lapper for the Legend Cars. Losh, the current point leader, battled in a tight pack for the lead most of the way, with Polimeda and Jason Rochelle of Hacketstown crossing the line second and third. Jim Tomaino of Bayville and Ronnie Dunstan were fourth and fifth.
Bill Weichert of Chatham came from 13th to win the 20-lapper for the Truck Series, taking the lead from Ken McGowan with nine laps remaining. Keith Mullineaux of Egg Harbor Township, Steve Naylor of Galloway Township, Keansburg’s Jerry Stanzione and Jim Bruno of Smithville were second through fifth.
NASCAR Nextel Cup team owner Ray Evernham, who began his career as a driver at the third-mile paved oval, will return to his roots this Saturday night to drive a Modified stock car in the 50-lap Larsen Brothers Memorial race. Evernham, a Hazlet native, will also meet with fans and sign autographs early in the evening.
In addition to the Modifieds, the Pro Stocks, Street Stocks, Legend Cars, TQ Midget and Truck Series racers will see competition. Grandstand seating will open at 5 p.m. and racing will start at 7 p.m.
Penalties announced from
July 3 incident
Wall Township Speedway officials have announced penalties resulting from unsportsmanlike conduct during the recent Marian O’Rorke Memorial at the third-mile paved oval.
Jimmy Blewett of Howell has been suspended from competition for four events and will have to pay a $500 fine before returning to racing. Harry Reed of Freehold has been suspended for two events. Both drivers will also be on probation for the remainder of the 2004 season.