JUSTIN GUMLEY WINS MODIFIED RACE, OTHERS FOGGED OUT AT WALL STADIUM SATURDAY

JUSTIN GUMLEY WINS MODIFIED RACE, OTHERS FOGGED OUT AT WALL STADIUM SATURDAY

WALL TOWNSHIP, N.J. ~ Justin Gumley beat a 23 car field, the fast approaching fog and several restarts forced by caution flags for accidents to win the 50-lap main event for Downs Ford Modified stock cars at Wall Stadium Speedway Saturday night. It was the first win since 2007 for the Howell resident it puts him in the point lead for the speedway’s “Triple Crown” title.

Brick’s Ron Frees was the first leader of the contest as Gumley charged into second before the lap seven mark. A lap 10 restart saw Gumley charge to the outside lane and into the lead while Frees and Jackson’s Steven Reed ran tight in second and third. On lap 19 Reed was able to wrestle his way into second spot but Frees still remained very much in contention.

Several caution flags for spins and tangles riddled the event. The worst incident came on lap ten when Derek Hopkinson of Toms River touched another car in turn two. Apparently the tangle caused front-end damage to Hopkinson’s mount causing it to lose braking. As a result Hopkinson’s car slammed the fourth turn rail with great force causing severe damage to his car. Fortunately no injuries were reported.

During all the restarts in the event Reed and Frees hounded Gumley. On more than one occasion it seemed like Reed was on the verge of racing into the lead only to have Gumley protect his front running turf. When the checker flag waved Gumley, Reed and Frees were a tight top three with Howell’s Eric Mauriello racing from deep in the pack for fourth and New Egypt’s Jason Hearne fifth.

“I never thought the race would end,” Gumley said after the event. “The car was pretty good tonight. It was obviously good enough to win. It took a long time to run the race with all those cautions. Near the end I started to worry if I would have enough fuel.”

Defending Green Flag Driving Experience Legend Cars champion Brian Spencer of Edison won the companion 25-lap feature race. Taking the lead early Spencer grabbed his first win of the young season over Whiting’s Casey Robicheau, Mitchell Dowd, Louie Keraitis and Nick Van Wickle.

Former champion Howie Conk of Jackson took top honors in the Elite Maintenance Limited Late Model 25-lapper. Conk took over the lead in the early going and was chased across the finish line by Bayville’s Mike Tillett, Anthony Crimaldi of Port Monmouth, John Vullo of Ronkonkoma, N.Y. and Wall’s Cole Ormsbee.

After the first five laps of the Snap-on Sportsman 30-lap main event the fog really settled over the speedway making racing conditions dangerous. After consultation officials decided to postpone that race and the 35-lapper for the O’Shea’s Auto Repair Factory Stocks to a future date due to safety concerns.

Wall Stadium returns to action this Saturday (May 16) night with a special salute to Scouting. On this night any Boy or Girl Scout will be admitted to the grandstands free of charge when wearing any part of their uniform. With spectator seating opening at 5:00 p.m. qualifying is set for 6:00 p.m. followed by main events for the Sportsman, Factory Stocks, 4 Cylinder Stocks and Legend Cars. The Sportsman and Legend Cars main events will be the first of their “Triple Crown” races. The open cockpit winged Three Quarter Midgets will also make their first visit of the season.

Wall Stadium presents professional motorsports events on Saturdays and Sundays through September with special post-season races in October and November. The speedway is located on Route 34 in Wall Township, N.J., just one mile north of Garden State Parkway exit 98 and Interstate 195 exit 35B. 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.

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MODIFIED FEATURE – 40 Laps – 1. JUSTIN GUMLEY, HOWELL, 2. Steven Reed, 3. Ron Frees, 4. Eric Mauriello, 5. Jason Hearne, 6. Shawna Ingraham, 7. Chas Okerson, 8. Shaun Carrig, 9. Andrew Krause, 10. Zack Alspach, 11. Trevor Alspach, 12. Shanon Mongeau, 13. Chris Reynolds, 14. Ken Matlach, 15. Chad Churilla, 16. Jonathan Mandato, 17. Jason Treat, 18. Ryan Cottrell, 19. Glenn Slocum, 20. Adam LaCicero, 21. Keith Mulleneaux, 22. Derek Hopkinson, 23. Ken Woolley

LEGEND CARS FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. BRIAN SPENCER, EDISON, 2. Casey Robicheau, 3. Mitchell Dowd, 4. Louie Keraitis, 5. Nick Van Wickle, 6. Chris Gall, 7. Sean Gallagher, 8. Steven Woytysiak, 9. James Van Wickle, 10. Peter Bruno, 11. Roger Nickerson

LIMITED LATE MODEL FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. HOWIE CONK, JACKSON, 2. Mike Tillett, 3. Anthony Crimaldi, 4. John Vullo, 5. Cole Ormsbee, 6. Brian Doyle, 7. Glen Conk, 8. Bill Vanderveen, 9. Greg Miranda, 10. Dominic Casola

SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 30 Laps – Postponed by fog.

FACTORY STOCK FEATURE – 35 Laps – Postponed by fog.