KRAUSE AND HOPKINSON TAKE WALL STADIUM MODIFIED WINS

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KRAUSE AND HOPKINSON TAKE WALL STADIUM MODIFIED WINS

Story By: Jeff Gravatt/Wall Stadium – Photos By: John John Lane/RacersGuide.com

WALL TOWNSHIP, N.J. ~ With a majority of those on the speedway grounds keeping an eye on the weather due to the impending forecast of a tropical storm Andrew Krause of Holmdel and Derek Hopkinson of Toms River kept their eyes on the track to win Downs Ford Modified main events on Saturday night at Wall Stadium Speedway. Krause’s win was his third of the campaign while Hopkinson won his first main event of the year.

In the first Modified 40-lapper, rain postponed from July 30, Brick’s Ron Frees jumped to the lead at the outset with Krause soon riding his bumper. On lap five Krause dove to the inside lane on the backstretch, took the lead and was never headed.

In a race that was slowed only once for a spin on lap 27 by Toms River’s Jonathan Mandato, Krause stretched an advantage at times with Frees behind him all the way. Shaun Carrig of Little Falls was third with defending champion Steven Reed of Jackson, who passed several cars during the race, fourth. Kenny Matlach of New Hyde Park, N.Y. was fifth.

“We’ve had our share of trouble so this win feels real good,” Krause said referring to a motor problem that knocked him from winning contention one week earlier. My family, my friends and my sponsors never let me down.”

The regularly scheduled Modified 40-lapper went non-stop with Hopkinson leading all the way. Matlach chased him before settling for second with multi-time champ Chas Okerson finishing third. Reed, riding in the outside lane, wrestled with Carrig for several laps before nailing down fourth. Carrig was fifth.

“We’ve had a lot of trouble trying to get this car under us so it was real nice when it was almost perfect for this race,” Hopkinson said. “It can be a bit of a workout going 40-laps non-stop but I didn’t want to see a caution to tighten up the pack.”

Kenny Van Wickle of Manasquan won his second main event of the year in the companion 30-lapper for the Snap On Sportsman cars. Van Wickle took the lead a third of the way in from eventual runner-up Jarret DiGiantomasso. Kevin Davison of Howell, Jackson’s Blake Barney and Brick’s Robert Sutphin were third through fifth. Ricky Collins of Willow Grove, Pa., the point leader going into the test, was involved in an early wreck and finished 18th.

Defending O’Shea’s Auto Repair Factory Stock champ Joe Mongeau of Brick slipped into the lead on the final stretch to win his second 25-lapper of the year. Early leader Joey Helberg of Union was second followed by Eatontown’s Ron Booth, Gerry Koenig of Seaford, N.Y. and Manchester’s Scott Riggleman.

Point race leader Louie Keraitis of Toms River won his third Green Flag Driving Experience Legend Cars 25-lapper fighting off defending champion Robert French of Howell in the closing laps. Vinny Troia of Browns Mills, Nick Van Wickle of Edgewater Park and Ron Merlino of Pine Beach wrapped up the top five.

Brick’s Ronnie Mullen raced to his second win of the year in the 25-lapper for the Surf Side Collision 4 Cylinder Stocks. Early leader Jason Lane of Brick was second with Beachwood’s Todd Pilla, Fred Cannock of Port Monmouth and Howell’s Brian Osborn completing the top five.

Stock car racing continues this Saturday night (Sept. 10) with “Pack the Track” night action. Adults will be admitted for just $10 while students aged 7 to 17 are just $5. Children six and under are always free. On the track the Factory Stocks will race in three 25-lap main events and a “Dash for Cash.” The Sportsman cars will compete in a 30-lapper while the 4 Cylinder Stocks and the Legend Cars will battle in 25-lappers. A championship Demolition Derby will also be presented. Grandstand seating opens at 5:00 p.m., qualifying starts at 5:30 p.m. and feature racing begins at 7:00 p.m.

The complete updated regular season schedule, which runs on Saturday nights through October 1, is available at wallspeedwayracing.com as are the rules and regulations for all divisions. Post-season events, the “Spooky Spectacular” on October 15 and the Thanksgiving weekend “Turkey Derby,” are also being planned.

Wall Stadium 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, the website is wallspeedwayracing.com and email address is CKMotorsports@aol.com.

1ST MODIFIED FEATURE – 40 Laps – 1. ANDREW KRAUSE, HOLMDEL, 2. Ron Frees, 3. Shaun Carrig, 4. Steven Reed, 5. Ken Matlach, 6. Chas Okerson, 7. Derek Hopkinson, 8. Jonathan Mandato, 9. Jason Hearne

2ND MODIFIED FEATURE – 40 Laps – 1. DEREK HOPKINSON, Toms River, 2. Matlach, 3. Okerson, 4. Reed, 5. Carrig, 6. Hearne, 7. Danny Bohn, 8. Krause, 9. Mandato, 10. Anthony Sesely, 11. Shawna Ingraham, 12. Frees, 13. Ed Delage

SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 30 Laps – 1. KENNY VAN WICKLE, MANASQUAN, 2. Jarret DiGiantomasso, 3. Kevin Davison, 4. Blake Barney, 5. Robert Sutphin, 6. Matt Langbein, 7. Jonathan Laureigh, 8. John McCormick, 9. Jimmy Wolcott, 10. Joe Cocca, 11. Eric Lane, 12. Dave Bailey, 13. Roland DeMartino, 14. Donnie Ericson, 15. Dom Fattarusso, 16. Robby Walton, 17. Joe King, 18. Ricky Collins, 19. Tyler Truex

FACTORY STOCK FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. JOE MONGEAU, BRICK, 2. Joey Helberg, 3. Ron Booth, 4. Gerry Koenig, 5. Scott Riggleman, 6. Rick Siddons, 7. Bill Stockert, 8. Steve West, 9. Rob Longo, 10. Tom Rajkowski, 11. Matt Badessa, 12. Scott Maher, 13. Tony Bartone, 14. Johnny Carpenter, 15. Josh Matthews, 16. Dave Green, 17. John Bowers, 18. Richie Byrne

LEGEND CARS FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. LOUIE KERAITIS, TOMS RIVER, 2. Robert French, 3. Vinny Troia, 4. Nick Van Wickle, 5. Ron Merlino, 6. Malcolm Campbell, 7. Art Merraro, 8. Chris Gall, 9. Peter Bruno, 10. Steve Woytysiak, 11. James Van Wickle, 12. Joe McGrath, 13. Roger Nickerson, 14. Luke Marzano

4 CYLINDER STOCKS FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. RONNIE MULLEN, BRICK, 2. Jason Lane, 3. Todd Pilla, 4. Fred Cannock, 5. Brian Osborn, 6. Jeff Loesch, 7. Richard Smith, 8. TJ Graves

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