Turkey Derby Notebook

Turkey Derby Notebook
By: Pete MacDonald

236 cars attempted to qualify across the nine divisions over the course of the weekend, which I’m sure has to be some sort of record for the event. There were race cars parked halfway in the parking lot during the weekend.

All the hype surrounding former NASCAR Sprint Cup superstar Jeremy Mayfield never really took off the ground. Mayfield seemed to be uncomfortable from the time the car hit the race track. He failed to qualify for the Tour-type Modified race after crashing in the Non Qualifiers race. Mayfield was the fan vote into the Wall/SK Modified Feature where he would finish 16th.

Was really cool to see up and coming star Eric Mauriello win the Tour Modified 150 in Dick Barney’s “Big Red” 14 which is still arguably the most popular Asphalt Modified there has ever been.

The Speedway announced that they had to stop selling pit wristbands and grandstand tickets prior to Saturday’s features due to the large crowd on hand. Cars were being parked at a nearby airport and fans were shuttled in throughout the course of the day.

Jimmy Blewett picked up his 14th career Turkey Derby win on Saturday winning the Wall/SK Modified 100 Lapper.
Lady racer Shawna Ingraham ran the same car in both the Tour Modified and the Wall/SK Modified features. The only difference? A 4-Barrel carburetor was added so she could keep up with the more powerful Tour-Type Modifieds.
Was nice to see a full field of Limited Late Models compete on Saturday. That class has been on the rise the past couple seasons.

The Dirt Modifieds still look really cool racing around the high banks of Wall Stadium. They look sort of like slot car’s dancing around the 1/3 mile oval.

Eight drivers did “Double Duty” on Saturday, competing in both the Tour-Type and Wall/SK Modified features including winners Eric Mauriello and Jimmy Blewett along with Zane Zeiner, Matt Hirschman, Shawna Ingraham, Andrew Krause, Anthony Sesely and Jason Treat.

Andrew Krause was the real Iron-Man of the weekend competing in the Tour Modified, Wall Modified, Dirt Modified, Sportsman and Factory Stock Features over the course of the three days.

Both Danny Bohn and Ryan Preece said the same thing, they just didn’t have enough left-rear tire left when it was time to go late in the race.

Tommy Baldwin brought both Jimmy Blewett’s and Ryan Preece’s Modifieds up in Michael Annett’s NASCAR Sprint Cup hauler for the weekend.

Was interesting to see all the NASCAR Sprint Cup support during the weekend as crew members, spotters, crew chiefs, owners, competition directors and even drivers supported the event.

Turkey Derby will continue for at least one more season as the Krause Family has extended their lease on the property for 2015.

I’ve been going to Wall Stadium since I was two weeks old and it was nice to see the place packed once again. One can only hope that the place thrives for many years to come.