Away from the Island 

Wall’s Turkey Derby Looks Like Modified All-Star Race

rgeepro Comments

Judging by the packed pit area for Saturday’s final practice session and the brisk tire business leading up to the event, the 40th running of the Turkey Derby this Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1) at Wall Stadium Speedway looks like an all-star race for open wheel Modified stock cars.

A strong list of invading drivers is led by 2013 NASCAR Modified Tour champion Ryan Preece of Berlin, Ct. driving the No. 7NY for NASCAR Sprint Cup team owner Tommy Baldwin. Baldwin has formed a super team for the annual Thanksgiving weekend event as a second car; No. 76 will be fielded with many time winner Jimmy Blewett of Howell at the wheel.

Coming off a great 2013 season Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa. is expected to return in an effort to win his second straight Turkey Derby classic. Other invaders expected include Les Hinkley of Windsor Locks, Ct., Jimmy Zacharias off Candor, NY, Earl Paules of Palmerton, Pa., Jeff Malone of South Windsor, Ct., Howell’s Jamie Tomaino, Anthony Sesely of Matawan, Rowan Pennink of Huntington Valley, Pa., Jason Hearne of New Egypt, North Carolina’s Danny and Michael Bohn and Dave Sapienza of Riverhead, N.Y., just to name a few.

Wall Stadium will be well represented as almost every regular Modified competitor is expected to see action. 2013 Modified champion Chas Okerson of Freehold will lead the pack with others including Eric Mauriello of Howell, Brick’s Shawna Ingraham, Lavallette’s Adam LaCicero, Howell’s Steven Reed, Oakland’s Chris Hamilton, Derek Hopkinson of Toms River and many others expected to see action.

Many drivers are planning to field cars in both the Tour Modified 150-lapper and the Wall/SK Modified 100-lap main event.

The Turkey Derby is a three-day auto racing event held during the daylight hours. On Friday, November 29, the Sportsman cars, Factory Stocks and 4 Cylinder cars will all compete in qualifying and 50-lap main events. The Legend Cars will qualify and compete in a 40-lap feature. The Wall Modifieds will also be on the card as they qualify for their Saturday main event and the restored cars of the Garden State Vintage Stock Car club will also be an important part of the day. The pit area will open at 6:30 a.m. on Friday, while practice will start at 8:30 a.m. Grandstand seating will open at 9:30 a.m., qualifying is set for 12:30 p.m. and main events are planned for 2:15 p.m.

Day two of the 40th Turkey Derby will see the Touring Modifieds qualify and battle in a 150-lap championship race while the Wall Modifieds race for 100-laps. Dirt Modified/Sportsman and Limited Late Models will compete in 50-lap races while the TQ Midgets are set for a 25-lapper. Qualifying, as needed, is set for all divisions on Saturday. The pit area will open at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, while practice will start at 8:30 a.m. Grandstand seating will open at 9:30 a.m., qualifying is set for 11:00 a.m. and main events are planned for 1:00 p.m.

The 40th Turkey Derby weekend will then wrap up on Sunday, December 1 with a championship Demolition Derby, a 75-lap race for the 4 Cylinder cars, a 50-lapper for the Factory Stocks and a ladies’ Powder Puff race. The pit area will open at 10:0 a.m. on Sunday, while practice will start at 11:00 a.m. Grandstand seating will open at noon as qualifying begins and main events are planned for 1:00 p.m.