Pits Packed for Final Practice at Wall – Turkey Derby This Fri., Sat. & Sun
With the Wall Stadium Speedway pit area packed for the second straight Saturday practice session all systems are go for the 41st annual “Turkey Derby” stock car racing classic this Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 28, 29 & 30) during the daylight hours. Practice will be held during the morning hours each day with qualifying starting at noon on both Friday and Sunday and 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Although several cars from all nine of the competing divisions were on hand, the Tour Type Modified, Downs Ford Modified and Dirt Car divisions were very well represented at Saturday’s final practice.
Among drivers planning to compete in both Tour Type and Downs Ford Modified action are Howell’s Jimmy Blewett, Anthony Sesely of Matawan, Howell’s Eric Mauriello and Jason Hearne of New Egypt. Among the “invading” Tour Type Modified drivers practicing for the first time on Saturday were David Calabrese of Mooresville, N.C., Frenchtown’s Billy Pauch, Jr., Stephen Kopcik of Newtown, Ct., Jimmy Dolan of Bethel, Ct. and Anthony Nocella of Woburn, Ma.
First time testers in the Downs Ford Modified ranks included Michael Gervais, Jr. of Newtown, Ct., Howell’s Justin Gumley, Dennis Perry of Ashaway, RI, Mike Benenides of Westerly, RI, and Ken Matlach of New Hyde Park, N.Y. who will be moving to the Modified division for the event.
Add these first time practice session participants to the large field on hand for the previous Saturday session and record setting car counts could be in the offing. One of the first Tour Type Modified competitors to contact the speedway office was former Sprint Cup driver Jeremy Mayfield who has recently raced Modifieds in the south and has expressed his desire to compete in the Turkey Derby.
The Turkey Derby is the traditional northeast season ending stock car spectacular presented during the daylight hours of Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. The Tour Type Modifieds, Downs Ford Modifieds, Dirt Track Modified/Sportsman, Sportsman racers, Limited Late Models, Factory Stocks, 4 Cylinder Stocks, Legend Cars, TQ Midgets and Demolition Derby competitors will all see action during the weekend. The Tour Type Modified 150-lapper and Downs Ford Modified 100-lap main event are featured on Saturday.
Rules, entry forms, pit pass forms and a hotel list are all available on the track website at wallspeedwayracing.com. Lap sponsorships for all divisions, available at $25, $50 and $100, are also available by calling the speedway office at 732-681-6400.
The speedway staff is happy to announce that like last year a large heated tent will be available for the comfort of the race fans in the midway area for Turkey Derby weekend. Although officials are busy with Turkey Derby preparations they are also making plans for the 2015 season.
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.