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Dan Doyle Second in Sunday Derby Trot
by Walter Elliott

Middletown's Dan Doyle came within a car length short of attaining his career first Senior Champ Kart feature victory in Wall Township Speedway's inaugural Sunday Series Turkey Derby. Doyle served notice to his nine rivals by winning the 10-lap heat.

The polesitting DART Racing Performance Karting-Briggs & Stratton No.84 driver received the feature's pole with runnerup George Bark lining up second. Doyle's glory lasted less than the opening lap, however, when Jon Stewart ousted him and Bark further demoted him to second. Stewart pulled away before the newly-crowned WSS divisional champion went to the pits with a mechanical problem on lap 13. Doyle's DART teammate Craig Coleman took third on lap 17 to complete the lead pack.

Bark, the son of West Milford champ kartand micro stock builder George, Sr.,won his first WSS 20-lap feature instead. Doyle's second place matched an earlier one during the Calabreeze Pools/Van Wickle NAPA points season. At least he received a trophy for his Sunday afternoon effort - Hawk's Towing, of Trenton, provided the hardware for the top three finishers of the derby's 11 features.

Son D.J. Doyle's afternoon was one of pressing against adversity in the Junior B&S Blue Plate runs. The 3 Brothers Racing-B&S No. 98 driver overcame early spins to eventually finish fourth to feature winner Scott Neary, of Knowlton.

The Doyles may have started a son-first, father-later racing trend. Neil Rutt III, a regular rival of D.J.'s,was seen giving pointers to father Neil while the latter was making his racing debut in the Sr. Champ Karts. While D.J. competed all-year in his division, Dan joined the DART team past midsummer.

The elder Rutt, for the record, finished seventh while the younger Rutt took secong in their respective features.

WTS organizers added an inaugural non-points Turkey Derby onto the one-fifth-mile "inner" oval last month. The derby celebrates local rising stars in Legends, Bandoleros, karts and other scaled race cars.

Trevor Alspach, of Willingboro, and brother Zack made the Calabreeze Legends a family affiar, winning their two heats and finishing one-two in the feature. Bobby Walton, of Tuckerton, meanwhile won his second Van Wickle NAPA Auto Supply Bandolero feature.

Other WSS Turkey Derby feature winners were: Jr. Champ Karts - Joe King, Jr., Hackettstown; Jr.B&S Gold Plate - Randy Sixt, Hillsborough; Sr.B&S Heavy - Buck Sixt, Hillsborough; Sr. B&S Light - Kurt Labor, Jr., Neptune; Modified Micro Stock - Tom Ervin, Ewing; Controlled Micro Stock - Mike Ansdrews, Toms River; World Formula Micro Stock - Arnold Riley, W.Milford. WSS points titlists are to be crowned at Our House Restaurant and Tavern, Manchester, 6 p.m. Jan. 12.

WSS workers arrived early to dry and sweep the track. Early morning rain washed out WTS's slated Saturday practice for Turkey Derby XXXIV entrants.

Competitors in five modified stock car divisions - including WTS's NASCAR Whelen All-American, Whelen Tour and RMP Modified Affordable cars - are to test on the banked, paved one-third mile oval 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday with a Sunday rain date. The session is also open to the sportsman, Keenan Motors American Three Quarter Midget Racing Association, street stock, INEX Legends Cars and Value Towing Factory Stock classes.

The annual classic itself is to start Nov. 23-24 with a Nov. 25 backup date. WTS management has $35 adult and $10 two-day admission tickets available now through Sunday, November 18th. Entrants are to also have their forms postmarked or presented on or by that day. Admission, entry and pit pass forms are available from wallspeedway.com. Call (732) 681-6400 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues. - Sat. for details.

NEXT EVENTS:
NOV. 17: Turkey Derby XXXIV Practice.
NOV. 23-24: TURKEY DERBY XXXIV.
Dec. 1: Inaugural WTS Swap Meet
Jan. 12, 2008: Wall Sunday Series Awards Banquet, 6 p.m., Our House Restaurant and Tavern, Farmingdale, NJ

Photos © 2006-2007
Ace Lane Jr.
unless otherwise noted

©2007 Wall Township Speedway, LLC