RACERS AT BANQUET

WALL TOWNSHIP, N.J. ~ A large gathering of fans, crew members and competitors met at the Sheraton of Eatontown (N.J.) Saturday night (February 27) to honor the top drivers of the 2009 racing season, hear news and plans for the 2010 campaign and enjoy a buffet dinner with fellow enthusiasts.

Every driver in the top ten finishing point positions in the speedway’s five regular divisions were honored with awards, while several special awards were also presented to individuals who enjoyed special accomplishments or helped the speedway’s 2009 rebirth.

Leading the championship awards were Freehold’s Chas Okerson, who won the Red Bank Sleep Shoppe Modified crown for the first time. Colts Neck’s Kevin Eyres was the Calabreeze Pools Sportsman title winner, while Tinton Falls’ Carl Thomas was the top man in the Street Stock division. Mark Tischler of Martinsville celebrated his first INEX Legend Cars crown, while Mike Bilello of Neptune was the Flanagan Retail Development Factory Stock driving champ.

Attendees at the gathering also saluted a Rookie of the Year in each of the five divisions. In the Modifieds, Billy Cole of Farmingdale enjoyed the honor, while Andrew Krause of East Brunswick was the top Rookie in the Sportsman ranks. Mike Kennedy of Pt. Pleasant won the Rookie honor in the Street Stocks, Robert French of Wall was the top Rookie in the Legend Cars and John Meyer of Toms River took home Rookie of the Year honors in the Factory Stocks.

Also chosen by a sealed panel, Most Improved drivers where honored led by Lavallette’s Adam LaCicero in the Modified division. Wall’s Mike Smith was the Most Improved in the Sportsman ranks, while Gregg Miranda of Hazlet took the Street Stock honor, Roger Coss of Lafayette grabbed the Legend Cars award and Roy Farfel of Wall was picked as the Most Improved Factory Stock racer.

Other awards went to Flanagan Retail Development and Red Bank Sleep Shoppe for their sponsorship of the speedway in 2009 and to Fred Hahn for his outstanding efforts as the webmaster for the speedway’s website.

Now that the awards’ gathering is complete, all attention is focused on the fast approaching 2010 campaign. After a swap meet this Saturday (March 6) morning, promoter Jim Morton says that he intends to host early season paid practice sessions on Saturdays March 13, 20 and 27 before the season opening event is presented on April 3. Several racing events will then be presented on selected Saturday nights during the spring and summer months before the annual Turkey Derby caps off the season in November. Morton also mentioned that news will be coming out soon about the return of the “Sunday Series” on the “inner oval” featuring go-karts and other small car divisions.

Morton also said that he plans on hosting the return of the “Formula Drift” event on June 4 and 5 as well as the second year of the popular Friday Night Cruise Nights for hot rod and custom cars on the second Friday of each month from April through October. In addition to the auto events, Morton is currently working with various promoters in an effort to bring other “family friendly” shows and events to the Wall Township stadium this season. Details will be announced in the coming weeks.

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 office is open from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Information is available by calling 732-681-6400 and at www.wallspeedway.com.