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LAST LAP PASS EARNS
OKERSON WALL STADIUM
SATURDAY MODIFIED WIN WALL TOWNSHIP, N.J. ~ On Saturday night at Wall Stadium defending Supreme Manufacturing Modified stock car driving champion Chas Okerson proved that "never give up" is a great motto to live by. For nearly every one of the 40-laps in the main event Okerson tried and failed to get past leader Billy Cole of Farmingdale. But that all changed on the final circuit!  Cole jumped to the lead early in this one and it wasn't long before Howell's Okerson was in second place. Soon the battle for the win became a three-car fight as Freehold's Steve Reed broke from the pack and into third spot. Reed's great run ended near the half way point, however, as mechanical problems knocked him from the race. From that point on Okerson taunted Cole until the final lap when Cole's No. 30 drifted just slightly high in the first turn and Okerson dove through the opening and onto the win. Chris Hamilton of North Haledon was third, with Lafeyette's Roger Coss and Tim Arre of Toms River fourth and fifth.  "Billy (Cole) ran a great race. I could have pushed him a couple of times, but I don't want to win that way," Okerson said. "It looked like his car was getting loose later in the race so I was waiting for something to happen. Lucky for me, it did."  The open cockpit TQ Midgets of the American Three Quarter Midget Racing Association invaded the third mile paved oval for the second running of the 35-lap "Tony Romit Memorial" Saturday night. Veteran Robin Johnston grabbed the prestigious victory over Matt Roselli and Paul Lotier.  Kevin Eyres of Colts Neck raced to his third win of the season in the Sportsman division 25-lapper and took over the point lead in the process. Howell's Eric Mauriello chased the defending champ across the finish line, with Adam Gordon of Brick, Neptune City's Kyle Reinhardt and Holmdel's Andrew Krause finishing third through fifth. Trevor Alspach of Willingboro crossed the finish line first in the 25-lap main for the Legend Cars, but when his No. 86 failed a post-race inspection Mark Tischler of Martinsville was awarded the win. Zach Alspach of Willingboro, Edison's Brian Spencer, Malcolm Campbell of Eatontown, and Kevin Nowak of Medford, N.Y. were second through fifth.  Carl Thomas of Tinton Falls notched his fourth win of the year in the 25-lapper for the Street Stocks over Howie Conk of Jackson and Keansburg's Jerry Stanzione. Ray Minieri of Bay Shore, N.Y. was fourth and Mike Kennedy of Pt. Pleasant was fifth.  Ricky Siddons, Jr. of Beachwood grabbed his first ever victory in the 20-lap nightcap for the Flanagan Retail Development Factory Stocks. Bill Connelly challenged him to the end, while Ronnie Mullen of Brick, Whitey Miller of Jamesburg and Neptune's Mike Bilello were third through fifth. Wall Stadium stock cars return to action this Saturday night, July 3, with the Street Stocks in the spotlight in the second annual 50-lap "Bobby Thomas Memorial." The Supreme Manufacturing Modifieds will battle in a 40-lap feature race, the Sportsman cars and the Legend Cars will race in 25-lappers and the Factory Stocks will battle in a 20-lap feature. Spectator seating will open at 4:00 p.m., with qualifying set for 5:45 p.m. and feature racing set for 6:45 p.m. The "Sunday Series" will have Sunday July 4 off. Wall Stadium presents professional motorsports events on most Saturdays and Sundays during the summer months. 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 more information is also available at www.wallspeedway.com. MODIFIED FEATURE - 40 Laps - 1. CHAS OKERSON, HOWELL, 2. Billy Cole, 3. Chris Hamilton, 4. Roger Coss, 5. Tim Arre, 6. James Pritchard, 7. Shaun Carrig, 8. Harry Schaefer, 9. John McCormack, 10. Steven Reed, 11. Chris Halstead, 12. Nick Gargiulo SPORTSMAN FEATURE - 25 Laps - 1. KEVIN EYRES, COLTS NECK, 2. Eric Mauriello, 3. Adam Gordon, 4. Kyle Reinhardt, 5. Andrew Krause, 6. Charlie Kremer III, 7. Chris Lane, 8. Robert Sutphin, 9. Joe Schmutz, 10. Joe Nappi, 11. Ryan Cottrell, 12. David Calabreeze, 13. Danielle Rondeau, 14. Mike Paletta, 15. Joey King, 16. Rob Ormsbee LEGEND CARS FEATURE - 25 Laps - 1. MARK TISCHLER, MARTINSVILLE, 2. Zach Alspach, 3. Brian Spencer, 4. Malcolm Campbell, 5. Kevin Nowak, 6. Derek Hopkinson, 7. Ron Poley, 8. Robert French, 9. Joe Mongeau, 10. Steve West, 11. Jim Davison, 12. Beth MacFarlane STREET STOCK FEATURE- 25 Laps - 1. CARL THOMAS, TINTON FALLS, 2. Howie Conk, 3. Jerry Stanzione, 4. Ray Minieri, 5. Mike Kennedy, 6. Joe Torchia, 7. Jack Sayegh, 8. Mitch Brudy, 9. Bill Vanderveen FACTORY STOCK FEATURE - 20 Laps - 1. RICK SIDDONS, JR., BEACHWOOD, 2. Bill Connelly, 3. Ronnie Mullen, 4. Whitey Miller, 5. Mike Bilello, 6. Chris Felber, 7. Todd Pilla, 8. Troy Gant, 9. Jim Downey, 10. Rob Longo
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