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Wall Township, NJ — Leading all the way, but fending off constant challenges over the full 40-laps, Derek Hopkinson won the Modified feature at Wall Stadium Speedway on Saturday.
On the final point-awarding night of the season, Andrew Krause of Howell, N.J., finished third and clinched his third straight Modified championship.
“I was lucky to have a little bit of a padding there (in the points) but you know, whenever you’re at the track anything could happen,” said Krause, post-race. “So, the main goal is just keeping the car in one piece and finish there. I got my ear talked off a couple times (by the spotter) because I kept seeing openings and I wanted to take them, but the big picture was to keep the car clean. So, I had a front row seat to some action. Congratulations to Derek (Hopkinson), that was some good racing up front! Just happy to have to have it in one piece and finish the season.”
Hopkinson, in the family No. 17 crew-chiefed by his dad Dave, started from the pole. He powered into the lead and set the pace, with Tyler Truex presenting constant challenges the entire distance before finishing a close second.
“We just seem to kind of hit on something the past couple of weeks,” said Hopkinson, who won his ninth Wall Modified feature but first since 2020. “Jimmy Blewett and (motor builder) Frank Boardwick have been helping me out… looking at the car every single week saying ‘okay, you’re close but try a little of this or try a little of that’. I can’t thank the two of them enough.”
Tommy Martino Jr., who was quickest in time trials with the No. 9, finished fourth with Steven Reed completing the top-five.
Kevin Davison won the Sportsman feature and took his fourth title in the division. He passed championship contender Neil Rutt III for the lead on a late restart, then fended off the challenges of second place finisher Rutt right down to the checkered. The third driver with a chance at the title, Jarret DiGiantomasso who came into the night leading the standings, hit the backstretch fence just past the halfway point, pitted and did not return.
In the Factory Stocks, versatile driver Ken Matlach returned to Wall after a long absence and took the win while debuting a new No. 34. Defending division champion Bryan O’Shea was runnerup and took the 2022 title.
Tanner Jones won his fifth Legend Car main of the year and gained his first Wall title in the division. Quinn Trimmer, who was second in the standings going in, lost his chance to get the title when he and race leader Mike Alcaro tangled with a lapped car on the 19th circuit and were done for the night for damaged vehicles.
Alex Graetz won his second Fast Four feature of the season, with fourth place finisher Sean Vuksanic taking his first Wall title. Defending champion Alonzo Morales, who began the race 29 points out of the lead, was out of the race on the first lap after a crash on the homestretch left his car, and that of Greg Viel, too badly damaged to continue.
The night of racing concluded the regular season at Wall Stadium, with the next event the 49th running of the Turkey Derby the weekend of November 25-26, 2022.
Modified finish: 1. Derek Hopkinson, 2. Tyler Truex, 3. Andrew Krause, 4. Tommy Martino Jr., 5. Steven Reed, 6. Eddie McCarthy, 7. Kyle Scisco, 8. Joey Merlino, 9. Chas Okerson, 10. Ron Frees, 11. Shaun Carrig, 12. Carsten DiGiantomasso, 13. Jake Nelke, 14. Tommy Catanzaro, 15. Blake Barney
Sportsman finish: 1. Kevin Davison, 2. Neil Rutt III, 3. Jonathan Laureigh, 4. Chris Silvestri, 5. Teddy Cranmer, 6. Kenny Reaves, 7. Tyler Ferris, 8. Jeff Loesch Jr., 9. Jarret DiGiantomasso.
Factory Stock finish: 1. Kenny Matlach, 2. Bryan O’Shea, 3. Johnny Carpenter, 4. Billy Both, 5. Brian Osborn, 6. Nick Kilmer, 7. Bob Anderton, 8. Scott Riggleman, 9. Nick Catone, 10. Ryan Bilello, 11. Matt Badessa, 12. Dean Gilchrist, 13. AJ Jadacki, 14. Steve Mangano, 15. Kristin O’Shea, 16. Nancy Riggleman, 17. Kevin Flores, 18. Elliott Wohl
Legend Car finish: 1. Tanner Jones, 2. Cody Critelli, 3. Peter Bruno, 4. Justin Emmons, 5. Dylan Flynn, 6. Nate Divone, 7. Ryan Kuhlthau, 8. Liane Sharry, 9. Cody Quagliato, 10. Jeff Stephens, 11. Steve Woytysiak, 12. Roger Nickerson, 13. Mike Alcaro, 14. Quinn Trimmer
Fast Four finish: 1. Alex Graetz, 2. Billy Pross, 3. Ryan Maher, 4. Sean Vuksanic, 5. Kayleigh Sharry, 6. Mike Lavery, 7. Logan Fraser, 8. Travis Schwarz, 9. Nicole Razzano, 10. Ted Olswski, 11. Alonzo Morales, 12. Greg Viel
