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WALL ~ After suffering through four straight Saturday night rain outs, Wall Stadium Speedway was finally able to complete the 2023 regular season on Saturday night (Oct. 21). When the checker flag waved on the regular season seven main event winners and seven driving champions were crowned.
Eddie McCarthy of Brick battled with Red Bank’s Tommy Martino, Jr. and Jackson’s Blake Barney in the early going before taking the lead for good on lap 22 in the 40 lapper for Modified stock cars to take his first win of the campaign. Martino and Barney were second and third, while Derek Hopkinson of Milltown and Jackson’s Jarret DiGiantomasso were fourth and fifth.
Going into the event, Andrew Krause of Holmdel led the race for the season-long crown over Hopkinson by just one point. In the early going Krause got caught up in a first turn scramble which ended his race with suspension damage to finish 13th. Hopkinson was able to continue with body damage to finish fourth and earn his first ever Modified crown.
“I just can’t believe that we won the title,” an emotional Hopkinson said while celebrating. “My family, friends, sponsors and everyone who supports this car are responsible to this championship! This is a team sport!”
Four time driving champion Kevin Davison of Howell raced on to win his fourth 25 lap main event of the year after wrestling with runner-up Robert Sutphin of Brick. A third place finish for Hazlet’s Chris Silvestri earned him the 2023 Sportsman Championship, while Freehold’s Chas Okerson and DJ Doyle of Freehold were fourth and fifth.
Howell’s Rob Anderton jumped to the lead early and fought off Johnny Carpenter, also of Howell, to win his career first Factory Stock 25 lap main event. Howell’s Ryan Bilello was third, while Bryan O’Shea of Neptune City won his third straight Factory Stock crown by finishing fourth. Former champ and 2023 title contender Scott Riggleman of Manchester was fifth.
Defending Legend Cars champion Tanner Jones of Glen Gardner made a rare 2023 appearance and won the division’s 25 lapper over Kevin Nowak and Justin Teresak. Howell’s Ryan Kuhlthau finished fourth and won the Legend Cars 2023 championship while Cody Critelli was fifth.
Ted Olswkski of Princeton led wire-to-wire to grab his first ever Fast 4 division win over Billy Pross and Sean Vuksanic of Wall who won his second straight crown. Josh Berry and Darren Burdge were fourth and fifth.
Howie Conk of Freehold won his fourth Limited Late Model 25-lapper for the year racing through the field in just three laps. Long Island based racers Pat Brown and Brian Doyle were second and third, while James Moorman of Jackson nailed down the Limited Late Model crown by finishing fourth. Mike Tillett of Bayville was fifth.
Ryan Tidman rocketed to the lead and never looked back in the 25 lapper for the ATQMRA Three Quarter Midgets winning over Joey Bailey and Buddy Sload who clinched the 2023 crown. Kyle Taraska and Steve Craig were fourth and fifth.
With the 2023 regular season now complete all efforts turn to the 50th running of the Turkey Derby on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. More details can be found at wallspeedwayracing.com.
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 hotline number is 732-681-6400 and email address is ckmotorsports@aol.com.
MODIFIED FEATURE – 40 Laps – 1. EDDIE MCCARTHY, BRICK, 2. Tommy Martino, Jr., 3. Blake Barney, 4. Derek Hopkinson, 5. Jarret DiGiantomasso, 6. Steven Reed, 7. Jimmy Blewett, 8. Shaun Carrig, 9. Tyler Ferris, 10. Carsten DiGiantomasso, 11. Teddy Cranmer, 12. Kyle Scisco, 13. Andrew Krause, 14. Jake Nelke
CHAMPION: DEREK HOPKINSON
SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. KEVIN DAVISON, HOWELL, 2. Robert Sutphin, 3. Chris Silvestri, 4. Chas Okerson, 5. DJ Doyle, 6. Kenny Reaves, 7. Nick Catone, 8. Jimmy Stanger, 9. Quinn Trimmer, 10. Dave Bailey, 11. Ryan Maher, 12. Ryan Fisher
CHAMPION: CHRIS SILVESTRI
FACTORY STOCK FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. ROB ANDERTON, HOWELL, 2. Johnny Carpenter, 3. Ryan Bilello, 4. Bryan O’Shea, 5. Scott Riggleman, 6. Nicole Razzano, 7. Bob Anderton, 8. Matt Badessa, 9. Kevin Kennedy, 10. Gary Burton, 11. James Hall IV
CHAMPION: BRYAN O’SHEA
LEGEND CARS FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. TANNER JONES, GLEN GARDNER, 2. Kevin Nowak, 3. Justin Teresak, 4. Ryan Kuhlthau, 5. Cody Critelli, 6. Justin Emmons, 7. Ryan MacConnell, 8. Joe Przybylinski, 9. Chris Gall, 10. Mike Collier
CHAMPION: RYAN KUHLTHAU
FAST 4 FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. TED OLSWFSKI, PRINCETON, 2. Billy Pross, 3. Sean Vuksanic, 4. Josh Berry, 5. Darren Burdge, 6. Bill Schwarz
CHAMPION: SEAN VUKSANIC
LIMITED LATE MODEL FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. HOWIE CONK, FREEHOLD, 2. Pat Brown, 3. Brian Doyle, 4. James Moorman, 5. Mike Tillett, 6. Bill Vanderveen, 7. Brandon Turbush
CHAMPION: JAMES MOORMAN
TQ MIDGET FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. RYAN TIDMAN, SOUTHAMPTON, PA. 2. Joey Bailey, Buddy Sload, 4. Kyle Taraska, 5. Steve Craig, 6. Josh Patterson, 7. Cole Mullen, 8. Tyler Ferris, 9. Mark Yoder, 10. Avery Stoehr, 11. Kyle Herve, 12. Mike Glaser, 13. Mike Turton
CHAMPION: BUDDY SLOAD
