RGeeProductions
08-31-2014, 11:33 AM
Derek Hopkinson powered to the lead early and then stood his ground to win his first ever Downs Ford Modified stock car race Saturday night at Wall Stadium Speedway. The young Toms River resident came up through the ranks at the third mile high banked paved oval and won 20 Legend Cars main events and claimed that division’s title in 2011.
Hopkinson jumped to the lead early in the double point 50-lapper and fought off the challenges of Chad Churilla of St. James, N.Y. most of the way. Hopkinson often stretched an advantage during the contest before fighting with Churilla side-by-side on restarts for the top spot. A lap eight caution forced a long clean up for the track crew as the No. 18 of Pennsylvania driver Pat Verwys dropped gear oil from a leaking rear axle all the way around the speedway.
Finishing a close third behind Hopkinson and Churilla was New Egypt’s Jason Hearne, while championship point leader Chas Okerson of Freehold was fourth and Holmdel’s Andrew Krause was fifth.
“We have worked so hard for this,” Hopkinson said after the win. “My entire family and a lot of my friends have given almost everything for my career.”
Hopkinson was quick to note that his grandfather, 1967 Novice champion George Clayton, was on the car’s two-way radio coaching him the entire distance.
Scott Riggleman of Manchester had the perfect night in companion Twin 25 lap races for the Factory Stocks. The point leader and former champ not only posted the fast time in time trials but also one both of the main events. John Bowers of Pt. Pleasant, Union’s Joey Helberg, Tim O’Shea of Wall and Neil Rutt III of Port Monmouth chased him across the finish line in the first race. In the second 25-lapper Wall’s Tiffany Olejnik, Helberg, Holmdel’s Andrew Krause and Dan Birdsall wrapped up the top five.
Point leader James Meyers of Port Monmouth won his sixth feature race of the season in the 25-lap 4 Cylinder Stock race. Mike Wahl of East Islip, N.Y., Shanon Mongeau, Alonzo Morales and Brien Crosby were second though fifth.
Robert French of Howell grabbed his fifth win of the campaign in the Legend Cars 25-lap headliner. Mitch Dowd, who was in contention the entire way, was the runner-up, while Brandon Traino was third, point leader Brian Spencer of Edison was fourth and Chris Gall was fifth.
Tony Calandro won the race for the Sunday Series Champ Karts.
Wall Stadium returns to action this Saturday night (Sept. 6) with the Modifieds in a 40-lap main event. The 4 Cylinder Stocks are slated for a 50-lap feature race, while the Sportsman cars, Limited Late Models and the Factory Stocks will also see action. Youth Football Night will also honor youngsters as they get set for their fall season.
Pit area parking opens at 1:00 p.m. this Saturday with practice set for 3:00 p.m. Grandstand seating opens at 5:00 p.m. and qualifying is set for 5:45 p.m. with main events to follow.
Wall Stadium presents professional motorsports events on Saturdays and Sundays through September with special post-season races in October and November. 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 CKMotorsports@aol.com is the track’s email address. More information is also available at www.wallspeedwayracing.com.
MODIFIED FEATURE – 50 Laps – 1. DEREK HOPKINSON, TOMS RIVER, 2. Chad Churilla, 3. Jason Hearne, 4. Chas Okerson, 5. Andrew Krause, 6. Jonathan Mandato, 7. Trevor Alspach, 8. Shanon Mongeau, 9. Shaun Carrig, 10. Eric Mauriello, 11. Ryan Cottrell, 12. Steven Reed, 13. Glenn Slocum, Jr., 14. Keith Mulleneaux, 15. Shawna Ingraham, 16. Pat Verwys, 17. Kevin Davison, 18. John McCormack, DQ Zack Alspach, DQ Scott Brannick
1ST FACTORY STOCK FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. SCOTT RIGGLEMAN, MANCHESTER, 2. John Bowers, 3. Joey Helberg, 4. Tin O’Shea, 5. Neil Rutt III, 6. Tom Chyzlemczym, 7. Jerry Koenig, 8. Dan Birdsall, 9. Whitey Miller, 10. Matt Guadago, 11. Tiffany Olejnik, 12. Mike Baldwin, 13. Marty Van Druten, 14. Dan Springfield, 15. Ronnie Mullen, 16. Rob Longo, 17. Bob Haberstick, Jr., 18. Bill Stockert, 19. Scott Purcell, 20. Josh Matthews, 21. Scott Sipe, 22. Danny Bruer
2ND FACTORY STOCK FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. Scott Riggleman, Manchester, 2. Olejnik, 3. Helberg, 4. Andrew Krause, 5. Birdsall, 6. Miller, 7. Guadago, 8. O’Shea, 9. Bowers, 10. Koenig, 11. Stockert, 12. Baldwin, 13. Bruer, 14. Rutt, 15. Sipe, 16. Springfield, 17. Matthews, 18. Haberstick, DQ Mullen, DQ Longo
4 CYLINDER STOCK FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. JAMES MEYERS, PORT MONMOUTH, 2. Mike Wahl, 3. Shanon Mongeau, 4. Alonzo Morales, 5. Brien Crosby, 6. Randy Hart, 7. Ron Lane, Sr., 8. Roland DeMartino, 9. Corey Stockert, 10. Norman Lane, 11. Cole Ormsbee, 12. Travis Sutphin, 13. Rob Willis
LEGEND CARS FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. Robert French, Howell, 2. Mitch Dowd, 3. Brandon Traino, 4. Brian Spencer, 5. Chris Gall, 6. Nick Van Wickle, 7. Jim Davison, 8. Malcolm Campbell, 9. Dan Roslin, 10. James Van Wickle, 11. Steve Woytysiak, 12. Louie Keraitis
Jeff Gravatt
Hopkinson jumped to the lead early in the double point 50-lapper and fought off the challenges of Chad Churilla of St. James, N.Y. most of the way. Hopkinson often stretched an advantage during the contest before fighting with Churilla side-by-side on restarts for the top spot. A lap eight caution forced a long clean up for the track crew as the No. 18 of Pennsylvania driver Pat Verwys dropped gear oil from a leaking rear axle all the way around the speedway.
Finishing a close third behind Hopkinson and Churilla was New Egypt’s Jason Hearne, while championship point leader Chas Okerson of Freehold was fourth and Holmdel’s Andrew Krause was fifth.
“We have worked so hard for this,” Hopkinson said after the win. “My entire family and a lot of my friends have given almost everything for my career.”
Hopkinson was quick to note that his grandfather, 1967 Novice champion George Clayton, was on the car’s two-way radio coaching him the entire distance.
Scott Riggleman of Manchester had the perfect night in companion Twin 25 lap races for the Factory Stocks. The point leader and former champ not only posted the fast time in time trials but also one both of the main events. John Bowers of Pt. Pleasant, Union’s Joey Helberg, Tim O’Shea of Wall and Neil Rutt III of Port Monmouth chased him across the finish line in the first race. In the second 25-lapper Wall’s Tiffany Olejnik, Helberg, Holmdel’s Andrew Krause and Dan Birdsall wrapped up the top five.
Point leader James Meyers of Port Monmouth won his sixth feature race of the season in the 25-lap 4 Cylinder Stock race. Mike Wahl of East Islip, N.Y., Shanon Mongeau, Alonzo Morales and Brien Crosby were second though fifth.
Robert French of Howell grabbed his fifth win of the campaign in the Legend Cars 25-lap headliner. Mitch Dowd, who was in contention the entire way, was the runner-up, while Brandon Traino was third, point leader Brian Spencer of Edison was fourth and Chris Gall was fifth.
Tony Calandro won the race for the Sunday Series Champ Karts.
Wall Stadium returns to action this Saturday night (Sept. 6) with the Modifieds in a 40-lap main event. The 4 Cylinder Stocks are slated for a 50-lap feature race, while the Sportsman cars, Limited Late Models and the Factory Stocks will also see action. Youth Football Night will also honor youngsters as they get set for their fall season.
Pit area parking opens at 1:00 p.m. this Saturday with practice set for 3:00 p.m. Grandstand seating opens at 5:00 p.m. and qualifying is set for 5:45 p.m. with main events to follow.
Wall Stadium presents professional motorsports events on Saturdays and Sundays through September with special post-season races in October and November. 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 CKMotorsports@aol.com is the track’s email address. More information is also available at www.wallspeedwayracing.com.
MODIFIED FEATURE – 50 Laps – 1. DEREK HOPKINSON, TOMS RIVER, 2. Chad Churilla, 3. Jason Hearne, 4. Chas Okerson, 5. Andrew Krause, 6. Jonathan Mandato, 7. Trevor Alspach, 8. Shanon Mongeau, 9. Shaun Carrig, 10. Eric Mauriello, 11. Ryan Cottrell, 12. Steven Reed, 13. Glenn Slocum, Jr., 14. Keith Mulleneaux, 15. Shawna Ingraham, 16. Pat Verwys, 17. Kevin Davison, 18. John McCormack, DQ Zack Alspach, DQ Scott Brannick
1ST FACTORY STOCK FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. SCOTT RIGGLEMAN, MANCHESTER, 2. John Bowers, 3. Joey Helberg, 4. Tin O’Shea, 5. Neil Rutt III, 6. Tom Chyzlemczym, 7. Jerry Koenig, 8. Dan Birdsall, 9. Whitey Miller, 10. Matt Guadago, 11. Tiffany Olejnik, 12. Mike Baldwin, 13. Marty Van Druten, 14. Dan Springfield, 15. Ronnie Mullen, 16. Rob Longo, 17. Bob Haberstick, Jr., 18. Bill Stockert, 19. Scott Purcell, 20. Josh Matthews, 21. Scott Sipe, 22. Danny Bruer
2ND FACTORY STOCK FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. Scott Riggleman, Manchester, 2. Olejnik, 3. Helberg, 4. Andrew Krause, 5. Birdsall, 6. Miller, 7. Guadago, 8. O’Shea, 9. Bowers, 10. Koenig, 11. Stockert, 12. Baldwin, 13. Bruer, 14. Rutt, 15. Sipe, 16. Springfield, 17. Matthews, 18. Haberstick, DQ Mullen, DQ Longo
4 CYLINDER STOCK FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. JAMES MEYERS, PORT MONMOUTH, 2. Mike Wahl, 3. Shanon Mongeau, 4. Alonzo Morales, 5. Brien Crosby, 6. Randy Hart, 7. Ron Lane, Sr., 8. Roland DeMartino, 9. Corey Stockert, 10. Norman Lane, 11. Cole Ormsbee, 12. Travis Sutphin, 13. Rob Willis
LEGEND CARS FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. Robert French, Howell, 2. Mitch Dowd, 3. Brandon Traino, 4. Brian Spencer, 5. Chris Gall, 6. Nick Van Wickle, 7. Jim Davison, 8. Malcolm Campbell, 9. Dan Roslin, 10. James Van Wickle, 11. Steve Woytysiak, 12. Louie Keraitis
Jeff Gravatt