Freehold’s Chaz Okerson celebrated the July 4th holiday with a trip to victory lane at Wall Stadium.
The veteran motor racer won a duel with Howell’s Jimmy Blewett to take the checkered flag in the speedway’s 40-lap Modified main event. It was the first win of the 2016 season for Okerson, a four-time champion at Wall Stadium.
Okerson and Blewett were side by side after several restarts. But each time, Okerson was able to keep his nose ahead of Blewett all the way to the finish line.
Howell’s Ken Woolley finished third in the Modified feature, with Brick’s Shawna Ingraham taking fourth and Jackson’s Steven Reed in fifth.
The win was the 17th of Okerson’s career.
Reed, who has two feature wins this year, leads the Modified division with 372 points followed by Ingraham (357) and Okerson (345), who moved up to third with his win. Blewett, who sits in eighth place (316), is the only other driver with multiple victories. He’s won twice.
The 4-Cyliner Stocks had twin 25-lap features as part of Wall Stadium’s Independence Day card. Wall’s Mike Carr won the first feature in his division debut, and Jackson’s Darren Burdge took the checkered flag in the second feature.
Beachwood’s Todd Pilla is the points leader in the division (306) and is the only driver with two wins.
Brick’s Jason Lane (274) and Burdge (263) are second and third, respectively.
It was a good night for first-time winners, as Manasquan’s Kenny Van Wickle won his first 30-lap Sportsman feature this year.
Rickey Collins is leading the Sportsman division with 325 points and is followed by Manchester’s Shannon Mongeau (311), who has three feature wins, and Brick’s Dominick Fattaruso (303).
The 25-lap Legend Cars feature was won by Kevin Nowak of Medford, New York. He moved to second place in the point standings (260). Louie Keraitis of Toms River is the leader (275), and Eatontown’s Malcolm Campbell is third (254).
Wall’s Cole Ormsbee won the 25-lap Limited Late Model feature over points-leader Mike Tillett from Bayville.
Tillett has 247 points and leads Brian Doyle by just five points. Jackson’s Glen Conk and Beachwood’s Bill Vanderveen are tied for third (214).
The Factory Stocks July 16 will be featured at Pack the Track Night at Wall Stadium. Factory Stocks will race triple 25-lap features. Also on the card are twin 25-lap main events for the Legends along with regular features for the Sportsman and Limited Late Model divisions.
Grandstands open at 5 p.m., with qualifying starting at 5:45 p.m. The feature events start at 7.
For more information on this weekend’s racing or Wall Stadium’s schedule, go to www.wallspeedwayracing.com or call 732-681-6400.
