Andrew Krause fought off both heavy competition and mechanical trouble Oct. 29 and won both 50-lap main events for the Downs Ford Modified stock cars during the annual “Spooky Spectacular” at Wall Stadium Speedway. The Holmdel resident, who finished third in regular-season points that concluded on Oct. 15, now has five wins this season.
In the first 50-lapper, Krause fought off Howell’s Jimmy Blewett most of the way. When Blewett had late-race trouble that forced him to drop from the race, Justin Gumley of Howell, New Egypt’s Jason Hearne, Timmy Solomito of Long Island, New York, and Howell’s Eric Mauriello all frantically swapped the second through fifth spots before setting into the top-five finishing spots in that order.
In addition to battling the competition in that first race, Krause also battled a sour engine that ran on just six cylinders late in the event. Two broken rocker arms were repaired before the second race.
In that second Modified 50-lapper, Solomito was Krause’s early challenger before the top runners started to swap positions in the second half of the race. Mauriello charged into second just past halfway while Zack Alspach of Willingboro raced home for third. Brick’s Shawna Ingraham and Gumley completed the top five.
“The car ran pretty good in the first race for only running on six cylinders near the end,” Krause said. “It was sounding like a diesel. Tom Martino and my crew fixed two broken rocker arms between races, and it ran great in the second race. My family and my crew make this all possible.
“Right now, Halloween is my favorite holiday.”
The O’Shea’s Auto Repair Factory Stocks ran a pair of 30-lap feature races, with newly crowned champion Joe Mongeau of Brick winning the first over Bayville’s Elliott Wohl. Ron Booth of Eatontown, Manchester’s Scott Riggleman and Whitey Miller of Jamesburg completed the top five.
Booth came back to win the second Factory Stock 30-lapper after taking the lead on lap five. Riggleman, Mongeau, Howell’s Richie Byrne and Wohl were second through fifth.
Tyler Truex of Mayetta won the 40-lapper for the Snap On Sportsman cars. Blake Barney of Jackson was the runner-up, while Manasquan’s Kenny Van Wickle, Howell’s Kevin Davison and Ray Fattaruso of Brick wrapped up the top five.
West Milford’s Mike Alcaro won the 30-lapper for the Green Flag Driving Experience Legend Cars, while Long Island’s Richie Davidowitz was second. Newly crowned champ Louie Keraitis of Toms River, Allan Pedersen and Peter Bruno were third through fifth.
The annual “Turkey Derby” will wrap up the 2016 season during the daylight hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. In preparation for the “Turkey Derby,” practice sessions are planned for Nov. 12 and Nov. 19. Once the “Turkey Derby” is contested, all attention will be focused on the 2017 season, which will begin with practice sessions starting April 15.
Wall Stadium is located on Route 34 in Wall Township, just 1 mile north of Garden State Parkway exit 98 and Interstate 195 exit 35B. The speedway hotline number is 732-681-6400, the website is wallspeedwayracing.com and email address is CKMotorsports@aol.com.
