Motor Sports Weekly News

Story and photos by: Drew Hierwarter

Since its opening in 1950, Wall Stadium has been a fixture in the New Jersey racing scene. Families brought their kids to watch dads race. And when the kids grew up they raced at Wall and brought their own kids to watch. And then those kids would eventually race at Wall too. More than that it was also a place where famous names in the Northeast modified ranks made their mark. Guys like Gil Hearne, the all-time leading feature winner at Wall, and Tony Siscone, John Blewett (both Jr. and III), Martin Truex, Sr. (father of current NASCAR Sprint Cup star Martin Truex, Jr.). Even former Hendrick crew chief Ray Evernham has 4 wins in the modifieds at Wall.

It seemed almost inconceivable then that a track with that sort of history would close, but that’s exactly what happened. Several years ago the property was purchased by a group of investors with plans to build 225 homes on the site. When that deal fell through they decided a drive-in theater would be built. That too never happened but the group decided to close the track anyway. For the entire summer of 2008, Wall Stadium was dark on Saturday nights and racers and fans had to go elsewhere.

Late in the year Jim Morton approached the investment group about leasing the track for one more night of racing, the traditional Thanksgiving night “Turkey Derby”.  The resulting event was such a huge success that Morton agreed to promote racing again at Wall.

Opening night was this past Saturday and a capacity crowd, many of them families with young children, once again thrilled to the roar of modifieds on the 1/3 mile high banked oval. The card included Legend Cars, Street Stocks, Sportsman, and the feature event, a 100 lap race for the modifieds.

Jimmy Blewett of Howell pocketed the $2,500 for winning the feature event for modifieds. Although Blewett led the 24 car field through most of the 100 laps, he endured challenges from several drivers plus an ill-handling race car.

“The car was great early in the race, but then something happened,” Blewett said. “Something broke in the rear suspension and that slowed us up. I felt the pressure from the cars behind me all the way to the end of the race.”

Tim Arre of Toms River, one of those who haunted Blewett earlier, slipped into second again in the closing laps, while Adam LaCicero of Lavallette, who challenged Blewett heavily late in the race, finished third. Dave Michael of Manahawkin and rookie Billy Cole of Farmingdale completed the top five.

Once again there was racing at the Jersey Shore and it will continue throughout the summer with a number of special events planned. Only time will tell if there will be more racing seasons in the future, but for this year at least, race fans and families can once again continue the tradition of spending their Saturday nights at Wall Stadium.