Pennink and Blewett are Wall Turkey Derby Modified Winners
Turkey Derby XXXVI – Day 2 Results
Rowan Pennink of Huntingdon Station, Pa. and Jimmy Blewett of Howell split 100-lap main events for Modified stock cars during Turkey Derby stock car racing at Wall Stadium Saturday. The northeast season finale program was witnessed by one of the largest gatherings in recent memory.
In the tour type Modified race, Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa. led the first 39 laps before Pennink took the lead with a pass in the outside lane. Pennink then paced the 26-car field through lap 83 when Blewett took the top spot. Pennink stayed on Blewett’s rear bumper for the following laps, but Blewett’s good fortunes were running out as his No. 66 started to spray oil. Soon Blewett was sent to the pit area because of the problem and Pennink regained the lead.
Pennink’s final ten laps were not easy, however, as Pete Brittain of Oakhurst hounded him to the finish. Howell’s Jamie Tomaino, Jon McKennedy and Anthony Sesely of Matawan wrapped up the top five.
[Photo Gallery] by Nathan Teto
“Jimmy (Blewett) was running real strong until the end when he had that oil problem. Then Pete (Brittain) ran me real hard but clean to the very end,” Pennink said. “This is great. The car was great and this is a race that I really wanted to win.”
In the companion 100-lapper for the speedway’s weekly Red Bank Sleep Shoppe Modified division, Blewett was at the top of his game as he jumped to the early lead. Blewett paced the 24-car field until he pitted for new tires on lap 53. That handed the lead to Brittain who paced the pack until he stopped for new tires on lap 69. Sesely then took command, but Blewett was soon on his bumper before making the winning pass with just 24 laps remaining.
At the checker flag it was Blewett, Sesely, Pennink, Chas Okerson of Freehold and Toms River’s Tim Arre.
“After the disappointment in the first feature, this wins feels pretty good,” Blewett said. “We ran a Dodge motor here all season and won a lot of races with it. Now we have a Chevy in there and it runs just as strong.”
In Saturday’s support division action, Kevin Eyres of Colts Neck crossed the finish line first in the Sportsman 30-lapper, but when officials decided that the late-race battle for the lead got a little too heated, Kevin Davison of Howell was awarded the win. Mike Smith of Spring Lake Heights was second and Eyres was placed third. Long Island’s Dan Turbush hitched a ride in his son’s car and drove away with the Street Stock 30-lap main event win over Gregg Miranda of Hazlet and Jon Meyer of Toms River.
Paul Lotier, Jr. won the 25-lapper for the A.T.Q.M.R.A. Midgets for a second straight year over Tim Buchwalter and Robin Johnson. Alison Cumens’ fifth place finish was enough to make her the first female driving champion in the history of the open cockpit club.
During Friday’s day one of Turkey Derby, New Hampshire’s Wayne Helliwell raced to victory in the 50-lap Late Model Stock car feature race over Mike Coll and Michael Bologna. North Carolina’s Daniel Hemric also made a long trip worthwhile as he won Friday’s 25-lapper for the Legend Cars over Zach Alspach and Roger Coss. Vern McLaughlin won a battle for the win with team mate Richard Petey in Friday’s 30-lapper for the Factory Stocks. Tim O’Shea was third.
The next event on the Wall Stadium schedule is set for this Saturday, December 5, as the speedway host’s the annual “Automotive Swap- Meet.” Gates open at 7:30 a.m. and buyers are welcome free of charge, while vendors will pay a nominal fee. For more information call 732-681-3776.
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 office is open from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday by calling 732-681-6400 or more information can be found at www.wallspeedway.com.
Sources: Wall Stadium PR