Wall to Reopen for Turkey Derby XXXV

There will be a Turkey Derby XXXV at Wall Township Speedway Nov. 28-29. WTS's General Partners have made a agreement with its Operations Manager, Jim Morton, to reopen the 57-year-old banked paved one-third-mile oval for as many as six dates in November. The first three dates are for practice sessions leading up to the post-Thanksgiving Day classic with Nov. 30 set aside as a rain date.

'I got the agreement call from General Partner Timm Shinn 7:30 p.m. Saturday,' said Morton Aug. 31. 'The practice dates are set for Saturdays Nov. 15, Nov. 22 and also the Tuesday before Thanksgiving Nov. 24.' Morton said that Turkey Derby XXXV format, racing divisions and other details are to be posted on www.wallspeedway.com Sept. 7. The agreement allows a modified stock car racing tradition that Thomas and Jeannie Nicol started in 1974. Some of the best modified stock car drivers in the country have since competed against the local NASCAR Whelen All-American Series stars on the banked paved one-third mile oval.

Turkey Derby XXXV is the first event on 'Big Wall' since Turkey Derby XXXIV was held Nov. 23-24, 2007. Justin Gumley, of Colts Neck, was crowned WAAS Turkey Derby Champion while James Civali, of Meridan, Conn. won the 100-lap Open Modified race. Ron Frees, of Brick, and Steve Stull, of Hamilton, were named respective street stock and INEX Legends Cars Turkey Derby divisional titlists after their twin race performances Nov. 23-24. Chas Okerson, of Freehold, won the sportsman main and Robert Geibel, of Brick the RMP Modified Affordable Division feature Nov. 23. Don Adams, of Robbinsville, won the Keenan Motors American Three Quarter Midget Racing Association main that day.

Andrew Jankowiak, of Buffalo, N.Y., won the Value Towing Factory Stock feature Nov. 24. The Garden State Quarter Midget Racing Association is meanwhile set to end its season on the adjacent one-20th-mile 'Little Wall' 8 a.m. Sept. 6-7.