RPW Exclusive: The Champ Trail; The Turkey Derby Didn’t Disappoint & Much More…
Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – A happy Thanksgiving to one and all. The Wall Stadium in New Jersey closed out the 2024 Northeast racing season.
Timmy Solomito wasn’t the dominant driver by any means in Saturday’s Turkey Derby 150 at Wall Stadium Speedway, but after catching a pair of good breaks, the nine-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour winner found himself in contention.
The Islip, New York-native spent the vast majority of the 150-lap contest running inside the top five in his family-owned No. 66 entry, but couldn’t quite break the stranglehold that Matt Hirschman, the race’s polesitter, had on the field. Hirschman dominated the Thanksgiving weekend event, leading more than 100 laps, and appeared to be well on his way to a ninth Turkey Derby victory, when a late-race caution for Jared DiGiantomasso triggered a shakeup.
With the field only permitted to change two tires during the entire 150-lap contest, it was time for many of the front-runners to make a decision, stay out on older tires, and be a sitting duck, or come into the pits and risk losing track position.Hirschman, Jimmy Blewett, and several of the leaders chose to come down pit road, while Andy Jankowiak, Mark Stewart, and others, who had pitted earlier in the event, chose to stay on track and attempt to hold the field back for eight laps.
Jankowiak was nearly successful in holding on to win the Turkey Derby 150, as he held back both Hirschman and Blewett in the closing laps, until contact between his two main competitors sent the race dominator, Hirschman, spinning to the infield. This created a green-white-checkered shootout between Jankowiak, Blewett, and several others, which ultimately led to chaos after the two leaders made contact and crashed litterly feet after the start-finish line. Timmy Solomito was able to sneak through the wreckage and put his family-owned entry into the race lead, then holding off a late challenge from Eddie McCarthy and Max Zachem to win the Turkey Derby.
McCarthy came home in second place, with Zachem in third. Andrew Krause and Luke Baldwin completed the top five. Jack Baldwin was sixth, with Matt Hirschman finishing a disappointing seventh place in the No. 60.
Matt Hirschman started his Turkey Derby 51 weekend with a trip to victory lane in the Wall Modified 100 on Friday night. Celebrating his birthday in style, Hirschman took the lead from Jimmy Blewett on a lap 95 restart for the win. A long green-flag run dominated by Kyle Scisco ended with 20 laps to go, and Steven Reed quickly took the lead on the restart. However, Reed lost control of the race five laps later to Blewett, while Hirschman moved into second. On a restart with six laps to go, Hirschman pulled past Blewett on the high side to take the lead and pull away for the win..
NASCAR has announced that The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 2 is sold out as fans eagerly anticipate the return of the NASCAR Cup Series to this historic venue for the first time since 1971. The Clash has been announced as Sold Out but there are a limited number of tickets remaining for the Saturday events.
NASCAR also announced expanded action on Saturday with the Madhouse Classic, an exhibition race from Bowman Gray Stadium’s Weekly Modified Division, along with Cup Series on-track activity. “The sell out of The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium speaks volumes about the monumental nature of the event at this historic venue,” said NASCAR’s Justin Swilling, Project Lead for the NASCAR Clash. “We’re honored to bring such an incredible race weekend to Winston-Salem that will provide an opportunity to place the stars of Bowman Gray Stadium’s Modified Division in the national spotlight.”
Participation for competing in Saturday’s Madhouse Clash is by invitation only, based on the top 20 from the 2024 Bowman Gray Stadium Modified points standings. Saturday’s schedule will include a practice session, single-car qualifying, and a dedicated 125-lap feature race. As part of the Saturday weekly show, race fans will be treated to Bowman Gray Stadium racing format classics like the Fan’s Challenge, where the four fastest competitors from qualifying will each be given a chance to forego their starting position and drop to the rear of the field. Entries that accept this challenge will become eligible for an event bonus paid out to those that find their way back to their initial top 4 starting position or higher.
A sparse number of tickets remain for Saturday’s on-track activity at Bowman Gray Stadium, Feb. 1. A full schedule of weekend activities will be released in the near future. The Clash will be broadcast live on FOX on Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to visit NASCARClash.com to secure remaining experiences while supplies last. Those that have purchased tickets should also be on the lookout for information regarding parking, as it will be at a premium throughout the event weekend.
The New Smyrna Speedway has released the following schedule for the 2025 edition of the World Series. The 2025 59th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing will be Friday 2/7/2025 thru Saturday 2/15/2025! 9 Nights of Racing Action on the high banked 1/2 mile asphalt oval of New Smyrna Speedway….The Whelen Modifieds return Saturday 2/8/2025 and the ASA Super Late Models Tuesday 2/11/2025, Tour Modifieds race Monday 2/10/2025 thru Friday 2/14/2025 for the Richie Evans Memorial!
Plus throughout the week the Hoosier Pro Late Models, FL Modifieds, 602 Tour Modifieds, E-Mods, Sportsman, Super Stock, Bomber A & Bomber B, Ashley Homes JAX Pro Trucks, Mod Mini’s, Florida Southern Ground Pounders
The Clash has been announced as Sold Out but there are a limited number of tickets remaining for the Saturday events.
Coastal 181, Reading For Racers has released their 2024-2025 Holiday Catalog of great books. Among the newer titles is “Lazzaro, the man and his machine”. Lou Lazzaro became one of the Northeast’ most revered drivers of all time. He was equally as good on dirt as he was on asphalt. For many years he raced and won, sometimes three to five times a week at his home tracks, the Albany Saratoga Speedway in Malta, NY, Fonda Speedway in Fonda, NY and at the Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, New York. Lazzaro was a regular track representative for the All Star League that raced on dirt and asphalt tracks during the late 60’s. The most remarkable thing was that he did it all with the same car. One of his biggest fans believe it or not was Richie Evans. Other great reading in the Coastal 181 catalog include “Ray Everham-Trophies and Scars”, “Bugsy”, “Richie”, “Eddie Flemke” and “The Soul of a Modified” Lenny Boehlers Ole Blue. Call Coastal181 at 877-907-8181.
The all new book, The Modified Years At Stafford, by the Grace of God and 600 hp, is gaining interest and has become a must have in race fans and competitors library. Race by Race, Year by Year, it’s all there. Read all about it! Books are now available on Amazon.com and Coastal 181 (877-907-8181 toll free) and are available thru Stafford’s web site in their store. Order yours now. Makes a great gift!
With the cooperation of the Arute family another book has been published with pictures and biographies of the 50 Greatest Drivers at Stafford.
The Stafford Motor Speedway had become the epicenter of NASCAR Modified racing in the northeast by the late 1980’s. From its dirt beginnings to its lightning-fast asphalt, Stafford had become the toughest and most gratifying track to score a victory. The Arute family which has owned and guided the destiny of the facility commissioned their thousands of loyal fans to name their favorite drivers. In alphabetical order so as not to offend anyone:
Tom Baldwin, Gene Bergin, Brett Bodine, Geoff Bodine, Ken Bouchard, Ron Bouchard, Mario “Fats” Caruso, Rene Charland, Ted Christopher, Leo Cleary, Tim Connolly, Jerry Cook, Corky Cookman, Pete Corey, Fred DeSarro, Richie Evans, Mike Ewanitsko, Ed Flemke, Sr., Jeff Fuller, Rick Fuller, Ernie Gahan, Bill Greco, Bo Gunning, Ray Hendrick, George “Moose” Hewitt, Tony Hirschman, George Janoski, Charlie Jarzombek, George Kent, Buddy Krebs, Randy LaJoie, Jan Leaty, Jerry Marquis, Mike McLaughlin, Ray Miller, Steve Park, Bob Polverari, Bob Potter, Brian Ross, John “Reggie” Ruggiero, Greg Sacks, Ollie Silva, “Wild” Bill Slater, Jimmy Spencer, Mike Stefanik, Carl “Bugsy” Stevens, George Summers, Jamie “The Jet” Tomaino, Maynard Troyer and Satch Worley.
Books are priced at $17.95 each and be purchased at the track at the Novelty Booth or at the Stafford Motor Speedway on line store. Books are also available at Amazon.com and at Coastal181 (877-907-8181).
