Freehold Man Wins Second Straight Wall Stadium Opener

The last time modified stock car driver Steven Reed won an opening night at Wall Stadium, he proposed to his girlfriend in the winner’s circle.  

That was last year.

Reed, of Freehold, won again on Saturday’s opening of the 2013 racing season at the Wall Township track, and announced that he and his bride are expecting a child later this year, track officials said.

Reed posted the fastest lap during time trials and picked the pole position in a blind draw for the 40-lap main event. Reed took lead at the outset, leaving several drivers to fight over second, including Adam LaCicero of Lavallette, Freehold’s Chas Okerson and Howell’s Eric Mauriello, track officials said.

At the finish Reed was chased across the line by 2012 Sportsman champ Mauriello, while Okerson, LaCicero and Brick’s Shawna Ingraham completed the top five, according to a release.

“My father gets all the credit for this win,” Reed said in a release from the Route 34 track. “He built the car and he had some ideas how to change it for the better last winter. He took it all apart and made those changes. The car was great tonight.”

Freehold’s Elliott Wohl was the opening night winner in the Sportsman division holding off Zack Alspach of Willingboro and Howell’s Kevin Davison before taking the win, the release says.

Brick’s Ronnie Mullen raced to the win in the 25-lap Factory Stock main event, jumping to the lead early and never looking back. Joe Mongeau of Bradley Beach, Jim Downey of Cliffwood Beach, Wall’s Tiffany Olejnik, and Shanon Mongeau of Farmingdale wrapped up the top five, according to the release. 

Beachwood’s Todd Pilla won the opening night 4-Cylinder main event after chasing 2012 champ Brien Crosby of Wall in the early going. After finally finding a way past Crosby’s smoking racer in the early going, Pilla sailed to the 25-lap win. Crosby, Cole Ormsbee of Wall, Mike Wall of East Islip, N.Y. and Trenton’s Mike Dunn were the top five finishers, the release says.

Howell’s Robert French tracked down early leader Rob Hyer of South Amboy and then went on to win the Legend Cars 25-lapper. Trevor Alspach of Willingboro, Edison’s Brian Spencer and Zack Alspach were third through fifth, the release says.

After early leader Derek Hopkinson of Toms River spun and Jim Downey of Cliffwood Beach was put to the rear of the field when officials felt that he contributed to the trouble, Mike Tillett of Bayville raced to his second career win in the Limited Late Model 20-lapper. Long Island’s Ryan Doyle, Hopkinson, Downey and Jack Sayegh of South Toms River wrapped up the top five, the release says.

Full Results, as Supplied by Wall Stadium:

MODIFIED FEATURE – 40 Laps – 1. STEVEN REED, FREEHOLD, Eric Mauriello, 3. Chas Okerson, 4. Adam LaCicero, 5. Shawna Ingraham, 6. Shaun Carrig, 7. Chris Hamilton, 8. Jonathan Mandato, 9. Andrew Krause, 10. Ken Woolley, Jr., 11. Chris Lane, 12. Jason Treat, 13. John McCormack, 14. Ronnie Mullen, 15. Christian LaCicero

SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 30 Laps – 1. ELLIOTT WOHL, FREEHOLD, 2. Zack Alspach, 3. Andrew Krause, 4. Kevin Eyres, 5. Kevin Davison, 6. Kenny Van Wickle, 7. Joe Nappi, 8. Dave Daniels, 9. Robert Sutphin, 10. Tom Kearns, 11. Trevor Alspach, 12. Joe Cocca, 13. Joe King, 14. Robert Vassilatos, Jr.

FACTORY STOCKS FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. RONNIE MULLEN, BRICK, 2. Joe Mongeau, 3. Jim Downey, 4. Tiffany Olejnik, 5. Shanon Mongeau, 6. Scott Riggleman, 7. John Bowers, 8. Roy Farfel, 9. Marty Van Druten, 10. Steve Michel, 11. Andrew Krause, 12. Steve West, 13. Paul Hartwig, 14. Josh Matthews, 15. Troy Gant, 16. Lee Allen

4 CYLINDER FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. TODD PILLA, BEACHWOOD, 2. Brien Crosby, 3. Cole Ormsbee, 4. Mike Wall, 5. Mike Dunn, 6. Ron Becker, 7. Joe DeGiulio, 8. Al Morales, 9. Mike Dorrer, 10. Jimmy Loures, 11. Paul Hartwig

LEGEND CARS FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. ROBERT FRENCH, WALL, 2. Rob Hyer, 3. Trevor Alspach, 4. Brian Spencer, 5. Zack Alspach, 6. Jim Davison, 7. Joe McGrath, 8. Steven Woytysiak

LIMITED LATE MODEL FEATURE – 20 Laps – 1. MIKE TILLETT, BAYVILLE, 2. Ryan Doyle, 3. Derek Hopkinson, 4. Jim Downey, 5. Jack Sayegh, 6. Glen Conk