John Blewett III has won the pole for the Tour type Modifieds. Local Wall regular Steven Reed has the pole for the Wall/SK/B-Mod cars. We will have more results later. 

The Wall Mods have run their "B" Mains with Tom Farrell and Rich Mongeau taking the checkers in each consolation.

The track crew at Wall Township Speedway has been kept busy this morning, as many pieces of the "Wall" have needed replacement after crashes have compromised the safety of the outer barriers.  Although not perfect we commend the crew for the speedy repairs they have made in order to keep the show running smoothly.

The "Wall" Mod Feature has been completed with a local boy top three sweep! The "younger" Blewett, Jimmy, takes down the win in the "SK type" main event, with the checkered flag falling soon after the sunset, and with John Blewett taking the runner-up spot.  The Wall Stadium Mod's Regular and polesitter for this event, Steven Reed completes the podium finishers by taking the third position. 

Spectators, although cold seemed to appreciate the work of prior Riverside Park Speedway Race Director Joe Lewandowski and his team.  With the addition of some new bleachers, and some pizazz added to the November regional showplace in Belmar, NJ., Joe has continued the legacy in grand fashion.  I guess his short stay at the Waterford Speedbowl, actually turned out to be a good thing.  Hopefully the Turkey Derby will continue for years to come.

We were really looking forward to heading down to New Jersey.  The last campfire conversation's at the World Series on Sunday night were all about the return of the "Tour- Type Mods" to The Wall Township Speedway.  Most noticable was the increase of campers over prior years.  There had to be close to 50 or more, with license plates from all over. Sure is easier to get warm that way.

With the very reasonable entry fee of $30.00 for the entire weekend, and the return of the tour-types, the crowd although not sold out, was quite large.  We've been attending for the last 15 years, and veterans of the "glory days of the event", remarked about the crowd being one of the biggest.  Two years ago, when Wall brought back the tour-types for the first time in a while, due to a weather induced dismal showing, we didn't expect them to attempt it again.  It proved itself to be a great idea, and an apparent money maker for the management.

41 Tour-type Mods vied for the coveted 28 starting spots.  The lineup was set thru time-trials on Friday, and "B" Main qualifying races on Saturday.  The race itself was a caution plagued affair with only about half of the original starters taking the checkered flag.  As the norm, the home-town drivers showed the way around the 1/3 mile oval, with John Blewett, who although gained the pole in Friday's qualifying, started 10th after redraw.  Another earlier contender, John's brother Jimmy, who would go on to take the Wall Mod feature, dropped out early with mechanical problems.  Other Wall alumnis, Jamie Tomaino, and Ken Wooley, made up the top three for most of the race.  Former Wall regular, and ROC Tour regular, Pete Brittan put on a show as he came from the rear several times, and definitely passed the most cars during the day, only to be another casualty of mechanical failure.  WMS Tour regular, Donny Lia, had the crowd on it's feet with his late bid for the win, but Blewett's experience on this track seemed to keep Lia at bay.

In the Wall Modified division 100 lap feature, 32 cars took time on Friday, for spots in the 28 car field.  After the "B" Mains on Saturday, fastest qualifier Steven Reed started 6th after the redraw and continued on to finish 3rd.  Former Wall regular, and past Turkey Derby champion Eddie Bohn redrew the pole, and led several laps before a "push and run" from Jimmy Blewett took him out of the lead.  Jimmy retained the lead for the rest of the race with only occasional challenges from brother John.  Once again, Wall veteran Pete Brittan had a solid run, and was among the top three for most of the race.  The race for the most part was a clean affair,  and there were some long green flag runs.

Yes, everyones a critic.  The decision not to count caution laps definitely added to the length of the program, as the tour type event was caution plagued and took over two hours to run.  We, as fans love to see green flag racing, but the race seemd to drag on, but it could have been worse though, as in past years if  it would have been bitterly cold, or the sun not be out.  Saturday's weather was fairly moderate with the sun shining, the temperature around fifty degrees and only an only an occasional wind.  Definitely bearable.

Steel armco was installed in the turns, a couple of years back replacing the wooden wall that stretched the length of the speedway. The  wooden walls that remained in the front and back stretch, was compromised more than once during the day, with the track crew hauling out relacement "planks" several times throughout the day.  The new management although making several improvements, (most notably moving the pit access gate for easy access back and forth from the pits to the grandstands), should see that armco installation all around seems to be the next logical one.

The addition of "new bleachers" ended up being a new coat of blue paint.  Although aesthetically pleasing, was not the grandstand improvements that we expected.

All in all, the 31st annual Turkey Derby and first North South Shootout Qualifier for the 2005 season, was a success, and brings down the curtain on our local 2004 racing season.