WALL SUNDAY CHAMPS SALUTED,
CLOSING RUMORS SQUASHED
About 47 Wall Township Speedway Sunday Series drivers were saluted - and
one closing rumor squashed - here at Our House Restaurant and Tavern
Saturday night.
The 47, including champions from 11 WSS divisions, received
their awards. They and their 133 fellow diners also learned of WTS
Managing Partner Tim Shinn's intention to reopen the Jersey Shore oval
track this spring.
"You know how the rumor mill's been going," said WTS
Operations Manager Jim Morton before the full banquet hall. "I talked
with Tim this morning. He said it's his intention as of this day to open
the speedway."
The wallspeedway.com Web site has meanwhile confirmed that
the WTS NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards banquet is set for 6
p.m. Feb. 2 at Lakewood's Woodlake Country Club. Wall's WAAS Modified
Champion Kevin Flockhart, of Jackson, and his six fellow class titlists
are to be honored for their efforts on the historic banked paved
one-third-mile oval.
The rumors started over the Christmas holidays when the WTS
office telephone line was disconnected. Morton said that the four
managing partners had laid him and Office Administrator, Sue Simpson off
around New Year's Day with the intention of rehiring them in March.
Morton added that the track had cancelled its exhibit space at
Friday-Sunday's Motorsports 2008 show at Atlantic City. "I hope to have
more a definite word or decision on or before Friday," said Morton.
"That would
be before Motorsports 2008."
Motorsports is an annual public and trade auto racing show
that had moved to the new Atlantic City Convention Center last year. It
and Friday-Saturday's Gamblers Classic Indoor Racing at the nearby
Boardwalk Hall are organized by Area Auto Racing News, of Trenton. WTS
won the Best Appearing Speedway Display award at Motorsports 2007.
Morton was also among those who received a service award for
establishing WSS. The series, held on Wall's fifth-mile inner oval,
highlights Legends Cars, Bandoleros and kart or kart-based racing
primarily for drivers 17- to 12- years old.
Second generation driver Ryan Truex, of Mayetta, was
bestowed the inaugural WSS Calabreeze Pools Legends Cars trophy. Truex
was absent, however, due to a racing commitment in the South. Ken Van
Wickle, of Manasquan, received his Van Wickle NAPA Auto Supply Bandolero
title trophy.
Other WSS class champs hailed included:
Modified Micro Stock -- Dennis Hiddemen, Southamption, Pa.
Controlled Micro Stock -- Mike Mee, E. Brunswick, N.J.
Senior Champ Kart -- Jon Stewart, Ringoes.
Junior Champ Kart -- Nandi Palmai, Allentown, N.J.
Jr. Briggs & Stratton Gold Plate -- Randy Sixt, Hillsborough.
Jr. B&S Blue Plate -- Devon Sixt, Hillsborough.
B&S Heavy -- Larry Welle, Bridgewater.
B&S Medium -- Anthony Dalessio, Ringoes.
B&S Light -- Kurt Labor, Jr., Neptune.
