Blewett, Geibel, Gardella among winners at WTS

WALL TOWNSHIP - John Blewett III, of Howell, outlasted Kevin Flockhart and outran Steve Reed to win the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (WAAS) modified main during Wall Township Speedway NJR Home Services Opening Night Saturday.

Blewett opened his Wall WAAS title defense by splitting the three 10-lap heats with Flockhart and Justin Gumley. The Blewett Scrap & Waste No. 76 Troyer-Dodge driver came from the fourth starting spot to inherit the lead on Flockhart's holed oil pan on lap four. Blewett held off Reed by .239 seconds to win his first 40-lap WTS modified main of the year.

Tim Arre, Mike Carpenter, Sportsman division champ Chas Okerson and Gumley rounded out the top six of 10 finishers. Blewett later left the banked paved one-third-mile oval to compete in Sunday's NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour round at Thompson, Conn. The Whelen Tour is revisiting Wall May 6 as part of the track's Thunder at the Shore Weekend.

Blewett shared Wall victory lane with Robert Geibel Jr., Charlie Kremer III, Rick Kopf, Vern McLaughlin III and Bryan Gardella. Geibel, of Brick, repelled defending RMP Modified Affordable Division titlist Danny Bohn all 20 laps of their feature. The Groundhawg Demolition Raceworks-RMP Chevrolet No. 97jr racer paid tribute to the 32 victims of the April 16 Virginia Tech massacre.

Gardella, also of Brick, took advantage of Don Neuls' slide to win the 25-lap INEX Legends Cars feature. Kremer, of Toms River, added a record 24th sportsman main victory in flag-to-flag fashion. WTS officials awarded the street stock feature victory to Kopf, of Keyport, after citing first-finisher Rob Hyer for bumping out longtime leader John McCormack with two laps to go.

McLaughlin, of Whitehouse Station, finished fourth in the Value Towing Factory Stock feature but received the victory after technical inspectors found the top three finishers either underweight or using an unapproved rear gear ratio.

All six regular divisions are to return to Wall for 6 p.m. Saturday. The American Three Quarter Midget Racing Association and a 40-lap Value Towing Factory Stock feature are included in the May 5-6 Thunder at the Shore Weekend.

The first Wall Sunday Series is to start at noon this Sunday. Contact wallspeedway.com or (732) 681-6400 for details and updates.