ANDREW KRAUSE WINS WALL STADIUM'S CLIFF KRAUSE MEMORIAL
by Earl Krause and Robin Ervin
WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ -- For the third time in his career, Andrew Krause of Holmdel won the special race honoring his late father in Saturday night’s 127-lap “Cliff Krause Memorial” for the Modified division at Wall Stadium Speedway.The race annually salutes Cliff Krause, the late promoter of the track who passed away in 2018. Andrew Krause won its first edition that year and again in 2020.
On Saturday, in a race slowed by many cautions, Krause pitted for a fresh tire later than his competitors, then raced back into contention. With 20 circuits to go, he was a close second to leader Kyle Scisco with Jimmy Blewett a challenging third. On a restart, following a caution to dry the track from an oil down, Krause took the lead from Scisco. After a crash in turn one with 10 laps remaining, and the race having run for an hour and a half, officials made the decision to go with a single file restart. With what turned out to be the final green, Krause powered away to take the win over Scisco, Blewett. Steven Reed and Anthony Sesely.
“It was a long race with a lot action throughout that came right down to the end there. I know when we went single file on that last restart, I didn’t want to see that (the single file restart) any more than anyone else,” reflected Krause, post-race, alongside his No. 27. “But the car was fast. We were able to get the lead on the restart before that and it was just as fast as all the other cars. I thank everyone who helps make this place so great... all the fans, my (track operators) mom (Diane) and sister (Emily), this is in memory of my dad. This is all because of him.”
With ‘27’ the signature number of Cliff Krause, going back many years to when he fielded No. 27 Modifieds on the dirt track circuit, Saturday’s support divisions ran 27-lap features.
ATQMRA TQ Midget Series point leader Kyle Taraska, from Woodbridge, won his third feature of the season at Wall, after taking the lead from rookie contender Zack Burd. Joey Payne closed with a rush to finish a challenging second, followed by Joey Bailey, Matt Janisch and Burd.
Rahway’s Billy Both was in victory lane for the first time this year in the Factory Stock main, outracing defending champion Bryan O’Shea, Johnny Carpenter, Scott Riggleman and Brian Osborn.
Fast Four division point leader Sean Vuksanic, a hometown favorite residing in Wall, added to that total with his third win of the campaign. Alonzo Morales, last year’s titlist, was second ahead of Alex Graetz, Greg Viel and Ryan Maher.
Wall Stadium will not have racing on Saturday, Sept. 3, during Labor Day weekend as a Family Fun Fair will take place on the grounds. Racing resumes on Saturday, Sept. 10, with the Modified, Sportsman Factory Stock, Fast Four and Legend Car divisions scheduled.
Modified feature finish (127-laps): 1. ANDREW KRAUSE (HOLMDEL); 2. Kyle Scisco, 3. Jimmy Blewett, 4. Steven Reed, 5. Anthony Sesely, 6. Tommy Martino Jr., 7. Blake Barney, 8. Eddie McCarthy, 9. Adam LaCicero, 10. Shaun Carrig, 11. Carsten DiGiantomasso, 12. Derek Hopkinson, 13. Jake Nelke, 14. Tyler Truex, 15. Dominic Fattaruso, 16. Jarret DiGiantomasso, 17. Joey Merlino, 18. Ricky Collins, 19. Jonathan Mandato, 20. Neil Rutt III, 21. Eric Lane
ATQMRA TQ Midget feature finish (27-laps): 1. KYLE TARASKA (WOODBRIDGE); 2. Joey Payne, 3. Joey Bailey, 4. Matt Janisch, 5. Zack Burd, 6. Cole Mullen, 7. Brianna Page, 8. Buddy Sload, 9. Jeff Kot, 10. Tyler Ferris, 11. Mark Yoder, 12. Steve Craig, 13. Ronnie Mullen, 14. Mike Glaser, 15. Mike Turton
Factory Stock finish (27-laps): 1. BILLY BOTH (RAHWAY); 2. Bryan O’Shea; 3. Johnny Carpenter; 4. Scott Riggleman; 5. Brian Osborn, 6. Robert Stack, 7. AJ Jadacki, 8. Gregg Moench, 9. Bob Anderton, 10. Tom Rajkowski, 11. Gary Burton, 12. Dean Gilchrist, 13. Nick Kilmer, 14. Matt Badessa, 15. Steve Mangano, 16. Nancy Riggleman, 17. Kevin Flores, 18. Geoff Green, 19. Elliott Wohl
Fast Four finish (27-laps): 1. SEAN VUKSANIC (WALL); 2. Alonzo Morales, 3. Alex Graetz, 4. Greg Viel, 5. Ryan Maher, 6. Nicole Razzano, 7. Ryan Bilello, 8. Logan Fraser, 9. Kayleigh Sharry, 10. Ted Olswski, Travis Schwarz
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