REED RACES TO FOURTH WALL STADIUM MODIFIED GARDEN STATE CLASSIC WIN WALL, NJ ~ Steven Reed earned over $5,000 in purse and bonus money plus a designer watch from Mertens Jewelers for winning the 65th running of the Garden State Classic at Wall Stadium Saturday night. It was the Jackson resident's fourth victory in the prestigious event and his 39th career Modified stock car win at the third mile paved oval. Reed jumped to the lead at the start and held his ground through the first 20 laps before Tyler Truex of Mayetta took over the lead. Truex then led a handful of laps before being penalized three positions for failing to pick a lane before a restart. Reed then returned to the top spot with Andrew Krause of Howell and Jackson's Blake Barney second and third. Reed then paced the field for the following 50 plus laps before a lap 104 caution saw almost the entire field pit for tire changes. Young James Blewett, who had pitted early, took up the top spot at that point and led the following ten circuits before Reed rocketed back into the top spot with an outside lane pass with just ten laps remaining. Reed then raced through the final ten laps and through a final turn scramble to take the win as Truex recovered to nail down second. Eric Mauriello of Brick returned for his first race in several years for third, with James Blewett and Brick's Eddie McCarthy wrapping up the top five. “This win is one of the most special that I have had,” Reed said. “After last year with no wins, I started to wonder if I would win again. My wife, mom and dad and crew just kept working at it and here we are. “We really needed this win.” Ray Evernham, a former racer here who went on to national fame as a championship NASCAR Cup crew chief for Jeff Gordon, was the Grand Mashall for the event. In the companion 25 lap race for the East Coast Legend Car Series, Mike Alcaro overcame an early race tangle that sent him to the rear of the field to race to victory. It was the West Milford speedster's division leading 51st win. Tanner Jones, Chris Sinatro, Nate Divone and Justin Emmons were second through fifth. Ray Minieri of Miller Place, N.Y. battled for the lead with Pat Brown near halfway before racing to the lead and eventual win in the 25-lapper for the Limited Late Models. Brian Doyle, Phil Bogdan, Brown, Mike Tillett and Greg Gastelu wrapped up the finishing order. Dedicating his win to team member Dave Vanderbeck who suffered a medical emergency early that morning, Tyler Ferris of Wall raced to his second straight win in the 25 lap TQ Midget feature race. Joe Payne, Blake Barney, Ryan Tidman and Brianna Page completed the top five. After taking Saturday, July 5, off to allow fans and racers to enjoy the Independence Holiday weekend. Wall Stadium will return to action on Saturday night, July 12. The Modifieds, Sportsman, Factory Stocks, Fast 4s, Limited Late Models and TQ Midgets will all be in action. Qualifying is at 5:00 p.m. with main events starting at 7:00 p.m. Wall Stadium is located on Route 34 in Wall Township, N.J., just one mile north of Garden State Parkway exit 98 and Interstate 195 exit 35B. Visit wallstadiumspeedway.com. The speedway hotline number is 732-681-6400 and email address is ckmotorsports@aol.com. RACE RESULTS MODIFIED FEATURE - 125 Laps - 1. STEVEN REED, JACKSON, 2. Tyler Truex, 3. Eric Mauriello, 4. James Blewett, 5. Eddie McCarthy, 6. Joey Merlino, 7. Andrew Krause, 8. Roger Coss, 9. Anthony Sesely, 10. Jake Nelke, 11. Shaun Carrig, 12. Jonathan Laureigh, 13. Tommy Martino, Jr., 14. Teddy Cranmer, 15. Bryan O'Shea, 16. Jarret DiGiantomasso, 17. Ricky Collins, 18. Tyler Ferris, 19. Carsten DiGiantomasso, 20. Blake Barney, 21. Adam LaCicero, 22. Derek Hopkinson LEGEND CARS FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. MIKE ALCARO, WEST MILFORD, 2. Tanner Jones, 3. Chris Sinatro, 4. Nate Divone, 5. Justin Emmons, 6. Joe Parker, Jr., 7. Brian Gardella, 8. Brad Lowmaster, 9. Chris Gall, 10. Jeff Stevens, 11. Justin Teresak, 12. Jack Gerzabek, 13. Jeffrey Faruggia, Jr., 14. Thomas Schwarz, 15. Mike Kelly, 16. Eugene Drew, 17. Dan Haskel, Shanon Schwarz LIMITED LATE MODEL FEATURE - 25 Laps - 1. RAY MINIERI, MILLER PLACE, NY, 2, Brian Doyle, 3. Phil Bogdan, 4. Pat Brown, 5. Mike Tillett, 6. Greg Gastelu TQ MIDGET FEATURE – 25 Laps – 1. Tyler Ferris, Wall, 2. Joe Payne, 3. Blake Barney, 4. Ryan Tidman, 5. Brianna Page, 6. Steve Craig, 7. Chris Coleman, 8. Billy Cole, 9. Jeff Kot, 10. Zach Burd
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