Wall Township Speedway (also known as Wall Stadium) is a race track in Wall Township, New Jersey. The track opened to the public in the spring of 1950 and has operated for at least a part of every year since. The track was an early home to racing stars Ray Evernham and Martin Truex, Jr. Also, it hosted NASCAR Strictly Stock Series (now Sprint Cup) event in 1958. The more prominent drivers over the years have included Gil Hearne (eight time champion), John Blewett III, Jimmy Blewett (Two time champion), Jimmy Spencer (Garden State Classic winner), Tony Siscone (six time champion), Richie Evans, and Charlie Jarzombek (Garden State Classic winner).
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Founders Tom and Jennie Nicol sought to build their own racetrack after enjoying stock car racing at Long Branch Speedway. The couple bought 55 acres of land off Route 34 in Wall Township and built a one-third mile oval with 30-degree banking in the turns, unheard of at the time. Racing began in 1950 with the annual Turkey Derby capping each season on Thanksgiving Day beginning in 1974.[1]
After the 2001 season, Jennie Nicol decided to sell the speedway and, it was purchased by Timothy Shinn. His co-owners were Tom Mauser, Joe Sanzari, and Fletcher Creamer for the 2002 season. The track was retitled Wall Township Speedway. After two months, Mauser was dismissed as the Track Operations Manager. In 2004, Fred Archer came to the fold as co owner. By 2005, car counts and capacity crowd started to decline and, there were rumors swirling about the track's future.
After the 2007 season, several employees were laid off from their positions. The track closed on March 14, 2008 with the track's marquee reading CLOSED FOR GOOD.[2]
After eleven months of not being operative, former track operations manager Jim Morton secured a lease to operate the race track for the season ending Turkey Derby Event in November 2008, and the crowd was overwhelming.
The track officially reopened for a full season of racing in 2009, capped by the Turkey Derby. The name was changed back to the familiar "Wall Stadium".
The 2010 season started as usual, but as of September 2, 2010, the track closed once more, due to the expiration of Morton's lease on the property. The marquee, which earlier that week had noted the weekend's upcoming races, simply read "Racing cancelled till further notice".[3] The 37th annual Turkey Derby ran as scheduled on November 26 and 27, under the terms of a short-term lease to Don Ling and the Blewett family. The track was put up for sale shortly thereafter with an asking price of $18 million. The track reopened thanks to a Mr. Cliff Krause. Who rented the track out from the owners for a one year lease.
Racing is scheduled to resume in 2011 under new management. Cliff Krause of Holmdel signed a one-year lease with track owners to conduct a full schedule of races.[4]
Krause, secured a three year extention, on the tracks lease after the 2011 Turkey Derby.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
The 2003 season, hosted a NASCAR (then Featherlite) Whelen Modified Tour event. The race was contested at 150 laps, and that race was held the next year, and it was quickly dropped from their future scheduling. In 2007, the cars returned to the speedway after, being absent from the schedule for three seasons, and it hosted a "Flash" event with a pair of 50 lap races, and the feature is the final 50. Unfortunately, the Tour cars weren't scheduled again ever since.
Turkey Derby
After the 1974 season, the management/staff added a race for the Thanksgiving weekend, entitled "Turkey Derby". The first was a 100 lap feature SK Style Modified event initiated by Jack Arute, Sr. at Stafford Motor Speedway. From 1974-1992, the Modified race was contested a 150 lap event. When the years went by, the format had been changed to three 50 lap events, if the driver finishes in a certain spot, he will be declared the overall winner. The full blown modifieds, returned in 2002 it was 150 laps. In 2004, it was 125 laps. From 2004-2009, was 100. 2010-Present 150 Laps.
Garden State Classic
The Garden State Classic, was established in 1957. The format of the event was first consisted a grueling 300 lap event. When the 1980's started, it was cut to 200 laps, 1993, cut to 100 laps. 2009-2010 150 Laps. Now 125 Laps.
After the 1992 season there are some changes going about. When the 1993 season started the fans received devastating news: Modifieds had been dropped from the schedule. The fact was there was a dispute over the purse structure and the drivers in that division went to race elsewhere but the division found a new home at the now closed Flemington Speedway.