Ruggiero wins Featherlite Modified race at WTS

WALL TOWNSHIP — Reggie Ruggiero of Rocky Hill, Conn., scored his first NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series win in three years after an eventful 150 laps at Wall Township Speedway in Wall.

The win also marked a return to the shore speedway’s victory lane by Dick Barney, who has owned many feature race and title winning cars during his career there. Ruggiero moved underneath Ken Barry of Griswold, Conn., on the final turn of the final lap of the Busch 150. As the pair exited the corner they made contact with Barry spinning into the infield while Ruggiero crossed the line .76 seconds ahead of Tommy Cravenho of Raynham, Mass. Barry finished eighth.

"I am glad to give my car owner, Dick Barney, his first series win," said Ruggiero in victory lane. "I made my move on the inside on that final corner. It was just hard racing."

It was the 43rd career victory for Ruggiero as well as being the first for car owner Dick Barney of Lakewood.

Cravenho’s second-place finish in the Falmouth Ready Mix Dodge was his highest of the season. Tim Arre of Toms River had a career best finish, crossing the line third in the DeRosa Racing Chevrolet. Tony Ferrante, a former Wall Speedway regular, had his best finish of the season by placing fourth in the Petro Fuel Oil Chevrolet. Eddie Flemke rounded out the Top 5 in the Hill Enterprises/Ron Bouchard Pontiac, extending his series point lead to 70 over Tony Hirschman.

Ruggiero was involved in an incident earlier in the race, this time while leading. He took the lead on lap two from Donny Lia and led the next 96 circuits in the Atlantic Sprinklers Chevrolet. On lap 98, a pair of lapped cars tangled in front of Ruggiero collecting the race leader, second-place Rick Fuller, third-place Ken Woolley Jr. and fourth-place Tony Hirschman.

Following that accident involving the race leaders, Ferrente found himself at the point. He led from laps 98 until 122 when Barry slipped underneath in turn two. Ruggiero also got by Ferrante, who fell back to fifth. Ruggiero chased Barry over the next 24 laps until he got by for the win.

The companion 25-lapper for the Street Stocks saw David Gould Jr. of Jackson take the early lead, while defending champ Ron Frees of Brick advanced from the 10th starting spot. Frees moved to the runner-up position before 10 laps were recorded and then shadowed Gould until lap 20. With just five laps remaining, Frees dove to the inside lane to take the lead before racing on to his first win of the 2004 campaign. Gould held his ground to finish second, while point leader Dave Jennings of Howell was third. Bill Vanderveen of Beachwood was fourth and Adam LaCicero of Lavallette was fifth.

Frank Polimeda of Fort Lee, who also competes here in the Modified division, won the 20-lapper for the Legend Cars after starting seventh. Mike Stull of Hamilton was the early leader of the contest until Polimeda caught him and then raced into the lead with an inside lane pass on lap 10.

From then on, Polimeda raced to his second win of the year, while Mike Stull held on for second with Steve Stull finishing a tight third. Brick’s Bryan Gardella and Rich Losh of Joppa, Md., were fourth and fifth.

Former Street Stock standout John Condit of West Caldwell proved to all that he remembers the third-mile paved oval’s high banks well as he raced to his first ever ARTS Truck Series main event in the 30-lapper for the pick-ups. Former speedway Legend Cars racer Tony Naglieri led the first nine circuits, while Condit moved into contention. When top runners Scott Riggleman and Tag Neil tangled near the halfway mark, Condit advanced to second before throttling into the lead on a restart. From then on it was all John Condit, while Chris Winter, Chris Varzel, Jim McLaughlin and a recovering Tag Neil wrapped up the Top 5.

The Wall Modifieds are back in the spotlight for the upcoming holiday weekend July 3 in the traditional "Marian O’Rorke Memorial Independence 76." In addition, the Pro Stocks, Street Stocks, Legend Cars and TQ Midgets will competition. Officials have also announced that starting that Saturday the speedway will shift to a summer schedule with grandstand seating opening at 5 p.m. and racing starting at 7 p.m. The summer starting schedule will be in effect until Labor Day.

Weekend action will kick off Friday evening with Go-kart, Bandolero Car and Micro Stock racing on the fifth-mile inner oval. Racing starts at 6 p.m.