WALL, N.J. — Carsten DiGiantomasso raced to his career first modified stock car victory at Wall Stadium Speedway on Saturday night.
The Jackson resident was the 2021 Sportsman driving champion and enjoyed nine feature race wins in that division.
Blake Barney charged into the lead at the drop of the green flag on the 40-lapper with DiGiantomasso soon taking over second. A red flag then waved on lap three when Richie Cooper tagged the front stretch rail before Jimmy Blewett slowed the test with a spin in the first and second turns on lap five.
All the while, Barney led DiGiantomasso to the lap 10 mark before smoke started to billow from Barney’s red No. 14.
That smoke, caused by motor trouble, eventually triggered a black flag for the Barney car and DiGiantomasso took over the lead. DiGiantomasso then remained in command as Blewett and Andrew Krause of Holmdel advanced to the front. Blewett muscled his way to second before Krause slipped into the runner-up spot with three laps remaining.
DiGiantomasso, Krause and Blewett were the first three across the finish line, although officials ended up placing Blewett in eighth spot — the last car on the lead lap — as they felt he was guilty of rough riding on his drive to the front. That awarded Milltown’s Derek Hopkinson third spot, while Jackson’s Steven Reed and Pine Hill’s Joey Merlino wrapped up the top five.
“Wow! What a thrill,” DiGiantomasso said after the win. “My dad gets a lot of credit for this win. He does a lot of work on both my cars and my brother’s cars. I have to thank all of my supporters for this win.”
Blewett recovered from an early race tangle and a stop in the pit area for repairs to win the special 50-lap main event for the Sportsman cars.
Krause was the second place finisher in this one, while former champ Kevin Davison of Howell was third. Jarret DiGiantomasso and early race leader Chris Silvestri completed up the top five.
Nick Catone raced to his second Factory Stock 25-lap main event win after leading the race from wire to wire.
Johnny Carpenter closed in to be a tight runner-up as the top two actually made contact crossing the finish line. Bryan O’Shea, Scott Riggleman and Bob Anderton were third through fifth.
Ryan Kuhlthau and Nate Divone offered up a side-by-side battle for the lead that lasted at least the final half of the Legend Cars 25-lapper before Kuhlthau took his second career win by inches. Joe Pryzbylinski, Jr., Jack Gerzabek and Ryan MacConnell were third through fifth.
Mike Lavery won his first start of the season in the 15-lapper for the Fast 4 cars over defending champ Sean Vuksanic.
Bill Schwarz, Josh Barry and Darren Burdge completed the top five.
MODIFIED FEATURE Results (40 Laps)
1. Carsten Digiantomasso, 2. Andrew Krause, 3. Derek Hopkinson, 4. Steven Reed, 5. Joey Merlino, 6. Shaun Carrig, 7. Tyler Ferris, 8. Jimmy Blewett, 9. Blake Barney, 10. Richie Cooper