Turkey Derby XXXVI Day 2 Completed
November 28, 2009 - Wall Stadium - The 36th Annual Turkey Derby concluded today, with Rowan Pennink besting a field of 26 cars to hold on and take the victory. Pennink was the only driver in the top 5 to not pit for tires during the race. While that almost cost him the race after he lost the lead to Jimmy Blewett, Blewett suffered the biggest disappointment of the day when he was black flagged for leaking oil while he was leading the race with less than 10 laps left to go. That put Pennink, whom Blewett had passed for the lead just laps before, back in front, a position Pennink would not lose again.
Blewett's day wasn't all bad, though, as he led the majority of the laps of the Wall Mod/SK race, losing the lead briefly when he and most of the other leaders pitted for tires during a caution just past the halfway mark of the race. He quickly worked his way back into the lead and held it for the rest of the way to take the victory.
In the Street Stock race, Dan Turbush of Riverhead, NY emerged the victor after inheriting the lead early in the race while he was running in the 3rd position when the 2 leaders, Carl Thomas and Anthony Grimaldi, came together on a restart, crashing into the front stretch wall, With Thomas riding the top of the guard rail until his car flipped and ended up across the track. That brought out the only red flag of the day, as severe damage occurred to both cars. But from that point on, Turbush, who had started in 9th, proved to be the strongest car out there, as he was never seriously challenged over the final 20 laps of the race. Greg Miranda and Jon Meyer rounded out the top 3, while Ray Minieri finished 6th, and Brian Doyle finished 7th in the 26 car field..
Kevin Davison, who originally finished 2nd in the Wall Sportsman race, was awarded the victory in that race after Kevin Eyres, who'd crossed the line in 1st, was moved to 3rd place in the finishing order for rough riding, after race officials decided he had been too aggressive in the battle for the lead
In the closing show of the day, Paul Lotier, Jr. won the25 lap Midget race.
Great crowd for the 2nd year in a row, with the track closing their main parking lot when it became full, and having to use nearby lots to handle the crowd. The pits were full to the point of overflow, also, as some race car teams had to use part of the parking lot as pit areas. The weather was better too, with sunshine all day, though it was windy, but overall it was better than Friday's overcast and chilly day.
Lastly, I'd like to extend my thanks to Jim Morton and his wonderful staff for all their help throughout the 2 days of racing I covered. They made my job easier, and for that I am always grateful.
Further details in a few days. I inadvertently left my voice recorder, with my race notes on it, in the trailer at Wall. A big thanks to NEETS co-promoter Joe Cutri for finding it, and for thinking of the best way to get it back to me. I apologize to my readers for my error. More on these stories in a day or two. (Now I'm going to get comments, lol!)



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