WALL TOWNSHIP, N.J. – In early March Eric Mauriello announced on social media that his race car driving days had come to an end.
Then, just days before the rescheduled day one of Turkey Derby on Saturday, he got a phone call from fellow driver Jimmy Blewett requesting that Mauriello fill in for him the the No. 51 since Blewett had taken ill.
It did not take long for Mauriello to jump at the chance to drive the top notch race car and he then went on to win a thrilling rescheduled 100-lap Wall Modified event. The second and third days of the Turkey Derby, which were also postponed in November due to COVID restrictions, will be contested this Saturday and Sunday (March 27-28).
Adam LaCicero, Matt Hirschman, Dom Fattaruso, Eddie McCarthy and Mauriello struggled, often side-by-side, in the early laps. The race was then stopped cold on lap 18 when Hirschman and McCarthy touched on the front stretch with McCarthy’s No. 22 flipping before sliding upside down into the first turn. After several anxious moments the safety crew assisted McCarthy in climbing from the car uninjured. Both McCarthy and Hirschman were done for the day.
Mauriello then raced into the lead on the restart and held his ground through a couple of restarts including one for when Holmdel’s Andrew Krause’s No. 27 wobbled with a flat tire. Tyler Truex of Mayetta later took the lead of the event before the recovering Krause drove into the lead on lap 60. Soon Mauriello advanced to second and applied the pressure before driving past Krause for the lead and eventual win on lap 89. Krause finished second in the test while Farmingdale’s Tom Martino Jr. recovered from his own on-track problems and the pain of bruised ribs, to finish third. Matawan’s Anthony Sesely and Jackson’s Steven Reed wrapped up the top five.
“I was originally going into Turkey Derby weekend retired until late this week. I got the call from Jimmy Blewett to drive the 51,” Mauriello said. “That’s an opportunity you always take. We showed up today fast off the trailer, timed 2nd and had a rocket come feature time. Started 8th got to the lead and won Turkey Derby! Cant thank Jimmy, Scott Brannick, Rob Ormsbee and all the Team Outlaw guys for the opportunity. This is one I’ll never forget.”
Defending driving champion Jarret DiGiantomasso won the 40-lapper for the Sportsman cars, jumping to the lead early and then fighting off the competition through several restarts. Kevin Davison slipped into second on the final lap, while Blake Barney, Christian LaCicero and Jeffrey Loesch were third through fifth.
Former champion Mike Montano took the lead on lap 17 and raced on to win the Factory Stock 30-lap headliner. Joey Helberg was the runner-up, while early leader Elliot Wohl recover from a spin for third. Brian Osborn and Tom Rajkowski wrapped up the top five.
Joe Warren took the lead near the half way point and then fought off the advances of Alonzo Morales to win the 30-lapper for the Fast 4 cars. Sean Vuksanic, Alex Graetz and Nicole Razzano completed the top five.