After late race chaos in the Turkey Derby 150 at Wall Stadium, Timmy Solomito would pick up the win over a dominant Matt Hirschman and Andy Jankowiak.
Matt Hirschman would lead over 100 laps in the race, however, after a late race caution for Jared DeGiantomasso, Hirschman would pit, along with Jimmy Blewett and other leaders. Andy Jankowiak, Mark Stewart and others who had already pitted would stay out for the ensuing restart.
Jankowiak would hold onto the lead on the restart, but with 3 laps to go, he had a mirror-full of Matt Hirschman. Hirschman would use the bumper on Jankowiak in turn three coming to the white flag, and would get to his inside. However, Jimmy Blewett, who was right on Hirschman’s tail, would make contact with the No. 60 and Hirschman would go sliding through the infield in turn one on the last lap. This drew the caution, and the field stacked up for a two lap shootout.
Jankowiak and Blewett lined up on the front row for the restart, but they wouldn’t stay there long. Right as the green flew, the two leaders made contact, sending Jankowiak up the track, and Blewett down, creating a massive crash in turn one. Timmy Solomito was able to sneak through in his family-owned No. 66 entry, and take the lead.
Solomito would hold on for the next two to go restart, getting the win in the Turkey Derby 150. Eddie McCarthy would finish runner-up, and Max Zachem came in third. Andrew Krause and Luke Baldwin rounded out the top five. Jack Baldwin was sixth, and Matt Hirschman would finish a disappointing seventh after having victory slip from his grasp on the last lap scuffle.
“It’s unreal, we’ve been close the last couple of years and we finally made it,” said Solomito post-race. “I wanted to win one for my family and I wanted to win one more Tour race before I was done and just happy to be here. This is just as big as a Tour event, we beat the best today.”
“I mean, hard racing obviously,” added Solomito. “The deal with Andy [Jankowiak], I mean, history repeats itself — he did the same thing to me last year, so we were kinda ready for it, and just drove straight through the smoke like Days of Thunder, and here we are. Front bumper is straight, kind of, and we’re in one piece and we’re Turkey Derby winners.”
The Islip, New York has nine NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour wins, but he said this is one of the coolest wins he has had.
“Honestly, this one might be at the top for me. I’ve been coming here since I was a little kid watching, and just happy to be here man. I just can’t believe – I’ve got nine Tour wins, I’d like to make it 10 before I’m done, especially winning with my family. This is a cool one. I won the Turkey Derby in the Legends, got lucky with the SK Wall [Modifieds] last year, and tonight we were there all night, so this one feels good.”
The full results can be viewed below:
Turkey Derby 150
Wall Stadium
November 30 2024
- Timmy Solomito
- Max Zachem
- Andrew Krause
- Jack Baldwin
- Matt Hirschman
- Sam Rameau
- Austin Beers
- Blake Barney
- Ryan Flores
- Jarret DiGiantomasso
- Carsten DiGiantomasso
- Stephen Kopcik
- Matt Swanson
- Jimmy Blewett
- Mark Stewart
- Tommy Martino
- Dave Sapienza
- Anthony Sesely
- Derek Hopkinson
