Ray Evernham to return to Wall Speedway May 31

Hazlet native plans match race with rising NASCAR star Martin Truex Jr.

WALL TOWNSHIP — NASCAR Winston Cup race team owner Ray Evernham will return to the track where his career began when he visits Wall Township speedway on May 31.

Not only will the man who fields the No.9 Dodge of Bill Elliott and the No. 19 Dodge of Jeremy Mayfield have the chance to visit with many old friends, he also plans to participate in a 15-lap match race with rising NASCAR star Martin Truex Jr.

"Wall is where I got my start and I have a lot of friends there," Evernham said. "I was so thrilled when Wall became a NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series track. I can’t wait to return to Wall and see all my friends and I’m real anxious to get behind the wheel of a Modified again for that match race with Martin Jr. It’s been a long time since I’ve driven a Modified."

Evernham is a former Wall Township Speedway driving champion, winning the Modern Stock (now Pro Stock) title in 1977. He was a 10-time winner in that division along with taking seven victories in the Modifieds. The Hazlet native then went on to great fame as the NASCAR Winston Cup championship crew chief with driver Jeff Gordon.

Truex Jr. has also tasted his share of Wall Township Speedway success. The Mayetta resident won five Modified main events in 1998 and 1999. He also won the 1999 Modified Turkey Derby title before focusing his attention on the NASCAR Busch North Series. Truex has recently earned national attention by being chosen to compete in selected Busch Grand National events for Chance 2 Motorsports, which is headed by the Earnhardt family.

In addition to the planned match race, race fans will see the Busch Beer Modifieds compete in a 35-lap main event on Dodge/Mac Tools Night, May 31, while the Pro Stocks and Snap-On Tools Street Stocks both battle in 25-lap main events. Truck Series, Legend Cars and TQ Midget racers are scheduled to compete in 20-lap feature races. A full slate of qualifying events is on the agenda with the first green flag waving at 5 p.m.

The weekend will be a busy one at the Shore Speedway as on the following day, Sunday, June 1, the Sunoco Race of Champions Modified Tour will present a 100-lap event, while the NEETS Enduro Series premiers at the track with a 150-lapper. That program, which also features Truck Series, Legend Car and TQ Midget racing, takes the green flag at 1 p.m.