SPORTS

Wall, 15, turning toward Rookie of the Year honors

Staff Writer
Fosters Daily Democrat
Terrill Covey

Bryan Wall isn’t quite old enough to get his learner’s permit in New Hampshire, but the 15-year old Kingston native is competing in his second season — and first full time — at Barre, Vermont’s Thunder Road. His lack of experience on the roads isn’t hurting him so far as he is currently ninth in the point standings and leading the rookie points.

“It’s funny, when other drivers try to tell me what to do by comparing it to what you would do on the road,” said Wall, who's a student at St. Thomas Aquinas. “I’m like, ‘I can’t drive on the road yet.’”

Wall has earned seven top 10 finishes and a top five this season. With just three races remaining, he hopes to lock down the coveted rookie points championship in the Street Stock, the 4-cylinder entry level division at the track.

“I’m very proud and surprised with how well Bryan has done this season,” said his father, also named Bryan. “Our goals and expectations were honestly just to run consistently and learn as much as we could this season. To have him in contention for the Rookie of the Year and currently in ninth in the overall point standings is just incredible.”

Wall has strong family ties to racing, as his father competed for years in the Busch North division and his uncle, Chris Michaud, who is now part owner of Thunder Road, won multiple championships at the track as a driver.

“My dad is the reason I started racing,” said the younger Wall. “He’s the reason I grew up loving racing. I was too young to really remember him racing, but I have watched some of his old races and we watch NASCAR together. He’s been a huge help to me. Him and my grandfather have been my biggest supporters.”

“He loves the sport and dedicates all his free time and effort into it,” said the elder Wall. “So we’ll support that all day long.”

While many of his classmates at STA are turning in physical forms and preparing for football or soccer season, Wall is in the waning weeks of his own sport of choice.

“A lot of them don’t get it,” Wall said of his friends at school. “My best friend loves cars also, and he has come to the track with me, but my other friends don’t really understand. I have people ask where I drag race or how it works. I wish more people would try racing, or at least come to the track and check it out. It is a lot of fun.”

With entry level divisions at several local tracks in New Hampshire, making the 2-1/2 hour sojourn to central Vermont might not make sense to some. But for the Walls, the choice was an easy one. Between the family connections at the track and the highly competitive division, which typically sports 18-25 cars on any given Thursday night, Wall said there was no doubt where he wanted to race.

“There has been a learning curve,” he admitted. “But I think I have gotten better and better. We bought the car from Jason Woodard, and he helps us with set up, so I can focus on just learning the track and doing my best to drive it. I don’t have to worry as much about learning how to set it up because he is helping with that.”

Woodard has won multiple track championships in the Flying Tiger division at Thunder Road. Wall said his help has been invaluable in preparing the car, especially since he lives so far away.

Wall's goal for this season is to secure the Rookie of the Year title. He hopes to pick up his first win and another top ten points finish next season; after that, he hopes to move up into the Flying Tiger ranks.

“I hope I can get my first win next year, if I don’t get it before the end of this year,” he said. “The car should be even better next year and hopefully we can be up front every week.”

He added that calling the Street Stock division at Thunder Road an entry level division is a bit misleading, since there are a number of drivers who have competed in the division for years.

“Don’t let ‘entry class’ fool you,” Wall said. “These guys are very good. A lot of them have raced other places or divisions but come back here because it is such a great division.”

Results are in

Last week at Lee USA Speedway, Mike Ordway Jr. came home with the International Supermodified Association (ISMA) and the Fremont native picked up the win in the Ollie Silva Memorial Mid-Summer Classic. He was joined in Victory Lane by Mike Spurling (Small Block Supermodifieds), Bryan Kruczek (Late Models) and Alby Ovitt (Street Stocks). Brothers Brandon (Ironman) and Tyler Mailhot (Pure Stocks) pulled off the double with wins in their respective features as well.

Rain won out on Saturday, forcing postponements at Star Speedway and New England Dragway.

A Look Ahead

New England Dragway kicks off this weekend’s racing card with street night on Friday night, followed by Outlaw 10.5, Top Bike, Street Fighter and New England No Time racing on Saturday. The NHRA All Access Challenge follows on Sunday, along with racing in the Super Pro, Tire Pro, Street, Motorcycle/Snowmobile and Junior Dragster classes.

Lee USA Speedway will highlight the Street Stock division with the 50-lap Lance Memorial race, while the Late Models, Supermodifieds, Ironmen and Pure Stocks will also be in competition.

Saturday night at Star Speedway racing will kick off early at 5:30 p.m. to fit in a full night of racing, including the Star Troopers, Six Shooters, Roadrunners, Strictly Stocks, Late Models, Supermodifieds and Northeast Classic Lites.

Terrill Covey is a Seacoast Media Group correspondent and longtime observer of auto racing. He can be reached at tmjcovey@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at tcovey11.