THOMPSON – William Wall used a fifth place finish in the 25-lap Late Model feature to clinch his second Thompson Speedway Late Model championship Saturday at the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing.
Woody Pitkat came into the event holding a six-point lead over Wall in the standings, but disaster struck early for Pitkat when he was hit from behind into a turn three wreck on lap six.
Wall ultimately was able to edge division rookie Derek Gluchaki for the championship despite Gluchaki get his first career win in the division in the feature.
Wall topped Gluchaki by four points in the standings.
Wall, of Shrewsbury, Mass., was running eighth in the closing laps, with Gluchaki in position to get the win and the title. But a lap 24 caution collected three cars in front of Wall and he was able to restart the event for the green-white-checkered finish in fifth place.
“I honestly wasn’t expecting this,” Wall said. “Woody definitely had the better car today. … It’s very unfortunate to see what happened to him. But I’m very happy for this team. I’m just speechless right now.”
While Gluchaki and Wall celebrated on the frontstretch, Pitkat was in the middle of a physical confrontation on the frontstretch infield grass with Tom Carey Sr., the father of Late Model division driver Tom Carey III. It was Tom Carey III that had pushed Pitkat from behind into the wreck that ended his day.
“I don’t know what happened,” Pitkat said. “He just started swinging at me. The guy never lifted [on the track] and just destroyed me.”
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