This weekend’s Turkey Derby at Wall Township Raceway (NJ) means something a little bit different for Donny Lia and his #18 Lia Motorsports team. Going there is not about collecting points, turning heads or making headlines. The Thanksgiving weekend classic is instead all about Lia and his team enjoying themselves after a grueling season of NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events and several open shows at tracks from Massachusetts to North Carolina to Florida.
Of course, winning would be nice too…
“Hopefully, winning is in the cards but as long as we can go down there and have fun at the racetrack, that’s what its about,” said Lia. “We just want to close the year on a good note.”
At last season’s Turkey Derby, Lia finished second to hometown hero and Modified Tour standout John Blewett, III so winning is definitely a realistic option for the #18 team.
“We ran well last year and we should have a good chance to go and win,” said Lia. “We are definitely capable of it.”
The Turkey Derby will feature teams that race weekly at Wall, as well as several from the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and Race of Champions Tour. It’s even possible that a team or two from the True Value Modified Racing Series and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour could show up.
“I’ve heard that there are going to be some people from all over the place,” said Lia. “That should be enough cars there. It sounds like it will be a good turnout. I just want to make it in and get a good starting spot, stay out of trouble and have a good finish.”
