The Krause Family, Wall Stadium Speedway
By EARL KRAUSE
Photo Credit: Jim Smith
There is no doubt that Cliff Krause loved Wall Stadium, its racers and fans... and the storied history of the third-mile, high-banked paved oval. It led the successful businessman to “take the plunge” as Wall’s lease-holder and promoter in 2011 when it looked as if the track would not survive after several years of management issues with prior operators. But because of the dedication of Cliff, and his close-knit family that includes his wife Diane and their children Andrew and Emily, Wall Stadium not only recovered but has succeeded and became stable in the years since.
But sadly, Cliff is not here to see the track prosper.
He passed away at age 65 on January 27, 2018, from complications of a massive heart attack.
Diane continued his vision and was Wall’s General Manager through 2019; with daughter Emily now “24-7” in that role. And mom Diane continues as busy as ever from the office side during the week and on race nights!
This Saturday, August 16, is the seventh edition of Cliff Krause Memorial, with the Modifieds running a 127-lap feature… recognizing his “signature” number of “27” on the family race cars. Son Andrew won “Cliff’s Race” in 2018 and 2020 in that No. 27; with Eric Mauriello in victory lane for 2019 while driving the No. 31 of Steve Ferrara Jr. The event was rained out in 2021, and in the midst of a busy schedule was not run. The race returned for 2022, with Andrew Krause winning for the third time. Taking top honors in 2023 was Connecticut invader Steven Kopcik, a winner at Stafford Motor Speedway and strong competitor in Tour-type Modified events. Last year, “Fast Eddie” McCarthy used a pit stop tire change strategy with his No. 20 team headed up by crew chief Billy Cole Jr. (dad of ATQMRA driver Billy III) and charged through the field to win his first Cliff Krause Memorial.
Wall’s weekly Sportsman and Factory Stock divisions will also compete; and the ATQMRA TQ Midget drivers, teams and officials are proud to again be part of the special night. Winning previous TQ features at the Cliff Krause Memorial were Geoffrey Sutton, in Alan Mollott’s No. 51 (2019); Kyle Taraska, in Russ Bailey’s No. 22 ((2022); and Ryan Tidman, in Paul Dodorico’s No. 99, last year.
A PASSION FOR RACING: Cliff originally had No. 27 dirt Modifieds that he fielded for top drivers going back to the 1990s.
Then, before becoming Wall’s promoter, he entered asphalt cars initially driven by son Andrew in the Wall Sportsman division to victories and a title. Andrew then moved into the Modifieds at the Shore Speedway with winning success.
Auto racing had always been Cliff Krause’s enjoyable sideline, starting years ago when he competed as a driver of a dirt Modified at N.Y.’s Orange County Fair Speedway.
By his own admission, Cliff would tell you with a laugh that “after hitting the wall too many times and fixing the race car... I soon found out that I wasn’t going to be a race driver and would be better owning and sponsoring race cars!”
In the 1990s and well into the 2000s, Cliff’s Modifieds were driven with success by Ralph Heotzler at Orange County; and Steve Bottcher at N.J.’s Bridgeport and Rick Laubach there and at New Egypt Speedway. Cliff’s racing travels didn’t take him to asphalt tracks, but ironically it was at Wall that Andrew, then a teenager, began as a driver in the track Sportsman cars in 2009.
After only seven races that summer, in a No. 27 mount that he entered with his dad, Andrew won his first of 12 career mains in the Wall Sportsman division on August 16, 2009.
In 2015, Andrew became Wall’s Sportsman champion. Ultimately, Cliff was “all in” to pavement racing as Andrew became a seasoned competitor in the Wall Modifieds; and other Northeast tracks… and became a regular in 2018 on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour while still making Wall his Saturday priority.
CONTINUING THE LEGACY: Andrew Krause also has a vested interest in Wall Stadium’s future. Along with becoming a top Modified driver in the family No. 27 at Wall, as the defending and four-time division champion, Andrew is right there to help at the track.
The company Cliff founded, the family’s Supreme Manufacturing business in East Brunswick, N.J., is a major operation that manufactures specialty mixed and soft drink concentrates and ice cream toppings for clients around the country and internationally.
Andrew began working at Supreme Manufacturing as operations manager after his graduation from Rutgers University. He is now just as “hands-on” as his father at the business. Then, in the race shop and pit area, he turns wrenches on the Modified with his loyal crew that are “like family.”
And Diane and Emily Krause have excelled at Wall Stadium, with their “theme nights” and special attractions bringing those families into the track on Saturdays... especially during the summer “Jersey Shore Tourism” season.
Now, after 15 years as managers of the track, they will be stepping away from that role after this year’s Turkey Derby. Thanks to their dedication, Wall Stadium is strong, with a loyal, multi-generational “fans of all ages” and racer base.
SATURDAYS AT WALL WERE SPECIAL: Cliff loved being at Wall Stadium! Early on Saturday and all through race day he would be in and all around the pit area... available to chat with drivers, team members and media; whether it was for a pleasant conversation, share a joke or funny story; or if it was a serious issue.
And he also walked around the grandstand midway, talking with fans and hearing their comments... whether they were enjoying their visit or had a suggestion about making it better.
And, there were so many times that fans would come up to Cliff and say “thank you for saving our track.” That was his reward.
Poignant words from Diane, Emily and Andrew in the days following Cliff’s passing said it all... and are still recalled today.
“Many of Cliff’s favorite memories were made at Wall Stadium. He enjoyed spending time and laughing with his racing family. He will always be at the track... watching over us.”