PAUCH JR & SPENCER WIN BRIDGEPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS
It was the final night of points for the Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Modifieds and the Victory Fuel Wingless Sprints in a five division show at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park. The Ice Less LLC Sportsman, Street Stocks and Four Cylinder titles will be decided at the end of next Saturday’s competition.
Dillon Steuer raced to his second feature win of the season, racing from deep in the pack and into the lead just as Neal Williams slowed with mechanical issues. Brian Papiez raced to his fifth feature win of the season in the Ice Less LLC 602 Sportsman and took a four point lead in the championship chase with one race left on the points schedule. In what proved to be a very competitive race for the lead, Mike Hughes earned to his sixth win in the Street Stocks while Tim Jones raced to the win in the Four Cylinder competition. Matt Peck raced to his first ever win in the Victory Fuel Wingless Sprints over defending champion, Brian Spencer.
Billy Pauch, Jr. captured his first ever Bridgeport track title – marked by his first season of running his own race team on a full-time basis. Bridgeport is the third track where Pauch, Jr. has followed in the footsteps of his father. “It’s the first time that I’ve run my own team on a full time,” Pauch, Jr. stated. “I’ve always run my own team for some races.” Pauch continued, “That’s pretty good – I was second here before and now I came back and won the championship.”
Spencer’s championship marked two in a row for the Victory Fuel wingless sprint competitor.
Spencer made the mathematics easy as he first put together a string of runner-up finishes and then a string of wins on his way to his second championship in this division.
Mike Franz led the first four laps of the Modified feature event with Neal Williams blasting into the lead on lap five. Williams set a torrid pace while Steuer made his way through the top ten. Steuer raced in second with ten laps scored.
Steuer closed in on the leader, challenging for the lead on lap thirteen. Steuer raced to the inside of Williams to take the lead but the caution waved quickly as Williams slowed on the track. Williams was pushed to the pits as Steuer prepared to lead the field back to the green flag.
Steuer led Sam Martz, Stan Frankenfield, Billy Pauch, Jr. and Roger Manning through the crossed flags. Pauch raced by Frankenfield to take over third a few laps later.
It was Steuer all the way to the checkered followed by Martz, Pauch, Frankenfield and Manning at the checkered. Frank Cozze, Rick Laubach, Cole Stangle, Ryan Krachun and Cale Ross completed the top ten at the end of thirty laps.
Steuer talked about the excellent track conditions that allowed him to race from his twelfth place start into the lead. “The track was real racey,” Steuer explained. “Anyone who thinks there’s a lack of passing better watch the replays.” Steuer has racked up some impressive results since putting the SY Murray powerplant under the hood of the No. 6D.
The Ice Less 602 Sportsman raced for an enhanced purse on Saturday night as Bridgeport competitor and business owner, Rob Tete paid tribute to his friend, Darrin Nicholl. Nicholl spent many race days with Tete’s No. 30 in recent seasons. A disabled veteran, Tete talked about his friend’s positive attitude. Nicholl passed away in mid-July of this year. Tete’s efforts to win a feature event in Nicholl’s honor fell just one spot short earlier this summer.
Brian Papiez raced to his fifth win in the 602 Sportsman and moved into the point lead by just four points over Ethan Bill, with just one race remaining before the champion is crowned.
Jax Yohn took the lead on the twenty-five lap main event at the start and led for ten laps. Trent Willey took over on lap eleven and twelve but Yohn was back in front following a lap thirteen restart. On lap fourteen, Papiez raced into second. Yohn took the outside on a lap sixteen restart but Papiez raced into the lead when the green flag waved.
The top five really put on a show as second through fifth remained undecided until the checkered flag. Yohn finished second with Ethan Bill in third, Willey in fourth and Joe Toth in fifth. Travis Hill finished sixth followed by Jim Wyers, Matt Peck, Devin Dodson and Tom Sherby.
New to sprint cars this season, Matt Peck’s entrance into the Victory Fuel Wingless Sprints has been anything but easy. But with a win in Saturday night’s sprint car feature, Peck turned the corner on the 2024 season.
Peck raced to the checkered in front of 2024 Champion, Brian Spencer. Chris Allen, Jr finished third followed by Dan Leaper and Jonathan Swanson.
Mike Hughes picked up his fifth win of the season in the Street Stock feature in what proved to be a very competitive event. Bailey Tolson was the early leader holding off the challenges of Duncan Molesworth before Hughes arrived on the scene. It was a three car battle for the lead until Hughes put the No. 18 out in front on lap five.
It was Hughes for the win over Molesworth, Tolson, Gary Bozowski and Jeff Dirkes.
Defending Four Cylinder Champion, Tim Jones was the Cinderella story of the night. Jones recently sold his Four Cylinder No. 33 but was then asked to “shake down” a car for fellow competitor, Scott Degler. It was a successful “shake down” as Jones drove the car into Champion Brands Victory Lane at the end of fifteen laps. Lee Allen was a strong second with a late race challenge. Dan Stein, Jr. finished third over John Healey and Roger Kumnerner.
DANNY’S PIZZA PIZZAZZ MODIFIED FEATURE (30 LAPS)
1. Dillon Steuer, 2. Sam Martz, Sr., 3. Billy Pauch, Jr., 4. Stan Frankenfield, Jr., 5. Roger Manning, 6. Frank Cozze, 7. Rick Laubach, 8. Cole Stangle, 9. Ryan Krachun, 10. Cale Ross, 11. Thomas Prychka, 12. Matt Stangle, 13. Neal Williams, 14. Wade Hendrickson
15. Mike Franz,16. Sammy Martz, Jr.
2024 DANNY’S PIZZA PIZZAZZ MODIFIED CHAMPION – BILLY PAUCH, JR.
ICE LESS LLC 602 SPORTMAN FEATURE (25 LAPS)
1. Brian Papiez, 2. Jax Yohn, 3. Ethan Bill, 4. Trent Willey, 5. Joe Toth, 6. Travis Hill,
7. Jim Wyers, 8. Matt Peck, 9. Devin Dodson, 10. Tom Sherby, 11. Billy Chester, 12. Brian Conrad, 13. Zane Roth, 14. Dave Damiano, 15. Brian Rogers, 16. Robert Tete, 17. Scott Hulmes, 18. John Cameron, 19. Kenny Ott, 20. RJ Witcraft, 21. Howard Huepful, 22. Ethan Young, 23. Michael Beckett, 24. Mike Browne, 25. Sean Metz,
DNQ – Pete Serra, Erik Mattson
VICTORY FUEL WINGLESS SPRINT FEATURE (20 LAPS)
1. Matt Peck, 2. Brian Spencer, 3. Christoher Allen, Jr., 4. Dan Leaper, 5. Jonathan Swanson, 6. David Swanson, 7. Stan Ploski, III, 8. Ricky Rutt
2024 VICTORY FUEL WINLESS SPRINT CHAMPION – BRIAN SPENCER
STREET STOCK FEATURE (15 LAPS)
1. Mike Hughes, 2. Duncan Molesworth, 3. Bailey Tolson, 4. Gary Bozowski, 5. Jeff Dirkes, 6. Nick Sandone, III, 7. Terry Chaney
FOUR CYLINDER FEATURE (15 LAPS)
1. Tim Jones, 2. Lee Allen, 3. Dan Stein, Jr., 4. John Healey, 5. Roger Kumnerer, 6. Colin Gale, 7. Eric Degler, 8. Brayden Morrison, 9. Joe Garey, Sr., 10. Rob Weil, 11. Norm Kidd, Jr., 12. Jim Backowski, 13. John Parker