2017 Bridgeport Speedway Practice Sessions, Rookie Series, Points, and Tire Information
Bridgeport, NJ – The 2017 racing season at the Gloucester County oval is quickly approaching. March 24 marks the ’17 Opening Day featuring the ‘Fifth Annual Doug Hoffman Memorial 60over Special’. The marquee season lid-lifter honors the late Doug Hoffman and everything he did for and meant to Bridgeport Speedway, in now what is a two-day event.
Practice Sessions: There are two practice and one Hot Lap scheduled days early in the season. The first practice will be held Saturday, March 18 from 12pm to 3:30pm. Drivers and cars of any division are welcomed to shake down their equipment. Gates open at 9am for early-bird safety inspection held by track Safety Inspector Ed Olsen. The Spirit Auto Center Speedway 1/4 mile will also be practicing from 3:30 to 5:30pm (2:30pm to 3:30pm alternating tracks). Grandstands will offer free admission while it will be $25 to enter the pit area. A reminder to all minors 16 and 17 years old: Please have a copy of your birth certificate available as well as a parent or guardian to sign the minor release form. This applies to all Spirit Auto Center Speedway drivers 14 through 17 as well. A rain date of Sunday, March 19 will be used if needed (same times).
Hot Lap Sessions will take place on Friday evening March 24 on the 5/8 mile only. Gates open at 3pm with cars slated to hit the track between 730pm to 1030pm in between the 358/Rookie race action. Big Blocks, Crate/Sportsman, and Outlaw Stock teams will have timed hot lapped sessions during the night where two of the fastest teams will be locked into Saturday’s redraw. Racers are welcomed to leave their haulers in the pits overnight before the ’60over Special’.
The final practice day will take place the following week on Saturday, April 1 from Noon to 4pm. Both 5/8 and 1/4 mile venues will be practicing in this final preparation for the 2017 season.
2017 Points: There are two different point funds in 2017; Regular Season Points and the 811 Dig Safely Poker Series Points.
Poker Series Points: All drivers placing in the top 13 in their respective divisions will receive playing cards. A driver or car must be present and register for the evening’s race to be eligible for the Poker Series point fund. A driver must be competing in 5 of the 6 scheduled events to be eligible to collect Poker Series point fund money. All Poker Series events will have a $10 car entry fee (except Sept 23) just as in previous years.
Show Up Points: There are 5 designated races that offer ‘track show up points’ that go towards the 2017 track championship. Sunday, April 23, Sunday April 30, Sunday May 28, Thursday, June 8, and Monday, July 3. The driver must register and attempt to qualify (hot laps can count) to receive the 50 points.
D.A.’s Auto Body Rookie Series Race Schedule:
Race #1-Friday, March 24
Race #2-Saturday, April 2
Race #3-Sunday, April 9
Race #4-Saturday, April 15
Race #5-Sunday, April 30
Race #6-Saturday, May 6
Race #7-Sunday, May 28
Race #8-Saturday, June 3
Race #9-Thursday, June 8
Race #10-Saturday, June 17
Race #11-Saturday, June 24 – Rookie Graduation
*On the nights, there are no Rookies scheduled, those following the series are welcomed to race with the regular Crate/Sportsman that evening (March 25, April 23, & May 16).
2017 Tire Rules: For all Poker, show-up point, and post-season races any modified-style American Stamped Racing Tires are allowed within the correct compounds (33 or harder on fronts, 44 or harder on LR, and 48 or harder on RR). During regular season point races drivers must have Bridgeport Stamped tires under the correct compounds (44 or harder on fronts, 44 or harder on LR, and 48, 53, 56 or Bridgeport Hard on RR). New drivers attending Bridgeport should have at least one Bridgeport/Stamped correct compound tire per visit during point shows with each week after adding at least one tire (4 races to have all corners Bridgeport stamped).