URC PLANS START TO EXCITING 2016 SEASON AT BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY

URC PLANS START TO EXCITING 2016 SEASON AT BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY

 

     The United Racing Club (URC) will open their 2016 season at the Bridgeport Speedway on Sunday, April 10th with racing getting underway at 4pm.  For the second year in a row, the Lilick family’s BRB Contractors will sponsor URC’s season opener.

     Bridgeport hosted the newly reformed URC opener a year ago and the winged sprint car competitors are looking forward to returning to Bridgeport for the start of the new season. 

     URC will see action on the Bridgeport 5/8 mile on two other occasions in 2016.  On Tuesday, August 16th, URC will join the Super Late Models and Small Block Modifieds for Bridgeport’s Three for All event, an event that was introduced last year.  URC/360 Sprints will wrap up their 2016 season with a two day event on November 4th & 5th.  URC has worked closely this season with the Empire State Sprints and Patriot Sprints from the North, with the three organizations working together to promote and support each other’s special events.  The Bridgeport Speedway offers the availability of camping as well as nearby hotels for the two day event.

     The November event will be billed as the URC/360 Sprints Big Track Classic and will run in conjunction with the  Crate/Sportsman Smackdown.  Details for this weekend will be forthcoming but there will be a special trophy dedicated to the late Midge Miller that will be presented to one of the sprint car competitors.  It will be the biggest race of the year for the Crate/Sportsman, paying $2500 to win and $250 to take the green.

     Nine time URC Champion, Curt Michael picked up his 50th career victory in the season opener last year and then returned to win a second URC event later in the season.  Michael’s win total currently stands at 55 to start the new season. 

     There are plenty of competitors who have made it their mission this season to beat Michael and the Bill Gallagher owned, No. 5G.  Robbie Stillwagon finished second to Michael last season and hopes to improve upon that performance in 2016.  Stillwagon’s younger brother, Ryan, will trade in his crew chief role to run a part time schedule with URC.  Third in points a year ago, Josh Weller will run a part time schedule this season in his family owned No. 63.  Top ten competitors Davie Franek, Brad Franks and Troy Betts are just a few who are expected at Bridgeport opening day.

     Also racing on a part time schedule is multi-year TSRS Champion, Mike Haggenbottom and fellow competitor Tim Tanner.  Haggenbottom and Tanner will race in URC events as their schedule allows.  The same is true for 410 competitor Davey Sammons who has added a 360 Sprint Car to his arsenal.  The ever popular Ed Aiken returns to URC action this season as the driver of the Scott McClaren owned No. 21.  Second generation URC campaigner, Tim Hogue will return to action this season with driver, Nate Snyder behind the wheel of the Hogue No. 39.  Justin Whittall and Brett Michalski are among the other young talents to test the URC waters this season.

     This show will be the first of three Sunday shows at Bridgeport this season and part of the pre-season points sponsored by Oliver Construction Enterprises & Oliver Engineering, Inc.  The pre-season champions will be crowned at the conclusion of the April 24th show.  Dominick Buffalino, Jeremy Harrington and Ron Frees all started their 2016 seasons on a winning note by capturing wins in the 60 Over Special, Doug Hoffman Memorial for the Spirit Auto Center Big Block, Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman and PennTech Outlaw Stocks. 

     In addition to  URC, the Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman and Outlaw Stocks, the DA’s Auto Body Rookie class will see their first competition of the 2016 season.  Racing gets underway at 4pm on Sunday.   Come out early and enjoy the musical entertainment, the Bridgeport concession stands and take a ride with the Bridgeport Bandit on his Bandit Bus to get a closer look behind the scenes in the pit area.  Bridgeport is the only track in the state of New Jersey to offer Big Block Modifieds; we are committed to maintaining a safe, fun, family atmosphere, creating life-lasting memories of excitement.