BRIDGEPORT PREPARES FOR WILD CARD WEEKEND
The Bridgeport Speedway will complete the 2016 season with the running of the Wild Card Weekend with support from season sponsors, Colonial Pipeline with their 8-1-1 Call Before You Dig campaign and Spirit Auto Center.
Colonial Pipeline will take center stage on Friday night at the 358 Small Block Modifieds and PennCo Tech Outlaw Stocks take to the 5/8th mile track. With $3,000 to win up for grabs in the small block modifieds, a full field of competitors is expected. 2016 Bridgeport Champion, Ryan Watt was the winner when the small block modifieds last competed on Bridgeport’s 5/8 mile track but he will have plenty of challengers like Dominick Buffalino, Ron Roberts, Brett Kressley, Duane Howard, Jeff Strunk, Craig VonDohren and Bridgeport’s Winningest driver, Jimmy Horton. The PennCo Tech Outlaw Stocks will compete in their fourth hand of the 811 Dig Safely Poker Series with Bridgeport Champion, TJ Henry leading the field that is sure to include Tom Wills, Jr., Scott Dugan, Brian Ludwig and more. Racing gets underway at 7:15.
As the title sponsor of Bridgeport’s 2016 Poker Series, Colonial Pipeline asks that anyone taking part in an excavation activity call 811 three working days before their planned project. By doing so all utility’s within their project limits will be notified and have adequate time to mark-out their utility’s location with paint, flags or stakes. Then you the excavator will be aware of each utility’s location and can begin your digging activity’s safely. That’s why it is important for both the public and contractors alike to follow the law and to always call 811 before they you begin any digging project! Be safe – dial 8-1-1 first!
There will be some added incentives this weekend for competitors displaying the 811 logo, courtesy of Colonial Pipeline. $100 Visa gift cards will be awarded in each of the three divisions – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman and Outlaw Stocks – to the winner of the feature in each division and to a random driver who does not finish among the frontrunners. There will also be some special prizes for some lucky fans. Fans are asked to visit the Colonial Pipeline 811 Dig Safely tent before the racing gets underway on Friday night to check out all of the event details.
On Saturday, Spirit Auto Center takes center stage for the final event of the season.
Since 1991, Spirit Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram has been serving the South Jersey area. Their dealership is family owned and operated and in their second generation of ownership where the goal is to create a fun, relaxed car buying experience for all of their customers. Members of Spirit’s friendly staff will be on hand to greet fans and answer any questions they may have about the cars, jeeps and trucks that we will have on display.
Spirit Auto Center joined forces with the Bridgeport Speedway this season in promoting the quarter mile Spirit Auto Center Speedway as well as being the sponsor of the headlining, Big Block Modifieds.
Racing will get underway on Saturday at 4pm with the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds, Stewart Stainless Crate Sportsman and PennCo Tech Outlaw Stocks, all competing in their final, wild card hands for the 2016 811 Dig Safely Poker Series.
The Big Block Modifieds will close out their season with a forty lap, Gone But Not Forgotten that will pay $4,000 to the race winner. The Crate/Sportsman will compete in a twenty lap final with the Outlaw Stocks circling the track for fifteen circuits.
Duane Howard leads the Big Blocks into the final night of competition with a pair of Aces and a ten to Rick Laubach’s pair of Queens and a ten. Dominick Buffalino and Sam Martz have each won a single event and an Ace but haven’t been able to collect the right cards to go with their Ace. Such is the case for Ryan Godown and Wade Hendrickson who each have a second place finish (King) to their credit. But 2016 Bridgeport Track Champion, Ryan Watt, is sitting with the best outside chance – just one card away from a straight – that would ruin everyone else’s night of cards.
Two Crate/Sportsman competitors are holding hands of Three of a Kind. Stephen Kemery, the 2015 Rookie Champion, has collected three tens and an eight while Clyde Cox holds three-sevens and a five. Scott Hulmes has a pair of deuces.
The Outlaw Stocks will compete in both Friday and Saturday night events, adding two more cards to their hands. 2016 Track Champion, TJ Henry leads the way with a pair of Aces and a Queen while Scott Dugan holds a pair of tens and a King, Billy Wroble has a pair of nines and an eight and Jeff Dirkes has a pair of eights and a nine. Tom Wills, Jr. could be the spoiler as Wills goes into the final weekend with a King, Queen and Jack and the potential for a straight.
In addition to the racing action, the Bridgeport Speedway provides plenty of activities for the entire family. There’s the Bounce House, basketball and volleyball. There will be musical entertainment before and during the racing program. All of the Bridgeport Speedway concession stands will be open to provide everything from cool beverages to snacks or a full meal. Take home a Bridgeport Speedway t-shirt or pick up a copy of the Bridgeport Bullet – the official Bridgeport Speedway program and catch up on the action. Take a ride with the Bridgeport Bandit on the Bandit Bus and get to see the drivers and crews prepare for the night’s racing action.
Make your plans to take in Bridgeport’s final event of the 2016 season. You won’t be disappointed!
