GODOWN, KEMERY & HENRY PICK UP WINS ON CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT
Bridgeport, NJ – Ryan Godown, Steve Kemery & TJ Henry added to their 2020 season win totals on Saturday night but it was Billy Pauch, Kemery and Rich Stinson who collected the 2020 track titles in their respective divisions – the very first champions of the new Bridgeport Motorsports Park.
Billy Osmun and Stan Frankenfield, Jr. led the field to the start with Osmun jumping out in front at the wave of the green. The third generation racer led the first twelve laps of the thirty lap feature with Ryan Godown getting closer and closer to the No. 81. On lap thirteen, Godown took the lead as the pair raced out of turn two and down the backstretch.
Alex Yankowski moved into second and it wasn’t long before he challenged Godown for the lead. By halfway, Matt Stangle raced in third followed by Billy Pauch and Richie Pratt, Jr. who were contending for the Foley Cat Modified title. Pauch challenged Stangle for third and took over the position on lap nineteen.
Yankowski and Stangle put on quite a show as they battled for second, allowing Godown to gain some breathing room at the head of the field. Lap after lap, the two young guns tried different lines and tactics to better their positions.
Godown raced to his third win of the season followed by Yankowski, Stangle, Pauch and Briggs Danner who raced by Pratt late in the race. Neal Williams’ late race charge earned him a sixth place finish followed by Pratt, Osmun and Frank Yankowski who was making his first Bridgeport appearance.
Godown was encouraged by his car’s performance with the special shows coming up on the calendar.
Pauch earned the 2020 title – his second in row at Bridgeport – making him the final point champion on the 5/8th mile track as well as the first on the new 4/10th mile speedway. Doug Rose was on hand to congratulate the new champion but Pauch turned the tables on Rose, asking the crowd to aknowledge Rose for building the new track at Bridgeport.
Steve Kemery made a daring move on a restart to gain several positions. He then challenged Matt Peck for the lead and moved out in front on lap nine. Kemery led Peck, Ryan Godown, Jr., Kris Lilick and Tom Sherby at the halfway mark.
Tom Moore, Jr. trailed Kemery by just four points at the start of Saturday night’s action. Moore worked hard during the twenty lap race to gain as many positions as possible. He was three wide with Lilick and Sherby to move into the top five just after halfway.
Godown moved up to second but his efforts fell a lap short when the left rear wheel and tube came out of the No. 26, bringing out the caution with just one lap remaining.
Kemery raced to his fourth win of the season in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Sportsman competition with Peck, Moore, Lilick and Wayne Weaver trailing the leader at the finish.
Kemery earned his first track title since winning the Rookie honors five years earlier.
TJ Henry raced to his fifth win of the season in the Sunbelt Rentals Street Stocks. John Parker led the first five laps of the feature before mechanical issues saw the leader slow on the backstretch. Henry became the race leader and led the way to the finish over Tom Wills, Jr., Mike Hughes, Jr., Lee Allen and Vern McLaughlin. Jeff Dirkes finished sixth followed by Tom Wills, Sr., Paul Donahue, Ken Moren and Drew Brocklebank.
Rich Stinson was uanble to finish Saturday night’s feature event but had clinched the Street Stock title as soon as he took the green flag. Stinson returned to racing during the 2018 season and has been a contender in the division ever since.
The All Star Slingshots made their final matinee appearance of the 2020 season with Amanda Angstadt racing to her fifth win of the season over Michael Beckett, Ryan Davey, Gary Bozowksi and Joseph Hansen. Last season, Davey picked up seven wins but two DNFs kept him from the track title. This year, Angstadt collected the most wins but Davey’s consistent performance and one victory was enough to earn him the 2020 championship.
Pat Hires was the winner of the 8 Cylinder Enduro race.
The Monster Truck Throwdown comes to the Bridgeport Motorsports Park next weekend on both Saturday, September 19th and Sunday, September 20th. Come out and see the Avenger, Jester, Kraken, Buckshot, Brutus, Hurricane Force and others! Tickets are available through bridgeportspeedway.thunderfix.com.
Then one weekend later, the Danny Serrano 100 Memorial Race comes to the kingdom of speed with three days of racing beginning on Friday, September 25th. In addition to Modified, 602 Sportsman and Street Stocks, there will be 305 and wingless sprint cars and USAC All Pro SpeedSTRs during the three day event. Something for everyone!! Don’t let the 2020 season come to an end without seeing a race at this fabulous facility.
FOLEY-CAT MODIFIEDS FEATURE (30 laps) – 1. Ryan Godown, 2. Alex Yankowski, 3. Matt Stangle, 4. Billy Pauch, Sr., 5. Briggs Danner, 6. Neal Williams, 7. Richie Pratt, Jr., 8. Joseph Watson, 9. Billy Osmun, 10. Frank Yankowski, 11. Jim Britt, 12. Jimmy Horton, 13. Rich Rutski, 14. Ron Roberts, 15. Roger Manning, 16. Troy Ale, 17. Stan Frankenfield, 18. Billy Lasko, 19. Ryan Watt, 20. Clay Butler, 21. Tommy Beamer, 22. Kevin Sockriter, 23. Brett Ballard, 24. Rocco Infante, DNQ – Bob Lilick, Ron Meyers, Mike Franz, David Crossman
SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOOR 602 SPORTSMAN FEATURE (20 laps) – 1. Steve Kemery, 2. Matt Peck, 3. Tom Moore, Jr., 4. Kris Lilick, 5. Wayne Weaver, 6. Eric Kormann, 7. Joe Toth, 8. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 9. Billy Chester, 10. Kurt Bettler, 11. Chris Jenkins, 12. Brett Belmont, 13. Pete Serra, 14. Scott Hulmes, 15. Ryan Godown, Jr., 16. Tom Sherby, 17. Sean Weiss, 18. Doug Snyder, 19. Justin Eason, 20. Brad Roberts, 21. Sean Metz, DNS – Nolan Openshaw, David Crossman, Matt Luzi, Erick Mattson, DNQ – Vince Malcom, Jr., Brian Lilick, Nico Flammer.
SUNBELT RENTALS STREET STOCK FEATURE (15 laps) – 1. T.J. Henry, 2. Tom Wills, Jr., 3. Mike Hughes, Jr., 4. Lee Allen, 5. Vern McLaughlin, 6. Jeff Dirkes, 7. Tom Wills, Sr., 8. Paul Donahue, 9. Ken Moren, 10. Drew Brockleblank, 11. Keith McKinley, 12. Nick Sandone, III, 13. Rich Stinson, Jr., 14. John Parker, DNS – Daniel Harrison
ALL STAR SLINGSHOT FEATURE (20 laps – on ¼ mile) – 1. Amanda Angstadt, 2. Michael Beckett, 3. Ryan Davey, 4. Gary Bozowski, 5. Joseph Hansen, 6. Dave Morrell, 7. Tomas Mowery
EIGHT CYLINDER/FOUR CYLINDER COMBINED (14 laps) – 1. Pat Hires