BRIDGEPORT STREET STOCKS LOOK FORWARD TO 2022 SEASON

Bridgeport, NJ – There has been a lot of excitement surrounding the upcoming 2022 season at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park. As the days of the off-season dwindle and the new season approaches, the anticipation grows for what lies ahead.

For starters, Doug and Brittany Rose will lead the Kingdom of Speed through the track’s 50th Anniversary season and that celebration will begin on opening day and continue through the year until the final checkered waves.

The Roses have already brought so much to Bridgeport. The 4/10th mile, high banked track has produced some of the best racing around in all divisions. They have continued to offer the popular and successful shows of the past while adding other first-time events in 2022.

Whether it’s the special shows like the Saturday night Rumble in the Kingdom events for the Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Modifieds or the Precision Hydraulic & Oil Sportsman making three mid-week appearances this season or the more than twenty sprint car events, excitement is in the air and Bridgeport’s Street Stock Division is right in the middle of the flurry of activity. The full fendered division has not been left out of the plans for this exciting season!

Street Stock competitors have been encouraged to paint their cars to reflect an iconic NASCAR Cup Series car. The paint scheme will offer fans another level to connect with the competitors. A fifty-dollar bonus will be paid to the first two NASCAR themed cars across the finish line each week.

2021 Street Stock Champion, Tom Wills, Jr. has spent the off-season preparing his family-owned entry for the new season. The Wills entry will display the famed colors of the seven-time NASCAR champion, Richard Petty. There have been more than cosmetic changes made over the winter as Tom Wills, Sr and Jr. have done some upgrading and made some changes that they think will improve their performance this season.

Nick Sandone and his crew will reveal their NASCAR tribute on opening day. There has been a lot of speculation surrounding Sandone’s paint scheme, but Sandone assures us that he has not chosen the Goodwrench No. 3. We will all find out together at the first race of the year!

Like Wills, Sandone has used the off-season to prepare and update his ride. Changes have been made as a result of lessons learned last season as Sandone anxiously prepares for the new season. And that means that Sandone’s legion of fans will have a lot to cheer for. Sandone’s following is like no other – they cheer on their driver through the good, the bad, and the ugly. And their support means a lot to their driver. “I can hear them when I am in the car,” Sandone exclaims, “and that really pumps me up!”

Rule changes made for the 2022 season have helped to level the playing field in this division. Rose explains, ” I had asked the race teams to get together and discuss anything they would like to see adjusted in the rules. I think about 17 of them got together and presented a very nice package,” Rose continues, both Ray (Carroll – Bridgeport Tech Inspector ) and I reviewed their thoughts and ideas for the division. Pretty much everything they requested seemed to be within reason and good for the division so Ray and I decided to make those changes. These guys are great to work with and they work well together. We are very proud to have this group at Bridgeport week after week.” There’s nothing better than a promoter who is willing to listen and work with his drivers!

Jeff Dirkes emerged as a top contender last season. A freak accident in one of the final races, added to Dirkes’s “To Do List” during the off-season as he has build and rebuilt the No.06 from bumper to bumper.

Dirkes will have the opportunity to climb behind the wheel of a IMCA Modified during the season opener. Dirkes’ brother-in-law will put Dirkes in his No. 1 when IMCA Modifieds make their first-ever Bridgeport appearance.

Tony Bozowski plans to join the Bridgeport Street Stock ranks this season. Bozowski has been behind the wrenches, preparing and maintaining cars for his sons to race in recent seasons. Last year, the Bozowskis joined forces with the Mowery family to field Slingshots for both Tomas Mowery and PJ Bozowski as the youngest Bozowski moved up from quarter midget competition. They also joined forces with Cobbs Mills 600 Micro Sprints to field cars for Steven Bracall and Gary Bozowski. The Slingshots and micro sprints will remain as Tony Bozowski’s primary focus however, thanks to his family, Tony will have the opportunity to climb behind the wheel once again

Bozowski was surprised by his family when they purchased a Street Stock for Tony to race this season. Danielle Bozowski saw how much driving still meant to her husband when he raced a Slingshot during the indoor shows this winter. She led the way for the purchase of a Street Stock to surprise Tony. With the help of her family and their race teams, the car was purchased and delivered without Tony’s knowledge. The No. 17G will hit the track this season.

After a successful inaugural event last season, Doug Rose and Frank Cozze will present the Second Annual Street Stock Nationals at Bridgeport this Fall. They continue to make revisions to rule packages for this event to include as many different Street Stocks from as many tracks as possible while keeping the competition fair for everyone.

The Bridgeport competitors did well in the first Nationals and the teams have been preparing for this year’s event ever since the checkered flag waved at the end of the 100-lap event last year.

This division is one of the closest-knit group of competitors on any Saturday night. While there’s plenty of close racing on the track, it is not unusual to find these competitors helping each other in the pits. Last year’s Nationals found the Bridgeport Street Stock drivers take on the invaders and a sense of “team” was formed among these weekly competitors. “That weekend changed the way we raced each other” stated Sandone. Respect was earned as teams helped each other behind the scenes. Wills agreed. ” I’ve always had respect for the other drivers and now I think it goes both ways,” the track champion explained.

Races were won by Wills, Jr., Rich Stinson, Dirkes and TJ Henry who each had multiple victories last season. Mike Hughes was a first time winner in 2021 and will join the likes of Jeramy Doerr, John Parker, Ken Moren, Mike Creamer and Gary Klimeczak when the 2022 season rolls around along with Lee Allen, Brian Ludwig and others.

Bridgeport Street Stock drivers never leave anything on the track. They may be a support division but they take their racing seriously. They set a great example, spending time with their fans after every race as well as supporting each other behind the scenes. They will add another dimension to the exciting 50th Anniversary season at the Kingdom of Speed in 2022!

Thank you to everyone that makes the Kingdom of Speed Possible…..
Liberty Kenworth
Church’s Auto Parts
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Premio Sausage
Precision Hydraulic & Oil
Millville Glass & Door
Design For Vision
Rodota Trucking & Excavating
Scrappy’s Auto Service
Hyper Racing
Izzi Trucking & Rigging
Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz
Vahlco Wheels
Ellery’s Pub & Grill
Ice Less llc.
Hoffman Discount Parts
JPA Masonry
Weaknecht Archery
Spirit Auto Center
Foley Caterpillar
Hisko Lowboy
Lineman Racing
Cenco Oil
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M. Massari and Sons Disposal Services
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