BILL, SANDONE III, ALLEN ALL CROWNED CHAMPIONS AT BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK!
It was the final night of the 2024 Championship season at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park for the Ice Less 602 Sportsman, the Williams NAPA Auto Parts Street Stocks and the Johns Manville Four Cylinders. The winged sprints of the United Racing Club were also closing out there 2024 season on the High Banks. The Vintage Stocks Cars completed the Saturday night race program presented by TW Metals.
The Ice Less 602 Sportsman championship would be decided in the final race of the season with Brian Papiez leading Ethan Bill by a scant four points coming into Saturday night’s races. This was the second season in a row that Bill found himself just a few points out of first with one final race to be run.
Qualifying went off without a hitch with the field set for the start of the twenty-five lap 602 Sportsman feature. Bill lined up in tenth with Papiez right behind him in twelfth. Polesitter, Brian Rogers led lap one. One lap later, Rogers pulled to the outside as he slowed coming down the homestretch after losing the rear in the No. 191, bringing out the first caution.
Rob Tete was the race’s new leader. As he led the field to complete lap three, the caution waved as Brian Papiez was left in turn four, facing traffic. And then, Ethan Bill and Trent Willey collided in turn one. Papiez and Bill both headed pitside and both returned to restart at the back of the field. Ethan Young led the way on the green over Matt Peck but the caution waved again as Papiez stopped on the backstretch with mechanical issues. This time, Papiez would not restart. Bill continued, knowing the championship was his if he finished the race.
After several false starts on lap seven, Peck took the lead over Young, Michael Beckett, Jim Wyers and Bill who had already advanced to the top five.
The remaining laps ran without incident as Peck raced to his fourth win of the season. Ethan Young finished second for his best finish to date with the new champion, Ethan Bill in third. Beckett finished fourth followed by Wyers in fifth. Billy Chester crossed the stripe in sixth ahead of Travis Hill, Dave Damiano, Trent Willey and Rob Tete.
Peck celebrated with his Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz No. 51 crew while Bill’s family and friends celebrated the 2024 Ice Less 602 Sportsman Championship.
The TW Metals Street Stock feature saw Gary Klimeczak take the early race lead over Spider Ensinger, Junior and Senior. A turn two incident eliminated the cars of Mike Hughes, Gary Bozowski and point leader, Nick Sandone.
Klimeczak led the first six laps, battling for several laps with Jason Geesaman before Geesaman was able to take the lead on lap seven. Defending track champion, Tom Wills, Jr. raced into third and closed the gap on Klimeczak. Klimeczak and Wills battled to the checkered flag, racing side by side to the stripe.
Geesaman took the checkered flag but was disqualified after failing post-race tech. That gave the win to Klimeczak who beat Wills to the finish line by inches. Spider Ensinger, Jr. finished third followed by his dad, Spider Ensinger, Sr. in fourth. Kyle Saylor rounded out the top five at the checkered.
Nick Sandone III celebrated his first Street Stock Championship. Sandone came into the final race with the title secure so that his elimination early in the race did not affect the outcome of the championship title.
Eric Degler raced to the win in the Johns Manville Four Cylinder feature. Degler debuted this car No. 19 just a week earlier, taking what had been an asphalt car and converting it for dirt competition. While he admits, that there is still work to be done, Degler led every lap for the win over Dan Stein, Jr., Lee Allen, Roger Kumnerner and John Parker. Lee Allen was crowned as the 2024 Champion in this division.
The United Racing Club competed in their final race of the 2024 season.
Jordan Thomas was filling in for Tyler Ross in the Bob Lilick No. 7. Ryan Taylor and Kyle Spence were also on hand for the season finale. Davey Franek was in the field after picking up a win in New York state the night before with the Empire State Sprints.
Taylor and Thomas led the field to the green flag with Taylor taking the lead on the start. Franek quickly moved into second as Thomas slowed on the first lap, drawing the caution with just one lap scored. Taylor held the lead over Franek and Robbie Stillwaggon.
Randy Wilbert drew a caution with ten laps completed with both right side tires down on the No. 56W. The field realigned for the restart. Taylor led the way, immediately drawing ahead of Franek by several car lengths. Kyle Spence had a great restart to move into third.
Taylor led the way as the field encountered lapped traffic with about seven laps to go. After racing among the top five for most of the race, Adam Carberry pulled off on lap nineteen.
Taylor raced to the win over Franek, Spence, Stillwaggon and Ken Meisner. Josh Weller finished sixth en route to his third URC title.
Professional Design Services sponsored the Vintage competitors with Tyler Miller the winner in the Classic Vintage.
ICE LESS LLC 602 SPORTSMAN FEATURE (25 LAPS)
1. Matt Peck, 2. Ethan Young, 3. Ethan Bill, 4. Michael Beckett, 5. Jim Wyers, 6. Billy Chester, 7. Travis Hill, 8. Dave Damiano, 9. Trent Willey, 10. Robert Tete, 11. Jax Yohn, 12. Mark Mohr, 13. Luke Bunting, 14. Zane Roth, 15. John Cameron, 16. David Jenkins, 17. R.J. Witcraft, 18. Tom Sherby, 19. Brian Rogers, 20. Brian Papiez, 21. J.T. Bierman, 22. Justin Newhard
2024 ICE LESS LLC 602 SPORTSMAN CHAMPION – Ethan Bill
UNITED RACING CLUB SPRINT FEATURE (25 LAPS)
1. Ryan Taylor, 2. Davie Franek, 3. Kyle Spence, 4. Robby Stillwaggon, 5. Ken Meisner, 6. Josh Weller, 7. Chase Moron, 8. Hayden Miller, 9. Keith Anderson, 10. Dave McGough, 11. Adam Carberry, 12. Ron Helmick, 13. Randy Wilbert, 14. Dirk Rimrott, 15. Jordan Thomas, DNS – Pat Chilmonik
2024 UNITED RACING CLUB CHAMPION – Josh Weller
STREET STOCK FEATURE (15 LAPS)
1. Gary Klimeczak, 2. Tom Wills, Jr., 3. Spider Ensinger, Jr., 4. Spider Ensinger, Sr., 5. Kyle Saylor, 6. Jeff Dirkes, 7. Terry Chaney, 8. Jerry Bleach, 9. Nick Sandone, III, 10. Gary Bozowski, 11. Mike Hughes, Jr., DQ – Jason Geesaman
2024 STREET STOCK CHAMPION – Nick Sandone, III
FOUR CYLINDER FEATURE (15 LAPS)
1. Eric Degler, 2. Dan Stein, Jr., 3. Lee Allen, 4. Roger Kumnerer, 5. John Parker, 6. Colin Gale, 7. Rob Weil, 8. Joe Garey, Sr.
2024 FOUR CYLINDER CHAMPION – Lee Allen
CLASSIC VINTAGE SERIES
1. Tyler Miller, 2. Logan Miller, 3. Steven Cantwell, Jr., 4. Kory Shorb, 5. Connor Cantwell
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