JUSTIN GROSSO GETS FIRST BRIDGEPORT VICTORY, WEAVER RACES TO WIN IN DOUBLE DOWN SHOWDOWN
The ageless veteran, Wayne Weaver, raced to the win in the Double Down Showdown for the Ice Less 602 Sportsman in Bridgeport Saturday night action. The 602 Sportsman had the spotlight on this night with their special forty lap main event that paid double the purse in each position.
Justin Grosso earned his first Bridgeport victory in the Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Modified feature win. Mike Hughes did double duty and came away with two wins – his third win in the DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookies and his sixth win of the season in the Insta Signs Plus Street Stocks. Scott Degler came away with his fourth win in the Four Cylinder feature event with racing sponsored by John Blewett Inc. Scrap and Metal.
Just two weeks earlier, Wayne Weaver won his first feature event of the season and his first win in nearly a year to the date of his last win. Weaver had expressed his reluctance to race on that particular night – things had not been going well and the thought of a night off was appealing. But when his brother produced a carburetor that he was anxious to try on the No. 0, Weaver relented. In the end, one more win to his credit, he was glad he did.
Now two weeks later, Weaver stood in Victory Lane with one of the biggest wins of his second career. After years in the Modifieds, Weaver switched to the Sportsman competition.
Polesitter, Howie Finch led the first lap before Matt Peck raced into the lead on lap two. Jess Hirthler raced in second until Travis Hill took over second on lap seven. Weaver drove up to third on lap eleven.
On lap seventeen, Peck slowed, bringing out the caution when a tire came off the bead on the No. 51. Peck returned to restart at the rear of the field. Travis Hill was the new leader followed by Weaver, Jax Yohn, Hirthler and Steve Kemery.
As the race neared the lap thirty mark, Weaver began to close in on Hill. Hill led with ten to go but then pushed up the track in turn two, allowing Weaver to take the lead. Hirthler advanced to third. A few laps later, Hirthler was up to second.
Hill was involved in a multi-car incident on the backstretch that also involved Thomas Prychka just three laps from the checkered,
The sixty-five year old Weaver drove to the win followed by the eighteen year old, recent high school graduate, Jesse Hirthler. Steve Kemery finished third followed by Joe Toth and Jax Yohn. Matt Peck rebounded for a sixth place finish followed by Luke Bunting, Duncan Molesworth, Matt Ellery and Billy Chester.
Justin Grosso raced to his first Bridgeport win in the Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Modifieds after taking the lead on a lap seven restart. Justin has proven to be a strong competitor on the High Banks this season.
Mike Franz and Mike Lisowski led the field to the start with Franz taking the early lead. Franz led the first six laps until the racing came to a stop after Brian Papiez took a nasty ride in turn two. Papiez escaped injury and the field lined up for the restart. Grosso took the lead and began to pull away from the field, taking advantage of the clean air in front of the leader.
Billy Osmun III raced into second and had Dillon Steuer and Sam Martz battling for position behind him. When Steuer finally cleared Martz for third, he turned his attention to Osmun. Steuer repeatedly raced to the inside of the third generation driver but Osmun was tenacious and pulled ahead as they exited the turn. With just six laps to go, Steuer finally took over second but Grosso was out of reach at that time.
Grosso raced to the victory over Steuer, Osmun, Sam Martz and HJ Bunting. Ryan Krachun finished sixth followed by Cale Ross, Sammy Martz, Jr., Neal Williams and Mike Franz.
Grosso expressed his preference for a rougher race track. “I really like a rough race track,” Grosso explained. “I prefer to drive the car straight and that’s how you have to run through the rough.” And he did so successfully.
Mike Hughes scored a pair of wins on Saturday night. First, he won his third DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie feature. Polesitter, Austyn Myers led the first two laps before Hughes raced into the lead. Myers went on to finish second followed by PJ Bozowski and Charley Cossaboone. Only one more race remains in the Rookie season and the title has yet to be decided.
Hughes went on to win his sixth race in the Insta Signs Plus Street Stocks. Hughes raced by polesitter, Gary Bozowski and then Bailey Tolson to take the lead on the first lap. Hughes led all the way to the checkered with Tolson posting another strong second place run. Kevin Heckman finished third followed by Nick Sandone III and Gary Bozowski.
Scott Degler led every lap of the John Blewett Inc. Four Cylinder feature to capture the win over Joe Garey, Jr. Roger Kummerer raced by Joe Garey, Sr for third with Colin Gale completing the top five at the checkered.
DANNY’S PIZZA PIZZAZZ MODIFIED A-MAIN (30 LAPS)
1. Justin Grosso, 2. Dillon Steuer, 3. Billy Osmun, III, 4. Sam Martz, Sr., 5. H.J. Bunting, 6. Cale Ross, 7. Ryan Krachun, 8. Sammy Martz, Jr., 9. Neal Williams, 10. Mike Franz, 11. Mike Lisowski, 12. Roger Manning, 13. Brandon Grosso, 14. Blaine Bracelin, 15. Brian Papiez, 16. Kevin Hirthler
ICE LESS LLS 602 SPORTSMAN – DOUBLE DOWN SHOWN DOWN (40 LAPS)
1. Wayne Weaver, 2. Jesse Hirthler, 3. Steve Kemery, 4. Joe Toth, 5. Jax Yohn, 6. Matt Peck, 7. Luke Bunting, 8. Duncan Molesworth, 9. Matt Ellery, 10. Billy Chester, 11. Brad Roberts, 12. P.J. Bozowski, 13. Brian Rogers, 14. Jeff Parker, 15. David Jenkins, 16. Travis Hill, 17. Thomas Prychka, 18. Clay Tatman, 19. Howie Finch, 20. Zane Roth, 21. Trent Willey, 22. Ronnie Solomon, III, 23. Jesse Hill, DNS – Ethan Bill, Mike Hughes, Jr., DNQ – Austyn Myers, Howard Heupful, Dan Cogdill, Charley Cossaboone, Scott Hulmes, Troy Bollinger, John Cameron, Tommy Klimkowski, Rob Tete, Jim Wyers
D.A.’S AUTO BODY AND REPAIR ROOKIE FEATURE (8 LAPS)
1. Mike Hughes, Jr., 2. Austyn Myers, 3. PJ Bozowski, 4. Charley Cossaboone, 5. Bob Doble
INSTA SIGNS PLUS STREET STOCK A-MAIN (15 LAPS)
1. Mike Hughes, Jr., 2. Bailey Tolson, 3. Kevin Heckman, 4. Nick Sandone, III, 5. Gary Bozowski, 6. Pete Reynolds
FOUR CYLINDER A-MAIN (15 LAPS)
1. Eric Degler, 2. Joe Garey, Jr., 3. Roger Kummerer, 4. Joe Garey, Sr., 5. Colin Gale, 6. Lee Allen, 7. Rob Weil, 8. Jon Parker