EDDIE WAGNER MAKES LATE RACE ADJUSTMENT PAY OFF AT BRIDGEPORT
EDDIE WAGNER MAKES LATE RACE ADJUSTMENT PAY OFF AT BRIDGEPORT
By PETE WORTMAN
(August 22, 2026): Eddie Wagner of Newfield, NJ returned to victory lane for the first time in over 13 months Saturday night at the Bridgeport Speedway. Wagner used a lap 18 restart to charge from third to the lead and went on to capture his 10th career victory with the DCB Plumbing and Heating Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series presented by Capital Renegade. The feature win completed the sweep of the night as Wagner also collected the Next Generation Construction hot lap quick time award and the All-State Auto Glass Heat race win.
“On that final caution I had just found a black line developing on the high side of the middle groove,” an excited Wagner exclaimed in victory lane, “I knew if I hit it right I would have a great chance to steal second, but when the two leaders both tried to block the low groove, they left the high sided open for me and I was able to get a great run around them!”
The initial start of the 25 lap main event was halted as two-time winner Adam Carberry slowed to a stop on the frontstretch causing a complete restart. On the second try, Robbie Stillwaggon out-dragged Eddie Wagner into turn one quickly taking command. Fourth starting Shelby Kelly moved into third quickly and began challenging Wagner for the runner-up spot. Kelly took second position on lap 3 and immediately began closing in on the leader as Rick Lafferty moved in to challenge Wagner for third. Lafferty caught Wagner and moved into third before halfway, as Kelly began catching Stillwaggon to challenge for the lead. She pulled even with the leader on several occasions only to see Stillwaggon maintain the lead, as the duo raced toward lapped traffic. Just as they reached the back of the field, third running Lafferty slowed to a stop bringing out the second caution of the event with 8 laps remaining.
With the green flying Stillwaggon and Kelly raced side by side for the lead, however just one lap later Andrew Turpin would veer hard into the wall, breaking his front end and ending his night. With Turpin removed from the speedway, what would become the final restart of the night unfolded as Kelly dove low for a slider attempt in turn one, and Stillwaggon stayed low to block the attempt. Wagner drove the car into the corner deep to the outside groove that had recently begun to turn black, and he found what he was looking for. The extra bite propelled him around the leaders, and with the outside lane open he used the momentum to vault into the lead.
The final five laps saw Wagner pull away to win by 2.5 seconds. Kelly finally got her slider attempt to stick on the final two turns as she grabbed second from Robbie Stillwaggon, as he settled for third. DJ Tanner, who had missed hot laps with motor issues, bounced back to finish fourth and end his night on a high note, and Cody West captured his third top five of the season crossing the line fifth. Troy Betts bounced back from a heat race crash to race from 21st starting position to finish 6th. Ryan Stillwaggon, Chris Dolan, Ryan Schultz and Tim Iulg rounded out the top ten.
The All-State Auto Glass Heats were won by Eddie Wagner, Rick Lafferty and Ryan Stillwaggon.
MASS will be back at Bridgeport Motorsports Park in Swedesboro, NJ in two weeks for the 2-night Sprint Car Nationals on Friday Sept. 4th and Saturday Sept. 5th. Friday will be the 25 lap Prelude to the Nationals, followed on Saturday by the 50-lap $4000 to win Sprint Car Nationals. Both nights the Pit gate opens at 4pm, the Grandstands at 5pm, & Warm-ups at 6pm.
8/22/26
DCB’s Plumbing & Heating Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series presented by Capitol Renegade
Series Race #14
Bridgeport Speedway, Swedesboro, NJ
All-State Auto Glass Heat #1: 1.) Eddie Wagner ($50) 2.) Shelby Kelly 3.) Adam Carberry 4.) Robbie Stillwaggon 5.) Tyler Grau
All-State Auto Glass Heat #2: 1.) Rick Lafferty ($50) 2.) Ryan Schultz 3.) Bob Lilick Jr. 4.) Cody West 5.) Andrew Turpin
All-State Auto Glass Heat #3: 1.) Ryan Stillwaggon ($50) 2.) Matt McAnally 3.) DJ Tanner 4.) Jon Brennfleck 5.) Chris Dolan
A-Main Feature Results (25 Laps):
1.) EDDIE WAGNER 2.) Shelby Kelly 3.) Robbie Stillwaggon 4.) DJ Tanner 5.) Cody West 6.) Troy Betts 7.) Ryan Stillwaggon 8.) Chris Dolan 9.) Ryan Schultz 10.) Tim Iulg 11.) Jon Brennfleck 12.) Dan Leaper 13.) Bob Lilick Jr. 14.) Kenny Laureno 15.) Kurt Rainey 16.) Mike Shea 17.) Matt McAnally 18.) Andrew Turpin 19.) Rick Lafferty 20.) Tyler Grau 21.) Adam Carberry. DNS: Aiden Borden
Contingency Awards:
Tin Hoagie Customs Highest Pill Draw $50: Robbie Stillwaggon
Next Generation Construction Quick Time in Hot Laps $50: Eddie Wagner 14.995
Professional Design Services Most Laps Led $100: Robbie Stillwaggon
Bitner Automotive Lightning Fast Lap in Feature $50: Eddie Wagner
Janney Electric Hard Charger Award $50: Troy Betts +15
Kreider Manufacturing Hard Luck Award (25% off Order Coupon): Matt McAnally
WheelsofSpeed.com Lucky 13th Place Starter $30: Tyler Grau
JWK Electric 12th place finisher $50: Dan Leaper
Insinger Performance Tail End of Lead Lap (10 Gal. Fuel): Mike Shea