‼️ IT’s RACE DAY. Going to be a great night of Modified racing at Bridgeport Speedway. Tonight is opening points night for all divisions. Come out and enjoy a night of great family entertainment at the Kingdom of Speed.
🗓 Saturday April 9
⏰ 5:00 Warmups, heats to follow.
⭐️ 3:00 pits open
⭐️ 4:00 Grandstands open
FIRST POINTS SHOW of the season
5:00 Warmups, heats to follow
Modifieds (presented by Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz)
Sportsman (presented by Precision Hydraulic and Oil )
Street Stocks
4 Cylinder Stock Cars
3:00 pits open
4:00 Grandstands open
Bridgeport, NJ – The Bridgeport Motorsports Park hosted the Ron Faison Memorial 305 Spring Nationals with two days of racing planned for the weekend. Saturday’s show featured the Delaware Auto Exchange Mid Atlantic Sprint Series (MASS), the Rapid Tire/Capitol Renegade USAC East Coast Wingless Sprints, the Precision Hydraulic & Oil 602 Sportsman and the Bridgeport Motorsports Park Street Stocks. Saturday’s events were sponsored by PDS – Precision Design Services.
Ron Faison was a beloved husband, father and grandfather who supported the endeavors of his daughter and son-in-law, Brittany and Doug Rose, when they launched their ownership of the Bridgeport Speedway. The track employees knew Ron as a friend when he ran the concessions stands during the 2020 season. He enjoyed delivering cold beverages to the drivers after a hot night at the track or to the sponsors and guests in the booths at the top of the grandstand. Ron lost his battle with cancer last year and it was only fitting that the Bridgeport Motorsports Park honor his memory with a racing event in his name.
The opening ceremonies were conducted by his family. He would have been so proud…
And the night of racing didn’t disappoint.
CJ Faison got the night started on the right foot when he picked up the win in the Tanner Brothers Dairy heat race number two. However, an overheated Velveeta No. 2 left Faison on the sidelines for the night’s main event. Tim Iulg and 2021 MASS Champion, Kevin Nagy were also heat winners.
Dave Grube raced into the lead of the MASS feature event and never looked back in the JWK sponsored event.
Kristina Pratt and Grube led the field of 305 sprinters to the wave of the green flag and Grube raced to the outside of turn two to take the lead as the pair headed down the backstretch on the first lap. Nagy quickly raced into second from his second row start.
The red waved with just two laps on the books when Rich Janney went for a wild ride between turns three and four. Janney was able to walk to the ambulance on his own and was taken to the Safety Chalet for further examination.
The restart put Nagy and Grube side but Grube was able to maintain his hold on the lead. Grube extended his lead to several car lengths over the defending champion.
Bob DeVault returned to action and held down third until Dave Brown raced by for the position on lap eight. The top three remained unchanged throughout the twenty-five lap feature event.
Tim Iulg raced in the top five but slowed with just five laps remaining. Buddy Schweibinz raced inside the top five but the final caution was the young drivers undoing as he fought a tight race car and then had a tire seal over under caution. Bob DeVault trailed behind Grube, Nagy and Brown to finish fourth with Chase Moran taking fifth in the final laps. Schweibinz came home in sixth followed by Larry McVay, Jeff Paulson, Rick Stief and Bryant Davis.
The race kept Grube away from his four year old nephew’s fourth birthday celebration but the shoutout in Victory Lane on the FloRacing broadcast made up for a lot.
Allentown, PA driver, Briggs Danner started out the 2022 USAC East Coast Wingless season the same way he started and ended last season with a win in the twenty-five lap feature event. Last year’s opening night win came with car owner, Bill Gallagher joining the driver and crew in Victory Lane. This year, the No. 5G team is racing for car owner, Mike Heffner who purchased the race team and kept it intact for the new season.
Danner drew the ninth place starting spot for the feature while 2021 USAC EC Champion, Alex Bright started in third alongside of three time USAC EC Champion, Steve Drevicki.
Bright quickly raced by Tommy Kunsman to take the lead on lap one with Drevicki moving into second one lap later. Danner raced by Kunsman and Joey Amantea to take third on a fifth lap restart. Danner battled with Drevicki for second, securing the runner-up spot on lap ten.
Lapped traffic loomed ahead of the leaders as Danner closed in on race leader, Bright. Bright led through the crossed flags but then battled with Danner for several laps until the 2021 Rookie, took the lead on lap eighteen. One lap later, Bright lost the handle on the Rodota Trucking No. 20 while racing for second with Drevicki.
Danner held off Drevicki’s challenges to take the win in the Rodota Trucking and Excavating sponsored race. Drevicki had a strong outing to finish second followed by Kenny Miller III, Ed Aiken and Mike Thompson. Thompson had an impressive outing in his first wingless race since being injured last season. Joey Amantea finished sixth after contending in the top five for most of the race. Chris Allen, Jr., Jonathan Swanson, Aiden Borden and Brian Spencer completed the top ten at the finish.
“Getting that first win is a big deal for us as a team,” Danner stated. “We have to keep the ball rolling from last year.” Danner’s is looking forward to a busy 2022 season.
The Pioneer Pole Building heat races were won by Drevicki, Bright and Kunsman.
The Precision Hydraulic & Oil 602 Sportsman put on a twenty-five lap feature event that had the fans on the edge of their seats as Ellery battled first with James Hill and then Ryan Godown, Jr. to determine the winner.
Second year competitor, Matt Ellery drew the pole and immediately took the led on the start. James Hill quickly took over second with Will Protinick, Ryan Godown, Jr. and Tom Sherby battling it out in the top five.
A lap eleven restart saw Godown dive to the inside of Ellery while Hill went to the outside. Hill led for a single lap before Ellery wheeled back into the lead. Frequent cautions prevented Ellery from stretching his lead as the restarts kept the field tight.
With ten laps to go, Hill got a little too high between turns one and two and that allowed Godown to move into second. Godown tried several slide jobs in turn four but Ellery was ready and countered the move every time. After a door to door battle, Godown came to the stripe with the lead on lap twenty-three and went on to capture his first win of the season. Ellery finished second with Travis Hill taking third in the Cogdill No. 98. Hill rebounded to finish fourth with Scott Hitchens racing from the back of the field to finish fifth after replacing a drive shaft in the No. 15 following his heat race. Brandon Edgar finished sixth followed by Jim Dallett, Steve Yankowski, Bubba McPhee and Wayner Weaver.
Lee Allen has proven to be the man to beat in the Street Stock division so far this season as he raced to his second win in the Blewett Scrap Metal sponsored feature event.
For the second week in a row, Allen and Kyle Saylor battled for the win while Jeff Dirkes and John Parker drove side by side in the final laps to determine the third place finish. Allen took the win over Saylor while it was Dirkes with the advantage over Parker at the finish. Mike Creamer finished fifth in spite of a broken suspension in his No. 10.
Unfortunately, Sunday’s events were postponed – once again, due to the lack of cooperation of Mother Nature. The Ron Faison Memorial race will be completed on August 27th. The Doug Hoffman Memorial will be run on June 18. Both nights are already scheduled as Saturday Night Rumble events, paying $6,000 to the win both events for the Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Modifieds. More details to follow.
Action returns to the High Banks this Saturday evening with the start of the 2022 Point Standings for the Modifieds, 602 Sportsman and Street Stocks.
MID-ATLANTIC SPRINT SERIES FEATURE (25 laps)
1. David Grube, 2. Kevin Nagy, 3. Dave Brown, 4. Bob DeVault, 5. Chase Moran, 6. Buddy Schweibinz, 7. Larry McVay, 8. Jeff Paulson, 9. Rick Stief, 10. Bryant Davis, 11. D.J. Tanner, 12. Kristina Pratt, 13. Rory Janney, 14. Dale Eggert, 15. Andrew Boyer, 16. John Scarborough, 17. Justin Nowlen, 18. Cory Hunsberger, 19. Tim Iulg, 20. Eddie Wagner, 21. Josh Bricker, 22. Samatha Lieberman, 23. Jon Brennfleck, 24. Rich Janney, DNS – CJ Faison, DNQ – Anthony Mahan, Shelby Kelly, Joe Kay
USAC EAST COAST WINGLESS SPRINTS FEATURE (25 laps)
1. Briggs Danner, 2. Steven Drevicki, 3. Kenny Millerr, III, 4. Ed Aiken, 5. Mike Thompson, 6. Joey Amantea, 7. Chris Allen, Jr., 8. Jonathan Swanson, 9. Aidan Borden, 10. Brian Spencer, 11. Jermain Godshall, 12. Jason Cherry, 13. Lee Nardelli, 14. Lee Kauffman, 15. Dylan Hoch, 16. Alex Bright, 17. Tommy Kunsman, 18. Bruce Buckwalter, 19. Preston Lattomus, DNS – Craig Pellegrini, David Swanson
PRECISION HYDRAULIC & OIL 602 SPORTSMAN FEATURE (25 laps):
1. Ryan Godown, Jr., 2. Matt Ellery, 3. Travis Hill, 4. James Hill, 5. Scott Hitchens, 6. Brandon Edgar, 7. Jim Dallet, 8. Stephen Yankowski, 9. Bubba McPhee, 10, Wayne Weaver, 11. Bobby Watkins, 12. Greg Humlhanz, 13. Brandon Shipley, 14. Adam White, 15. Roger Gaskill, 16. Tom Sherby, 17. Billy Chester, 18. Brian Rodgers, 19. Scott Hulmes, 20. Brandon Watkins, 21. Tom Moore, Jr., 22. Michael White, 23. Will Protinick, 24. Chris Martinez, 25. Greg Nailor, 26. Thomas Prychka, DNQ – Justin Newhard, Shawn McPhee, Erik Mattson
BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK STREET STOCK FEATURE (15 laps)
1. Lee Allen, 2. Kyle Saylor, 3. Jeff Dirkes, 4. John Parker, 5. Mike Creamer, 6. Nick Sandone, III, 7. Hunter Whitcomb, 8. Keith McKinley
Felton, DE – CJ Faison is no stranger to winning races, as he has won all over the nation leading to a short stint in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series. But one thing has eluded him, his first career win in a winged sprint car.
Faison, 28 years old, has had multiple top 5s in a 305 sprint car, a Rookie of the Year title, and even a win as a car owner. However, he has not been able to secure the checkered flag and add another division to his resume.
The YouTube sensation was on his way to a potential victory on March 25th, 2022 at Bridgeport Motorsports Park by setting a blistering lap time of 15.287 seconds around the high banked four tenths mile during warm-ups. But as fate would have it, Faison’s driveshaft broke coming to the checkered and sidelined him for the rest of the event.
Fast forward to this weekend, Faison will have a chance to secure that first victory in an event that is close to his heart. The inaugural Ron Faison Memorial 305 Spring Nationals, presented by PDS Professional Design Services, is a two day show headlined by the Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series in memory of the father of CJ and his sister Bridgeport Motorsports Park co-owner Brittany Rose, who passed away last year.
An emotional CJ Faison stated, “This weekend comes with a ton of pressure and emotion to say the least. My dad was my best friend, not a day goes by that I don’t think about all of the traveling and racing we did together. He loved racing so much and to see him have his own race weekend is an incredible feeling. I want to thank my sister Brittany and brother in law Doug for putting this Memorial race on. This one’s for you dad, let’s enjoy it.”
Co-owner Brittany Rose took to Facebook to state her own emotions by saying, “Sharing this post is hard. I never imagined having a memorial race for someone I loved, let alone my dad. In advance, I want to thank all of you for supporting this event.”
This event will be near and dear to everyone at the Kingdom of Speed, as Ron was vital in the revival of the concession stands at the newly renovated facility and a smiling face that everyone knew when they approached him.
Faison will have two chances to take home a victory over series competitor Kevin Nagy, who won six races last season at the Kingdom of Speed, and the rest of the field as the Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series will strap in for two days of racing.
Also on the card for this weekend will be the USAC East Coast Wingless Sprints on Saturday along with the Precision Hydraulic and Oil 602 Sportsman and Street Stocks. Joining them Sunday is the always exciting Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Modifieds, who will be competing for $5000 to win, and the four cylinder enduros.
Pits will open at 1 pm all weekend with grandstand access starting at 2:30 pm. Racing gets underway following warm-ups at 3:30 pm.
Tickets are available for purchase at the window or online at: https://bridgeportspeedway.thundertix.com/
YouTuber CJ Faison, will also be parking behind the grandstands and doing a special meet and greet on Sunday at 3 pm for all of the fans in attendance.
This event would be a storybook beginning to the season for Faison, as he looks to take home his first career 305 win on this special weekend.
Bridgeport, NJ – In spite of Mother Nature’s lack of cooperation, Bridgeport Motorsports Park opened the 2022 season with Friday night action in the Kingdom of Speed weekend. While the cold, wet and windy weather derailed the plans for the Saturday and Sunday portion of the show, it could not stop the hot competition displayed by the Bridgeport Motorsports Park Street Stocks, the Precision Hydraulic & Oil 602 Sportsman and the Delaware Auto Exchange Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series in the Friday night race program.
The Doug Hoffman Memorial will be rescheduled at a later date. Details to follow.
Lee Allen opened his Street Stock Season off with a win despite pressure from Kyle Saylor and Mike Hughes.
Joe Infante and his Precision Hydraulic & Oil boosted the winner’s share of the Street Stock purse to a cool $1,000 on Friday night.
Saylor led the first six laps of the fifteen lap main event. For several laps, Saylor, Allen and Hughes raced wheel to wheel for the lead with Allen putting his No. 98B on the outside. With six laps scored, Mike Creamer slowed with a flat, drawing the race’s first caution. Saylor had the lead on the restart but Allen used the outside line to race into the lead before the leaders completed lap seven.
Saylor and Hughes continued the battle for second. Hughes took over second on lap nine but Saylor raced back into second on lap fourteen. He then made one last effort to challenge for the lead but Allen got to the checkered first over Saylor, Hughes, TJ Henry and Creamer who rebounded after his trip to the pits.
Allen shared the win with his brother, Chris Allen, Sr. as well as Jeff Carpenter, Todd Dige, Chris Allen, Jr. and Derek Jones in addition power under the hood from Mark Bitner.
Wayne Weaver picked up his first win on the 4/10th mile configuration when he raced ahead of Tom Sherby to capture the victory in the twenty lap Underdog race for the Precision Hydraulic & Oil 602 Sportsman. “I knew I had about two laps to take the lead from the outside,” Weaver explained after his win. And that’s exactly what he did. Weaver raced to the outside of James Hill and Sherby on the first lap and went on to score the victory.
The fast line on the track changed throughout the race, making for some interesting challenges. James Hill raced into second with Jordan Justice taking over third in the early going. By halfway, Sherby raced past Justice for third with Tom Moore, Jr. rounding out the top five.
When Hill broke at the halfway mark, Sherby started to work the bottom of the track – something he’s excelled at on this configuration. Sherby was able to keep some pressure on Weaver during the final laps but it was Weaver who raced to the win. “We’ve been working on this car over the winter,” Weaver explained, “and I think we may have found something.” Sherby finished second with Moore taking third. Bryan Brobst finished fourth with Justice rounding out the top five. Scott Hulmes, Nick DeSantis, Brandon Shipley, Tommy Klimkowski and Brian Rodgers completed the top ten at the checkered.
Jon Scarborough made the five and a half hour drive from his home in Vermont to compete with the MASS 305 Sprint Cars and made it all worthwhile when he captured the twenty-five lap feature win. Scarborough started from the pole and held off the challenges of Larry McVey to secure the win. It was the first of fifteen appearances at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park this season for MASS and Scarborough plans on making the trip several more times this season.
Rory Janney finished third followed by Tim Iulg and Jeff Paulson. Iulg is currently the all time feature win leader for limited sprints at Bridgeport going back the Jasper Sprint days on the 5/8th mile track. 2021 MASS Champion, Kevin Nagy, is second on the list with twelve. After his dominating performance last season, Nagy was an early retiree from Friday night’s race after getting upside down in turn two.
Racing action returns to the Bridgeport Motorsports Park this weekend with the two-day, Ron Faison Memorial 305 Spring Nationals for the Delaware Auto Exchange MASS Sprints. The USAC East Coast Wingless Sprints will also appear on Saturday along with the 602 Sportsman and Street Stocks. On Sunday, the MASS Sprints are joined by the Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Modifieds for their first race of the 2022 season with $5,000 going to the winner. The Four Cylinder Enduro cars will also be part of Sunday’s program. It will be another big racing weekend at the Kingdom of Speed.
Pits will open at 3 on Saturday with grandstand access starting at 4pm. Racing gets underway following warm-ups at 5pm. On Sunday, times move up one half hour with the pits opening at 2:30pm, grandstands at 3:30 and warm-ups at 4:30pm.
Come out and celebrate the 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park!
BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK
Friday, March 25, 2022
MID-ATLANTIC SPRINT SERIES FEATURE (25 laps)
1.Jon Scarborough, 2. Larry McVay, 3. Rory Janney, 4. Tim Iulg, 5. Jeff Paulson, 6. Samantha Lieberman, 7. Josh Bricker, 8. Cory Hunsberger, 9. D.J. Tanner, Jr., 10. Justin Nowlen, 11. Chase Moran, 12. Aiden Borden, 13. Cory Cornell, 14. Dave Brown, 15. Buddy Schweibinz, 16. Kevin Nagy, 17. Dominic Melair, 18. Rich Janney, 19. Eddie Wagner, 20. Kristina Pratt, 21. Dave Graber, DNS – John Brennfleck, DNQ – Mike Melair, Andy Mahan, Mike Keen, Joe Kay, C.J. Faison, Rick Stief
UNDERDOG 602 SPORTSMAN (20 laps)
STREET STOCKS (15 laps)
Thank you to everyone that makes the Kingdom of Speed Possible…..
Liberty Kenworth
Church’s Auto Parts
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
Bob Hilbert Sportswear
M. Massari and Sons Disposal Services
Cassidy Painting
TW Metals
On The High Side Apparel
Hessert Chevrolet
Atmostemp Heating & Cooling
Drydene
Triple R Truck Parts
John Blewett Scrap & Waste Recycling
RON FAISON MEMORIAL – 305 SPRING NATIONALS
April 2 & 3
MODIFIEDS presented by Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz , Rent Equip , & Party Central
305 Winged Sprint Cars – Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series
USAC East Coast Sprint Cars
602 SPORTSMAN presented by Precision Hydraulic and Oil
Street Stocks
4 Cylinder Stock Cars
Tickets are on sale now at https://bridgeportspeedway.thundertix.com/ .
Saturday – 305 Sprint Cars, USAC EC Sprint Cars, Sportsman, & Street Stocks
Pits: 3:00 PM, Grandstands: 4:00 PM, Warmups: 5:00Pits: $30/$40, Grandstands Adults $20, Students $10, Kids 9 & under FREE
Sunday – Modifieds 50 laps, $5000 to win, 305 Sprint Cars, & 4 Cylinders
Pits: 2:30 PM, Grandstands: 3:30 PM, Warmups: 4:30 Pits: $40 (no license), Grandstands Adults $25, Students $15, Kids 9 & under FREE
SWEDESBORO, NJ – John Scarborough captured the Mid-Atlanti Sprint Car Series A-Main win Friday night at Bridgeport Motorsport Park. Lary McVay was second with Rory Janney completing the podium. More to come…
MID-ATLANTIC SPRINT CAR SERIES: 1. John Scarborough, 2. Larry McVay, 3. Rory Janney, 4. Tim lulg, 5. Jeff Paulson, 6. Samantha Leiberman, 7. Josh Bricker, 8. DJ Tanner Jr., 9. Justin Nowlen, 10. Chase Moran, 11. Aidan Borden, 12. Cory Cornell, 13. Cory Hunsberger, 14. Dave Brown, 15. Buddy Schweibinz, 16. Dom Melair, 17. Kevin Nagy, 18. Rich Janney, 19. Eddie Wagner, 20. Kristina Pratt, 21. Dave Gruber, 22. John Brennfleck DNQ Mike Melair, Michael Keen, CJ Faison, Andy Mahan, Rick Stief, Joe Kay
602 SPORTSMAN UNDERDOG 20: 1. Wayne Weaver, 2. Tom Sherby, 3. Tom Moore Jr., 4. Bryan Brobst, 5. Jordn Justice, 6. Scott Hulmes, 7. Nick DeSantis, 8. Brandon Shipley, 9. Tommy Klimkowski, 10. Brian Rogers, 11. Thomas Prychka, 12. James Hill, 13. Dan Hulmes, 14. Eric Loyer
STREET STOCKS: 1. Lee Allen, 2. Kyle Sailor, 3. Mike Hughes, 4. TJ Henry, 5. Mike Creamer, 6. John Parker, 7. Keith McKinley, 8. Kyle Deneen
Bridgeport, NJ – 
SCHEDULE CHANGE FOR THIS WEEKEND
With cold temperatures and high winds on Saturday and Sunday we have decided to adjust this weekends plans.
Friday March 25 – WE ARE RACING MASS 305 Sprint Cars, Sportsman Underdog 20, Street Stocks & practice.
Saturday March 26 – canceled Sunday March 27 – canceled
We will be back next weekend Saturday and Sunday for the Ron Faison Memorial. Watch for details!
Bridgeport, NJ – As the opening of the 2022 racing season approaches here in the Northeast, Bridgeport Motorsports Park prepares to celebrate their 50th Anniversary season. Fifty years of anything is an impressive achievement but it is even more so when you look back over the last eleven years at this Logan Township facility.
The track’s future was uncertain at the completion of the 2011 racing season. Jay James had tried several different approaches over recent seasons, trying to find the recipe of success for the 5/8th mile track. Most recently, James had eliminated the Big Block Modifieds from weekly Saturday night competition and replaced the division with a Crate Modified class instead. The change fell short of its goal and James was ready to walk away from the track. That left the ball in the hands of Bridgeport’s co-owner, Brian Ramey.
Ramey and James were business partners but Ramey did not come from a racing background. What he knew about racing was what he had observed through James’ involvement as a car owner and then as a promoter. But he knew business so when Doug Hoffman approached him about taking on the management of the Bridgeport Speedway, Ramey recognized what could be the solution to his problem.
Doug Hoffman had achieved a lot of success during his racing career. A good part of that success, came on the Bridgeport 5/8th mile track where Hoffman remains second to only Jimmy Horton on the All-Time Feature Winners List. Hoffman’s success behind the wheel extended throughout the North and Southeast and into Canada, including the coveted win on the Syracuse mile one October.
Hoffman had also established a reputation as a promoter after several successful seasons at the helm of the Mahoning Valley Speedway.
Hoffman wanted to bring back the excitement and prestige of winning at Bridgeport. The first thing he did was to bring back the Big Block Modifieds. He introduced the Bridgeport fans to his Poker Series events and he brought the starting line-up behind the grandstands and most importantly, to the fans. Things were looking up at Bridgeport by the end of the 2012 season.
Hoffman’s untimely death brought about another management change as Ramey recruited Dave Adams, Keith Hoffman and Danny Serrano for his Management Team and brought in Kolby and Haili Ramey to spearhead the marketing and financial side of the business. There is no doubt that Ramey and team continued to build on what Hoffman had started. Traveling divisions returned to Bridgeport to race and new attractions were added – all the while, Ramey looked for a new owner for Bridgeport that would continue to operate the race track. He had hoped that in two years time, he could show that the track could be a profitable business and a new owner could be found.
Two years stretched into seven years before Doug Rose entered the picture. The 2020 season served as a period of transition with Doug and Brittany Rose taking the lead for 2021.
Rose had a vision and that vision did not include the 5/8th mile track. He had the same goals as Hoffman – to return the excitement and prestige to the Bridgeport track – but Rose had a completely new track design in mind. His 4/10th mile track was an essential part of what Rose wanted to do at Bridgeport. Just as soon as the final checkered flag waved on the 2020 season, Rose went to work.
It wasn’t long before sneak peaks appeared on social media – the high banks certainly caught people’s attention. There were some who resisted the change – the 5/8th mile track had a loyal following. There were others who were not fans of the “big track.” The size and speed of the 5/8th actually kept some people away. Rose was firm in his resolve and construction moved ahead.
Then came Covid-19. Not how anyone wanted to start a new business venture! Opening day didn’t come until what should have been mid-season. The delayed start did not detract from the impact of the new track configuration. It was a hit from the wave of the first green flag. Three and four wide racing and slide jobs that were typical only in open wheel cars before, now became the norm in all divisions. It didn’t take long for those naysayers to be converted to fans of the High Banks of the Kingdom of Speed.
Rose also dealt with another big blow before the start of the season when Danny Serrano suddenly passed away. After working side by side for months, Rose was now left on his own to find his way. Serrano held the keys to the past while they shared the vision of the future.
It wasn’t easy but Rose continued with his plan. Rose made many of the ideas that he and Serrano shared into a reality.
Bridgeport Motorsports Park – The Kingdom of Speed – quickly became the talk among fans and competitors alike. It brought excitement back to racing in Logan Township, New Jersey. People viewed the racing on the new venue from near and far. It wasn’t unusual to hear USAC or World of Outlaw drivers talk about watching the racing at Bridgeport via the internet.
The two Doug’s may have chosen different paths but their goal was to make Bridgeport successful and each has done so in their own, unique way. Both worked hard. Track management is a twenty-four hour a day, seven day a week type job. There is no off-season for a track promoter. The days are long and the work is hard.
Both chose to be very hands-on. From running races to over-seeing everything that goes on behind the scenes. Doug Hoffman took responsibility for track prep. Doug Rose oversees everything from the refreshment stands to the racing schedule – from Drivers Meetings to pay-off. Both recognized that every and all decisions made could and would effect the bottom line and their success.
Both had open communication with the drivers. Both recognized the need for the fans to be able to connect to the drivers.
Both came to Bridgeport with promotional experience – Hoffman from Mahoning and Rose from the Action Track USA.
Hoffman brought years of racing experience and a very successful racing career. While Rose has done some racing – ARDC midgets, SpeedSTRS, Modifieds – his background was more unique. While one thing led to another, Rose’s associations in racing have mostly circled around professional race car drivers. He has crewed on Modifieds, Silver Crown cars, Busch Grand Nationals, NASCAR Modified Tour cars and sprint cars. Rose came to Bridgeport with a very large circle of relationship throughout many levels of racing.
This weekend, Doug Hoffman will once again be honored with the Doug Hoffman Memorial Race during the Kingdom of Speed weekend – the 2022 season opener. Hoffman laid some of the foundation that Rose built upon.
Racing owes both Doug Hoffman and Doug Rose a debt of gratitude. Attend the Doug Hoffman Memorial this weekend and honor and support the work of both men at the Bridgeport Speedway.
Thank you to everyone that makes the Kingdom of Speed Possible…..
Liberty Kenworth
Church’s Auto Parts
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
Bob Hilbert Sportswear
M. Massari and Sons Disposal Services
Cassidy Painting
TW Metals
On The High Side Apparel
Hessert Chevrolet
Atmostemp Heating & Cooling
Drydene
Triple R Truck Parts
John Blewett Scrap & Waste Recycling
Pioneer Pole Buildings
BRIDGEPORT, N.J. – More is at stake than a $2,000 payday in the opener for the Close Racing Supply NY-Penn IMCA Modified Series presented by Precision Hydraulic & Oil March 26 at Bridgeport Speedway.
The driver taking home that top check writes his or her name in the record book as the winner of both the first-ever IMCA Modified event in New Jersey and the first leg of the Allstar Performance Modified Challenge, while earning Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility.
“There are a lot of drivers from New York and Pennsylvania working hard to get their cars built and ready for opening night,” said tour and regional director Jake Maynard said. “There’s been a lot of interest in Michigan and we’re expecting 13 or 14 guys from there, too.”
Ken Schrader will join the IMCA regulars at Bridgeport and 2021 national rookie of the year Cody Thompson was the first entry from the Midwest.
The idea behind the Bridgeport date, branded as the Battle of the Highbanks 30, came from Joe Infante at Precision Hydraulic & Oil, a tour and IMCA sponsor, who thought the IMCA Modifieds would be perfect for the big, wide Bridgeport oval.
Talks with promoter Doug Rose ensued and IMCA’s calling card division soon found itself on the first-night schedule for the 50th anniversary season at The Kingdom of Speed with Precision Hydraulic & Oil the presenting sponsor.
“Bridgeport Speedway is a beautiful facility, nice, wide and smooth, and very well lit. I know from all the inquiries I have received from drivers making the trip that they are excited to take on a new area and a new facility right away,” Maynard said. “A ton of them keep telling me the more they watch videos of racing in the Northeast, the more excited they get to show up and put a show on.”
“My goal taking this job was to spread out the IMCA product into new and old areas,” he added. “This year is quite diverse as to where and when you will see us, from western and central Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.”
An open practice will be Friday night. Depending on the weather, pit gates open at noon Saturday, the grandstand opens at 1:30 p.m. and racing follows 2:30 p.m. hot laps. Pit passes are $40 and spectator admission is $25 for adults and $15 for students.
Eleven dates are on the schedule for the second annual NY-Penn Series with Bridgeport the first of four races in the Allstar Performance Modified Challenge.
Bonuses of $500 will be paid to the driver who can win three of four, or $250 for winning two of four races at Bridgeport; the Sean Lias Memorial at Skyline Raceway Motorsports Park on June 25; the Billy Maynard Memorial at The Hill Speedway on July 8; and at Clinton County Speedway on Aug. 13.
“Ten of the races on the schedule are already Fast Shafts All-Star qualifiers and we’re working hard to get sponsors to make the 11th race another $1,000 to win event,” Maynard said. “We’ve also seen a number of sponsors step up to give awards throughout the series.”
Velocita gives $200 gift certificates to hard luck, longest tow and the driver leading at halfway at Bridgeport, plus a random draw certificate for half off a driver suit during the Billy Maynard Memorial. The series champion receives a free custom team suit while the runner-up and third place driver in points get half off certificates good toward custom team suits.
Nano Pro MT gives the $300 hard charger award at Bridgeport.
Random draw awards of $50 from Allstar Performance and $50 off a purchase of $100 or more from Wilwood Racing will be given at each event. Drivers finishing between fifth and 10th in series points will be eligible for a random draw for a drive shaft from Fast Shafts.
Bob Harris Enterprises gives a certificate good for two shock rebuilds to a top 10 finisher at each event while a pair of certificates to attend Race Tech Info Dirt Chassis School sessions will be given at random over the course of the series.
PEM gives a certificate good for a set of lightweight gears to the third place finisher each night and Midosa USA LTD gives $30 to all heat race winners. Force Flow Pressure Services gives $40 to the hard charger of each race starting April 30 at Skyline.
IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Dirt Works Eastern Region and KMJ Performance State points are awarded at all NY-Penn IMCA Modified Series events.
Thank you to everyone that makes the Kingdom of Speed Possible…..
Liberty Kenworth
Church’s Auto Parts
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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
Bob Hilbert Sportswear
M. Massari and Sons Disposal Services
Cassidy Painting
TW Metals
On The High Side Apparel
Hessert Chevrolet
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Triple R Truck Parts
John Blewett Scrap & Waste Recycling
