Author: bridgeportmotorsportspark

The Bridgeport Speedway ran its final race of the 2019 season and the final race on the 5/8th mile speedway to conclude the Wild Card Weekend sponsored by K&A Excavating.  ​Pre-race ceremonies paid tribute to Shirley Laubach, the mother of Rick Laubach, and Ken Golden, Sr. – both of whom has passed away in recent weeks.  Track owner, Brian Ramey thanked the fans and the competitors for their support over the years and recognized the efforts of his management team that included Keith Hoffman, Danny Serrano and Dave Adams as well as Ramey’s son and daughter, Kolby and Hali.  It was his last act as the owner of the Bridgeport Speedway as he turned the reins over to Bridgeport’s new owners, Brittany and Doug Rose.  While it was the final day for the 5/8th mile surface, Rose will bring a fresh approach to the Bridgeport Speedway with his plans to construct a half mile speedway in time for the 2020 season.

Craig VonDohren and Jeff Strunk were the fast timers in Saturday night’s Big Block timed hot laps.  Both drivers earned a redraw spot for Sunday’s main event.  VonDohren drew the outside pole followed by Strunk who drew the pole.  The front row of the starting line-up saw the pair of ten time Grandview Champions line up side by side.

Strunk jumped out to an early lead with the Hynemann No. 126 with Dominck Buffalino taking over second on the start.   Ryan Watt drew a caution on lap three as he slowed with a flat tire.  VonDohren regained the runner-up spot on the restart as Laubach raced Buffalino for fourth.

By lap five, Strunk led VonDohern and Laubach as the three lead cars began to pull away from the field.  When VonDohren slid up the track on lap nine, Laubach was there to move into second.  Strunk led Laubach, VonDohren, Buffalino and Billy Pauch through lap ten.

The running order remained unchanged through lap fifteen as Strunk began to pull away from the field.  Mike Maresca moved into the top five on lap nineteen.  The upstate New York driver made a stopover in Bridgeport as his team headed home to upstate New York following a third place finish in Charlotte the night before.  It was only Maresca’s second time at Bridgeport but he continued to run well.

As starter, Ken Golden, Jr. waited with the crossed flags, Laubach made his move to the outside, taking the lead from Strunk.  Laubach led Strunk, Von Dohren, Maresca and Brandon Grosso through the halfway mark.

Laubach used the outside line for a lap twenty-one restart that saw Maresca move into third as Watt challenged Grosso for a top five position.

With just over ten laps to go, Strunk began to close the lap on the race leader until the No. 126 began to show some smoke.  Laubach again pulled away from the field.  VonDohren pull off the track just before the five to go mark.

Laubach led the way to the checkered flag over Strunk, Maresca, Watt and Pauch.  Brandon Gross, Davey Sammons, Dillon Steuer, Tommy Beamer and Mike Franz finished sixth through tenth for the final race on the 5/8th mile track.

Pauch’s fifth place finish gave him his second title of the season as Pauch collected the 2019 Poker Series crown for the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds.

Wayne Weaver picked up where he left off the night before as he captured his fourth South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman feature event of the season.

Steve Davis led the first two laps of the twenty lap feature event before Weaver took command on lap three.  Weaver raced to the checkered flag without a challenge, picking up the win over Davis, Jim Gallagher, Jr., James Hill and Eric Kormann.  Tom Sherby, John Micek, Chris Jenkins, Jesse Hill and Howie Finch completed the top ten at the finish.

Jim Gallagher’s third place finish earned the young driver the 2019 Poker Series Championship for the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman.

Rich Stinson, Jr. raced to his eighth victory of the season in the Sunbelt Rentals Outlaw Stocks.  Stinson didn’t make it easy on the competition when he drew the pole for the fifteen lap main event.

Stinson’s biggest challenge came in the form of 2019 Champion, Tom Wills, Jr. who spun while challenging Stinson for the lead on lap nine.

Stinson raced to the checkered flag in front of Vern McLaughlin, Brian Ludwig, Darren Cox and Jeff Dirkes.

The win gave Stinson his fourth Ace and the 2019 Poker Series title for the Outlaw Stocks.

​JJ Grasso raced to victory in the first night of competition in Bridgeport’s Big Track Classic sponsored by BRB Contractors of King of Prussia, PA.  Friday night racing was just the first of three days of Bridgeport’s Wild Card Weekend which will mark the end of the 2019 season and the final races on Bridgeport’s 5/8th mile speedway.

Grasso picked up the win in the twenty-five lap feature for the Capitol Renegade United Racing Club sprint cars that ran non-stop and took just over seven minutes to complete.   The race was run without any cautions but not without incident as three competitors were involved in three separate incidents during the main event.

Robbie Stillwaggon powered into the lead from his outside front row starting spot and ran away from the competition.  Ryan Stillwaggon quickly moved into second, ahead of Steve Buckwalter.  Grasso raced into third just before the dynamic of the race changed.

It was Ryan Stillwaggon who first ran into trouble with a lapped car, sending the younger brother of the race leader off the racing surface with eighteen laps on the books after running second for most of the race.  That moved Grasso up to second but Grasso ran over the back wheel of Larry McVay less than two laps later.  McVay was attempting to pull off of the track when Grasso ran over his rear wheel.  Grasso’s Eldreth Trucking No. 25 did a wheelie with all four wheel off the ground before it landed on all fours on the race track.  It was a hard landing that had Grasso headed toward the wall.  “I thought I was finished,” Grasso explained.  “I was ready to pull off but then I saw Stillwaggon in trouble and I just put the pedal back down and took off.”  Robbie Stillwaggon then made contact with the car of Jason Cherry, sidelining the race leader with less than five laps to go.

Grasso raced to victory over Steve Buckwalter in the Lilick No. 7, Tyler Ross, ten time URC Champion, Curt Michael and current URC point leader, Chad Layton.  Josh Weller, Lucas Wolfe, Ryan Smith, Adam Carberry and four time Bridgeport Big Block Champion, Ryan Watt rounded out the top ten.

The South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman competed in the Underdog 20 – a twenty lap feature event that featured non-winners from the 2019 season.

Polesitter, Andy Walko led the first ten laps, holding off the challenges of Howie Finch through the first half of the race.  After racing in third, Bobby Bracall headed to the pits with mechanical issues after the halfway mark.

Misfortune struck for Walko when Billy Chester spun in front of the leaders on lap eleven.  Walko almost made it by but just caught Chester’s No. 41 and that sent his No. 27 spinning in turn one.  Finch was able to avoid the mishap and inherit the lead.

John Micek challenged Finch on several occasions during the final laps but Finch was able to maintain the lead as he raced to his first ever Bridgeport victory.  Micek finished second followed by Chris Jenkins, Pete Serra and Roger Gaskill.  Tom Princiotta finished sixth followed by Scott Maher, Jr., John Meyer, John Cranston and Justin Lilick.

Tom Wills, Jr. raced to his fifth win of the season in the Sunbelt Rentals Outlaw Stocks.  The win gave Wills an Ace for the 2019 Poker Series that is currently led by Rich Stinson, Jr. who has three Aces to his credit.

A hard charging Jeff Dirkes finished second to Wills after making some nice moves to make his way through the top five.  Rich Stinson, Jr. finished third followed by Lee Allen and Vern McLaughlin.  Brian Ludwig, Andrew Joslin, Gary Klimeczak, Paul Donahue, and Darren Cox completed the top ten in the running order at the checkered flag.

Night One of the Big Track Classic (25 laps)

1.  JJ Grasso, 2. Steve Buckwalter, 3. Tyler Ross, 4. Curt Michael, 5. Chad Layton, 6. Josh Weller, 7. Lucas Wolfe, 8. Ryan Smith, 9. Adam Carberry, 10. Ryan Watt, 11. Troy Betts, 12. Austin Bishop, 13. Chris Allen, Jr., 14. Ed Aiken. 15. Jeff Geiges, 16. Jason Cherry, 17. Robbie Stillwaggon, 18. Ryan Stillwaggon, 19. Larry McVay, 20. Ryan Quackenbush, 21. Mark Sasso, 22. Mark VanVorst

Underdog 20 for the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman non-winners (20 laps)

1.  Howie Finch, 2. John Micek, 3. Chris Jenkins, 4. Pete Serra, 5. Roger Gaskill, 6. Tom Princiotta, 7. Scott Maher, Jr. 8.  Jon Meyer, 9. John Cranston, 10. Justin Lilick, 11. Jimmy Dallett, 12. Rich Wegner, Jr., 13. Ted Reynolds, 14. Joseph Brown, 15. Eric Mattson, 16., Andy Walko, 17. Bobby Bracall, 18. Billy Chester, 19. Scott Hulmes, 20. Tom Moore, 21. Dave Damiano

Susnbelt Rentals Outlaw Stocks (4th hand of 2019 Poker Series – 15 laps)

1. Tom Wills, Jr., 2. Jeff Dirkes, 3. Rich Stinson, Jr. 4. Lee Allen, 5. Vern McLaughlin, 6. Brian Ludwig, 7. Andrew Joslin, 8. Gary Klimeczak, 9. Paul Donahue, 10. Darren Cox, 11. John Parker, 12. Kevin Conaway, 13. Nick Sandone, III, 14. Justin Nowlen, 15. Jeramy Doerr 

The Bridgeport Speedway will wave the checkered flag on the 2019 season with a three day weekend of racing scheduled. This weekend of racing will mark the final events to be run on Bridgeport’s 5/8th mile speedway as the speed plant transitions from the Ramey family’s operation into the hands of Bridgeport’s new owners, Doug and Brittany Rose.  Rose has plans to replace the 5/8th mile track with a new half mile facility for the 2020 season.

When scheduling the 2019 season, Bridgeport management decided to combine two big racing events into one – by combining the United Racing Club’s Big Track Classic with Bridgeport’s Wild Card Weekend.  Fans will be able to see five divisions of racing throughout the weekend that will include Sprint Cars, Big Block Modifieds, Small Block Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman as well as Outlaw Stocks in Bridgeport’s final weekend of racing.

The winged sprint cars of Capitol Renegade United Racing Club will begin their event on Friday evening, sponsored by BRB Contractors.  Friday night’s events will include a full show of qualifying and a twenty-five lap feature for URC.  Any non-winners in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman division will be eligible to compete in the Underdog 20, a twenty lap feature event only.  The Sunbelt Rentals Outlaw Stocks will be the third division on Friday night’s program as they compete in qualifying events and a feature event which will serve as the fourth hand of the 2019 Poker Series for this division.   Pit gates will open at 3 pm and grandstand gates at 6pm.  Racing will get underway at 7:30 on Friday.

BRB Contractors will sponsor Friday night’s events.  Bob Lilick is the owner/operator of BRB Contractors and has been involved in auto racing for many years, fielding multiple cars in different divisions of racing for his sons.  BRB Contractors is an industrial, commercial and residential demolition, excavation and paving company and has been in business for over seventeen years.  Contact BRB Contractors for all of our construction needs by calling (610) 275-0768.

The Small Block Modifieds will share the stage with URC for Saturday’s events sponsored by Auto Plus of  Bensalem, Penndel, and Oxford Valley

 There will also be open practice sessions for competitors who will take part in Sunday’s Big Block Modified, 602 Crate Sportsman and Outlaw Stock events in the fifth and final hand of the 2019 Poker Series.                             .

At the end of Saturday’s events, the URC competitor with the best results for the two days of competition will receive the coveted Midge Miller Memorial Trophy.  This uniquue award has once again been created by Cold Hard Art and will be pursued by every driver who competes in this event.

URC’s 2019 champion will also be determined this weekend as Josh Weller seeks to defend his title against a hard charging Chad Layton and Ritter Racing.

Pit gates will open at 1pm on Saturday with the grandstand opening one hour later.  Racing will get underway at 5pm.

Auto Plus Auto Parts is U.S. based with over 3500 Team Members and more than 270 locations throughout the country.  Since 2010. Auto Plus has made a considerable investment in growth through acquisition and technology.  Auto Plus Auto Parts maintains one of the most extensive catalogs of name brand and trade trusted parts throughout the industry.

Sunday’s events will feature the final hand of the 2019 Poker Series for the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds, the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman and the Sunbelt Rentals Outlaw Stocks.  Sunday’s events are sponsored by K&A Excavating Company, Inc.  The Big Block Modifieds will compete in a forty lap feature event – Gone But Not Forgotten – as Doug Hoffman is remembered for his contributions as both a competitor and a promoter of the Bridgeport Speedway.  

Pit gates will open at noon on Sunday followed by the grandstand gates at 2pm.  Racing will get underway at 4pm. 

  K&A Excavating is a company who has built their reputation on their commitment to providing quality service – a commitment that has earned them many valuable customers over the years.  With more than thirty years of experience, K&A Excavating is the “go to” company when you need asphalt removal, land clearing or site preparation.  Only the best equipment is used for each job by a skilled staff who are able to perform the tasks involved in all projects.  K&A’s mission statement is to provide customers with courteous and friendly service and quality workmanship.

Adult admission will be $20 on Friday night and $25 for Saturday and Sunday’s admission.  Student pricing will be $10 on each of the three days for children 10-15 years of age.  Children 9 years old and younger will be admitted free on all three days.  Adults can save money by purchasing a three day pass for $60 that will also include a copy of a special commemorative Bridgeport Bullet program and 5/8th Finale Sticker.

A special autograph session is planned for Sunday, featuring the stars of the Bridgeport Speedway, past and present.

Make sure you are a part of the final days of the Bridgeport Speedway’s final days of 5/8th mile action!

​​For the third consecutive year, Ryan Watt was crowned as the King of the Big Blocks at the Bridgeport Speedway.  Billy Pauch picked up the win in the inaugural event but it has been Watt’s title ever since.  The 2019 event, sponsored by Spirit Auto Center, will mark the final King of the Big Block event on the 5/8th mile track as plans continue for a whole new format for the 2020 season.

Four qualifying heats were used to determine the starting line-up for the fifty lap King of the Big Block main event.  The top three of each heat earned redraw positions along with Craig VonDohren and Wade Hendrickson who were the fast timers in Friday night’s time hot lap sessions.  Billy Pauch drew the pole and would lead the field to the start.

Brett Kressley lined up along side of Pauch as they led the way to the wave of Kenny Golden’s green flag.  Twenty-six cars started the race for the title and there was plenty of three wide racing as drivers jockeyed for position in the early going.

Kressley came away with the lead followed by Pauch, Watt and Craig VonDohren.  Watt closed in on Pauch and took over second as the two drivers raced to complete lap two.  Kressley had pulled away from the field but once in second, Watt began to cut in to Kressley’s lead before the caution waved on lap eight when Stan Frankenfield came to a stop on the track.

Watt lined up to the outside of Kressley on the restart but several caution flags negated any efforts to challenge for the lead.  Kressley led Watt, VonDohren, Pauch and Hendrickson through lap ten.  

Kressley was the race leader through lap thirteen when Watt completed the pass for the lead.  VonDohren took over second on lap fifteen with Kressley, Pauch and Hendrickson trailing the leaders.

Hendrickson took over fourth on lap seventeen.  Rick Laubach, Billy Pauch Jr. who had advanced from his seventeenth place start, and Brandon Grosso raced for position just behind the top five as Watt led the way through lap twenty.  

During a caution just before halfway, VonDohren headed pit side with a tire issue, moving Kressley alongside of Watt on the restart.  Watt elected the outside on the restart and pulled ahead of Kressley as they raced through turns one and two.

Watt took the crossed flags over Kressley, Pauch, Sr., Pauch, Jr. and Hendrickson but one lap later, Pauch Jr. drive from seventeenth ended with a shredded left rear tire.  Jeff Strunk advanced several positions on the resulting restart to run fourth.

The running order remained unchanged until the field had ten laps remaining.  Hendrickson fell off the pace with mechanical issues after running in the top five throughout the race.  Laubach moved into the top five.  

Just before the five to go sign, Danny Bouc moved the C&S Equipment No. 6 into fourth.  All eyes were on the Biever No. 14s as VonDohren raced from the rear of the field to sixth.  VonDohren picked off positions to move up to third when the caution waved with three to go.

That called for a three lap shootout as Watt, Pauch, VonDohren, Bouc and Laubach lined up nose to tail for the green.

Watt raced to the checkered flag for his fifrh Bridgeport win of the season and his third King of the Big Block victory while Pauch and VonDohren raced for second.  VonDohren took the spot at the line, taking second followed by Pauch, Bouc and Laubach.  Strunk finished sixth with Tommy Beamer, who started the event as a provisional in twenty-fifth spot, finishing seventh.  Jimmy Horton, Brandon Grosso and Dillon Steuer rounding out the top ten.

The South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman feature was red flagged with seven laps scored.

The race was first stopped for a violent racing accident that saw Sammy Martz, Jr. fly into the homestretch wall backward just before the turn one pit gate.  Martz exited the wreck but was then transported to the hospital where he was released on Sunday,  While the safety crew attended to Martz, the sky began to light up with lightning and several lights in turn two went out.  Then the rain came and the track was forced to cancel the remaining laps of the feature event.

This race will be continued during the Wild Card weekend in November.  Wayne Weaver was the raced leader followed by Jesse Hill, Jim Gallagher, Jr., Tom Sherby and 2019 Track Champion, Matt Peck.

Upcoming events

Friday, November 8 – Big Track Classic – URC Sprint Cars, 602 Crate Sportsman Underdog 20 and Stocks, racing at 7:30 pm

Saturday, November 9 – Wildcard Weekend – 358 Small Block Modifieds, URC Sprints plus open practice, racing at 5 pm

Sunday, November 10 ​ – Final Hand of the 2019 Poker Series, Big Block Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman and Outlaw Stocks, racing at 4 pm

The Bridgeport Speedway opened its fourth annual King of the Big Block weekend with racing action on ‘Friday night sponsored by Joy Auto Parts for the Small Block Modifieds and the Sunbelt Rental Outlaw Stocks. ​​There were also two timed hot lap sessions for the Spirit Auto Center Big Blocks and South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman where the competitor with the fastest lap in each group would be awarded a redraw position for Saturday night action.

Thirty-six Small Block Modfieds competed for starting positions in Friday night’s twenty-five lap main event.  Four qualifying heats were run where five drivers qualified but only three went to the redraw.

Rick Laubach came up with the pole.  Laubach and Neal Williams made up the first row and led the field to the wave of the green flag.  The caution waved quickly when Matt Stangle was unable to get his Ace Materials No. 6.  Stangle headed to the pits and on the next attempt, several cars were involved in an incident on the home stretch that saw Craig VonDohren head to the pits with enough damage to Dick Biever’s No. 14s to eliminate him from the competition.  The third time was the charm as Laubach led the way over Ryan Godown, Neal Williams, Ryan Krachun and Brett Kressley.

Billy Pauch, Jr. raced into fifth before lap five to trail Laubach, Godown, Williams and Krachun,  While Pauch was on the move, Modified Rookie, Louden Reimert was making a lot of moves as he advanced with the Fleurer No. 16 as he raced up to seventh after starting in the seventh row.

With the top ten remaining unchanged through the halfway mark, Cale Ross, Reimert, ‘Ron Roberts, Jeff Strunk and Kressley had a race of their own as each driver tried to  improve their position in the top ten.

Godown headed pitside with mechanical issues with the Searock No. 26 with seventeen laps complete.  It was also at this juncture that race leader began to deal with lapped traffic but nothing seemed to slow Laubach and Ryan Kerr’s No. 1K.

With five to go, Laubach had a healthy lead over Williams, Krachun, Pauch Jr. and Cale Ross.  Krachun and Pauch were battling for position in the closing laps.  Williams slowed on the track as the white flag waved, ending his bid for a runner-up finish.

Laubach took the checkered flag, adding a Small Block Modified victory to his Big Block win earlier this season.  Krachun won the battle with Pauch, Jr. who finished third in the Packenham No. 18.  Ross finished fourth as Jeff Strunk took fifth after racing with Reimert on the final lap.  Reimert finished six ahead of Duane Howard, Wade Hendrickson, Davey Sammons and Ron Roberts.

For the seventh time this season, Rich Stinson picked up the win in the Sunbelt Rental Outlaw Stock feature event.  This race was a 2019 Poker Series race for the Outlaw Stocks.  His win gave Stinson his third Ace which is going to be a tough had to beat.

Stinson led every one of the fifteen laps after starting on the pole.  He was chased for most of the fifteen laps by Tom Wills,Sr. to returned to driving after nearly a four year absence.  Wills, Sr. was behind the wheel of the Joslin No. 6.  Wills, Jr. raced into third with just five laps to go and then spent the remaining laps challenging his father for second.

Stinson led the field to the checkered with Wills, Jr. getting by Wills, Sr on the final lap to take second.  Brian Ludwig finished fourth with Lee Allen rounding out the top five.

Bridgeport Speedway. Friday, September 27, 2019 sponsored By Joy Auto Parts

Small Block Modified Feature (25 laps)  1. Rick Laubach, 2. Ryan Krachun, 3. Billy Pauch, Jr., 4. Cale Ross, 5. Jeff Strunk, 6. Louden Reimert, 7. Duane Howard, 8. Wade Hendrickson, 9. Davey Sammons, 10. Ron Roberts, 11. Brandon Grosso, 12. Ryan Watt, 13. Neal Williams,, 14. JR Fulper, 15. Billy Osmun, 16. Kevin Vaclavicek, 17. Wayne Weaver, 18. Jared Umbenhauer, 19. Ryan Godown, 20. Brett Kressley, 21. Bob Sarkisian, 22. Brad Roberts, 23. Craig VonDohren, 24. Matt Stangle,  DNQ – Roger Manning, Richie Pratt, Jr., Craig Whitmoyer, Dominick Buffalino, Kyle Lilick, Rich Wegner, Jr., Billy Briggs, Jeramy Doerr, Billy Chester, Pat Wall and Ray Swinehart

Sunbelt Rentals Outlaw Stock Feature (15 laps)

The fourth annual running of the King of the Big Blocks comes to the Bridgeport Speedway this Friday and Saturday. This year’s event is sponsored by Spirit Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram in nearby Swedesboro, NJ and Joy Auto Parts out of Green Brook Township. 

The Baus Family of Spirit Auto Center has been helping customers to great vehicles at prices for more than twenty-eight years.  Located just five miles from the Bridgeport Speedway, you will find a family atmosphere, knowledgeable sales people and reliable parts and service.  Several models will be on display during the race weekend.  “Spirit Dan” will be on hand to answer any questions and to show off the vehicles on hand.  Joy Auto Parts was founded in 1972 and has been providing customers and their community with auto parts and automotive advice since.  

With the Bridgeport Speedway being the only track in the Garden State who headlines Big Block Modifieds, Speedway Management wanted to offer a high dollar event to feature their Big Block Division since most of the special events throughout the Tri-State area are for the Small Block Modifieds at this time of the year.  And so the King of the Big Blocks was born in fall of the 2016 season,.  

The two day event will feature the Small Block Modifieds and Sunbelt Rentals Outlaw Stocks on Friday night with racing getting underway at 7 pm.  Practice sessions will also be offered for the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds and the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman throughout Friday night’s program as these competitors prepare for Saturday’s competition.

Saturday will see the Big Block Modifieds and 602 Crate Sportsman in competition.  In addition to the King of the Big Block title being on the line both divisions will also be competing for cards for their 2019 Poker Series hands.

Frank Cozze was the winner of the Small Block Modified portion of the first King of the Big Blocks back in 2016.  Who could forget the battle royale between the two veterans – Cozze and Billy Pauch – with Cozze picking up the win.  Pauch went on to capture the inaugural King of the Big Block events the next day, adding another title to his storied career.

In 2017, it was Jeff Strunk who drove the famed Glen and Bonita Hynemann owned No, 126 to victory in Friday night’s main event.  Bridgeport Track Champion, Ryan Watt picked up the win in the King of the Big Blocks the next day adding another big check to his garage wall.

Last year’s Friday night events were cancelled but when Saturday came around, it was Watt again who picked up the win and defended his King of the Big Block title.

The past winners will be in competition this weekend also with Bridgeport regulars Richie Pratt, Jr., Neal Williams, Matt Stangle, Tommy Beamer, Jim Britt, Dominick Buffalino and Brett Ballard to mention a few.  The invaders will be competing against the Bridgeport regulars including Billy Pauch, Jr., Craig VonDohren, Brett Kressley, Jeff Strunk and Sam Martz,  With a $10,000 payday for the winneer, this event always attracts drivers from throughout the area as well as many fans who have marked this event on their calendars at the beginning of the season.

Pit gates will open at 4 pm on Friday.  Grandstands open at 6 pm.  General admission is $25, Students (10-15) are $10 with children nine and under for free.  On Saturday, the pit gates will open at 2 pm with the grandstands opening at 4 pm.  General admission is $30 on Saturday, Students (10-15) for $10 and children 9 and under are free.  Or, a General Admission Fan Pass can be purchased for both days for $45.

Bridgeport, NJ – Three races remain in the 2019 season at Bridgeport.  This Saturday’s final point show, the 4th Annual ‘King of the Big Blocks’ is set for September 27-28 weekend, and November’s ‘Wild Card Weekend’.

“We tried some different rule packages this year between the 3/8 & the 5/8.  We were hoping to attract some different drivers which we did on the 3/8 but not so much on the 5/8.  So, at this point we’ll be basically going back to our rule package from last year,” explained track owner Brian Ramey.  “I’ve only got a few more races left before Doug(Rose) takes over the reigns and I want to ensure we go out on a good note.”

The following rules will be effective immediately starting this Saturday, September 7

 MODIFIED RULES

• Spec Head Engine on Alcohol or Gas: 2,275lbs. – Standard Bodies
• ‘Open 358 Small Block up to 363 cu. in.’ Alcohol or Gas: 2,400lbs – Standard Bodies
• Big Blocks up to 477 cu. in: 2,500lbs – Standard Bodies
• Big Blocks 478 & over cu. in: 2,600lbs – Standard Bodies
• Small Blocks over 364 cu. in.: 2,550lbs – Standard Bodies

All cars can have spoiler facing traditional way at 50″ maximum.

*Cars must have traditional deck lids.  NO spoilers, fins, wings, etc..

Billy Pauch drove to his sixth victory of the 2019 Bridgeport Speedway season and collected the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modified title along the way. While the point race heated up in the other divisions, Pauch’s 68th Bridgeport feature win gave Pauch the title with just one more point race left to be run.

Rich Stinson, Jr. made it three in a row in the Sunbelt Rental Outlaw Stocks while Wayne Weaver threw his hat into the ring for the season title with his second win in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman.

Mike Franz and Bob Sarkisian led the starting field to the wave of the green flag with Sarkisian jumping into the early lead. Roger Manning made his way from sixth to second on lap three and began his pursuit of the leader.

Sarkisian led through lap six when Manning took control. One lap later, Wade Hendrickson raced into second with the Rio No. R10. At halfway, Manning led Hendrickson, Brett Ballard, Pauch and Dominick Buffalino.

Pauch made use of the outside as he moved into second on lap seventeen with a pass by Hendrickson. One lap later, he moved to the inside to take the lead from Manning. Hendrickson followed Pauch through as Manning bobbled momentarily and then recovered.

Pauch led the way to the finish over Hendrickson, Manning who had his best finish of the season, Jimmy Horton and Jim Britt. Buffalino exited with mechanical ills just a lap from the finish. Stan Frankenfield, Jr. had another strong outing to finish sixth followed by Richie Pratt, Jr., Sam Martz, David Hunt and Ryan Watt.

Wayne Weaver took the flag to flag victory over Sammy Martz, Jr. in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman feature. Weaver’s win makes him the third driver to have a shot at the 2019 title along with point leader, Eric Kormann and Matt Peck.

Travis Hill finished third followed by Steve Kemery and Peck. Danny Buccafusca finished sixth followed by Jim Gallagher, Tom Sherby, Rich Wegner, Jr. and Eric Kormann.

It was win number six for Rich Stinson, Jr. who also made it three in a row with his win in the Sunbelt Rentals Outlaw Stocks. Justin Knowlen led the first three laps after the green, first leading Brian Ludwig and then Lee Allen. Stinson closed in and took the lead onlap four and then put some distance between himself and the competition.

Current point leader, Tom Wills, Jr. made his way into second on lap five and chased Stinson to the finish. A late race surge by Jeff Dirkes resulted in a third place finish followed by Ludwig and Allen.

The 2019 Champions will be crowned when racing returns to the Bridgeport Speedway on Saturday night with the Big Block Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman and Outlaw Stocks with racing getting underway at 7pm.

BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY

Saturday, August 31, 2019
SPIRIT AUTO CENTER BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS (25 laps) –

1. Billy Pauch, Sr., 2. Wade Hendrickson, 3. Roger Manning, 4. Jimmy Horton, 5. Jim Britt, 6. Stan Frankenfield, 7. Richie Pratt, Jr., 8. Sam Martz, 9. David Hunt, 10. Ryan Watt, 11. Brett Ballard, 12. Jeramy Doerr, 13. Ron Roberts, 14. J.R. Burritt, 15. Dominick Buffalino, 16. Neal Williams, 17. Joe Toth, 18. Tommy Beamer, 19. Bob Sarkisian, 20. Mike Franz, 21. Todd Neiheiser, 22. Joe Puzzella, 23. Pete Visconti, DNS – Jack Swain, Matt Stangle
SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOOR 602 CRATE SPORTSMAN (20 laps) –

1. Wayne Weaver, 2. Sammy Martz, Jr., 3. Travis Hill, 4. Steve Kemery, 5. Matt Peck, 6. Danny Buccafusca, 7. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 8. Tom Sherby, 9. Rich Wegner, Jr., 10. Eric Kormann, 11. Bobby Bracall, 12. Brett Belmont, 13. Tom Moore, Jr., 14. Tommy Errico, Jr., 15. Scott Maher, Jr., 16. Jim Cheesman, 17. Tom Holding, 18. Billy Chester, 19. Eric Mattson, 20. Pete Serra, 21. Jonathan Swift, 22. Scott Hulmes, DNS – Ernie Miles, Jr., Andrew Belmont
SUNBELT RENTALS OUTLAW STOCKS (15 laps) –

1. Rich Stinson, Jr., 2. Tom Wills, Jr., 3. Jeff Dirkes, 4. Brian Ludwig, 5. Lee Allen, 6. Justin Nowlen, 7. Ken Moren, 8. Andrew Joslin, 9. Nick Sandone, III, 10. John Parker, 11. Mike Hughes, 12. Seven Land, 13. Kevin Conaway, 14. Paul Donahue, DNS – Michael Creamer

Upcoming events

Satuday, September 7 – Final Points Night – Big Block Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman & Outlaw Stocks, racing at 7pm

Saturday & Sunday September 14th and 15th – Monster Truck Throwdown

Friday, September 27 – Small Block Modifieds, Outlaw Stocks and open practice for all divisions for Saturday events, racing at 7:30pm

Saturday, September 28 – Poker Series Hand #4 – King of the Big Blocks – Big Block Modifieds and 602 Crate Sportsman, racing at 6:30pm