Author: bridgeportmotorsportspark

Bridgeport, NJ – Winter storm ‘Stella’ made her mark here in the Northeast this past week affecting many of the local racetracks. Unfortunately, Bridgeport Speedway (5/8 mile) and Spirit Speedway (1/4 mile) weren’t spared any differently than the other facilities. With substantial amounts of rain compounded with snow and ice, Bridgeport was left with no other option but to cancel it’s annual open practice session this upcoming weekend. Although Sunday does serve as a rain date for Saturday, with the current temperatures and what ‘Stella’ left behind, it would be near impossible to get equipment and cars on the track this weekend.

“We were really looking forward to getting back in the swing of things this weekend,” offered track owner Brian Ramey. “It just looks like Mother Nature had a different plan for all our drivers and fans I guess. It’s on to next week, as we are anticipating a great crowd and car count.” The first action on the race track will be the Friday night portion of the 5th Annual Doug Hoffman Memorial ’60over Special’ Weekend. The 358 small blocks and D.A.’s Auto Body Rookie 2017 class will be in competition (7:30pm), while the Big Blocks, Crate/Sportsman, and Outlaw Stocks will have the opportunity to shake down their equipment while going on the clock for ‘Fast Time’ redraw positions for Saturday’s events. Then, on Saturday, March 25 The Spirit Auto Center Big Blocks, Crate/Sportsman, and Pennco Tech Outlaw Stocks will open their season up starting at 4pm. Both tracks still have an open practice for any and all divisions slated for Saturday, April 1 starting at noon. For all the latest information about the Bridgeport and Spirit Speedway you can locate them on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, or log onto their websites at www.bpspeedway.com and www.spiritspeedway.com.

As Bridgeport Speedway looks to celebrate and honor the life of Doug Hoffman come March 25, we can never forget the vision that has brought us where we are today.  As everyone knows, Doug was my teenage hero growing up.  Damn, who am I kidding?  He still was my hero when I was 30 years old!  Like I said last year at this same time:  It will be a joyous day, a sad day, an exciting day, and a memorable day for everyone that walks through Bridgeport’s gates on Saturday, March 25.

I can remember like it was yesterday, growing up and heading to all the tracks with Gram and occasionally my cousins and friends.  Weekly stops at Flemington and East Windsor and monthly visits to Bridgeport and Nazareth were a fixture while growing up.  It was in 1985 when I first became a Doug Hoffman fan even though he had been winning prior to then.  Leon Conklin’s silver and red No.125 grabbed my attention and ever since then I was a fan.  Ironically Hoffman left Bridgeport to call Flemington his home in ’86 and that solidified my passion for the Allentown, PA driver.  Billy Pauch was the KING of Flemington and no one really had an answer for him.  However, in 1986 Doug Hoffman was the closest thing to that answer.  Winning 5 times and runner up and points to Billy, I was happy to see a new track regular come to ‘The Square.’

Honestly, I was a Stan Ploski my entire life.  But, Stan started to slow down and I kinda needed a new guy or at least an additional guy to root for.  Pauch, Hearn, Horton, Cozze, Brightbill and the others already were established and had fans, so I went with the Doug.  I never regretted that decision, even though it came with a lot of drama, eye glaring, finger pointing, and shouting matches.  Doug had a hell of a career, especially when he took a different route than others.  Most of the guys I already mentioned, along with guys like Alan and Danny Johnson, Craig VonDohren, and many more started on dirt as mere teenagers (15 or 16 years old depending on who you ask).  Doug didn’t really hit dirt track racing until he was 21 or 22 years old, thus giving the other guys a nice head start.  Doug also stopped way before all the guys we’re talking about as well.  I’d have to say he has 482 career wins with about 15 less years than our other dirt track legends….pretty impressive!

When Hoffman took over Bridgeport in 2012, I was happy for him and for short track racing as well.  It was just the weirdest thing I thought:  Here’s Doug running Bridgeport and me, his biggest fan running New Egypt – head to head on Saturday nights.  Doug and I would talk almost every Monday.  If my phone didn’t ring by 2 pm, I picked up the phone and called him.  We’d compare our nights:  what went good, what went wrong, I’d give him advice while he taught me some things too.  I even got a good laugh out of Doug when I said to him one Monday, “You know Doug, you and I were once the two most hated people at East Windsor each and every Friday, and here we are running the only two dirt track lefts in New Jersey”
See, Doug took over  not a sinking ship, but rather a sunken and abandoned ship.   After his first and only year at the helm, the ship was still pretty much sunken BUT, the crew and passengers started to come back and morale was bigger than ever.  Doug looked at Bridgeport in a different way than most people did and was overly optimistic about the future although in a bleak situation.  Listen, I’ve seen the guy start dead last and win races – you couldn’t ever count out Doug Hoffman.  He had a vision that saw Bridgeport making a comeback, getting back to where it once was, and even better heading into the future.  If Doug Hoffman was anything, he was focused.  What Doug wanted to do, couldn’t be done overnight, not even in one season.  Fortunately for the Bridgeport Family, he jump started that vision and passed it on to us.  As time goes on people forget how they got where they’re at, or why they’re even there.  This is Bridgeport’s one race to remember how and why things are the way they are.  Doug had a vision for Bridgeport and now the current assembled team has been fortunate enough to see it become a reality.  Bridgeport is BACK in a BIG way and it all started with one man’s vision.

So shake off those winter blues and make a trip to South Jersey and come celebrate and remember our friend Doug Hoffman.  Come on out and rekindle those ‘summer’ friendships, get caught up on all the gossip, crack open a cold one or maybe a warm one, and oooh yeah, there’s probably going to be some excellent side by side racing too!

Written By: Danny Serrano

Bridgeport, NJ – The 2017 racing season at the Gloucester County oval is quickly approaching.  March 24 marks the ’17 Opening Day featuring the ‘Fifth Annual Doug Hoffman Memorial 60over Special’.  The marquee season lid-lifter honors the late Doug Hoffman and everything he did for and meant to Bridgeport Speedway, in now what is a two-day event.

Practice Sessions:  There are two practice and one Hot Lap scheduled days early in the season.  The first practice will be held Saturday, March 18 from 12pm to 3:30pm.  Drivers and cars of any division are welcomed to shake down their equipment.  Gates open at 9am for early-bird safety inspection held by track Safety Inspector Ed Olsen.  The Spirit Auto Center Speedway 1/4 mile will also be practicing from 3:30 to 5:30pm (2:30pm to 3:30pm alternating tracks).  Grandstands will offer free admission while it will be $25 to enter the pit area.  A reminder to all minors 16 and 17 years old:  Please have a copy of your birth certificate available as well as a parent or guardian to sign the minor release form.  This applies to all Spirit Auto Center Speedway drivers 14 through 17 as well.  A rain date of Sunday, March 19 will be used if needed (same times).

Hot Lap Sessions will take place on Friday evening March 24 on the 5/8 mile only.  Gates open at 3pm with cars slated to hit the track between 730pm to 1030pm in between the 358/Rookie race action.  Big Blocks, Crate/Sportsman, and Outlaw Stock teams will have timed hot lapped sessions during the night where two of the fastest teams will be locked into Saturday’s redraw.  Racers are welcomed to leave their haulers in the pits overnight before the ’60over Special’.

The final practice day will take place the following week on Saturday, April 1 from Noon to 4pm.  Both 5/8 and 1/4 mile venues will be practicing in this final preparation for the 2017 season.

2017 Points:  There are two different point funds in 2017; Regular Season Points and the 811 Dig Safely Poker Series Points.

Poker Series Points:  All drivers placing in the top 13 in their respective divisions will receive playing cards.  A driver or car must be present and register for the evening’s race to be eligible for the Poker Series point fund.  A driver must be competing in 5 of the 6 scheduled events to be eligible to collect Poker Series point fund money.  All Poker Series events will have a $10 car entry fee (except Sept 23) just as in previous years.

Show Up Points:  There are 5 designated races that offer ‘track show up points’ that go towards the 2017 track championship.  Sunday, April 23, Sunday April 30, Sunday May 28, Thursday, June 8, and Monday, July 3.  The driver must register and attempt to qualify (hot laps can count) to receive the 50 points.

D.A.’s Auto Body Rookie Series Race Schedule:
Race #1-Friday, March 24

Race #2-Saturday, April 2

Race #3-Sunday, April 9

Race #4-Saturday, April 15

Race #5-Sunday, April 30

Race #6-Saturday, May 6

Race #7-Sunday, May 28

Race #8-Saturday, June 3

Race #9-Thursday, June 8

Race #10-Saturday, June 17

Race #11-Saturday, June 24 – Rookie Graduation

*On the nights, there are no Rookies scheduled, those following the series are welcomed to race with the regular Crate/Sportsman that evening (March 25, April 23, & May 16).
2017 Tire Rules:  For all Poker, show-up point, and post-season races any modified-style American Stamped Racing Tires are allowed within the correct compounds (33 or harder on fronts, 44 or harder on LR, and 48 or harder on RR).  During regular season point races drivers must have Bridgeport Stamped tires under the correct compounds (44 or harder on fronts, 44 or harder on LR, and 48, 53, 56 or Bridgeport Hard on RR).  New drivers attending Bridgeport should have at least one Bridgeport/Stamped correct compound tire per visit during point shows with each week after adding at least one tire (4 races to have all corners Bridgeport stamped).

Jim Gallagher Jr. is the newest driver to sign up for this year’s  rookie division at Bridgeport Speedway.  The 28 year-old is a second-generation driver to his father Jim Gallagher Sr.  The Elder Gallagher raced at Bridgeport in the Sportsman division from ’94-’00 eventually leaving the sport for a good 15 years.  “We came to Bridgeport spectating last year and when they brought the cars behind the grandstands and I felt the ground shake, heard those engines, and smelled that fuel, I was hooked once again,” admitted Gallagher Sr.  “I knew I had to get back into this with my son, so that’s what we did.”

 

Jimmy who resides in nearby Woolwich, will be driving a 2015 Bicknell 602 crate powered car that will carry No. 31 (Sr.’s old number).  Elite Welding Training, Keen Compass Gas, and Lucky Mechanical in Blackwood, NJ are the Gallagher’s main sponsors.  We say Gallagher because, yes, Jim Sr. will be strapping himself back behind the wheel as well.  After Jimmy runs the rookie race Jim Sr., will race with the Crate/Sportsman on a weekly basis.  The 72 year-old is happy to be living out his dream.  “I have to say special thanks to my wife Janet for letting me do this once again.  Believe it or not I used to make a living racing AMA flat track motorcycles and raced at Bridgeport back in ’74 on my XR750 Harley Davidson,” Gallagher added.

 

Some of the guys who will be crewing for the tag-team are Jeff Platt (tires) and Paulie Olivo who will serve as the Crew Chief and Zach Bailey as well.  A special thanks goes out to Sammy Wescott and Mark Blackwell from the Gallaghers as well.

 

A 7th rookie notified Bridgeport Speedway this week that he plans on running with the ’17 field on the 5/8 mile oval.  Scott Kohler will be driving his No. 12s sportsman car during most of the scheduled rookie races.  “I really want to be part of this series at Bridgeport, but unfortunately I can’t make all of the races but I plan on being there for most of them,” Kohler explained.  The 50 year-old Boyertown, PA driver will be behind the wheel of an ’06 Teo car.

 

Two of the sponsors that make it all happen for Scott are BK Upholstery and TNT Mowing & More.  “Right now it’s just my son Chad, my girlfriend Justine, and daughter Danielle that will be helping me in the pits.  I always wanted to do this and finally realized that I had the means to do it, so I said why not!”  Kohler raced go karts from 1995 to 2000 before getting hooked onto off road four-wheel drive racing.  For the past 15 years Scott could have been found racing on off road obstacle courses all over the PA, DE, MD region.

 

The 9th D.A.’s Auto Body driver that has added his name to the ever-growing list is young Matt Luzi.  If you think the name ‘Luzi’ sounds familiar, well, you would be correct.  The Luzi name is connected to Joy Auto Parts, which has been seen on racecars over the past 35 plus years.  16 year-old Matt is a fourth-generation driver hailing out of Branchburg, NJ.  Last year, Matt was able to hot lap his car in a couple of races at the end of the season, therefore keeping his rookie status eligible.  The car has since been received a new body and lettering for the 2017 season.

 

The 2011 Bickenell No. 7L will be powered by a 602 crate motor this season.  Matt’s father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all raced in the state of NJ over the course of the last 60 plus years.  Matt’s father Garrett raced SS Sprints most recently about 10 years ago.  Joe Luzi, Matt’s grandfather drove the popular ‘Toy’ car at Flemington back in the 1980’s, while Joe’s father John raced up in north Jersey in now defunct stadiums and arenas.  Matt’s racing experience thus far have consisted of all go karts at tracks like Oakland Valley, Wall, and Shellhammers.  ‘Joy Auto Parts’ (located in Greenbrook and Chester, NJ) is the main sponsor of the family-owed Crate/Sportsman.  ‘Joy’ has also stayed involved in dirt track racing by sponsoring drivers such as Sammy Martz and John McClelland over the years.  The newest Luzi hopes to continue the family tradition and make his family proud at Bridgeport this coming season.

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In just a few short weeks, the Bridgeport Speedway will honor one of its own when the Fifth Annual 60 Over/Doug Hoffman Memorial Race opens the 2017 season on the 5/8^th mile speedway.

Many credit Doug Hoffman for the resurgence of the Bridgeport Speedway.

The four time track champion took over the reins for the 2012 speedway.  After meeting with (THEN) track owners, Jay James & Brian Ramey, it was clear that Doug Hoffman was the man for the task at hand.

The Big Block Modifieds had been removed from the Saturday night schedule as a last ditch effort on the part of Jay James who had tried just about everything to be successful at the Logan Township race track.  James decided to leave the speedway at the end of the 2011 season, leaving the future of the Bridgeport Speedway as a big question mark as the New Year approached.

James & Ramey met with several interested parties but it was clear that Hoffman was the right man for the job.  “I didn’t know Doug well,” Ramey explained.  “Doug approached us to discuss the possibility of him taking the reins for the 2012 season.  We had several people pursuing the opportunity but none of them had the insight that Doug had.  There was no doubt that he (Hoffman) was the best fit since his heart was in Big Blocks and that is what Bridgeport was designed and built for.”

Hoffman first met with fans and competitors at the Motorsports Show in Oaks, PA in January.  It was a very optimistic and enthusiastic Hoffman that met with the press on Friday night of Motorsports.  He outlined some of his plans for the coming season – the return of the Big Block Modifieds, the introduction of the Poker Series, his plans to make the speedway racier as well as several promotions that were directed for the benefit of the fans at the front gate.

“When people say that Bridgeport is too fast, what they really mean is that there is too much traction,” Hoffman explained.  “We have to produce good racing.  We need a slick surface from top to bottom.  It can’t take down rubber.  It can’t be a one lane track.”  Hoffman talked about how drivers like Tobias, Brightbill, Horton, Pauch and himself as well, traveled to other tracks and won big races, making people sit up and take notice of the drivers who regularly competed at the Bridgeport Speedway.  “It needs to be cool as hell to win at Bridgeport,” Hoffman told the crowd.  He compared it to his induction into the DIRT Hall of Fame in 2011.  “That was freakin’ neat – that’s the feeling we need to create at Bridgeport.”

Afraid that he wasn’t able to meet with everyone during the trade show, Hoffman set up all day meetings the following Saturday at the local Holiday Inn.

As the end of the 2012 season approached, Hoffman could take great pride in what he had accomplished.  Nearly fifty Big Blocks were on hand for the season opener that year – a Race of Champions on Dirt event.  The Poker Series was a huge success when introduced to the fans at Bridgeport.  Hoffman combined efforts with 410 Sprint Car owner, Mike Heffner, to bring the 410s to the Bridgeport Speedway.  He brought the racers to the fans by having the starting line-up stage behind the grandstands, giving the fans a very up close and personal look at the competition.  And he continued a Bridgeport tradition of bringing the top five finishers behind the grandstand after each feature event – a tradition that Hoffman, himself was not a fan of when he competed at Bridgeport.  “I got a lot of heat for that and I deserved it,” Hoffman said of his lack of cooperation as a driver.  “Everybody makes mistakes and I made one with the fans at Bridgeport when I raced there.”  As a promoter, Hoffman saw the other side of the story.

When Hoffman criticized the track preparation during the season, he was told to do it himself – so he did.  If a job needed to be done – cut the grass, pick up trash, talk to a competitor – whatever it was, Hoffman did whatever was needed.

Looking back on the 2012 season, Hoffman said, “The track has raced another year and it didn’t fold on our watch.”   “We’ve had good racing.  I think we put to bed the rumor that you can’t have good racing on a big track.”  Four drivers captured their career first wins that season in Big Block Modified competition – Mike Barone, Eric Kormann, Jesse Hill (with a Small Block) and Stan Frankenfield, Jr.

With ninety-two Bridgeport feature wins and four track championships, Doug Hoffman knew what needed to be done.  While he only had one season as the track’s promoter, there is little doubt that he laid the foundation for what the Ramey family, Keith Hoffman, Dave Adams and Danny Serrano have continued for the last four seasons, since Ramey has taken full ownership of the speedway.

The Bridgeport Speedway will open the gates on the 2017 season with the running of the fifth annual 60 Over Special/Doug Hoffman Memorial Weekend on March 24^th and 25^th.  While it is the fifth year of the race honoring the former track champion and promoter, this will be the first time that the event will be run as a two day event.

Friday night action will see the return of the 358 Small Block Modifieds for a twenty-five lap, $2500 to win main event.  It will be the first race of the season for the DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookies on the 5/8^th mile track.  All divisions will have the opportunity to participate in the open practice sessions on Friday night so that they can prepare for Saturday’s racing action.  Pit gates will open at 3pm with grandstand access at 6pm.  Racing will get underway at 7:30pm.

On Saturday night, the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds will compete in qualifying events for a forty-four lap feature event with $4,400 going to the winner.  The Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman and PennCo Tech Outlaw Stocks will run qualifying events and features as well.  Saturday’s race card will be the first hand of the 811 Dig Safely/Colonial Pipeline 2017 Poker Series.  Pits will open at noon, grandstands at 2pm and racing will get underway at 4pm.  (There is a rain date set for Sunday, March 26^th should it be needed.)

The Bridgeport Speedway is committed to maintaining a safe, fun, family atmosphere, creating life-lasting memories of excitement.

The fourth member to sign up for the 2017 D.A.’s Auto Body Rookie Series is 51 year-old Nazareth, Pennsylvania’s Jeff Stuart.  Stuart has been involved in dirt racing for many years as a spectator and pit member for a few drivers and friends.  However, this year Jeff is finally going to get behind the wheel of a Crate/Sportsman and try it himself!  Stuart will be piloting last year’s rookie champion racecar of Chuck Sayres.  Sayres will still be racing with the ‘regular’ Crate/Sportsman once Stuart completes his 8-lap rookie event.  The shared ride is a 2014 Teo chassis that will carry No. 38.

Some of the sponsors that will be dressed on the No. 38 machine will be John & Kathy Mac/Land Image, Hamill Flooring, Williams Auto Parts/Napa, CTS Lawn Care, Pizza Villa, ERK Steering, Rodney Stevenson-State Farm, and Paul’s Auto & Diesel Repair.  “I wouldn’t be able to do this without the help of a lot of people,” admitted Stuart.  “From Chuck letting me use the car, some of the sponsors that are helping me, and Ryan Watt’s crew.  I’m really looking forward to practice day and that first rookie race!”

The name Belmont is no stranger to dirt racing in the northeast by any means.  Well, Brett Belmont will be carrying on the family name at Bridgeport Speedway in 2017 as he becomes the 5th D.A.’s Auto Body Rookie to sign up.  The 19 year-old Langhorne, PA rookie is the son to well-known racer Andy Belmont.  The Belmonts will be out in full force this season as Brett’s brother Andrew and uncle Kevin will be competing in the Crate/Sportsman division on a weekly basis.  Father Andy has many wins at Bridgeport coming back in the 1980’s, while his brother Kevin has won a few of his own in the past couple of seasons at the 5/8 mile.

Brett will be driving the No. 63 which is a 2008 Bicknell with a 602 crate engine under the hood.  Brett raced 1/4 midgets 10 years ago is looking forward to jumping behind the wheel of a ‘big car’ in March.  The Belmont machine will have plenty of sponsors that Brett hopes to bring with him into victory lane:  They are Woody’s Bourbon Cream, Belmont’s Garage, KB Letterin’, ISC Racer Tape, G Force Racing Gear, Mechanics Wear, Continental Fire & Safety, Phil-Mart Transportation, Mod Space Motorsports, and PWD Wholesale.  Father Andy will lead the brigade back in the pit area along with brother Andrew, uncle Kevin, uncle Tom, Dan, Jim, Dave, and George.  The question is which Belmont will find the winner’s circle first?  Brett will have the first shot on Friday, March 24.

Rookie #6 – Jim Cheesman has decided to throw his hat in the ring to become the 2017 Bridgeport Speedway Rookie track champion.  Cheesman is basically new to stock car racing but that isn’t stopping Jim from becoming heavily involved in the sport.  The 36 year-old crew man turned racer hails from Bridgeton, NJ.  Cheesman will be steering a 602 crate ’14 Bicknell chassis that will carry the No. 587.  “The number is the month and year my wife was born, so that’s how we came up with 587,” explained Cheesman.

This rookie is still in search of sponsorship to help with his 2017 efforts.  “Right now, Pete (Visconti) has been helping me and pointing me in the right direction with things.  I helped him the past few years when I got introduced to dirt track racing.”  Cheesman’s winter project is almost complete of having a new garage built to house is new ‘racing toy’.  “I liked being in the pits and loved being at the track so I thought, it would be even better behind the wheel of one of these things.  It’s going to be a family affair as my wife is pretty excited about this season as well.”

For the 5th consecutive year D.A.’s Auto Body & Repair will be sponsoring the Crate/Sportsman division at the Bridgeport Speedway.  “The rookie division is important not only to the racers but, it’s important to the track as well,” explained Dave Adams owner of D.A.’s.  “The more new blood we get to come into the sport, the better if it will be in the long run,” Adams added.  The top 3 point finishers will be honored at the year-end banquet for the Bridgeport Speedway drivers.  Along with point fund money, the champion will receive a championship trophy and plaque and champion jackets courtesy of American Racer and Insinger Performance/Sunoco Fuels.  The 11-race series will kick off on Friday night, March 24 as part of the 60over Special ‘Doug Hoffman Memorial’ Weekend.  A champion will be crowned as the class graduates on Saturday, June 24 before moving up ‘officially’ into the Crate/Sportsman division.

Past champions include Ian Humphreys (’13), Matt Peck (’14), Steve Kemery (’15), and Chuck Sayres (’16).  The first driver looking to join that group is Oliva Ingersoll.  As of now, Olivia seems to be the only female entry in this year’s rookie field (Shannon Marshall placed third in last year’s rookie points).  Ingersoll got her introduction to racing just three short years ago by helping fellow friend and Big Block racer Mike Franz.  “Once I started coming to the race track, I just fell in love with everything and really wanted to race,” expressed Ingersoll.  Olivia tried her hand at a couple of ‘Powder Puff’ races on the 1/4 mile and all that did was increase her desire even more to try it ‘for real’.  So she went out and purchased an ’06 Teo car that will carry No. 95, along with a 602 crate engine.  Ingersoll was able to get two late practice sessions in last season in the final two events at Bridgeport.  The 21 year-old Gibbstown, NJ resident works on the car all by herself.  “I don’t really have a crew other than Mike’s crew to help at the track, and if I have a question, I usually ask Mike for advice.”  Although the odds may look stacked against this young lady, you can never count out hard work and determination.

The second driver to officially declare themselves eligible for the 2017 D.A.’s rookie class is Keith McKinley.  Although a rookie driver, Keith is no stranger to Bridgeport as he has been racing in the 4-cylinder class the past few seasons on the Spirit Auto Center 1/4 mile on Friday nights.  “I just wanted to move up really.  The 4-cylinders were fun but I was ready for a change,” offered McKinley.  The 40 year-old Deptford, NJ driver purchased an ’08 Dirt Wheels chassis this off-season so he could participate in the ’17 rookie series.  McKinley is currently working on securing some sponsorship for his No. 9 Sportsman to help aid him in his rookie quest.  His girlfriend Jennifer Hardy and his uncle Terry are his pit crew for his rookie campaign this season.

The third driver to register into the D.A.’s Auto Body Rookie Series for 2017 is young Tommy Errico Jr.  If you recognize the Errico name, you’re not imagining things.  Tom Errico Sr raced in the late 80’s and early 90’s at both Bridgeport and East Windsor Speedways.  The elder Errico did record a win at Sportsman win at Bridgeport and a couple at Windsor 25 plus years ago.  Now, it’s time for his son to carry the ‘racing’ torch in the family.

The second-generation driver was able to shake down the car a couple of times late last season while Sr. also jumped behind the wheel to help with the set up.  Tommy Jr will be piloting an ’04 Troyer powered by a 602 crate motor.  The 19 year-old Feasterville, Pa driver will carry the ‘X-Rated’ number on the sides of his Crate/Sportsman hot rod.  Some of the sponsors that make it all happen for the Errico Team are K&M Trucking, R. Miller & Sons Automotive, and Sunglass Central.  If you were to take a visit into the pit area you’d be likely to find Billy Culver, Colin Barber, and of course Tom Sr. turning some wrenches each and every weekend.  You can count on Errico Jr. to try everything he can to keep up the family tradition by making it into Bridgeport Speedway’s victory lane at some point this season.

*** As appears in Area Auto Racing News

 

While mid-January is typically referred to as “the off-season”, things were bustling around Motorsports this weekend and the Bridgeport Speedway display!

The cars of 2016 Champion, Ryan Watt and Crate/Sportsman driver, Roger Manning appeared in the Bridgeport Speedway booth while Jon Keller’s Micro Sprint 600 ride in Ed Barber’s No. 99B represented the Spirit Auto Center Speedway and the quarter mile action.

Speedway employees were kept busy all weekend fulfilling the needs and wishes of both competitors and race fans astrack licenses, season tickets and skyboxes were sold throughout the length of the show.  Schedules were distributed for both tracks for the 2017 season.

Bridgeport owner, Brian Ramey, is looking forward to the new season.  “My team has worked hard on a five year plan to prepare, perform and present what we are all about.  Every year we have seen positive results.  I think 2017 is the year where it will all come together!”

Ramey added that the speedway is still actively seeking someone to assist with Tech responsibilities.  Ramey views this position as the last step needed in making the Bridgeport Speedway the “premier dirt track facility in New Jersey.” 

There’s a lot of enthusiasm to go around among Bridgeport’s management team.

Since Kolby Ramey took over the marketing responsibilities of the Bridgeport Speedway, he has looked for ways to cross promote the speedway.  “The two things I’m really looking forward to are the Pack the House Night and our Monster Truck Throwdown.”  The Pack the House Night was a huge success last season.  “For weeks after our Pack the House Night last year, we saw people return to the speedway on Saturday night,” Ramey explains.  “Events like Pack the House and our Monster Truck events give us a chance to introduce Bridgeport to a new group of people.”

Keith Hoffman has gained a reputation for his excellent track preparation skills during his tenure at Bridgeport.  “I want to make sure that I am preparing a good track surface.  I want the track to be good for racing for the guys and for the fans,” Hoffman stated.  Hoffman has received accolades throughout the season for the quality of the Bridgeport racing surface and knows that it is now expected.  The pressure is on for Bridgeport’s big events – like the return of the DIRTcar series to Bridgeport this year.

Danny Serrano talked about three new shows on Bridgeport and the Spirit Auto Center schedules – the return of the DIRTcar Series which will also mark the final running of the Friends of Mike event, the Monster Truck Throwdown and the Skyscraper – a new three day event for the quarter mile late in the 2017 season.  “I think it’s a fine line but we continue to what works while we continue to grow,” Serrano explained.  Serrano created the Friends of Mike race which will receive its final checkered flag at the end of it twelfth running.

While Serrano’s background has always been with the stock cars, he has become the advocate for the small car series and spends many hours promoting the races on the Spirit Auto Center quarter mile.

Dave Adams is looking forward to the completion of the 3/8 mile track – the third track on the Bridgeport Speedway property.  Adams is working on providing additional entertainment and benefits for the fans during the aggressive 2107 season schedule.  “We are bringing in more entertainment and some new bands,” Adams explained.  “We are working on becoming more fan friendly and making our events more exciting for the kids.  We want to create those memories for our fans to carry with them.”

Ryan Watt competed in nearly seventy races during the 2016 season.  “We haven’t really sat down to do our schedules yet but we plan to run a very similar schedule to last year,” Watt explained.  While Bridgeport will be the Saturday night home for Watt and his Roberts Racing Team, Watt will again chase the Short Track Super Series where he captured the title for the Southern Region in 2015.  After a strong performance during several DIRTcar events last season, Watt plans to return to Eldora and Sharon and hopes to compete at Lernerville this season – an event that rained out during last season’s trip.

Watt had two cars on display during Motorsports – one in the Bridgeport booth and a second in the Bob Hilbert display.  Both cars display a new look.  “I really didn’t know what Bruce (Bowen) was going to do,” Watt explained.  “He never really lays anything out ahead of time.”  The No. 14w has moved from its blue, yellow and white look to blue, orange and red for the 2017 season.

Roger Manning was a newcomer to the Bridgeport Speedway last season.  The second generation driver raced in the final Rookie event of the season and then continued in the Crate/Sportsman ranks where he earned a feature win just a few weeks later.

Manning has a new mount all ready to go – completed at the end of last season.  He still has several months to wait before the new No. 414 takes to the track.  In addition to weekly action at Bridgeport, Manning will also have a small block modified to run during 2017.

Jon Keller has picked up the ride in the Ed Barber owned No. 99B.  Keller is the reigning 600 Micro Champion and looks to continue his winning ways with his new ride when the new season begins.

The first race of the 2017 season at the Bridgeport Speedway gets underway on March 24th and 25th.  For the first time, the 60over Event will be a two day event with racing on both Friday and Saturday.  The 60over race will also open the 2017 Poker Series races.