BRITT TOPS BIG BLOCKS FOR FIRST BRIDGEPORT MODIFIED WIN
In perhaps one of the strangest finishes ever seen at the Bridgeport Speedway, Broomall, PA driver, Jim Britt picked up his first ever Big Block Modified win in the Spirit Auto Center main event. And for the third week in a row, Mother Nature provided her services for watering the track but the tripleheader show ran through in just over three hours!
Britt held off the challenges of multi-time track champion, Duane Howard, for fifteen laps before Howard pushed the Atlas Paving No. 66 into the lead as the field rounded turns three and four to complete lap nineteen. Howard was able to put some distance between himself and Britt but on lap twenty-three, thick smoke began to billow from Howard’s ride. But Howard kept going! Everyone – fans and competitors alike – expected the leader to pull of the track at any second but Howard continued to press forward and lead the race. Britt had a run on Howard as they raced to the checkered flag. “When I came off turn four, I couldn’t see anything,” Britt exclaimed but he went to the inside and drove to the checkered flag, nipping Howard at the finish line for the win. “Unbelievable” was Britt’s description of the finish and it truly was.
Britt’s win came with a Jimmy Weiss prepared power plant borrowed from current Crate/Sportsman point leader, Steve Davis. Howard finished second while Sam Martz powered his Izzy Trucking No. 3 to a third place finish. Ron Roberts finished fourth – just ahead of team mate and current point leader, Ryan Watt. Watt rebounded from a first lap multi car incident to finish in the top five.
Steve Davis followed up Britt’s performance with one of his own as he picked up his second win of the season in the Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman feature. Davis watched Britt’s race until Howard took the lead. At that point, Davis had to get into his own car to line-up for the feature.
In just the fifth race of his young racing career, Roger Manning led the first nine laps of the feature event before Davis took the lead on lap ten. Three time feature winner, Matt Stangle, took over second from Manning on lap twelve but Manning held on to finish third behind Davis and Stangle at the end of twenty laps. Last week’s winner, Eric Kormann finished fourth with Bobby Lilick rounding out the top five.
Jeff Geiges led from green flag to checkered to pick up his first win since the 2014 season to capture the fourth hand of the 2016 Tanner Brothers Dairy Store/Thayer Performance Poker Series for the Tri State Race Saver Sprint cars.
Geiges became the sixth different winner in Bridgeport TSRS competition this season as he earned an Ace for his 2016 Poker Series hand. Reigning TSRS Champion, Mike Haggenbottom closed the gap on Geiges in the final laps but was not able to mount a challenge on the leader. Bobby Sandt, Jr. had a strong run to finish third ahead of Steph Palmai. Brendon Poff won the battle of the 9s to finish fifth ahead of Rick Stief.
The Bridgeport Speedway will host the Romp in the Swamp for Dystonia Jeep Show next Saturday beginning at 10am. Designated proceeds will be donated to Beat Dystonia atwww.CFTEXAS.ORG/BEATDYSTONIA.
SPIRIT AUTO CENTER BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS (25 laps)
1 – Jim Britt, 2 – Duane Howard, 3 – Sam Martz, 4 – Ron Roberts, 5 – Ryan Watt, 6 – Jordan Watson, 7 – Richie Pratt Jr, 8 – Mike Franz, 9 – Wade Hendrickson, 10 – CJ Jones, 11 – Tommy Beamer, 12 – Neal Williams, 13 – Matt Peck, 14 – Stan Frankenfield, 15 – Anthony Moran, 16 – Jojo Watson, 17 – Rick Laubach, 18 – Ricky Dieva, 19 – Ed Firth
STEWART STAINLESS CRATE/SPORTSMAN (20 laps)
1 – Steve Davis, 2 – Matt Stangle, 3 – Roger Manning, 4 – Eric Kormann, 5 – Bob Lilick, 6 – Steve Kemery, 7 – Kris Lilick, 8 – Brad Roberts, 9 – Tom Sherby, 10 – Jeff Bubori, 11 – Jeramy Harrington, 12 – Nick Nicostra, 13 – Melissa Scarpati, 14 – Ernie Miles III, 15 – Scott Hulmes, 16 – David Crossman, 17 – Bill Briggs
TANNER BROTHERS DAIRY STORE/THAYER PERFORMANCE 2016 POKER SERIES – HAND #4
Hilborn Tri State Race Saver Sprints (20 laps)
1 – Jeff Geiges, 2 – Mike Haggenbottom, 3 – Bobby Sandt Jr, 4 – Stef Palmai, 5 – Brendon Poff, 6 – Rick Steif, 7 – Kyle Purks, 8 – Scott Frack, 9 – Tim Tanner Jr, 10 – Randy Wilbert, 11 – Samantha Lieberman, 12 – Logan Diehl, 13 – Zack Burd, 14 – Joe Kay, 15 – Eddie Wagner