‼️ IT’s TIME TO MOVE FORWARD ‼️ 🌟 After a handful of weeks working with the new surface, we have made the decision to remove the new clay from the track. Our racers and our fans are our top priority and we feel it’s best to get back to the Bridgeport Speedway of the last 3 seasons.
🌟 We built this track 3 years ago and it instantly became one of the top tracks across the nation and has been sought out by most all the top sanctioning bodies to hold events at the Speedway. Over this off-season we took on the project to resurface the speedway. Unfortunately, it just is not going as we had planned. Instead of prolonging the current situation we feel it’s best to just remove the new surface and get back to the track that all the racers and fans love and then revisit the resurfacing later.
🌟 It’s been a tough spring for most speedways getting started with all the rainy weekends. We have a long season ahead of us and we are ready to put the last couple months behind and focus on the long season ahead.
Bridgeport, NJ – Mat Williamson became the most recent heir to the throne as he was crowned “King of the Big Blocks” at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park on Sunday when the stars of the Super DIRTcar series came to the Logan Township speed plant to open their 2023 point season.
“Money Mat” lived up to his name when he drove into the lead with just a dozen laps remaining in the 75 lap main event for Big Block Modifieds. Polesitter, Matt Shepperd was only able to lead a single lap before he was forced to the work area for a tire change. That moved quick timer, Darren Smith into the lead on lap two where he fought off the challenges of Williamson for more than sixty laps. When the leaders got into lapped traffic in the final leg of the race, Williamson was able to race into the lead for the first time and then race to the checkered for the victory. It was Williamson’s third Super DIRTcar win of the season after the St. Catherines, Ont. driver picked up a pair of wins in Florida earlier this year.
Even though those early wins did not carry points toward the Super DIRTcar title, the momentum that those victories provided Williamson and his Buzz Chew crew was very valuable. “It’s always great to win at your home track but when you win one of these races, you know that you are racing against the best of the best,” Williamson stated. “It’s a level of excellence.” Williamson went into the race, hoping for a good finish, knowing that the track regulars hold the advantage on Bridgeport’s High Banks. And the “local” drivers did well with Matt Stangle racing along side of Williamson to the checkered flag for a photo finish. “I probably was off the throttle before the transponder even crossed the line,” Williamson explained. “I knew he (Stangle) was there – he had gotten his nose underneath me that one time.” As the leaders exited turn four, Stangle give it everything he had. Williamson went to the inside and Stangle to the outside as they crossed the line together. It was a great finish for the extra distance event.
Stangle ran a strong race in his family owned, ACE Materials No. 6 – a car that is wrenched by Matt and his dad, John. In the final laps, he turned on the pressure but just felt that he wasn’t able to maneuver through turns one and two like he did three and four. He would close the gap on Williamson coming out of four but would then lose ground through one and two. “Second again,” Stangle stated after earning yet another runner-up finish – his second of the weekend. “We had a really good car the whole race” and the driver gave it a really good ride for seventy-five laps.
Billy Pauch, Jr. turned his day around when he charged from his 22nd starting spot to finish third at the end of seventy-five laps. Pauch quickly moved through the field to break into the top ten in the first thirty circuits around the High Banks. With just over twenty laps remaining, Pauch broke into the top five.
Pauch worked his way through the top ten, moving into third during the final ten laps. The third generation driver struggled in time trials and his heat race. He even joked that as the car owner, he thought about firing the driver after that performance. But driver and crew turned it around in time for the last chance qualifier and feature. For the second year in a row, Pauch, Jr. came home with a podium finish in the King of the Big Blocks event.
Boyertown, PA driver, Mike Gular, finished fourth in his Terry Fastnacht owned, Ron Seltman wrenched No. 2a. Gular ran among the top five throughout the entire race.
Darren Smith rounded out the top five at the checkered. Smith, who had never been to the Bridgeport Motorsports Park before, set fast time and a new one lap record during time trials. He then finished second in his qualifier and drew the outside pole for the seventy-five lap main event. In only his second year of competition, the Jeremy Smith Racing driver was impressive in his maiden voyage on the Bridgeport surface.
Max McLaughlin finished sixth followed by Matt Shepperd who rebounded to a seventh place finish after his early race tire change. Tim Sears, Jr. finished eighth followed by Chris Hile and Jimmy Phelps at the checkered.
Qualifying races were won by Jack Lehner, Shepperd, Mike Mahaney and Matt Stangle while Jeff Strunk and Billy Pauch, Jr. picked up wins in the last chance qualifiers.
Steve Buckwalter was the winner of both the heat and feature for the Action Track USA All Pro SpeedSTRs. Buckwalter led every lap of the fifteen lap feature event to pick up the win over Louden Reimert and Briggs Danner. Mike Manieri and Charles Belanger rounded out the top five in the main event.
Reimert was the fast timer among the SpeedSTR competitors as he did double duty on Sunday, competing in the Grebe No. 33 Big Block Modified as well.
SUPER DIRT SERIES MODIFIEDS FEATURE (75 LAPS)
1. Mat Williamson, 2. Matt Stangle, 3. Billy Pauch, Jr., 4. Mike Gular, 5. Darren Smith, 6. Max McLaughlin, 7. Matt Sheppard, 8. Tim Sears, 9. Chris Hile, 10. Jimmy Phelps, 11. H.J. Bunting, 12. Adam Pierson, 13. Steve Bernard, 14. Jack Lehner, 15. Anthony Perrego, 16. Tyler Dippel, 17. Peter Britten, 18. Matthew Desjardins, 19. Louden Reimert, 20. Alex Yankowski, 21. Mike Mahaney, 22. Ronnie Davis, III, 23. Kevin Root, 24. Dillon Steuer, 25. Jeff Strunk, 26. Sammy Martz, Jr., 27. Marcus Dinkins, 28. C.G. Morey, DNQ – Sam Martz, Sr. Larry Wight, Felix Roy, J.F. Corriveau, Stan Frankenfield, Jim Britt, Rich Scagliotta, Kevin Root
ALL PRO SPEEDSTR FEATURE (15 LAPS)
1. Steve Buckwalter, 2. Louden Reimert, 3. Briggs Danner, 4. Mike Manieri, 5. Charles Belanger, 6. Cale Zangli, 7. Jason Musser, 8. Billy Pauch, Sr.
Thank you to everyone that makes the Kingdom of Speed Possible…..
‼️ THE BIG BLOCKS RETURN THIS SUNDAY NIGHT AS THE Super DIRTcar Series INVADES THE KINGDOM OF SPEED FOR 75 LAPS VYING FOR $7500 TO WIN. HERE ARE SOME OF THE STARS WE HAVE HEARD ARE COMING ‼️ 📌 “DOUBLE HEADER WEEKEND” 🗓 Saturday April 22 – presented by PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICES 🏎 4:00 Pits * 🎟 5:00 grandstands * 🚦 6:00 Cars on track 🌟 USAC East Coast Sprint Cars 🌟 SPORTSMAN MODIFIEDS – Precision Hydraulic and Oil 🌟 STREET STOCKS 🌟 4 CYLINDERS 🌟 ROOKIE SPORTSMAN – Opening night of Points 🗓 Sunday April 23 🏎 3:00 Pits * 🎟 5:00 grandstands * 🚦 6:00 Cars on track 🌟 @Super DIRTcar Series 🌟 SpeedSTR’s 🌟 Vintage Modifeds 📌 This weekend is a double header weekend with the Stars of the Super DIRTcar Series closing the weekend with 75 laps for $7500. Plus a full card on Saturday headlined by the USAC East Coast Sprint Cars. ‼️ All Star Circuit of Champions & PA POSSE COMING THURSDAY May 25TH ‼️
‼️ HUGE DOUBLEHEADER WEEKEND KICKS OFF THIS SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE KINGDOM OF SPEED, BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK ‼️ 🗓 Saturday April 22 🌟 USAC East Coast Sprint Cars 🌟 SPORTSMAN MODIFIEDS – Precision Hydraulic and Oil 🌟 STREET STOCKS 🌟 4 CYLINDERS 🌟 ROOKIE SPORTSMAN – Opening night of Points 🗓 Sunday April 23 🌟 Super DIRTcar Series 🌟 SpeedSTR’s 🌟 Vintage Modifeds 📌 This weekend is a double header weekend with the Stars of the Super DIRTcar Series closing the weekend with 75 laps for $7500. Plus a full card on Saturday headlined by the USAC East Coast Sprint Cars. ‼️ All Star Circuit of Champions & PA POSSE COMING THURSDAY May 25TH ‼️
Bridgeport, NJ – The Bridgeport Motorsports Park finally, waved the green flag on the 2023 season after several scheduled events fell to the weather.
Joseph “Jojo” Watson drove the Auto Gallery Racing No. 21w to its first win of the season in the Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz thirty lap Modified feature event. Travis Hill was victorious in the Precision Hydraulic & Oil 602 Sportsman feature with the Cogdill No. 98 while Tom Wills, Jr. raced for the win in the Amwell Auto Body Street Stock feature event in his family owned No. 856 Street Stock. Brian Spencer overcame a rough start to the night to pick up the win in the North East Wingless Sprint Car feature sponsored by Melton Industries while Joe Garey, Jr. got the season started off with a win in the Amwell Auto Body 4 Cylinder feature event.
Watson was the fourth different leader in Saturday night’s Modified feature event but he led the most important lap of all – the last one!
Mike Franz led the first lap before Cale Ross raced to the outside to take the lead on lap two. Neal Williams raced into second on lap two while Watson took over third on the next circuit. Ross found a great line and raced to a several second lead in the early going.
Williams raced the Sal DeBruno owned No. 0 out in front on lap eleven but Ross was back in front the next time around.
Watson raced into second just beyond the halfway mark and then took the lead on a lap nineteen restart. Positions continued to change in the top five throughout the remaining laps.
Watson raced to the win – his first on the High Banks since the 2021 season and the first for the Auto Gallery Team. Williams raced home in second with Duane Howard and the Getz No. 15G taking third after a late race charge. Cale Ross finished fourth while Richie Pratt, Jr. had a strong showing in the Joel’s Auto Technology No. 19 to finish fifth in his first race in this car. Jordan Watson, Sammy Martz, Jr., Sam Martz, Sr., JR Fulper and Rick Laubach completed the top ten in the running order.
Brian Papiez grabbed the lead at the green flag and then help off the challenges of Ethan Bill and later, Travis Hill in the twenty-five lap Precision Hydraulic & Oil 602 Sportsman feature event. After several attempts, Hill finally secured the lead following a lap seventeen restart and then led the way to the checkered flag.
It was Hill for the win over Papiez. Hill used laps early in the race as well as caution laps to search for the best line on the track which ultimately allowed him the run for the lead. Matt Peck used a late race charge to finish third followed by Ethan Bill and Scott Hulmes who turned in a great performance in his Wiked Motorsports entry. Stephen Yankowski, Bryan Brobst, Howie Finch, Pete Serra and Danny Hulmes completed the top ten at the checkered.
Tom Wills, Jr. had to call in the re-enforcements for help in the pits but that didn’t stop the Tabernacle, NJ driver from capturing his first win of the season over 2022 Track Champion, Lee Allen. With his family on vacation, Mark and Jack Beaumont came to the track to help Wills from the pits and ended up in the Champion Victory Lane with Wills at the end of fifteen laps.
Allen finished second followed by Drew Brocklebank in third. Spyder Ensinger finished fourth with Rich Stinson taking fifth at the checkered flag.
Over being towed from the track during his qualifying race, Brian Spencer came back with a vengeance to take the lead from Rich Mellor on lap fourteen and drive to his first victory of the season. Mellor finished second with Shea Wills finishing third. Al Cheney finished fourth, holding the advantage over fifth place Heidi Hedin.
Joe Garey, Jr. led the 4 Cylinder feature event from green to checkered to capture the win over Tim Jones and Bobby Drayton. John Parker finished fourth, crossing the line in front of Chris Gall.
Racing continues this Saturday on Bridgeport’s High Banks as the Mid Atlantic Sprints (MASS) join the Modifieds, 602 Sportsman and Street Stocks.
1. Joseph Watson, 2. Neal Williams, 3. Duane Howard, 4. Cale Ross, 5. Richie Pratt, Jr., 6. Jordan Watson, 7. Sam Martz, Jr., 8. Sam Martz, Sr., 9. J.R. Fulper, 10. Rick Laubach, 11. Brett Kelly, 12. Cole Stangle, 13. Ryan Krachun, 14. H.J. Bunting, 15. David Hunt, 16. Billy Osmun, III, 17. Jim Britt, 18. Mike Franz, 19. Blaine Bracelin, DNS – Stan Frankenfield, Jr., Jim Gallagher, Jr.
1. Travis Hill, 2. Brian Papiez, 3. Matt Peck, 4. Ethan Bill, 5. Scott Hulmes, 6. Stephen Yankowski, 7. Bryan Brobst, 8. Howie Finch, 9. Pete Serra, 10. Danny Hulmes, 11. Thomas Prychka, 12. Brian Rogers, 13. Billy Chester, 14. Ethan Young, 15. Bryan Olsen, 16. Chris Martinez, 17. James Hill, 18. Robert Tete, 19. Justin Newhard, 20. Ed Owens, 21. David Jenkins, 22. Brianna Olsen, 23. Erik Mattson
1. Brian Spencer, 2. Rich Mellor, 3. Shea Wills, 4. Al Cheney, 5. Heidi Hedin, 6. Walt Fletcher, 7. Stan Polski, III, 8. Joe Byer, 9. Larry Drake, 10. Eric Miller, DNS – Ken Nelis
AMWELL AUTO BODY STREET STOCK FEATURE (15 laps):
1. Tom Wills, Jr., 2. Lee Allen, 3. Drew Brocklebank, 4. Spyder Ensinger, Jr., 5. Rich Stinson, Sr., 6. Christopher Allen, Sr., 7. Terry Chaney, 8. Jeramy Doerr, 9. Jeff Dirkes, 10. Tracey Rocap, 11. Spyder Ensinger, 12. Nick Sandone, III
AMWELL AUTO BODY FOUR CYLINDER FEATURE (15 laps):
1. Joe Garey, Jr., 2. Tim Jones, 3. Bobby Drayton, III, 4. John Parker, 5. Chris Gall, 6. Ed Ford, 7. Dan Stein, Jr., 8. Eric Dengler, 9. Bobby Johnson, DNS – Lee Allen, Joe Garey, Sr.
Thank you to everyone that makes the Kingdom of Speed Possible…..
MONTH OF MARCH HAS BEEN TOUGH ON NORTHEAST DIRT RACING. This past weekend we lost TAKE 2 of the 2023 season with heavy storms washing out Saturday. Although the sun was shining bright Sunday, the wind chill was at a nippy 46 degrees
THE KINGDOM OF SPEED IS PLANNING FOR TAKE 3 OF OPENING WEEKEND THIS SATURDAY NIGHT! With cool temps still lingering, we will start 1 hour early.
‼️ OPENING WEEKEND, TAKE 2. THIS FRIDAY NIGHT WE KICK OFF THE 2023 SEASON WITH A HUGE WEEKEND OF RACING WITH SPRINT CARS & MODIFIEDS, presented by Capitol Renegade ‼️ 💥 With the loss of last Fridays Practice Night many teams expressed interest in getting on track this Friday Night (3/31) prior to the HUGE Ron Faison Memorial & Invasion of the Posse weekend. (practice is free to the public). 🗓 Friday March 31 – Practice for any & all divisions 🌟 4:00 – Pits Open 🌟 6:00 – Cars on Track 🗓 Saturday April 1 – Ron Faison Memorial with USAC East Coast Sprint Cars , Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series, Precision Hydraulic and Oil Sportsman, Street Stocks, & Vintage 🌟 2:00 – Pits Open 🌟 3:00 – Grandstands Open 🌟 4:00 – Hot Laps 🗓 Sunday April 2 – INVASION of the POSSE 410 Sprint Cars + Modifeds & 4 Cylinders. 🌟 2:00 – Pits Open 🌟 3:00 – Grandstands Open 🌟 4:00 – Hot Laps
‼️ THIS WEEKEND WE KICK OFF THE 2023 SEASON WITH THE Short Track Super Series, DOUG HOFFMAN MEMORIAL ‼️
💥 Attention Modifieds & Sportsman Teams – Common complaint is the “DRAW”, Friday night we have an opportunity for Fast Timers in each division to “LOCK” into the 3rd starting position for Saturdays Heat race. You will still be aloud to draw Saturday to better your heat race starting position.
📅 Practice Friday March 24
🌟 3:00 Pits Open
🌟 6:15 Cars on Track
📅 Saturday March 25th (Rain-date Sunday March 26)
🌟 12:00 Pits Open
🌟 1:30 Grandstands Open
🌟 2:30 Cars on Track
📌 FLEX SCHEDULE – Times may be adjusted if Sunny and Hot
💥 LOOKING FORWARD TO ONE OF THE MOST HISTORIC SEASONS EVER AT BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK WITH MANY OF THE MAJOR SANCTIONED EVENTS TAKING PART AT THE SPEEDWAY. See our other early 2023 dates…….
💥 March 24-25 – Short Track Super Series
💥 April 1 – USAC East Coast Sprint Cars & Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series
💥 April 2 – INVASION of the POSSE 410 Sprint Cars + Modifeds
We are just days away from the first glimpse of the 2023 season at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park as Doug and Brittany Rose prepare to open the track gates for Saturday’s practice.
Saturday’s open practice will give the race teams their first laps on the tracks new clay surface. The 200 loads of clay that have been added to the High Banks during the off season will equalize the playing field as everyone will be back to square one as they begin to collect data and prepare for the season to come.
Rose did his homework, searching for the right clay for the track that he designed and brought to life for the 2020 season. “Tony Lascaro and I had clay tested from 7 different locations before choosing the black clay. We weren’t looking for free stuff – we wanted the right clay for our new surface, ” Rose explained. “John Cavalaro has put in countless hours getting the new surface prepared with the help of Leroy and Rebecca Young.”
Racing at Rose’s facility has been second to none. It has provided a winning combination for the Modifieds, 602 Sportsman and Street Stocks – Bridgeport’s three regular Saturday night divisions. Sprint car racing has become a fan favorite on the 4/10th mile track whether it be one of the national series, winged or wingless, 305, 360 or 410 power-plants.
Many race teams are planning to start their 2023 season with Saturday’s practice and that is exactly what Rose is hoping for. Practice will start at 3pm to insure similar track conditions for the season opener – the @Short Track Super Series Doug Hoffman Memorial 60 Over just one week later. Rose is looking to keep the track open for practice for as long as the competitors wish to participate, running as many laps as possible.
A very busy 2023 season gets underway just one week from now with two days of racing. The second week of the season will see the Ron Faison Memorial on Saturday, March 31st with the Invasion of the PA Posse and the Danny’s Pizza Pizazz Modifieds on Sunday, April 1 (and this is no April Fool!)
Bridgeport will offer first time events for three national series – @High Limit Racing, American Flat Track and Xtreme National Midget Series. We will see the return of the Mid Atlantic Sprint Series for a dozen events in addition to USAC East Coast Wingless Sprints, United Racing Club as well as the return of the USAC National Sprints and the All Star Circuit of Champions. The Short Track Super Series will offer two events on the High Banks.
The Bridgeport Motorsports Park is where it’s at!! It is where YOU should start your 2023 season!
Thank you to everyone that makes the Kingdom of Speed Possible….. VP Fuels 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 Cassidy Painting TW Metals Hessert Chevrolet Triple R Truck Parts John Blewett Scrap & Waste Recycling Pioneer Pole Buildings F&L Doors – FLDoors.com EZ Work Trucks J&S Electrical Melton Industries ProTek Roofing Johns Manville Beacon Building Products KOA Camp Grounds Victory Fuel Tipico Sportsbook Champion Brands DTM Kawasaki Amwell Auto Body Williams Napa Prime Design Landscaping
THIS SATURDAY IS TAKE 3 OF THE SEASON OPENER AT THE KINGDOM OF SPEED, 
New Opening Night coming this Saturday with a full slate of Modifieds, Sportsman, Street Stocks, NEWS Wingless Sprint Cars, & 4 Cylinders
Saturday April 8
3:00 – Pits Open
