Category: News

Bridgeport, NJ – The Bridgeport Motorsports Park presented the first Street Stock Nationals sponsored by Giels Automotive and the positive outcome will assure the future of this event on Doug Rose’s 2022 schedule.

“I’m pleased with the whole weekend,” Rose said of this new event, highlighting the Street Stock division. “I’m very happy!” The weekend saw great, close racing and gave the Street Stock division their turn in the limelight.

The starting line-up staged behind the grandstand for the command to “Start your engines!” Then Rose walked through the field and wished each driver well before the start.

Jimmy Blewett raced to the win in the $10,000 to win event and said that it was one of the hardest races that he’s ever won. After Rod Ormsbee suffered a non-racing injury during the week prior to the race, Blewett was asked to race Ormsbee’s No. 19 when it became clear that the driver would not be able to compete this weekend. “My years of racing experience were irrelevant in this race,” Blewett explained. “I have never, ever raced a Street Stock before. I grew up around the Street Stock racers. When I was a kid, I loved the Street Stocks – not the Modifieds. These cars are a handful. You have to drive the car every lap. These guys are real racers!”

And Jason Geesaman didn’t make it easy for Blewett. “It took me thirty laps just to find where I needed to run the car,” Blewett continued. “I didn’t know at that point if I was even going to be able to run with the leaders.”

Jeramy Doerr was the early race leader until mechanical issues sidelined him on lap thirty-two. Mike Walls had just taken the lead but he was forced to the pits with a mechanical issue. That put Jason Geesaman out in front when the green flag waved again. Geesaman lost the lead to Blewett on lap forty-four – just before the mandatory stop.

Geesaman never gave Blewett a minute to breathe during the second half of the race as he stayed on Blewett’s bumper, lap after lap. “I just couldn’t shake that guy,” Blewett said of Geesaman. Geesaman lost his brakes with about five laps to go. “This place is scary without brakes,” Geesaman remarked.

Blewett took the win over Geesaman, Ryan Smith, TJ Henry and Rich Stinson – two Bridgeport regulars finishing fourth and fifth. Chris Murray, Josh Bassino, Jeff Dirks, David Hunt and Spider Ensinger, Jr. round out the top ten.

Blewett was impressed with the competition. He marveled at the technology in some of the cars as well as the respect that was shown on the track. “That one car had more win stickers on it than I’ve seen in a long time,” Blewett related.

Ormsbee’s No. 19 is about twenty years old, complete with leaf springs. The beautifully prepared red, white and blue body had many thinking otherwise but diligent technical inspections negated any supposition. Ormsbee collected eleven feature wins at this home track this season.

WB James was the winner of the Underdog 20 for the Foley Cat Modifieds. James, a first year Modified competitor, took the lead from Roger Manning before the halfway mark and raced to the win over Rich Rutski, David Hunt, Brad Arnold, who was making his first Bridgeport start, and Frank Cozze. The race was sponsored by Training Tails and Prime Design Landscaping. Any Modified driver who had not won a feature this season was eligible to compete.

Steve Kemery had a very productive weekend, finishing second in Friday night’s South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman feature and then picking up the win on Saturday. Kemery also jumped into the Joslin No. 343 for the Street Stock Nationals and after running closer to the front throughout the race, a late race incident saw Kemery finish eleventh in the 100 lap event.

On Friday night, Tom Princiotta was expecting something to happen on the final lap and it did. Kemery threw a slider at Princiotta in the final corner but the leader held on to take the win. Kemery finished second followed by Brian Papiez, Matt Ellery and Ryan Simmons.

On Saturday, Kemery improved his finish by one to take his sixth Bridgeport victory of the season. Travis Hill led the race for the first eighteen laps. Papiez challenged from the start but was able to put the Humphreys No. 90 out in front with just more than five laps to go. Papiez and Hill battled so intensely that Kemery was able to take advantage of the heated battle and drive into the lead with two to go. Papiez finished second followed by Bryan Brobst, Rookie Champion, Ethan Bill and Hill.

The Four Cylinders also competed on both Friday and Saturday night. Jonathan Pitcher picked up the win on Friday night over Scott Dunn and Joe Garey, Sr. who was followed by Bobby Johnson and Ricky Gergasko. On Saturday night, it was Joe Garey, Jr. who took the win over Pitcher who finished second. Bobby Johnson finished third followed by Shane Flaherty and Joe Garey, Sr.

Vintage stock car exhibitions were also a part of the racing program on both nights.
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BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK

Friday, October 8, 2021

SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOORS 602 SPORTSMAN (25 laps)

1. Tom Princiotta, 2. Steve Kemery, 3. Brian Papiez, 4. Matt Ellery, 5. Ryan Simmons, 6. Howie Finch, 7. Will Protinick, 8. Ethan Young, 9. Brian Rogers, 10. Wayne Weaver, 11. Scott Hulmes, 12. Erik Mattson, 13. Shane Kassekert, DNS – Sara Napora, Mark Berzowski.

FOUR CYLINDER FEATURE (15 laps)

1. Jonathan Pitcher, 2. Scott Dunn, 3. Joe Garey, Sr., 4. Bobby Johnson, 5. Shane Flaherty, 6. Ricky Gergasko, 7. Ed Ford, 8. Joe Garey, Jr., 9. Jim Tinnes, 10. Kyle Hurley, DNS – Brendon Hires

Saturday, October 9, 2021

STREET STOCK NATIONALS SPONSORED BY GIELS AUTOMOTIVE (100 laps)

1. Jimmy Blewett, 2. Jason Geesaman, 3. Ryan Smith, 4. T.J. Henry, 5. Rich Stinson, Jr., 6. Chris Murray, 7. Josh Bassino, 8. Jeff Dirkes, 9. David Hunt, 10. Spider Ensinger, Jr., 11. Steve Kemery, 12. John Parker, 13. Mike Creamer, 14. Nick Sandone, III, 15. Ken Moren, 16. Sheldon Oberle, 17. Tom Wills, Jr., 18. Jeremy Doerr, 19. Andrew Fitzgerald, 20. Scott Hulmes, 21. Drew Brocklebank, 22. Kyle Saylor, 23. Kyle Deneen, 24. Brian Ludwig, 25. Walt Henry, 26. Vern McLaughlin, 27. Jeremy Zufall, DQ – Mike Walls, DNS – Spider Ensinger, Sr., DNQ – Joe Reed, Tom Princiotta, Tom Landwher, Mike Mann

SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOORS 602 SPORTSMAN (25 laps)

1. Steve Kemery, 2. Brian Papiez, 3. Bryan Brobst, 4. Ethan Bill, 5. Travis Hill, 6. Sammy Martz, Jr., 7. Matt Ellery, 8. Ryan Simmons, 9. Cole Stangle, 10. Kevin Borden, 11. Ryan Stangle, 12. Kyle Kania, 13. Will Protinick, 14. David Jenkins,15. Bryan Higgs, 16. Shane Kassekert, 17. Sara Napora, 18. Greg Nailor, 19. Brian Rogers, 20. Tommy Klimkowski, 21. Mark Berzowski, 22. Andy Walko, DNS – Howard Huepful

MODIFIED UNDERDOG 20 SPONSORED BY TRAINING TAILS (20 laps)

1. W.B. James, 2. Rich Rutski, 3. David Hunt, 4. Brad Arnold, 5. Frank Cozze, 6. Brett Kelly, 7. Blaine Bracelin, 8. Chris Jenkins, 9. Roger Manning, 10. Mike Franz, 11. David Crossman, 12. Troy Ale, 13. Brian Kuhl, DNS – Briggs Danner

FOUR CYLINDERS FEATURES (15 laps)

1. Joe Garey, Jr., 2. Jonathan Pritcher, 3. Bobby Johnson, 4. Shane Flaherty, 5. Joe Garey, Sr., 6. Ed Ford, 7. Mike Fox, 8. Kyle Hurley, 9. Scott Dunn, 10. Jared Hale, 11. Chris Gall

Bridgeport, NJ – The second annual Danny Serrano 100 weekend is history and Dominick Buffalino wrote the headline! After a less than stellar weekend prior to the main event, Buffalino raced from deep in the field to win the biggest race of his career. “Danny did a lot for me – he did a lot for racing,” Buffalino said from the Weaknecht Archery Victory Lane as he celebrated his win with family and friends. The weekend of racing was sponsored by John Blewett Scrap & Recycling and K&A Excavating.

It was said many times throughout the three day event – “Danny would be so proud!” “He should be here,” promoter, Doug Rose said before he sent the thirty-one car field to the start. “He should be here to see what we built here…We miss you, Danny!” And with that send-off, the field lined up for the start of the 100 lap event.

Matt Stangle grabbed the lead from his outside pole start and raced ahead of the field for the first six laps before Dillon Steuer raced ahead off of turn two on lap seven. Steuer was the class of the field for the first half of the race. He was one of the four drivers to set fast time on Friday night. That speed was evident as he immediately began to drive away from the field.

With Steuer out in front, there was plenty of action behind the leader. Stangle held down second as Neal Williams, 2021 Track Champion, Ryan Godown and Billy Pauch raced for position. Godown raced into second on lap fifteen. Stangle, Neal Williams and Ryan Krachun followed. With the first twenty-five laps on the books, Craig VonDohren replaced Krachun in the top five as the leaders caught up to the back of the field.

By lap thirty, Buffalino had a front row seat of the top five. The next five lap span found VonDohren take over third followed by Buffalino and Stangle. Billy Osmun III, Williams, Ryan Watt, Krachun and Billy Pauch, Jr. raced within the top ten.

As the field approached the halfway mark, Osmun replaced Stangle in the top five and the leaders again found themselves racing through lapped traffic. The traffic seemed to offer Steuer little challenge although Godown was able to close the gap on the leader from time to time but then Steuer would pull away once again.

Steuer led the way to the crossed flags and collected the $1,000 halfway bonus offered by Belmont’s Garage. Godown, Buffalino, VonDohren and Osmun followed the leader.

Two laps later, there was smoke coming from the No. 17z. Steuer slowed and the caution was needed on lap fifty-two with Godown the new race leader. Steuer’s great run was over.

When the racing resumed, the scene was a familiar one – Godown and Buffalino racing for the lead.

Buffalino pressured Godown for the lead as soon as the green flag waved. Behind the leaders, VonDohren, Osmun and Stangle raced within the top five with Watt, Pauch, Jr., last year’s winner, Alex Yankowski Krachun and Williams racing in the top ten.

Osmun took over third and became part of a three car battle for the lead on a lap seventy restart. Five laps later Buffalino was racing for the lead with Godown with VonDohren, Stangle and Osmun making up the top five.

Buffalino was the race leader on lap seventy-six with a lead of several car lengths over Godown.

Racing in the top five increased in intensity as Pauch, Jr. raced between VonDohren and Stangle. Godown regained the lead briefly on a lap eighty-one restart but Buffalino raced back with a crossover move out of turn two.

Pauch, Jr. raced in third behind Buffalino and Godown with fifteen laps remaining. Yankowski now raced in the top five. Yankowski challenged VonDohren and after a side-by-side battle, Yankowski took over fourth on lap eighty-eight.

Following a lap ninety-three restart, Pauch, Jr. staged his one and only shot at the lead. Pauch had a head of steam as he raced from turn three to turn four and threw a slider to end all sliders. As Duane Howard told Pauch after the race, “If you would have stuck that move, …” But drivers who race on the high banks weekly are more familiar with the moves that are made and Buffalino was prepared for the slider and blocked for hit. After some evasive action by Buffalino and Godown, Pauch, Jr. remained in third as the laps counted down.

Buffalino raced to the biggest win of his career followed by Godown, Pauch, Jr., Yankowski and VonDohren. Stangle, Tyler Dippel, Jordan Watson in the Blue Hen No. 30, Osmun and Brandon Grosso rounded out the top ten.

It ended up being a red-letter day for Buffalino who raced his way into the main event from the second Last Chance race. After an incident in his twenty lap qualifier on Saturday, Buffalino left the track on Saturday night without a starting spot in the 100 lap Serrano Memorial. But Buffalino was not worried. “I drove a bent-up race car on Saturday. That’s why we didn’t qualify not because we didn’t have a fast car. And I wasn’t worried about starting deep in the pack. You can race your way to the front here – that’s not always the case at other tracks,” the winner explained. “I did take it easy in the beginning.” Godown started one row in front of Buffalino so the race winner could see where he was throughout the race.

Godown was obviously disappointed after the wrong tire choice affected his performance. Pauch, Jr. felt that his slide job was the one and only chance he had at the win. “I have a pretty good feel about how close I can get from running the open wheel cars,” Pauch explained. “I had to go for it.”

The All American 40 for the 602 Crate Sportsman was the last race of the day.

Defending champion, Steve Kemery and Ryan Godown, Jr. battled for the lead in the early going. A lap five restart eliminated several cars from competition after a false start caused a chain reaction through the field.

A lap six restart saw a three wide race for the lead with Godown, Jr. taking the lead as the field headed down the backstretch. Track `champion, Sammy Martz, Jr. raced into second Steve Davis, Kemery and Peyton Talbot trailing the leaders. Davis took over second on lap eleven with Godown, Jr. and the lead on his radar.

After another restart and some side-by-side racing, Davis took the lead on lap fifteen with Travis Hill racing into second. Hill was able to apply some pressure on the leader as they raced to the halfway mark. Davis won the $500 halfway bonus offered by Belmont’s Garage followed by Hill, Martz, Talbot and Jim Dallett.

There was plenty of racing for position as the field raced through the second half of the race with the top five remaining unchanged until the final ten laps. Talbot won the battle with Martz for third and Godown, Jr. raced back into the top five after winning the battle with Kemery. Dallet’s efforts ended with mechanical issues just six laps from the finish.

Coming to the checkered flag, Martz was challenged by Adam White between turns three and four. Contact was made that sent both drivers spinning. Neither made it to the finish line after a very competitive forty lap event.

Davis raced to the $4,000 win over Hill with Talbot, Justin Grosso and Godown, Jr. completing the top five. Grosso rebounded to a top five finish after an incident earlier in the race. Kemery, Eric Kormann, Wayne Weaver, Anthony Tramontana and Frank Holmes rounded out the top ten.

Each of the qualifying heats for the 602 Crate Sportsman paid cash thanks to the support of Bicknell Racing Products, Penske Shocks, Jones Racing Products, Vahlco Racing Wheels, Precision Hydraulic and Oil ad Design for Vision.

Kormann received a 7th place bonus from Mancini Customer Homes. Paul Mancini picked up the $200 Hard Charger Award supported by Lineman Racing. A $500 bonus was also paid to the tenth place car at halfway sponsored by d&dkustomsl which was Howie Finch.

Danny’s 1 on 1 Match races were sponsored by Big Spring Car Wash & Storage for the top four finishers in each of the twenty lap qualifiers. Alex Yankowski won the first three matches for $150 defeating Howard, VonDohren and Grosso. Steuer then won against Yankowsk,i Stangle and Williams but a flat tire prevented for $150 in prize money but a flat tire eliminated him from further competition. Cale Ross won one round with Pauch, Jr. winning one. Pauch, Jr. had a single win. Then Ryan Krachun beat Pauch, Jr. and Pauch, Sr. for the ultimate prize.

Results 09.26.21:

FOLEY CAT MODIFIEDS DANNY SERRANO 100: 1. Dominick Buffalino, 2. Ryan Godown, 3. Billy Pauch Jr., 4. Alex Yankowski, 5. Craig Von Dohren, 6. Matt Stangle, 7. Tyler Dippel, 8. Jordan Watson, 9. Billy Osmun III, 10. Brandon Grosso, 11. Clay Butler, 12. Rick Laubach, 13. Ryan Krachun, 14. Jeff Strunk, 15. Cale Ross, 16. Tommy Beamer, 17. Jim Gallagher Jr., 18. W.B. James, 19. Rich Rutski, 20. Roger Manning, 21. Neal Williams, 22. Briggs Danner, 23. Ryan Watt, 24. Wade Hendrickson, 25. Dillon Steuer, 26. John McClelland, 27. Frank Cozze, 28. Billy Pauch, 29. Duane Howard, 30. Jimmy Blewitt, 31. Davey Sammons

SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOOR 602 SPORTSMAN ALL AMERICAN 40: 1. Steve Davis, 2. Travis Hill, 3. Payton Talbot, 4. Justin Grosso, 5. Ryan Godown Jr., 6. Steve Kemery, 7. Eric Kormann, 8. Wayne Weaver, 9. Anthony Tramontana, 10. Frank Holmes, 11. Ryan Higgs, 12. Paul Mancini, 13. Daniel Morgiewicz, 14. Kyle Belmont, 15. Will Protinick, 16. Sammy Martz Jr., 17. Adam White, 18. Howie Finch, 19. Billy Chester, 20. Chad Sandt, 21. Jim Dallett, 22. Ian Humphreys, 23. James Hill, 24. Joe Toth, 25. Ryan Stangle, 26. Joe Brown, 27. Sean Metz, 28. Ryan Simmons, 29. Nick Desantis, 30. Cole Stangle, 31. Matt Ellery, 32. Ethan Bill

4/8 CYLINDERS: 1. Tom Wolf, 2. Joe Garey Jr., 3. Chris Allen Sr., 4. Chris Gall, 5. Jim Tinnes, 6. Ricky Gergasko, 7. Joe Garey Sr., 8. Kyle Hurley, 9. Ed Ford, 10. Bobby Johnson

Bridgeport, NJ – Day two of the Danny Serrano 100 weekend offered plenty of great racing to entertain the huge crowd of race fans that were on hand for the big event sponsored by John Blewett Scrap & Recyling and K&A Excavating.

Alex Bright turned Briggs Danner’s misfortune into his tenth win of the season with the Rapid Tire Service USAC East Coast Wingless Sprints.

If anyone had questions about the longevity of Billy Pauch’s racing career, that question was answered, emphatically, by his performance in Saturday’s events. Pauch first went out and won the fifteen lap feature for the USAC All Pro SpeedSTRs in what was a four car battle for the win. Then Pauch picked up the win in the second 20 lap qualifier after a race long battle with Cale Ross. And last, but not least, Pauch picked up the $600 check in the Precision Hydraulic and Oil Cash Dash, sending the past champion to the Weaknecht Archery Victory Lane for the third time.

Ed Aiken grabbed the lead at the wave of the green for the twenty-five lap feature for the USAC East Coast wingless sprints. Aiken led for the first two times around the high banks before Damon Paul moved the Lou Ciccioni No. 57 into the lead. Briggs Danner started outside the third row but was quickly into the thick of the battle for the lead. Danner raced up the middle between Aiken and Paul to take the lead but the caution negated his efforts with three laps scored.

Danner had the lead on lap four, following the restart.

Danner led the way through halfway over Paul, Christopher Allen, Jr., Aiken and point leader, Alex Bright.

Bright worked his way by Aiken and then Allen to move up to third with about five laps remaining. When the caution waved again, Bright was in second. During the caution, the No. 5G had a right rear tire going down. Danner was forced to go into the work area for a tire change, turning the lead over to Bright.

Bright raced to his tenth win of the season over Paul, Allen, Aiken and Christian Bruno. Mark Bitner, Jonathan Swanson, Bruce Buckwalter, Larry Drake and Jason Cherry rounded out the top ten.

Pauch pulled a rabbit out of a hat with the win in the fifteen lap USAC All Pro SpeedSTR win. After leading the first lap, Pauch lost the lead to Alex Yankowski who was behind the wheel of the Bob Swavely owned No. 56. Yankowski led through lap nine but it was Pauch who was back in front with five to go. The top four were using all available lanes to battle right down to the checkered flag with Pauch taking the win over Yankowski. Briggs Danner was third followed by Tim Buckwalter and Tom Mayberry.

Craig VonDohren used speed and patience to win the first twenty lap qualifier after racing in third behind Brandon Grosso and Ryan Krachun for the first ten laps. Grosso and Krachun were absorbed in their battle for the lead. When the two drivers took it up the track in turn two, VonDohren raced into the lead on lap thirteen.

Krachun reclaimed the runner-up spot with Grosso finishing third. The three drivers won starting positions in the Cash Dash while Duane Howard, Wade Hendrickson and Jordan Watson collecting starting positions in Sunday’s one hundred lap event.

In the second twenty lap qualifier, Pauch grabbed the lead from Cale Ross on the start and then spent the next twenty circuits up on the wheel to collect the win.

Ross had his hands full with Matt Stangle in the early going. Stangle raced into second on lap five but Ross reclaimed the runner-up spot before the halfway mark.

Ross kept the pressure on through the final ten laps but Pauch never wavered as he drove to the checkered flag. Ross and Stangle followed with the top three going to the Cash Dash. After losing several spots on the original start, Ryan Watt raced his way back to fourth followed by Tyler Dippel and Jeff Strunk who won the battle for the final qualifying spot with Briggs Danner.

Davey Sammons battled with Dillon Steuer for the first laps of the third twenty lap qualifier until Neal Williams drove by both drivers to take the lead on lap three. Billy Pauch Jr. raced into second on a lap three restart. Pauch, Jr. tried several different angles off the corner to challenge Williams for the lead but it was Williams’s and the South Jersey Overhead Door No. 0 that went to Victory Lane. Williams, Pauch, Jr. and Steuer took the top three spots to transfer to the Cash Dash while the winner of the first Danny Serrano 100, Alex Yankowski finished fourth followed by Frank Cozze and Ryan Godown, each winning starting positions in the 100 lap main event.

Pauch drew the pole for the Cash Dash with Billy Pauch, Jr. to his outside. Pauch, Sr. left no cards on the table as he grabbed the lead and left the race for second behind him. Six laps later, Pauch collected his third win of the night followed by Matt Stangle, Pauch, Jr., Ryan Krachun and Cale Ross.

Travis Hill, Eric Kormann, Frank Holmes and Ian Humphreys were the fast timers in the four timed hot lap sessions for the 602 Crate Sportsman. Rookie Champion, Ethan Bill then earned his spot in Sunday’s All American 40 by being the best of all of the second place timers.

09/25/2021:

FOLEY CAT MODIFIEDS TRIPLE 20 #1: 1. Craig Von Dohren, 2. Ryan Krachun, 3. Brandon Grosso, 4. Duane Howard, 5. Wade Hendrickson, 6. Jordan Watson, 7. Rick Laubach, 8. Tommy Beamer, 9. Stan Frankenfield, 10. Ryan Forte, 11. John McClelland, 12. Mike Franz, 13. David Hunt

FOLEY CAT MODIFIEDS TRIPLE 20 #2: 1. Billy Pauch Sr., 2. Cale Ross, 3. Matt Stangle, 4. Ryan Watt, 5. Tyler Dippel, 6. Jeff Strunk, 7. Briggs Danner, 8. Jim Gallagher Jr., 9. Dominick Buffalino, 10. Clay Butler, 11. Jimmy Blewitt, 12. Troy Ale, 13. Tim Buckwalter

FOLEY CAT MODIFIEDS TRIPLE 20 #3: 1. Neal Williams, 2. Billy Pauch Jr., 3. Dillon Steuer, 4. Alex Yankowski, 5. Frank Cozze, 6. Ryan Godown, 7. Danny Bouc, 8. Billy Osmun III, 9. Davey Sammons, 10. Roger Manning, 11. W.B. James, 12. Rich Rutski, 13. J.R. Fulper

FOLEY CAT MODIFIEDS CASH DASH: 1. Billy Pauch, 2. Matt Stangle, 3. Billy Pauch Jr., 4. Ryan Krachun, 5. Cale Ross, 6. Dillon Steuer, 7. Neal Williams, 8. Brandon Grosso, 9. Craig Von Dohren

SPEEDWAY ENTERTAINMENT USAC ALL PRO SPEEDSTRS: 1. Billy Pauch Sr., 2. Alex Yankowski, 3. Briggs Danner, 4. Tim Buckwalter, 5. Tom Mayberry, 6. Mike Bednar, 7. Jason Musser, 8. Scott Houdeshell, 9. Nick Havens, 10. Tim Iulg, 11. Dillion Steuer, 12. Dustin Morris, 13. Nick Pecko, 14. Justin Thompson, 15. Ryan Krachun, 16. TJ Mayberry, 17. Louden Reimert

USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CARS: 1. Alex Bright, 2. Damon Paul, 3. Chris Allen Jr., 4. Ed Aikin, 5. Christian Bruno, 6. Mark Bittner, 7. Jonathan Swanson, 8. Bruce Buckwalter Jr., 9. Larry Drake, 10. Jason Cherry, 11. Al Cheyney, 12. Heidi Heidin, 13. Brian Spencer, 14. Colin White, 15. Briggs Danner, 16. Eric Jennings, 17. Aiden Borden, 18. David Swanson, 19. Nash Ely, 20. Joey Amantea, 21. Lee Kauffman, 22. Shea Wills

SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOOR 602 SPORTSMAN TIME TRIALS: SESSION 1 – Travis Hill, SESSION 2 – Eric Kormann, Session 3 – Frank Holmes, SESSION 4 – Ian Humphreys, SESSION 5 – Ethan Bill

Bridgeport, NJ – Night one of the 2nd Annual Danny Serrano 100 weekend is on the books and it’s safe to say that the night’s namesake would have been well pleased! This weekend’s events are sponsored by John Blewett Scrap & Recycling and K&A Excavating.

There were more than forty 602 Crate Sportsman signed in for the Underdog 20 event that Doug Rose split the field into two Underdog 20 races. First year competitor, Matt Ellery raced to the win in the first twenty lap event with a hard charging Ian Humphreys pushing him to the finish. Eric Kormann was an emotional winner in the second twenty lap event, dedicating the win to his late brother, Michael who passed away earlier this year.

Lee Allen raced to the win in the Bridgeport Motorsports Park Street Stock feature that was the final warm-up to the upcoming Street Stock Nationals on October 8th and 9th.

Kevin Nagy continued his winning ways and collected the 2021 Delaware Auto Exchange Mid Atlantic Sprint Series Championship all in one in the final race of the season for the MASS competitors.

Matt Ellery has been in the midst of the action in every feature event this year for the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Sportsman. The first year driver has come close on several occasions but finally raced to the checkered flag for the win in the first Underdog 20. Ellery ran the mid to high line around the track to pick up the win but Ian Humphrey found a way to run the bottom and not sacrifice his momentum as he ran in second and closed in on the leader in the final laps.

“I was just trying to take it easy there at the end,” Ellery explained following his win. Humphreys finished second after his late race challenge. Billy Chester represented his Wiked Motorsports team well with a solid third place finish over Cody Manmiller and Joseph Brown.

Eric Kormann raced to the win in the second Underdog 20, sharing Victory Lane with the Hoffman family, the owners of the beautitul No. 10 that Kormann piloted. Ryan Stangle ran a great race to finish second with Ryan Simmons picking off the competition one by one to finish third. John Stevenson raced to a fourth place finish over Nick VanWickle.

Lee Allen picked up the win in the Street Stock fifteen lap main after successfully dealing with a mechanical issue just before the start. Racing dads, Tom Wills and Nick Sandone along with Ricky Wenger assisted Allen and got him out on the track for the start. From there, it was Allen all the way to the checkered.

Four-time feature winner, Jeff Dirkes kept it interesting right until the checkered flag to finish second. Chris Murray crossed the finish line in third but was disqualified after failing post-race tech. Brian Ludwig finished third, followed by Nick Sandone III who got to celebrate his birthday with a top five finish. Gary Klimeczak rounded out the top five at the finish.

Kevin Nagy won his ninth race of the season and his sixth at Bridgeport in the twenty-five lap MASS sprint car feature. Eddie Wagner battled Rory Janney for the lead at the start. Nagy made it a three car battle for the lead and raced ahead of Wagner on lap three.

Wagner raced the bottom of the track to keep Nagy within striking distance but Nagy prevailed for the win. Dave Grube raced by Wagner to take second with less than three laps to go. Buddy Schweibinz charged through the top ten in the final ten laps to finish third over Wagner and Tim Tanner.

Jordan Watson, Tyler Dipple and Dilon Steuer locked into the three twenty lap qualifying races for the Modifieds when they set fast time in the three timed sessions for the Foley Cat Modifieds on Friday night. Saturday action will feature the three Modified twenty lap qualifiers paying $1500 to the winners. Precision Hydraulic and oil sponsors the Cash Dash with a $600 payday to the winner. There will be a full show of USAC East Coast Wingless Sprints and USAC All Pro SpeedSTRS plus practice sessions for the 602 Sportsman.

BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK

Friday, September 24, 2021

UNDERDOG 20 – 1 (20 laps)

1. Matt Ellery, 2. Ian Humphreys, 3. Billy Chester, 4. Joseph Brown, 5. Cody Manmiller, 6. Daniel Morgiewicz, 7. Trent Willey, 8. Nick DeSantis, 9. Jon Meyer, 10. John Scarpati, 11. Frank Holmes, 12. John Aumick, 13. Jim Avery, 14. Brett Ballard, 15. Erik Mattson, 16. Ethan Young, 17. James Hill, 18. Joey Vaccaro, 19. Pete Serra, DNS – Darren Cox, Sara Napora

UNDERDOG 20 – 2 (20 laps)

1. Eric Kormann, 2. Ryan Stangle, 3. Ryan Simmons, 4. John Stevenson, 5. Nick VanWickle, 6. Sean Metz, 7. Howie Finch, 8. Scott Hulmes, 9. Chad Sandt, 10. Aaron Weaver, 11. Tommy Klimkowski, 12. Brian Rogers, 13. Greg Nailor, 14. Tad Cox, 15. Josh Bricker, 16. Ethan Bill, 17. Brad Roberts, 18. Zach Steffey, 19. Wayne Weaver, 20. Will Protinick, DNS – Jim Dallett

STREET STOCK FEATURE (15 laps)

1. Lee Allen, 2. Jeff Dirkes, 3. Brian Ludwig, 4. Nick Sandone, III, 5. Gary Klimeczak, 6. John Parker, 7. Tom Landwher, 8. Mike Baldwin, 9. Dennis Seeley, 10. Tom Wills, Jr., 11. Bill Liedtka, 12. Tom Princiotta, 13. Kyle Saylor, 14. Jeramy Doerr, 15. Rich Stinson, Jr., DNS – Daniel Harrison, Vern McLaughlin, Doug DeBray, DQ – Chris Murray

MASS 305 SPRINTS (25 laps)

1. Kevin Nagy, 2. Dave Grube, 3. Buddy Schweibinz, 4. Eddie Wagner, 5. Tim Tanner, Jr., 6. Tom Carberry, 7. Mark Bittner, 8. Joe Kay, 9. Scott Frack, 10. Aiden Borden, 11. Mike Melair, 12. Josh Bricker, 13. Dale Eggert, 14. Bryant Davis, 15. Darren Cox, 16. Dom Melair, 17. Rory Janney, 18. Rick Stief, 19. Rich Janney, 20. Cory Connell, 21. Cody West, 22. Dave Brown, 23. Jon Brennfleck, 24. Jeff Geiges, DNQ – Keith Anderson, Justin Nowlen, Matthew Swift, Michael Keen, Torrey Rose

Bridgeport, NJ – It was Tornado Relief Benefit Championship Night at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park as the Speedway celebrated the 2021 Track Champions and raised money to help residents of neighboring communities who were affected by the devastation of the tornados spawned during Hurricane Ida. The Saturday night crowd showed their support for this event as $9,000 was raised for the tornado victims in the neighboring communities.

The track paid tribute to the lives lost during the attacks of September 11, 2001. On the twentieth anniversary of that fateful day, American flags were distributed to the young fans in attendance to wave during the singing of the National Anthem. It was a wonderful sight to see – the youngsters in front of the grandstands, waving their flags while Andrew Joslin drove the No. 343 Street Stock around the track, carrying the flag. The Modifieds lined up behind the grandstands before the start of their feature. The crowd mingled among the starting line-up until God Bless American was sung by Keith Gerhart and the cars were sent to the track for their thirty lap feature event. ​

Ryan Godown raced to his eighth win of the 2021 season in the Foley Cat Modifieds on his way to the Bridgeport Motorsports Park 2021 Championship. Sammy Martz, Jr. was crowned as the 2021 Champion of the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman as he added his sixth win of the season on Saturday night. Jeff Dirkes was the winner of the Bridgeport Motorsports Park Street Stocks but it was Tom Wills, Jr. who was crowned as the Street Stock Champion for the 2021 season.

All three champions were joined in the Weaknecht Archery Victory Lane by family, friends and sponsors who joined in celebrating the teams’ accomplishments, illustrating that championships are not won by drivers or car alone but by a team effort.

​The tone was set for the evening with the twelve qualifying races for the three divisions. A large Saturday night crowd saw the lead change three times in the first lap of the first Modified heat race!

WB James led the Modifieds around the high banks for one lap before Joseph Watson raced the Blue Hen Special into the lead on lap two. Watson led the field for eleven laps while Godown raced his way through the top five, landing in second on lap eight after a back and forth battle with Billy Osmun III. Godown raced into the lead on lap thirteen with an outside pass by Watson.

At halfway, Osmun raced by both Godown and Watson to momentarily take the lead but both drivers fought back. Watson was scored as the race leader on lap fifteen but Godown raced back out in front on the next green flag lap.

Watson’s next challenge came from Dominick Buffalino and the Big Spring Car Wash No. 126 while Alex Yankowski took on Osmun for fourth. With ten laps to go, Godown led Buffalino, Watson, Osmun and Yankowski.

Godown raced to the win – his third in a row and fourth win out of the last five races. The Modified Champion’s finished every Saturday night point race in the top five with just one exception and that was a seventh place finish after being forced to pit for a flat tire.

Buffalino finished second, keeping the pressure on the leader throughout the second half of the race. Watson finished third ahead of Yankowski and a hard charging Matt Stangle who raced from deep in the field to fifth in the final laps. Osmun finished sixth followed by James, Clay Butler and Dave Hunt who was making his first appearance on the 4/10th mile track.

After a spirited battle with first year driver, Jim Dallett, Sammy Martz, Jr. took the lead and raced to his sixth win of the season, leading every lap from the green to the checkered. Martz had clinched the championship before the start of the feature but Hannah Korman made his life easier when she drew the pole for the new point champion.

Joe Toth and Eric Kormann battled for second, lap after lap until defending champion, Steve Kemery joined in the race. Martz led the way to the finish followed by Toth, Kormann, Howie Finch and Kemery. Steve Davis finished sixth with Travis Hill, Ethan Bill, Adam White and Ryan Higgs completed the top ten in the running order.

Martz had an incredible season with six wins and all top ten finishes. Twelve of those races were in the top five. Martz completed every Saturday night event.

Jeff Dirkes raced to his fourth win of the season in the Bridgeport Motorsports Park Street Stocks but it was Tom Wills, Jr. who came away with the 2021 Championship.

Polesitter, Nick Sandone III battled with Dirkes and Jeramy Doerr for the lead as they raced down the backstretch on the first lap. It was Dirkes who emerged with the lead. Wills quickly raced his way into second. Dirkes picked up the win as Wills held off the challenges of Lee Allen to finish second. Allen took third over Kyle Saylor and Doeer. Mike Hughes rebounded from an early race incident to finish sixth followed by Mike Creamer, Ken Moren, Tom Landwher and John Parker.

After a strong start to the season, Wills lost an engine and feared that his season was over but the Beaumont family provided the power for under the hood and Wills was back to the track and winning races.

Bridgeport Motorsports Park will host the Monster Truck Throwdown this weekend with shows on both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets can be purchased in advance including the Family Bundle that includes two adult and two tickets for children. Racing action returns the following weekend for a three day event for the Danny Serrano 100 Weekend featuring the Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman, Street Stocks USAC East Coast Wingless Sprints and USAC All Pro SpeedSTRS.

FOLEY CAT MODIFIED FEATURE (30 laps)

1. Ryan Godown, 2. Dominick Buffalino, 3. Joseph Watson, 4. Alex Yankowski, 5. Matt Stangle, 6. Billy Osmun, III, 7. W.B. James, 8. Clay Butler. 9. David Hunt, 10. Tom Moore, Jr., 11. Troy Ale, 12. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 13. Sam Martz, Jr., 14. Mike Franz, 15. Eric Williams, 16. Jimmy Horton, 17. Tommy Beamer, 18. Frank Cozze, 19. David Crossman, 20. Stan Frankenfield, Jr., 21. Billy Pauch, Sr., 22. Neal Williams, 23. Skylar Sheriff, DNS – Heath Metzer, Kevin Vaclavicek, DNQ – H.J. Bunting, Roger Manning, Jim Britt

2021 FOLEY CAT MODIFIED CHAMPION – RYAN GODOWN

SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOORS 602 SPORTSMAN FEATURE (25 laps)

1. Sammy Martz, Jr., 2. Joe Toth, 3. Eric Kormann, 4. Howie Finch, 5. Steve Kemery, 6. Steve Davis, 7. Travis Hill, 8. Ethan Bill, 9. Adam White, 10. Ryan Higgs, 11. Sean Metz, 12. Andy Walko, 13. Bryan Brobst, 14. Matt Ellery, 15. Greg Reed, 16. Jim Dallett, 17. Michael White, 18. Billy Chester, 19. Scott Hulmes, 20. Thomas Sherby, 21. Matt Smith, 22. Zach McDonald, 23. Wayne Weaver, 24. Jon Swift, 25. Ryan Godown, Jr., 26. Pete Serra, 27. Howard Huepful, DNQ – Aaron Weaver, Ethan Young, John Scarpati, Nolan Openshaw, Shane Kassekert, Erik Mattson

 2021 SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOORS 602 SPORTSMAN CHAMPION –   SAMMY MARTZ, JR. 

BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK STREET STOCKS FEATURE (15 laps)

1. Jeff Dirkes, 2. Tom Wills, Jr., 3. Lee Allen, 4. Kyle Saylor, 5. Jeramy Doerr, 6. Mike Hughes, 7. Mike Creamer, 8. Ken Moren, 9. Tom Landwher, 10. John Parker, 11. Gary Klimeczak, 12. Nick Sandone, III, 13. Doug Dubray, 14. Kevin Bifulco, 15. Mike Baldwin, DNS – Drew Brocklebank

2021 BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK STREET STOCKS FEATURE – TOM WILLS, JR.