Category: News

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.

Bridgeport, NJ – Ryan Godown, Travis Hill and Jeff Dirkes raced to victories on Saturday night at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park with just one more Saturday night event remaining in the 2021 Championships.  Champions will be crowned next Saturday night when the Foley Cat Modifieds, South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman and Bridgeport Street Stocks race in their final point race of the season.

Ryan Godown raced to his seventh win after leading just the final four laps of the thirty lap feature event.  Frank Cozze had the Dave Renaldo owned No. 401 out in front since lap ten and maintained his lead after the race’s final caution just past halfway.  As Cozze and Godown raced to the line to complete lap twenty-six, Cozze came up on a lapped car that caused Cozze to change his line and it allowed Godown to take the lead.  “He (Cozze) had some smoke tonight,” Godown stated after the checkered, “then he lost some momentum there.”  “I knew he (Godown) was there,” Cozze explained.  “I could hear him on and off.  They were giving the move over flag and I just expected the lapped car to respond to it.  I hit it right the one lap and then missed it the next.  That’s all it took.” 
Less than four laps from a win, it was nevertheless, a good night for the Cozze/Renaldo team with their best run of the season.  

Dominick Buffalino and Sam Martz spent most of the race racing each other for third with Billy Pauch adding an additional element on several occasions.  Buffalino crossed the line in third followed by Martz and Pauch.  Alex Yankowski finished sixth followed by Neal Williams, Billy Osmun III, Matt Stangle and Ryan Watt.  Both Stangle and Watt raced from deep in the field for top ten finishes.

Travis Hill started out the season by winning the Underdog 20 – a race that he was eligible for because he was winless during the 2020 season.  That won’t be the case this year as Hill raced to his second Saturday night victory with point leader, Sammy Martz, Jr. and defending champion, Steve Kemery racing just behind the winner.

Joe Toth And Wayne Weaver led the field to the start and traded the lead back and forth until Hill raced from his seventh place start and into the lead on lap four.  Weaver, Toth, Rookie Champion, Ethan Bill and Toth battled for position behind the leader.  The cars were frequently three wide as they battled for position and each chose their preferred line around the high banks. 

Martz Jr. raced his way into contention in the final ten laps, racing three wide with Weaver and Ryan Godown, Jr.  Bob Lineman, Jr. ran into trouble in turn two with seventeen laps on the books, bringing out the last caution and erasing Hill’s advantage.

Martz and Hill raced for the lead with Kemery right there to take advantage of any opportunity.  Hill raced to the win followed by Martz, Kemery, Godown and Bryan Brobst.  Bill finished sixth followed by Toth, Jim Dallet, Ryan HIggs and Howie Finch.

The competition was fast and furious in the Bridgeport Motorsports Park Street Stocks.    Jeff Dirkes and point leader, Tom Wills, Jr. raced for the lead in the early going with Wills taking the top spot on lap four.  Wills held the lead until a lap nine restart when Dirkes raced back out in front.  Dirkes led the way as Wills, Kyle Saller and Mike Hughes battled for position.  Contact was made in the final laps.  Wills was able to recover but not before Saller and Hughes had passed for second and third.  

Dirkes raced to the victory – his third of the season – over Saller, Hughes, Wills and Mike Creamer.  Vern McLaughlin, Drew Brocklebank, John Parker, Nick Sandone III and Jeramy Doerr completed the top ten.  
New faces are making appearances every week as Street Stock competitors prepare for the Street Stock Nationals on October 8th and 9th.  

Rich Page was the winner in the 4 Cylinder Enduro competition over the largest field of cars to date.  Chris Gall finished second  over Jim Tinnes, Joe Garey, Sr. and Jim Smith.

Saturday night action returns for Championship Night with the Foley Cat Modifieds, South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman and Bridgeport Motorsports Park Street Stocks.  

FOLEY CAT MODIFIEDS (30 laps) 

1. Ryan Godown, 2. Frank Cozze, 3. Dominick Buffalino, 4. Sam Martz, Sr., 5. Billy Pauch, Sr., 6. Alex Yankowski, 7. Neal Williams, 8. Billy Osmun, III, 9. Matt Stangle, 10. Ryan Watt, 11. Ryan Krachun, 12. Joseph Watson, 13. Jim Britt, 14. W.B. James, 15. Ryan Forte, 16. Clay Butler, 17. Kevin Vaclavicek, 18. Roger Manning, 19. Brett Kelly, 20. Mike Franz, 21. Troy Ale, 22. Tommy Beamer, DNS – Chris Jenkins 

SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOORS 602 SPORTSMAN (25 laps) 

1. Travis Hill, 2. Sammy Martz, Jr., 3. Steve Kemery, 4. Ryan Godown, Jr., 5. Bryan Brobst, 6. Ethan Bill, 7. Joe Toth, 8. Jim Dallett, 9. Ryan Higgs, 10. Howie Finch, 11. Matt Ellery, 12. Pete Serra, 13. Scott Hulmes, 14. Billy Chester, 15. Nolan Openshaw, 16. Shane Kassekert, 17. Ryan Walther, 18. Wayne Weaver, 19. Bob Lineman, Jr. 20. Tom Sherby, 21. Ian Humphreys, 22. Nick DeSantis, 23. Will Protinick, DNS – Ethan Young, DNQ – Erik Mattson, Jeramy Doerr, Ryan Stangle, Brandon Shipley 

BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORT PARK STREET STOCKS (15 laps) 

1. Jeff Dirkes, 2. Kyle Saller, 3. Mike Hughes, 4. Tom Wills, Jr., 5. Mike Creamer, 6. Vern McLaughlin, 7. Drew Brocklebank, 8. John Parker, 9. Nick Sandone, III, 10. Jeramy Doerr, 11. Chuck Joslin, 12. Tom Landwher, 13. Wes Camp 

4 CYLINDER/8 CYLINDER (15 laps) 

1. Rich Page, 2. Chris Gall, 3. Jim Tinnes, 4. Joe Garey, Sr. 5. Jim Smith, 6. Bobby Johnson, 7. Kyle Hurley, 8. Ed Ford, 9. Ricky Gergasko, 10. Dom Antonelli, 11. Joe Garey, Jr.