Category: News

Bridgeport, NJ – Bridgeport has adjusted their newly revamped headline division rules effective immediately.  The ‘open’ 358 small blocks, who were given the opportunity to run sail panels over the winter, will now run standard ‘window’ body rules.  All of the other rule changes in regards to the ‘open’ 358s, spec 358s, and Big Blocks will stay in place and closely monitored in the future races.

“Our main objective was to slow the Big Blocks down a bit with cost of engines, tires, ect and I think we’ve accomplished that goal,” offered track owner Brian Ramey.  “However, after Saturday’s event and dozens of phone calls with concern of equality, it seems that we gave a little too much advantage to the ‘open’ small blocks.  We are a Big Block track, that is just trying to open the door for some teams to come that may not have a Big Block yet still be competitive,” Ramey added.

Another rule has been adjusted that can be found in the ‘track rules’.  There was an incident regarding lapped cars on a restart towards the end of the race.  “We followed the rulebook on this one I can guarantee you,” Ramey pointed out.  The previous rule had all lapped cars remaining in place until 5 laps or less to go.  The new rule will be with 10 laps or less to go all lapped cars will drop to the back of field a lap down.  “The problem wasn’t the lapped cars not wanting to be there or the other lead lap cars passing them, it was the lapped cars were trying to go around the leader and get their lap back which isn’t allowed.  If a driver wants to surrender their position on the track, they need to fall to the back of the pack and will be placed a lap down.”

For rule updates you can visit the track’s official website at www.bpspeedway.com.  The next event will be on Sunday, April 14 when the URC Sprint Car Tour invades the 5/8 joining the Spirit Auto Center Big Blocks and South Jersey Overhead Door Crate/Sportsman.

Click here for Revised 2019 Rules & Regulations 

Click here for Revised 2019 Big Block Modified Rules 

 

 

 

What a great way to open the 2019 Bridgeport Speedway season!!  The weather was great – warm and sunny – on the last Saturday of March.  There were a lot of fans, a lot of race cars and a lot of great racing throughout the 60 Over – Doug Hoffman Memorial Race.  It was an event that Hoffman would have been proud of!

At the end of forty-four laps, it was Billy Pauch who dominated the field to pick up his first win of the season in the Spirit Auto Center sponsored Modifieds.

A day race in late March said dry, slick track to Pauch who came to race with his K&A Excavating sponsored No. 1 Small Block Modified.  Davey Sammons took the lead from polesitter, Matt Stangle on the start and led the first nine times around before Pauch challenged as the leaders raced to the line for lap ten.

Pauch won the spot and never looked back.  He had nearly a straight away lead on the field when Rick Laubach came to a stop on the homestretch with thirty-five laps on the books.  Two restarts later, it was still Pauch way out in front to take the win over Sammons who had his best Bridgeport outing to date.  Jimmy Horton, Bridgeport’s All Time Feature Win Leader, finished a strong third followed by Craig VonDohren and Duane Howard.

What a great tribute to Doug Hoffman whose 92 Bridgeport wins have him second on the All Time Feature Winners List.  Horton,  with his 128 wins and first on the All Time Feature Winners List, was in the thick of the action all day.  Pauch who had 62 wins going into yesterday and is third on the list.   Rick Laubach’s 45 wins and fifth on the list, ran in the top five for

the first half of the race.  Duane Howard, who’s 42 wins have him sixth on the All Time Feature Winner’s List, finished fifth after running as high as third during the main event.

Billy Pauch, Jr., Brandon Grosso, Michael Maresca, Richie Pratt, Jr. and Matt Stangle rounded out the top ten at the checkered.

Steve Kemery picked up where he left off at the end of the 2018 season by taking the win in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman feature.  The win was Kemery’s third win in his last four races at Bridgeport.

 Kemery raced to the inside of leader, Steve Davis on lap nine to take the lead after several challenges on the outside did not move Kemery into the lead.  Craig Whitmoyer raced from his seventh place start to finish second.   2017 DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie Champion, Jim Gallagher raced home in third followed by Davis and Eric Kormann who was behind the wheel of a Jeff Brown owned No. 9.

2018 Rookie Champion, Sammy Martz, Jr. finished sixth followed by Travis Hill, Ryan Simmons, Wayne Weaver and Michael White.

Rich Stinson, Jr. repeated his opening day performance of a year ago to pick up the first win in the Sunbelt Rentals Outlaw Stocks.  Lee Allen led the first two laps before Tom Wills, Jr. raced to the outside to take the lead on lap three.  One lap later, Wills slowed and headed to the pits with mechanical ills as Stinson took over the lead and led the way to the checkered flag at the end of fifteen laps.  Jon Meyer won a hard fought battle with Brian Ludwig to take second.  Ludwig took third followed by Allen and Gary Klimeczak at the finish.

Pauch, Kemery and Stinson each earned a Ace for the first hand in the 2019 Poker Series.  Drivers finishing first through thirteenth receive a playing card from an Ace through a deuce for this year’s series.

Saturday Hand 1 of the  2019 Poker Series

602 Crates $1,000 to win 20 Laps, $100 to Start

Big Blocks ’60over Special-Doug Hoffman Memorial’ $4,400 to win 44 Laps

Schedule of Events:

12:00 p.m. – Pit gates open

12:15 p.m. – Safety Inspection begins

2:00 p.m. – Grandstand gates open

2:15 p.m. – Draw Opens

2:30 p.m. – Driver’s Meeting

2:50 p.m. – Call Drivers for Hot laps

3:00 p.m. – Track gates CLOSED

3:15 p.m. – Hot laps

• Outlaw Stock Cars
• 602 Crates
•   Big Block Modifieds

3:45 p.m. – Track Prep for heats

3:55 p.m. – Welcome/Invocation/National Anthem

4:00 p.m. – Racing begins

• Outlaw Stock Car Heats – 6 laps each
• Crate/Sportsman Heats – 8 laps each
• Big Block Modified Heats – 8 laps each **Driver Introductions**

• Outlaw Stock Car Feature – 15 laps
• Big Block Modified Consolation – 8 laps
• Crate/Sportsman Consolation – 8 laps

• Intermission/Track Prep

• Big Block Modified Feature–44 laps (Stage & Draw Behind Grandstands)
• Crate/Sportsman Feature – 20 laps

Michael and Doug’s plans to go racing did not receive a warm welcome from their dad who reluctantly allowed them to keep the car in an old chicken coop on the farm.  But, when the elder Hoffman saw that this race car kept his sons’ interest and had them at home working on the car every night, he decided maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all.  

It wasn’t long before Doug started to win races.  In just his third season of competition, Doug won the Dorney Park track championship.  The Hoffmans decided to move their racing onto the area dirt tracks the following year.  

Hoffman’s first dirt car was a former Frank Cozze Olsen chassis.  A trip to Olsen’s shop resulted in a long list of items that was needed for the race car.  That list was posted on the Hoffman family refrigerator – just like a Christmas list – where family and friends could select what piece they would purchase. 

Doug’s early dirt car racing wasn’t very successful.  After several wrecks, it was Budd Olsen who convinced Hoffman to come to Bridgeport.  Olsen maintained that it was good track to learn on.  Bridgeport’s 5/8th mile track was big and wide and gave a driver plenty of room to race.  And as they say – the rest is history.  By 1982, Hoffman’s career was really taking off.  Hoffman was winning races and attracting sponsors to support his racing efforts. 

Doug Hoffman earned 482 victories during his career while racing at around forty tracks in nine different states and two Canadian provinces.  Twenty-five times he was a track or series champion.  Hoffman won four Bridgeport titles and collected ninety-two Bridgeport feature wins – second only to Jimmy Horton. 

It was at Doug’s urging that led Keith from behind the scenes to behind the wheel, taking a second car out on a few occasions and then competing with the Rookies at Flemington during the 1990 season.

When both Doug and Keith were racing, they tried not to race against each other – at least not on a regular basis.

In 2001, Doug was the track champion at both East Windsor and Bridgeport.  Keith won the track titles at both Big Diamond and New Egypt.

Doug Hoffman had a second racing career as a promoter.  He took on the challenges of the Bridgeport Speedway for the 2012 season and breathed life back into the Logan Township racing facility.  The Poker Series was started by Hoffman during his years promoting the Mahoning Valley Speedway.  He introduced the Poker Series at Bridgeport and it was well received.  2019 will mark the eighth year of Bridgeport’s Poker Series with Hoffman’s Memorial Race being the first hand in the 2019 series.

The 60 Over – Doug Hoffman Memorial Race always attracts a stout field of cars to the Bridgeport opener.

To date, Ryan Watt is the only driver who has repeated in this event.  Bobby Varin picked up the win in 2013 in the Atlas Trucking No. 66.  Watt’s first win came one year later with Ryan Godown picking up the win in 2015 behind the wheel of Bill Hewlett’s No. 901.  Dominick Buffalino put Pat Michael’s No. 51M in the Winner’s Circle in 2016 while Stewart Friesen collected the victory one year later.  Watt’s second 60 Over victory came last season.

Pit gates will open at noon on Saturday with the grandstand gates opening at 2pm.  Warm-ups will begin at 3 with racing getting underway at 4pm.  Grandstand admission will be $25 with children ages 10-15 at $10.  Children under ten years of age are admitted free.  Admission to the pits will be $35,

Come early and take advantage of all that the Bridgeport Speedway has to offer.  Free musical entertainment.  Ride the Bandit Bus to get a look behind the scenes as you ride through the pit area.  Enjoy the many delectable delights that the refreshment stands have to offer.  And don’t forget to pick up the latest in Bridgeport Speedway swag – new shirts will be available for the season opener.  You will want to add a copy of the official Bridgeport Speedway program – the Bridgeport Bullet – a welcome addition to any race fan’s collection.

We are Bridgeport – the only track in New Jersey to offer Big Block Modifieds;  we are committed to maintaininga safe, fun, family atmosphere creating life-lasting memories of excitement.

 

 

The Bridgeport Speedway is pleased to welcome Sunbelt Rentals of  Swedesboro, New Jersey as the Division Sponsor of the Outlaw Stocks this season.

Sunbelt Rentals is one of the largest equipment rental companies in North America.  From their more than 825 locations, they are paving the way to serve the varied needs of their customers.  From front end loaders, lifts and back hoes to power washers, generators and woodsplitters, Sunbelt Rentals is paving the way to serve all of the needs of their customers, as varied and they may be.

Sunbelt Rentals hopes to reach the small contractors and local homeowners at the Bridgeport Speedway by fulfilling their equipment needs.

Sunbelt Rentals supports their customers with solutions to any project.  From the small projects to the industrial giants, planned and unplanned, Sunbelt Rentals is there to provide the equipment needed.

With the start of the 2019 season just around the corner, the Sunbelt Rental Outlaw Stocks will join the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds and the South Jersey Overhead Doors 602 Crate Sportsman as they three regular divisions featured at the Bridgeport Speedway.  The Outlaw Stocks are Bridgeport’s full fender division.  They provide many thrills on any race night with their three wide racing and fender rubbing excitement.

All three divisions will be featured in Bridgeport’s Season Opener on Saturday, March 30th for the running of the 60 Over Special – the Doug Hoffman Memorial Race.

For your equipment rental needs, you can visit Sunbelt Rentals at 223 Paulsboro Road in Swedesboro, NJ or by calling (856) 467-9555.

It has never been a secret that a buyer was being sought for the Bridgeport Speedway.

Following the death of Doug Hoffman, Ramey brought together Keith Hoffman, Dave Adams and Danny Serrano to form a management team to oversee the operation of the track, starting with the 2013 racing season. Kolby Ramey, Brian’s son, and later his daughter, Hali, became integral members of the team that would bring in the Bridgeport Speedway into the forefront of dirt track racing in the tri-state area.

It was Ramey’s intent to show that the Bridgeport Speedway could be successfully run as a race track and then to attract a new owner.

During Sunday’s Annual Bridgeport Speedway Employee Meeting, that plan became a reality when Ramey introduced Doug Rose as the new owner of the Bridgeport Speedway.

Rose is no stranger to area racing.  A former racer in Modifieds, midgets and SpeedSTRs, Rose has been the co-owner of the Action Track USA at the Kutztown Fairgrounds since 2013 when Richie Tobias took on the quarter mile dirt track to return professional style racing to the Reading, PA area.  Rose has played a major role in the success of that operation and will bring his experience to the three tracks that make up the Bridgeport Speedway.

“Through my own business, I’ve always believed that if you plan properly, then you stand a chance to succeed,” Ramey told those in attendance. And that’s exactly what Ramey has planned with the transition with Rose.  Rose will work with Ramey and the Bridgeport team throughout the 2019 season as he learns the ins and outs of the management of the Bridgeport Speedway and then Rose will assume ownership in 2020. The Ramey family will remain involved until their support is no longer needed.

It is the intent to move forward and make Bridgeport “bigger and better than its been.”

“I really don’t haven’t made any specific plans so far,” Rose related.  “I want to see how everything is run.  What’s attracted me to Bridgeport is its infrastructure and the way that it’s been managed and run.  There is a strong foundation here.”

“The Modifieds are where my background lies,” Rose explained.  “But with the Action Track, I’ve had the chance to work with those divisions.  I feel that the 600s and Slingshots are the future of auto racing. I think the two tracks can really work well together.  That’s the goal – to grow both!”

Rose and his wife, Brittany, will begin this new venture as the 2019 season quickly approaches.  “She is just as much a part of this as I am,” Rose added.

We are Bridgeport, the only track in New Jersey to offer Big Block Modifieds; we are committed to maintaining a safe, fun, family atmosphere creating life-lasting memories of excitement.

The 2019 season is just around the corner with an open practice session planned for both the Spirit Speedway quarter mile and the 5/8^th mile track on Saturday, March 23.  The 60 Over Special, Doug Hoffman Memorial will go to the green flag to start the 2019 season just one week later on Saturday, March 30^th.

Bridgeport, NJ – The much anticipated 2019 racing season is just weeks away here in the Northeast.  Bridgeport Speedway will host their annual open practice on Saturday, March 23 for both 5/8 and 1/4 mile layouts.  A special 3/8 practice will be held on Friday night May 10, while the first race will take place on Saturday, March 30 for the 7th Annual 60over Special – Doug Hoffman Memorial event which will also be Hand #1 for the track’s ’19 Poker Series.

After much consideration and deliberation, the weekly qualifying format will be totally different than in years past which was based on the last three ‘point’ shows of money earned.  In 2019 a weekly draw for heat race and feature starting spots will be held just as it is for the micro sprint Friday program.  Drivers will draw each week for their heat race starting spots.  The drivers who make the ‘handicap’ will then redraw for their feature starting positions.  Just like Friday’s format, the only thing that will ‘carry over’ to following point show is if the winner from the previous point show makes the handicap they will start last amongst the handicapped cars.  If 2 heats are run, the top 5 from each heat race will redraw, where 3 heats will see the top 4 from each heat make the redraw.  Should the winner from the previous week make the redraw they would start 10th or 12th respectively just for that week.

All shows (15 Saturdays, 2 Poker, World of Outlaw show) starting on Saturday, May 4 through Saturday, September 7 will carry traditional points towards the 2019 track championship in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman division.  “We usually have a couple of ‘show up’ point races during the year, but since everything will be a draw this season, it only makes sense to incorporate as many point shows as we can,” offered track manager Danny Serrano.  “There are 18 scheduled points shows this season.  Hopefully the weather won’t affect us like it did last year.”

There have been over a dozen new engines sealed this off-season by the authorized Bridgeport shops.  After a very successful ‘year one’ with the ‘Crate-Lock’ program, the future is extremely bright for Bridgeport’s 602 division.  “Last year we had 13 different winners, and I think we can easily match that number this season,” Serrano added.

The D.A.’s Auto Body Rookie Division is also seeking participants for the 2019 season.  Since 2013 the rookie class has produced champions such as Ian Humphries, Matt Peck, Steve Kemery, Chuck Sayres, Jim Gallagher Jr., and most recently Sammy Martz Jr.  $500 awaits the champion while second and third place will also place in the money.  Drivers that are interested in competing in the ’19 Rookie Series should call Danny Serrano (609-433-4487)to register.

For all the latest news and happenings at Bridgeport Speedway you can visit the track’s website at www.bpspeedway.com, call the track at 856-467-4408, or follow them on social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

 

The Bridgeport Speedway is pleased to announce that the Manning family’s Design for Vision Opticians and Sunglass Central businesses will again be the title sponsors for Bridgeport’s 3/8-mile track.

It was Donald Manning, Sr. who started the optical business, learning his trade in the military as well as in the labs of New York City.  The Manning patriarch opened the first Design for Vision location in February of 1955 in Morrisville.  Some twenty years later, the Langhorne location was opened, operated by Don Manning, Jr.  More stores were added as the business grew with now in New Hope, Newtown, Jamison and Levittown.  Design for Vision provides a selection of over 2000 frames in each location and provides eye exams and contact lenses by independent optometrists.  A few years ago, Sunglass Central was added to the Newtown, Jamison and New Hope locations.  Sunglass Central specializes in the area of both prescription and non-prescription sport sunglasses, sold for both fashion and function alike. Sunglass Central carries all major brands such as Oakley, Gucci, Costa, Maui Jim, Ray Ban, Tiffany Wiley X, Silhouette, Oliver Peoples and more.  All eye wear is still produced in the Manning’s state of the art lab in Morrisville for better quality control as well as delivery time.

Don Manning, Jr. was a competitor here at Bridgeport in the late 80s and early 90s, running in the Small Block Modified division.  Manning has eight feature wins to his credit.  Don and his son, Roger returned to racing at Bridgeport during the 2016 season.  Racing in the Crate/Sportsman division, Roger earned his first victory in the partial season and backed it up with another win and a third-place finish in the point standings for the 2017 season.  The Manning’s made the move into the Big Block Modified ranks in 2018 and will continue to compete in this division this season.

“We’re happy to do this again,” Don Manning stated.  “We want to support Bridgeport and we’re happy that we have a company that enables us to do just that.”  The Manning’s have supported the Bridgeport Speedway and in return, the many of the fans and competitors have looked to the Manning family to fulfill their eyewear needs.

The Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Speedway will see action for the first time on Saturday, May 11th when the Big Block Modifieds and 602 Crate Sportsman are joined by the 305 sprints cars of the Mid Atlantic Sprint Series, the Rookies and Vintage stock cars.  The Big Block Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks and Rookies return to the 3/8th on the following Saturday, May 18th.  Then the World of Outlaws will take their first laps on the Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Speedway on Tuesday, May 21st when they are joined by the 602 Crate Sportsman for the doubleheader show.

On Sunday, May 26th the Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Speedway will host its first Poker Series event when the All American 40 comes to the 3/8th mile surface.  The USAC East Coast Wingless Sprint Cars will join the Big Block Modifieds and 602 Crate Sportsman for this tripleheader event.

Saturday night racing returns to the Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Speedway for the next two Saturday nights.  On the first of June, the Big Block Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman, Rookies, MASS 305 Sprint Cars and Vintage will be featured on Bridgeport’s third speedway.  One week later the Outlaw Stocks join the Big Block Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman and Rookies for a show on Saturday night, June 8th.  Then on Wednesday, June 12, the Eastern Storm returns with the wingless USAC 410 Sprint Cars that put on a great race just a year ago when they made their first appearance.  Winged 600 Micro Sprints will also compete during this mid-week show.

The Bridgeport Speedway continues to provide a safe, fun and family oriented environment for the world’s greatest racing entertainment.

Upcoming events

Opening Day 2019 – March 30, 2019 – 60 Over Special – Doug Hoffman Memorial (Rain Date – Sunday, March 31 if needed)

Sunday, April 14 – United Racing Club season opener with Big Block Modifieds and 602 Crate Sportsman