Category: News

When the Bridgeport Speedway throws open their gates for the start of the 2018 racing season, Stewart Friesen and his Halmar No. 44 team will be on hand to defend their title in the 60 Over Special – Doug Hoffman Memorial event.

Just one year ago, Friesen picked up his first win in this prestigious event  – a race that the accomplished driver from Sprakers, NY had had on his radar for some time.  “I’ve always wanted to win one of these races (60 Over Special – Doug Hoffman Memorial),” Friesen said after taking the checkered flag in the forty-four lap event.  “Doug was a friend of my family’s so this really means a lot.”

The connection between Friesen and Hoffman runs deep.  “I was always a fan,” Friesen went on to explain.  “Doug would run the DIRTcar races and come up to Ransomville.”  The Friesen family promoted races at the Ransomville Speedway.  “And, of course, we’d see him on the Pennsylvania swing when we’d come to Grandview and  then at Syracuse.”  Friesen’s uncle, Alex Friesen, had a long term working relationship with Doug Hoffman.  The two driver/promoters co-promoted together for a while at the Mahoning Valley Speedway.  “As a matter of fact, my uncle ran Doug’s car at Syracuse the year Doug won (the Fay’s 300).  Doug raced Billy Taylor’s car that year and Alex ran Doug’s car so he got to share in that celebration.”  “Doug’s memorial race was a big one on our hit list,” Friesen added.

Friesen has also worn the promoter’s hat in the past.  Those experiences have given Friesen some insight and respect for the role that race promoters play.  “I definitely appreciate what these guys put into it.  It’s a thankless job,” Friesen said of promoting races.  It was clear that he prefers his job behind the wheel.

These days, Stewart Friesen divides his track time between the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and his dirt track commitments.   In February, Friesen went back and forth between the Daytona International Speedway to compete with his Halimar Truck team and Volusia Speedway for the DIRTcar series.  His 2018 season has started out on a high note as Friesen as made giant steps in the Camping World Series so far.  Most recently at the Las Vegas Speedway, Friesen set second fastest time, won the second stage of the race and finished fifth at the checkered flag.  “We finally have competitve equipment,” Friesen explained.  “We’ve learned more in these last few races…”  His ability to be competitive in both the trucks and on dirt is due to the people behind the scenes according to Friesen.  “I have two great race teams.  I don’t have to worry about anything.  I just have to get in there and do my job.”

Freisen came close to winning the inaugural 60 Over Special.  He had the lead on the final lap but his Marty Burdick owned mount ran low on fuel as the field headed into the final turn.  It was a mad dash to the finish as cars were crashing as they came down the homestretch but it was Bobby Varin who raced to the finish line for the victory.

Last year’s event held its own level of excitement as Jeff Strunk raced into the lead on lap fourteen in the Hyneman No 126.  With just ten laps to go, the No. 126 lost some of its speed as the tone of the engine changed.  A restart with just two laps to go was Strunk’s undoing as as Friesen raced into the lead with just a little more than a lap to go.  Strunk held on to finish second with Duane Howard in third.

Friesen has a large fan following – and even more so since his move into the NASCAR ranks.  Friesen took time to spend with the fans at Bridgeport last season – staying behind the grandstand until every last fan had had their chance for autographs and conversation.

The 60 Over Special – Doug Hoffman Memorial is a two day event.  On Friday, March 30th, racing will get underway at 7:30pm as the Small Block Modifieds are featured along with the Pennco Tech Outlaw Stocks and first race for the 2018 DA’s Auto Body & Repairs Rookies.  There will also be an open practice session for the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds and 602 Crate Sportsman.

The next day, on Saturday, March 31st, race time is 4pm for the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds, Stewart Stainless 602 Crate Sportsman and Pennco Tech Outlaw Stocks in the first hand of the 2018 811 Dig Safe Poker Series.

The Bridgeport Speedway will be open for practice at noon, this Saturday.  Practice sessions will take place on both the 5/8th mile and quarter mile speedways.  A Sunday rain date is in place for this practice session.

Upcoming events

Saturday, March 24 – Practice on 5/8 and 1/4 mile

Friday & Saturday, March 30, 31 – 60 Over Weekend, Doug Hoffman Memorial, Poker Series Hand #1

Saturday, April 7 – Practice on 3/8 and 1/4 mile, Rookie Race #2

Bridgeport, NJ – The Bridgeport Speedway is excited to announce that their partnership with Penske Racing Shocks will once again take place for the upcoming 2018 racing season.  The Penske name is synonymous with all forms of racing, especially in the world of dirt modified racing.  Last year Big Block Modified driver Dave Shirk and Crate/Sportsman talent Brett Belmont were the lucky recipients of the Penske Racing Shock Contingency Program.  In 2016 Tommy Beamer and Chuck Sayres both walked away winners of the contingency package provided by Penske.

“Penske Shocks is proud to partner with Bridgeport Speedway once again in 2018.  Both Big Block Modifieds and the 602 Crate Sportsman are a corner stone of our business. We are proud to offer a free set of shocks to be given away at this year’s year-end banquet in both divisions again.  The past two seasons have worked out great and we’re happy to be back and support the Bridgeport Speedway racers,” offered Penske representative Aaron Lambert.

Drivers who finish 11^th through 15^th in the final point standings will be entered in a blind drawing, once the points have been tabulated.  “The driver who wins the drawing will win a complete set of shocks for their race car.  We feel this is a great way to ‘lend a hand’ to the racers who need it,” added Lambert.  Bridgeport GM Danny Serrano echoed Lambert’s comments.  “Our original goal was to try and give back something to the weekly racer that just missed out on their yearly goal of making the top 10 in points.  For the past two years, we were able to achieve that goal.  I know the four recipients were extremely pleased with what Penske has done for drivers of Bridgeport Speedway.  We pitched the idea to Penske a couple of years ago, and they liked it then and are happy to continue the program.  Bridgeport and Penske both know that every bit helps when it comes to competing at the race track, and I think this is an awesome deal for the racers.  Even though Dave and Brett would have loved to do better ‘in the standings’, they wound up with a real nice surprise,” Serrano added.

Penske Racing Shock’s entire business is racing.  By supplying customers with high quality dampers quickly, PRS can assist them in meeting their needs without compromises.  PRS is a custom damper manufacturer and every single Penske Racing Shockis billet machined and hand built.  There are no assembly lines, no stamped out pieces, no off-shore manufacturing. The personalized attention provided to every product sold provides the finest reliability, consistency, and performance.  Additionally, by working with top teams in professional motorsport, PRS continuously learns and develops new technologies that ultimately trickle down their entire product line.  PRS constantly investigates ways to improve their products and service to their customers. When you buy a Penske Racing Shock, you are buying custom built product for your specific application with certifiable quality. PRS is proud to be an American company who understands the full disciplines of racing.  Unmatched customer support combined with the best products and innovation allows PRS to enjoy a loyal customer base in all levels of professional motorsport and beyond.

For more information regarding Penske Racing Shocks you can visit their website at www.penskeshocks.com or call 610-375-6180 or stop in as they are conveniently in the northeast in Reading, Pa.

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Bridgeport, NJ – The buzz surrounding Bridgeport’s newly  constructed 3/8 mile clay oval, which will now be referred to as ‘Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Speedway the 3/8 mile at Bridgeport’, has been overwhelming to say the least.  The South Jersey racing complex is now the only track in the country to have three circle tracks all in the same central location using the same straightaway.  The 5/8 mile track will remain the weekly focus for the competitors with track championship points being awarded throughout the season.  The 1/4 mile known as Spirit Auto Center Speedway will stay the course operating on Friday evenings along with select Saturday and Sunday programs.  

 

However, it’s the brand-new 3/8 mile that will host an extremely diverse amount of racing divisions in 2018.  Of course the World of Outlaws and USAC Sprint Cars have already been inked onto the 3/8, as are the Super Late Models, USAC Wingless 360s, 358 small blocks, and MASS 305 Sprints.  The first three races for the 3/8 mile will make up the newly-formed ‘Pre-Season’ Point Series.  This is when Bridgeport’s weekly racing classes (Big Block, 602 Crate-Sportsman, Outlaw Stock) will get to shine way before all the national touring series have their crack at the new oval.  

 

Race fans need to mark Sunday, April 22 on their calendars, as the Spirit Auto Center Big Blocks, Stewart Stainless 602 Crate-Sportsman, MASS 305 Sprint Cars, and D.A.’s Auto Body Rookies make history in the first-ever event on the 3/8 track.  This show will be considered race #1 of the three-race series.  Race #2 will be the ‘South Jersey Shootout’ as the STSS Modifieds come to town on Sunday, April 29 for a $5,000 payday awaiting the winner.  Joining the Modifieds are the 602 Crate-Sportsman and the Pennco Tech Outlaw Stocks.  Completing the ‘Pre-Season’ point series will be another Sunday show coming on Sunday, May 13.  Three champions will be crowned on this day, consisting of the Modifieds, 602 Crate-Sportsman, and the Outlaw Stocks.

 

The Modified champion will earn an attractive $1,000 for their efforts for competing in just three races!  Second through fifth place will finish in the money as well, as those drivers will receive $800, $600, $400, and $300 respectively.  The 602 Crate-Sportsman champion will walk away from Bridgeport with a sweet $500 first-place prize.  Again, second through fifth in points will place in the money as they will collect $400, $300, $200, and $100.  Even though the Outlaw Stocks will only compete in two racing programs, they too will see a point fund.  That champion will profit $250, while second place will bring home $150 and third in the final tabulations will cop $100.

 

And that’s not all.  There will also be a unique twist involved in the Pre-Season point series!  With only 5 races being booked on the 5/8 mile for the extremely popular ’18 Poker Series, the top 13 of the final point calculations will each receive a playing card.  In other words, the champion of the three-race series will earn an ‘Ace’, second high point man a ‘King’ all the way down to the 13th place finisher thus earning a ‘2’.  New track, new point series, and a new twist all heading into a new year at Bridgeport Speedway.  

 

Bridgeport’s annual practice day will take place on Saturday March 24 at noon.  The Spirit Auto Center Speedway 1/4 mile will hit the track at 3pm.  Then on Saturday, April 7 the drivers will finally get to sink their teeth into the ‘Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Speedway the 3/8 mile at Bridgeport’ at 5pm for open practice directly after the second practice for the 1/4 mile (2-5pm).  For more information you can log onto the track’s official website at www.bpspeedway.com or follow the track on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  You can also call the speedway directly at 856-467-4408.