Category: News

It’s official!  Summer has arrived and the racing action is hot, hot, hot at the Bridgeport Speedway.

The 5/8th mile speedway will take off on Saturday, July 1st to prepare for the All American 40 – the fourth hand of the Colonial Pipeline Call Before You Dig Safely 2017 Poker Series – to be held on Monday, July 3rd – on the eve of America’s Independence Day!

Colonial Pipeline returns as the sponsor of the 2017 Poker Series at the Bridgeport Speedway.

Colonial’s petroleum pipelines are buried underground.  The leading cause of damage to these types of buried utilities is third party damage – someone digging without the utility’s approval or knowledge of what’s below the surface.  That’s why Colonial encourages you to call 811 before you dig!  Any project – large or small – you are required by law to call 8-1-1 before you dig.  The 811 representative will take all of your information.  They will then notify all utility companies that may be affected by your work and a professional locator will visit your work site and mark their utility with paint, flags or stakes.  You must place your call at least three working days before the planned work, allowing the utilities time to mark their facilities.  Remember – “Know what’s below.  Call 811 before you Dig!”

Racing will get underway at 7:30 with the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds, Stewart Stainless Crate Sportsman and PennCo Tech Outlaw Stocks taking to the speedway for a 7:30pm start time.

In addition to a full show of qualifying and feature events, the Big Block Modifieds will also compete in their rained out feature from back in May when the rains came before the feature events could be run for the Hand #2 of the Colonial Pipeline Call Before You Dig Poker Series.  That’s four feature events in just one night of racing!!

Ryan Watt has been the hottest thing in East Coast racing ever since he picked up the prestigious win in the Friends of Mike Finale back on May 16th when the stars of the Super DIRTcar Series made their return to the Bridgeport Speedway.  Watt was the star of the show that night as he picked up the win.  He then collected a win in Hand #3 of the Poker Series a few weeks later in addition to three big wins at two other speedways within the last month.  Watt’s trail has included wins in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

There will be plenty of competitors chomping at the bit when the green flag waves.  2012 Bridgeport Champion, Rick Laubach has one Bridgeport Big Block Win to his credit and is looking to increase that win total.  Dave Hunt has two wins this season and would like to return to the Winner’s Circle.  Mike Barone picked up his second career Bridgeport victory and has been a threat throughout the season so far.  Neal Williams has been knocking on the door and has to be considered a threat in every race he enters.  Bridgeport regulars Sam Martz, Dominick Buffalino, Richie Pratt, Jr., Tommy Beamer, Ron Roberts and Bob Sarkisian are all searching for their first Bridgeport wins of the season.

And the invaders will be on hand to challenge the Bridgeport regulars.  Duane Howard has already collected a win in the Norm’s No. 357.  Jeff Strunk came real close to a win in the season opener and has been competitive in the Einfab No. 126 whenever he’s in the field.  Billy Pauch Sr. and Jr., Jimmy Horton, PJ Oliver, Frank Cozze and others will be on hand to compete for the checkered flag.

Crate/Sportsman competitors, Brian Papiez and Matt Stangle lead the field with feature wins but have been challenged by the likes of Roger Manning, Eric Kormann, Brad Roberts and others.  The Outlaw Stock feature events always come right down to the wire and this event is sure to continue the trend.

Then on Tuesday night, July 11th, the Bridgeport Speedway will present the Three For All – Super Late Models, United Racing Club (URC) Sprint Cars and Small Block Modifieds – there’s something for every race fan!  Action will get underway at 7:15.

There Bridgeport Speedway is the home of Big Block Modified Racing!

Hope to see you at the ‘Port!

 

 

 

Upcoming events

Saturday, July 1 – No Racing

Monday, July 3 – The All American 40 – Hand #4 of the Colonial PIpeline 811 Call Before You Dig 2017 Poker Series, Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman & Outlaw Stocks plus Hand #2 feature for the Big Blocks, racing at 7:30 (rain date,, Tuesday, July 4 if needed)

Saturday, July 8 – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman and MASS 305 Sprint Cars, racing at 7pm

Saturday, July 15 – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks plus Poker Series Hand #2 held-over from May, plus Vintage, racing at 7pm

 

For the first time since April of 2012, Mike Barone of Hillsborough, NJ raced to victory in the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modified feature event at the Bridgeport Speedway as Eastern Autoparts Warehouse  sponsored Bike Night at the Logan Township track.

Brian Papiez charged to his third victory in the Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman and Tom Wills held off late race challenges to capture his second win of the season in the PennCo Tech Outlaw Stock main event.  Jim Gallagher, Jr. became a three-time feature winner in the DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie division.

Barone held off the repeated challenges of reigning Bridgeport Champion, Ryan Watt to capture the win in his Bicknell chassis, Lombardo powered No. 267.  While Barone’s father, Don watched nervously from the pits, Barone hit his marks and drove to his second Bridgeport Speedway career victory.

Polesitter, Bob Sarkisian led the field to the green and led the way for the first three laps before mechanical issues saw Sarkisian’s night come to an end between turns three and four on lap four.  Barone was the new race leader as Jesse Hill had his No. 99H racing in second.  Watt raced from his tenth place start to take over second following a lap eleven restart.

Rick Laubach raced into third as Watt tried the inside line to challenge the leader but Barone rolled the outside line to perfection to maintain his lead.

Watt closed in during the final laps but Barone was flawless in his race to the checkered.  Laubach followed Barone and Watt to the finish line for third with Hill and Neal Williams rounding out the top five.

Papiez raced from his starting spot in the seventh row to take the lead from Jim Gallagher, Sr. on lap eight.  A late race caution tightened up the field and put a hard charging Roger Manning on Papiez back  bumper but Papiez was not to be denied his third Bridgeport win of the season.  Manning had his best outing to date to finish second with Matt Stangle moving into third before the checkered flag.  Eric Kormann finished fourth to extend his streak of top five finishes.  David Crossman rounded out the top five after a strong twenty lap effort.

Tom Wills, Jr. took the lead on lap five of the PennCo Tech Outlaw Stock feature and then had to hold off the challenges of Jeff Dirkes and Jeramy Doerr to capture his second win of the season.  Dirkes was sidelined with mechanical woes in the closing laps as Doerr chased Wills to the finish line.  Brian Ludwig rebounded from an early race incident to finish third over Ken Watson, Jr. and Jimmy Avery.

Jim Gallagher, Jr. took the lead from Brett Belmont on lap three and then drove away from the field to capture his third DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie feature of the season.  Gallagher is the only driver to win more than one Rookie feature to date.  Belmont had his best finish to take second over Matt Luzi.  Jim Cheesman and Olivia Ingersoll rounded out the top five at the checkered.

Six lucky youngsters won bicycles on Eastern Autoparts Warehouse Bike Night.  Several special awards were given to three motorcyclists to participated in the track’s Bike Night.

Racing action returns to the Bridgeport Speedway for a special Thursday night event with the Colonial Pipeline 811 Call Before You Dig 2017 Poker Series.  The Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman and Outlaw Stocks will compete in the Thursday night action with racing getting underway at 7:15pm.

 

 

 

 

Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds (25 laps): 1. Mike Barone, 2. Ryan Watt, 3. Rick Laubach, 4. Jesse Hill, 5. Neal Williams, 6. Dominick Buffalino, 7. Jim Britt, 8. Jack Swain, 9. David Hunt, 10. Dave Shirk, 11. Ron Roberts, 12. Mike Franz, 13. Pete Visconti, 14. Brett Kressley, 15. Richie Pratt, Jr., 16. Sam Martz, 17. Tom Beamer, 18. Bob Sarkisian

D.A.’s Auto Body and Repair Rookies (8 laps): 1. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 2. Brett Belmont, 3. Matt Luzi, 4. Jim Cheesman, 5. Olivia Ingersoll, 6. Erik Mattson, 7. Tommy Errico, 8. Jeff Stuart, 9. Chris Sammons, 10. Kevin Britt, 11. Keith McKinley

Stewart Stainless Supply Crate/Sportsman (20 laps): 1. Brian Papiez, 2. Roger Manning, 3. Matt Stangle, 4. Eric Kormann, 5. David Crossman, 6. Dave Damiano, 7. Kevin Belmont, 8. Adam Cox, 9. John Micek, 10. Brad Roberts, 11. Clyde Cox, 12. John Scarpati, 13. Bill Briggs, 14. Jim Gallagher, Sr., 15. Wayne Weaver, 16. Scott Hulmes, 17. Matthew Peck, 18. Roger Gaskill, 19. Pete Serra, 20. Matthew Luzi, 21. Chris Sammons, 22. Tommy Errico, 23. Olivia Ingersoll, DNS – Andrew Belmont, DNQ – Brett Belmont, Tom Sherby, Chuck Sayres, Jim Cheesman

PennCo Tech Outlaw Stocks (15 laps): 1. Tom Wills, Jr., 2. Jeramy Doerr, 3. Brian Ludwig, 4. Ken Watson, Jr., 5. Jim Avery, 6. Rich Stinson, 7. John Parker, 8. Mike Creamer, 9. Jeff Dirkes, 10. David Kramer

 

Upcoming events

Thursday, June 8 – High Stakes at the Port, Poker Series Hand #3 – Big Blocks, Crate/Sportsman and Rookies, racing at 7:15

Saturday, June 10 – Misfits 4X4 and Demolition Derby

Saturday, June 17 – PACK THE HOUSE NIGHT – 270, 600 Micro Sprints, 4 Cylinder Enduros, Xcel 600 Modifieds on quarter mile with Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks, Rookies and MASS Sprint Cars on 5/8th mile track, racing at 6pm

 

 

Jeff Stuart of Nazareth, PA captured his first win in the DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie feature event before a persistent rain forced the cancellation of the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds, Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman and PennCo Tech Outlaw Stock features for the second hand of the Colonial Pipeline 811 Call Before You Dig 2017 Poker Series event.

Stuart becomes the third driver to win in Rookie Competition as part of PSF Motorsports, following in the paths of Matthew Peck and Chuck Sayres before him.  Stuart shares the driving chores with Sayres in the PSF No. 38 – Stuart races the car in the Rookie feature while Sayres races in the Crate/Sportsman division.

Stuart’s participation in this year’s Rookie class has been  made possible through the support of several sponsors – Oliver Communications, Hamill Flooring, Ike’s Equipment Repair, Frank’s Tree Service, McClelland’s Land Image and Milltown Plumbing as well as the moral support and coaching that he has received from the racing teams of Ryan Watt and Sayres and Peck.

Stuart started on the outside pole and quickly moved ahead of polesitter, Matt Luzi to take the lead.  Stuart led every lap of the eight lap feature event to pick up the win.  Scott Kohler raced to a second place finish – duplicating in efforts in the Friends of Mike Crate/Sportsman feature a week earlier.  Luzi crossed the line in third.  Kevin Britt picked up a ride in Brad Robert’s No. 14 for this week’s event and drove to a fourth place finish.  Current point leader, Jim Gallagher, Jr. rounded out the top five.

Jim Avery and Ken Watson, Jr. were the heat winners in the PennCo Tech Outlaw Stocks while Eric Kormann, Dave Damiano and Frank Dorry picked up the wins in Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman qualifying.  Billy Pauch and Ron Roberts were the winners in Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modified action.

The Bridgeport Speedway has made a commitment to its competitors and fans alike to do everything possible to complete its racing program.  The local forecast looked clear for a night of racing but a light rain started to fall before warm-ups.  Track officials worked throughout the evening to keep the track in shape after being told that a break in the weather was coming that would allow the completion of the program.  However, the break never came.  The rain became heavier and even more persistent.  Officials were forced to cancel the remainder of the program, leaving only the Crate/Sportsman consolation and three features to be run.  These events will be rescheduled and the Bridgeport Speedway is offering a $5 discount on a future show to anyone holding a wristband from Sunday’s event – even though the criteria for a “complete program” had been met.

Eastern Autoparts Warehouse will sponsor Bike Night this Saturday, June 3.  There will be bike giveaways for the kids and all motorcycle riders will be admitted for free.  The Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks and Rookies will compete as well as the Garden State Vintage.  Racing gets underway at 7pm.

 

Upcoming events

Saturday, June 3 – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks, Rookies and Vintage, racing at 7pm

Thursday, June 8 – High Stakes at the Port, Poker Series Hand #3 – Big Blocks, Crate/Sportsman and Rookies, racing at 7:15

Saturday, June 10 – Misfits 4X4 and Demolition Derby

Saturday, June 17 – PACK THE HOUSE NIGHT – 270, 600 Micro Sprints, 4 Cylinder Enduros, Xcel 600 Modifieds on quarter mile with Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks, Rookies and MASS Sprint Cars on 5/8th mile track, racing at 6pm

Bridgeport, NJ – With an all-day soaking Monday rain and more showers predicted for Tuesday, Bridgeport/Spirit Auto Center Speedways have been forced to cancel an open practice session schedule for Tuesday from 4pm to 8pm. For any of the drivers that were going to attend this practice or other drivers that couldn’t attend, they are urged to call the Danny Serrano at 609-433-4487 in hopes to make up a possible rain date.

Action gets back underway this weekend for both speedways: Spirit Auto Center will be racing on Friday evening at 8pm. The wingless 600s micro sprints, winged 270 micros, the Speedway All-Star Bagel Stop Slingshots (will compete in Action Track USA sponsored Poker Series along with a Tour race), and the I2M Four-Cylinders will be competing in two features (held-over from May 12) this Friday.

Then on Sunday, the Colonial Pipeline/811 Dig Safely 2017 Poker Series hits Bridgeport’s 5/8 mile for Hand #2. The Spirit Auto Center Big Blocks will compete in a 40-lap event, while the Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman, Pennco Tech Outlaw Stocks, and the D.A.’s Auto Body Rookies round out the racing card. For more information please log onto www.bpspeedway.com

 

 

The Colonial Pipeline 811 Dig Safely 2017 Poker Series returns to action this weekend with a special Sunday race date for the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds, Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman, PennCo Tech Outlaw Stocks and DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookies for All in at the Port.

Colonial Pipeline has returned to again sponsor Bridgeport’s popular Poker Series events.  In each of six events held throughout the 2017 season, drivers are awarded a card for their Poker hand, based upon their finish.  A win gives the driver a coveted Ace, second – a King, and so on.  At the end of the season, a Poker Champion is crowned with special awards given to the top three hands as well as the worst hand during the series.

Colonial’s petroleum pipelines are buried underground. The leading cause of damage to these types of buried utility’s is third party damage, someone digging without the utility’s approval or knowledge of what’s below the surface.  That’s why Colonial encourages you to call 811 before you dig!  Any project – large or small – you are required by law to call 8-1-1 before you dig. The 811 representative will take all your information, then will then notify all utility companies that may be affected by your work and a professional locator will visit the your work site and mark their utility with paint, flags or stakes. You must place your call at least three working days before the planned work allowing the utility’s time to mark their facility’s.   Remember “Know what’s below, Call 811 before you Dig”

Invader, Stewart Friesen picked up the win and the Ace in the first hand back in March during the running of the 60 Over event.  With Friesen’s commitments elsewhere, the Poker Series for the Big Blocks remains a wide open contest.  After Friesen captured two of Bridgeport’s special events this season, reigning champion, Ryan Watt picked up the win for the Bridgeport regulars last week in the Super DIRTcar Series/Friends of Mike Finale.  Rick Laubach was the winner of the first point race of the season while David Hunt was the winner of the last two events.  Neal Williams as been a contender every week but still seeks his first trip to Victory Lane with the Sal DeBruno owned No. 0 car.  You can bet that Sam Martz, Richie Pratt, Jr., Wade Hendrickson, Dominick Buffalino, Brett Kressley, Mike Barone and others will be contending when the green flag waves on Sunday.

Brian Papiez holds the first Ace in the Crate/Sportsman competition and will be challenged by 2017 feature winners, Matt Stangle, Travis Hill and Jeremy Harrington as well as drivers still searching for their first win of 2017 like 2016 Poker Champion, Steve Kemery, Eric Kormann, Roger Manning and more.

Jon Meyer is holding the Ace for the Outlaw Stock division but will have to go up against the competition supplied by most recent winners, Jeramy Doerr and Tom Wills, Jr.  Brian Ludwig, Jeff Dirkes, Jim Avery as well as Ron Frees and Billy Wroble will have plenty to say about the outcome of the Outlaw Stock event.

Racing gets underway at 7pm.  Come early and enjoy!  There will be musical entertainment before the races get underway.  Bridgeport offers a wide selection of appetizing offerings at their concession stands.  Pick up a new t-shirt to add to your collection.  The Bridgeport Bullet – the official program of the Bridgeport speedway – will be a great keepsake for this event.  Take a ride on the Bandit Bus and get a look at the behind the scenes action in the pits.

The Bridgeport Speedway is committed to maintaining a safe, fun, family atmosphere, creating life-lasting memories of excitement.

 

Upcoming events

Sunday, May 28 – All in at the Port, Poker Series Hand #2 – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies, racing at 7:15

Saturday, June 3 – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks, Rookies and Vintage, racing at 7pm

Thursday, June 8 – High Stakes at the Port, Poker Series Hand #3 – Big Blocks, Crate/Sportsman and Rookies, racing at 7:15

Saturday, June 10 – Misfits 4X4 Car and Truck Show and Demolition Derby

 

The twelve year run of the Friends of Mike (FoM) event will come to a close on Tuesday, May 16 at the Bridgeport Speedway when it is run in conjunction with the Super DIRTcar Series event.

Friends of Mike all started back in 2006 when Danny Serrano, a racing fan, and several of hisfriends, set out to support Mike Rogie, an avid racing fan who was battling cancer.  They came up with this event to give back to the drivers who put on the show for their enjoyment, week after week, and at the same time, honor their friend Mike.  Serrano had not yet made the move into track management when he began this venture.  “So many people wanted to be a part of it,” Serrano stated.  “It was like a whirlwind.”  No one would know then that this event would become a tradition that would extend through twelve racing seasons.

Sadly, Mike Rogie was never able to attend, his untimely passing came on the day of the inaugural FoM event.  Brian Godown picked up the win in the first ever Friends of Mike.

Keith Hoffman put Pat Michael’s No. 51M into Victory Lane in the second FoM race a year later.  “That race really turned our season around,” Hoffman offered.  “We switched cars for that race and won.”  Hoffman would be the first driver to repeat in FoM history when he won one of the four twenty lap events in 2008.  Rick Laubach, Tim Tanner and Tad Cox were also twenty lap winners that year.

Billy Pauch picked up the win in 2009 and then Willie Osmun a year later.  Another format change and it was Tim McCreadie who made a rare appearance for the win in 2011.  McCreadie headed to a Late Model race the next day but not before collecting the checkered in the FoM event.

Danny Johnson was the 2012 race winner in the last event to be held at the New Egypt Speedway.

In 2013, Jimmy Blewett made history as the winner of the first FoM event at the Bridgeport Speedway as he earned his first ever Big Block Modified victory as he raced Billy Pauch for the win.  In 2014, Stewart Friesen picked up his first FoM win which he promptly backed up with a second win the next year.  In 2015, Serrano honored Sam Martz who was the only driver to compete in all ten FoM races.  One year later, it was Martz who collected the victory as he raced to the win over Laubach, Dominick Buffalino and Ryan Watt.

Over the years, the format has changed as has the location, but the driver and fan support has never wavered.  One year, Serrano engineered a horseshoe tournament among the drivers before the race.  The fans and the drivers loved it!  And every year, this race in run in conjunction with a huge Chinese Auction and this year is no exception!  Tina Potts has been working hard with Serrano to make this year’s event the biggest one yet!  Race car doors and roofs, driver t-shirts and all sorts of racing memorabilia have been collected and will be won by a lucky race fan on race night.  Contributions for the Chinese Auction can be made by notifying Tina or Danny through Facebook.

Past FoM winners, Laubach, Pauch, Johnson, Friesen and Martz will be in the field, competing for a spot in the starting line-up of the final Friends of Mike.  The DIRTcar series regulars with names like Hearn, Sheppard, Fuller, Decker, Wight and Ward, Britten, Mahaney, Flach, Phelps, McLaughlin and Scagliotta will be at Bridgeport for the second race of the Super DIRTcar series.  They will have to meet the challenges presented by Bridgeport regulars led by reigning champion, Ryan Watt, past champions, Wade Hendrickson & Rick Laubach, back-to-back feature winner, David Hunt, Neal Williams, Richie Pratt, Jr., Dominick Buffalino and a host of others.  Add in the invaders from the Tri-state area – Duane Howard who has already collected a Bridgeport victory with his Norm Hansell owned ride, Jeff Strunk who has been very competitive on the 5/8th mile track this season, Ryan Godown who recently picked up a second place finish with the Atlas Trucking No. 66 and then there’s the “Sensational One”, Jimmy Horton who has collected more wins than any other driver in the history of the Bridgeport Speedway.

This will be a night that every race fan dreams of – with all of the top names in Modifieds right here at the Bridgeport Speedway for the first Super DIRTcar Series event since 2005!

Racing gets underway at 7:15.  Come early and enjoy!  There will be musical entertainment before the races get underway.  Bridgeport offers a wide selection of appetizing offerings at their concession stands.  Pick up a new t-shirt to add to your collection.  The Bridgeport Bullet – the official program of the Bridgeport speedway – will be a great keepsake for this event.  Take a ride on the Bandit Bus and get a look at the behind the scenes action in the pits.

 

The Bridgeport Speedway is committed to maintaining a safe, fun, family atmosphere, creating life-lasting memories of excitement.

 

 

Upcoming events

Saturday, May 13 – No racing

Tuesday, May 16 – Super DIRT Car Series/Friends of Mike finale – Big Block Modifieds & Crate/Sportsman – racing at 7:15 (RD Wed, 5/17)

Saturday, May 20 – No Racing

Sunday, May 28 – All in at the Port, Poker Series Hand #2 – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies, racing at 7:15

 

 

For the second week in a row, David Hunt led the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds for twenty-fivelaps to capture the win – this time in Saturday night Bridgeport action.

Jeremy Harrington picked up his first win of the season in Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman action while Jeramy Doerr made it to the checkered flag for his first win in the PennCo Tech Outlaw Stocks.  Jimmy Gallagher, Jr. was the first driver to repeat with a win in the DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie division.

Billy Pauch debuted his Tribute to Roy Pauch No. 15.  The Pauch car is a throwback, Kenny Weld inspired car, paying homage to the patriarch of the Pauch racing family.

Hunt and Jack Swain, the racing school principal, led the field to the green, handicapped for front row starts in just the second point race of the season.  Hunt took off at the wave of the green with Pauch hot in his tracks.  Pauch was soon joined  by Richie Pratt, Jr. who took over third and set his sights on Pauch’s No. 15.  Hunt led Pauch, Pratt, Sam Martz and Ron Roberts through eleven laps before the caution waved for the first time, just after Pratt challenged Pauch for the runner-up spot.  Wade Hendrickson had the C&S Equipment No. 6 on the move on the restart as he moved up to fourth with Ryan Watt following in fifth when the caution waved again for the slowing car of Roberts.

Hunt drove away from the field, leaving Pratt to work on Pauch and Watt to chase Hendrickson.  That’s the way they would run to the checkered with Hunt out in front by nearly a straightaway.  Pauch finished second with the No. 15 in its maiden voyage followed by a hard charging Pratt.  Hendrickson and Watt rounded out the top five with Watt racing from his thirteenth place start. 

“This car was really a handful during the heat race,” Hunt recounted.  Hunt, who races one of the few remaining Troyer chassis cars on Bridgeport’s 5/8th mile track, continued.  “It pushed like a dump truck,” even though he picked up the win in the first heat race.  Hunt and his team have just kept working, week after week, after a rather dismal start to the season.  “We really struggled those first few weeks,” Hunt explained.  “We just kept working on it.  This is the same engine we started the season with – we’ve just got the car working better now.”

Milford, DE driver, Jeremy Harrington took the lead from Brad Roberts and raced to his first win of the 2017 season in the Stewart Stainless Crate Sportsman feature.  Harrington, with his crate engine powered No. 30, had built up a sizeable lead by the time two time feature winner, Brian Papiez arrived on the scene.  Papiez finished a solid second over Eric Kormann, Matt Peck had his best outing of the season to finish fourth with Matt Stangle, another two time feature winner, rounding out the top five.

After coming close on so many other occasions, Jeramy Doerr finally sealed the deal with a win in the PennCo Tech Outlaw Stock main event.  Doerr set a new one lap record for this division during hot laps.  Jim Avery finished second in his first start of the season followed by Mike Creamer, Jeff Dirkes and Tom Wills, Jr.

Jim Gallagher, Jr. became the first repeat winner in theDA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie Division, taking the lead from Jeff Stuart on the second lap of the feature event.  Stuart led the first two circuits and went on to finish second, his best effort so far.   Matt Luzi finished third for his best finish to date, followed by Brett Belmont and Kevin Britt.

The next race on the Bridgeport 5/8th mile speedway will be Tuesday, May 16th for the Super DIRTcar Series/Friends of Mike finale.  The stars of the Big Block Modified ranks will headline the show along with the Crate/Sportsman.  Racing gets underway at 7:15 with Wednesday, May 17th being reserved as a rain date should it be needed.

 

SPIRIT AUTO CENTER BIG BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE (25 laps): 1. David Hunt, 2. Billy Pauch, Sr., 3. Richie Pratt, Jr., 4. Wade Hendrickson, 5. Ryan Watt, 6. Dominick Buffalino, 7. Sam Martz, 8. Rick Laubach, 9. Brett Kressley, 10. Jack Swain, 11. P.J. Oliver, 12. Mike Barone, 13. Jim Britt, 14. Tommy Beamer, 15. Ron Roberts, 16. Bob Sarkisian, 17. Mike Franz, 18. Neal Williams, 19. Dave Shirk, DNS – Ernie Miles, III.

STEWART STAINLESS SUPPLY CRATE/SPORTSMAN FEATURE (20 laps): 1. Jeremy Harrington, 2. Brian Papiez, 3. Eric Kormann, 4. Matthew Peck, 5. Matt Stangle, 6. Roger Manning, 7. Bill Briggs, 8. John Aumick, 9. Adam Cox, 10. Rich Wenger, Jr., 11. Clyde Cox, 12. Chris Jenkins, 13. Roger Gaskill, 14. Andrew Belmont, 15. Walt McIntyre, 16. David Crossman, 17. Joe Nappi, 18. Brad Roberts, 19. David Izzi, 20. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 21. Rich Deck, Jr., 22. Dave Damiano, 23. Brett Belmont, DNS – Kevin Belmont, DNQ – Pete Serra, Tom Holding, Ray Cost, Matthew Luzi, Ryan Simmons, Tom Sherby, Bob Bracall, Scott Hulmes, Chuck Sayres

D.A.’S AUTO BODY & REPAIR ROOKIE FEATURE (8 laps): 1. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 2. Jeff Stuart, 3. Matt Luzi, 4. Brett Belmont, 5. Kevin Britt, 6. Dave Izzi, 7. Olivia Ingersoll 8. Walt McIntyer, 9. Keith McKinley, 10. Scott Kohler, 11. Erik Mattson, 12. Tommy Errico, 13. Ray Cost

PENNCO TECH OUTLAW STOCK FEATURE (15 laps): 1. Jeramy Doerr, 2. Jimmy Avery, 3. Mike Creamer, 4. Jeff Dirkes, 5. Tom Wills, Jr., 6. Brian Ludwig, 7. Billy Wroble, 8. Cleve Riehl, 9. John Parker, 10. Ken Moren, 11. David Kramer, 12. Paul Donahue, 13. Andrew Joslin

 

Upcoming events

Saturday, May 13 – No racing(WMMR and Spirit Auto Center Presents Mudders Day Jeep Show

Tuesday, May 16 – Super DIRT Car Series/Friends of Mike ‘the finale’ – Big Block Modifieds & Crate/Sportsman – racing at 7:15 (RD Wed, 5/17)

Saturday, May 20 – No Racing

Sunday, May 28 – All in at the Port, Poker Series Hand #2 – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies, racing at 7:15

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David Hunt of Bridgewater, NJ, returned to Bridgeport’s Victory Lane for the first time since 2015 when he captured the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modified feature event on Joy Auto Parts sponsored Bike Night.  It was Hunt’s sixth Big Block win at Bridgeport.

 

Brian Papiez became the first driver to repeat in the Winner’s Circle in the Stewart Stainelss Crate/Sportsman with a last lap pass for the win.  Rick Stief captured the Mid Atlantic Sprint Series (MASS) win in their twenty lap main event while Jim Gallagher, Jr. became the fourth different winner in four races in the DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie competition.

 

Hunt led every lap of the twenty-five lap Big Block event after starting alongside of Neal Williams for the green flag.  Hunt played a game of hide and seek as he quickly distanced himself from the competition.  Even multiple caution flags that resulted in double file restarts couldn’t produce a challenge for the lead as Hunt handily drove away from the field each time.  After a frustrating season last year, Hunt was happy to capture a win early in 2017.  “We really needed it (the win),” Hunt explained.  “After last year and the very beginning of this year – it was tough to get up a lot of mornings after a race!”  The addition of Roger Mahan Motorsports LLC to Hunts No. 27 team has helped to put the young driver where he needs to be.

 

Ryan Godown raced his way into second following a lap eight restart and held off the persistent challenges of Jeff Strunk throughout the remainder of the twenty-five lap event.  Strunk dove underneath Godown on several occasions but wasn’t able to pull even with the Ringos, NJ driver.  Godown finished second with Strunk third.  Richie Pratt, Jr. made some solid moves during the late stages of the race to finish fourth in his family owned No. 28 while reigning Bridgeport Champion, Ryan Watt finished fifth.

 

Dave Damiano took the lead in the Crate/Sportsman feature when a flat tire sent Matt Stangle to the pits.  Damiano looked to be on his way to a career first victory has he handily raced out in front of rookie driver, Louden Reimert for most of the race.  A series of late race cautions would alter the outcome, however, has Papiez dove to the inside of Damiano on the final lap restart to take the lead.  Damiano held on to finish second with Scott Hitchens moving up to third on the final lap.  Brandon Grosso finished fourth with Eric Kormann moving into the top five on the final lap.

 

Rick Stief led the final six laps of the MASS 305 Sprint Car feature to capture his first win of the season and his third top five finish of the weekend.  Ryan Stillwaggon took the lead on the first lap and looked like a potential winner until mechanical woes sent him off the track with fourteen laps complete.  Tim Tanner finished second with Tommy Carberry taking third.  Mark Bitner used some late race moves to advance to fourth with Dave Brown rounding out the top five.

 

Jim Gallagher, Jr. may be a second generation race car driver but when Gallagher came to the track for the first time this season, “I didn’t even know how to make it go,” Gallagher related.  With absolutely no prior racing experience, Gallagher has shown that he’s a fast learner as he raced to the win in the Rookie division to become the fourth different winner this season.  Scott Kohler had his best finish to take second  with Brett Belmont duplicating his best effort to finish third.  Dave Izzi and previous winner, Tommy Errico rounded out the top five.

 

Racing returns to the Bridgeport Speedway this Saturday night.  It’s Kids Money Scramble Night with the Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies in action.  Racing gets underway at 6:30pm.  The Super DIRTcar Series returns to the Bridgeport Speedway on Tuesday, May 16^th for the Friends of Mike grand finale.  Racing will get under way at 7:15 for that event which will see drivers from all over the East Coast compete in qualifying and a feature event.  The Crate/Sportsman will also be on the program for the twelfth and final Friends of Mike event.

 

SPIRIT AUTO CENTER BIG BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE (25 laps): 1. David Hunt, 2. Ryan Godown, 3. Jeff Strunk, 4. Richie Pratt, Jr., 5. Ryan Watt, 6. Wade Hendrickson, 7. Mike Barone, 8. Neal Williams, 9. P.J. Oliver, 10. Jimmy Horton, 11. Dave Shirk, 12. Rusty Smith, 13. Jack Swain, 14. Bob Sarkisian, 15. Jim Britt, 16. Ron Roberts, 17. Tommy Beamer, 18. Ricky DiEva, 19. Billy Pauch, Jr., 20. Mike Franz, 21. Sam Martz, 22. Rick Laubach, DNS – Daniel Johnson, Brett Kressley, Clay Butler

STEWART STAINLESS SUPPLY CRATE/SPORTSMAN FEATURE (20 laps): 1. Brian Papiez, 2. Dave Damiano, 3. Scott Hitchens, 4. Brandon Grosso, 5. Eric Kormann, 6. Louden Reimert, 7. Clyde Cox, 8. Roger Manning, 9. Chris Jenkins, 10. Ryan Simmons, 11. Matthew Peck, 12. Tom Sherby, 13. Rich Deck, Jr., 14. Bobby Bracall, 15. Adam Cox, 16. Scott Hulmes, 17. Steve Kemery, 18. Matt Stangle, 19. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 20. Bill Briggs, 21. Brad Roberts, 22. Matt Budd, 23. Chuck Sayres, 24. David Crossman, 25. Chad Kohler, 26. Andrew Belmont, DNQ – David Izzi, Scott Kohler, Matt Luzi, Brett Belmont, Tom Holding, Chris Sammons, Ray Cost, Jim Gallagher, Sr., Jeff Bubori

D.A.’S AUTO BODY & REPAIR ROOKIE FEATURE (8 laps): 1. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 2. Scott Kohler, 3. Brett Belmont, 4. Dave Izzi, 5. Tommy Errico, 6. Kevin Britt, 7. Matt Luzi, 8. Jim Cheesman, 9. Jeff Stuart, 10. Chris Sammons, 11. Ray Cost, 12. Erik Mattson

MID-ATLANTIC SPRINT SERIES FEATURE (20 laps): 1. Rick Stief, 2. Tim Tanner, Jr., 3. Tommy Carberry, 4. Mark Bitner, 5. Dave Brown, 6. Joe Kay, 7. Stef Palmai- Carberry, 8. Eddie Wagner, 9. Jamie Kostic, 10. Jeff Geiges, 11. Bryant Davis, 12. Bobby Scherff, 13. Keith Anderson, 14. Douglas Snow, 15. Craig Pellegrini, 16. Harris Kohen, 17. Gabe Fox, 18. Ryan Stillwaggon, 19. Sam Lieberman

 

Upcoming events

Saturday, May 6 – Kids Money Scramble – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies, racing at 6m

Saturday, May 13 – No racing

Tuesday, May 16 – Super DIRT Car Series/Friends of Mike finale – Big Block Modifieds & Crate/Sportsman – racing at 7:15 (RD Wed, 5/17)

Saturday, May 20 – No Racing

Sunday, May 28 – All in at the Port, Poker Series Hand #2 – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies, racing at 7:15

 

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