DANNER OPENS DIRTY JERSEY WITH A WIN ON BRIDGEPORT’S HIGH BANKS
And so it goes!
After winning his first ever race in a sprint car at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park, it seemed like the natural thing to do. Briggs Danner raced to the win in the Boulevard Trucking No. 39 in the non-winners race on night one of the Brewer Home Improvements Dirty Jersey weekend.
In just his fourth full season of sprint car competition, Danner raced to three wins in the USAC National Sprint Cars this season. He also had multiple victories in the USAC East Coast Wingless Sprints. With limited experience in winged racing, Danner was part of the nearly thirty cars on hand for the Friday night action of the Dirty Jersey – an event co-promoted by Bridgeport’s Doug Rose and PA Posse competitor, Danny Dietrich.
This is the only event for 410 winged sprint cars in the state of New Jersey in 2024.
Kyle Spence started from the pole after a four-car invert to determine the starting line-up in the twenty-lap event. Spence quickly pulled away from the field as Danner slid into second on the start with fast timer Jordan Thomas taking over third.
On two occasions, Danner had closed the gap on Spence right before the caution flag waved for single car incidents. On each restart, Spence held the lead as the field went back to green flag racing.
The second and final caution came with just five laps to go. Spence led the way on lap sixteen but Danner was in position to challenge. The two drivers changed lanes and Danner went to the inside to take the lead as the field exited turn two. Danner went on to lead the final to laps to capture the win over Spence, Thomas, Michael Walter and Billy VanInwegen.
“It feels good to be back,” Danner exclaimed following his win. Danner’s last race on the High Bank came during the Eastern Storm swing in June. “The best part is we are locked into tomorrow. That takes a lot of pressure off.”
Kyle Reinhardt was the fast timer of the night, looking for another good showing in front of the New Jersey fans.
Dyson Pursley turned his first laps in the Buch Motorsports No. 13. Pursley replaces Justin Peck in the Pella Windows No. 13 and looks to make his first start in the winged 410 sprint car this week. Like Danner, Pursley’s last race on the High Banks came during the 2024 Eastern Storm event.
2024 Victory Fuel Wingless Sprint Champion, Brian Spencer closed out his 2024 season with his eighth win of the year. Spencer led from the green to the checkered to take the win over Shea Wills who battled with Dan Leaper for several laps. Leaper finished third followed by Jonathan Swanson and Thomas Radivoy.
Eric Degler was the Brewer Home Improvement four cylinder winner in a wire-to-wire win. Joe Garey Sr. finished second over Jim Backowski, Roger Kummerer and Ron Weil.