FIRST WIN FOR PAUCH AT BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK

Photo Courtesy of Rick Sweeten Images

 

Bridgeport, NJ – Billy Pauch recorded sixty-five victories on the Bridgeport Speedway 5/8 mile track.  On Saturday night, he increased his Bridgeport win total by one by adding his first victory on the new 4/10th mile surface.  Saturday night racing was sponsored by Championship Energy.

 

Both Steve Kemery and TJ Henry became repeat winners in their divisions as Kemery picked up his second win in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Sportsman while Henry notched a second in the Sunbelt Rentals Street Stock division.  Harry Houdini earned his first win in the DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie event while Andy Best picked up the win in the Mid Atlantic Sprint Series (MASS) feature event.  Lee Allen came home the winner in the 8 Cylinder main event.

 

Pauch continued the debate over Big Block versus Small Blocks for the new 4/10th mile track.  “Nobody wants to run Big Blocks anymore,” the feature winner stated.  “Everyone wants specs (motors).  I’m not a big fan but I know we have a good program.  It’s just been really hard with the pandemic – you’re already to go then your shut down!” After Rick Laubach’s win in a Big Block one week earlier, Pauch’s win came with a Spec Head Small Block.

 

Pauch and Ryan Godown led the starting field to the green flag as a result of the luck of the draw but it was Pauch who immediately put the Kevin Bifulco No. 1 out in front.  Godown, Alex Yankowski, Tim Buckwalter and Danny Bouc trailed the leader through lap five.

 

Bouc made a big move to go from fifth to second on a lap nine restart.  Dominick Buffalino flew by several cars to take over third just before a lap fourteen caution when Matt Stangle stopped with a flat tire.  Buffalino raced by Bouc for second on the restart followed by Billy Pauch, Jr., Richie Pratt, Jr. and Buckwalter.  

 

Buffalino was closing the gap on Pauch, Sr. with ten laps to go when the caution waved for Pauch, Jr. who headed to the pits with mechanical issues.  

 

Back under green, Pauch led the way.  Contact between cars behind the leader exiting turn four caused a mutli car pileup on the homestretch, just beyond the starter’s stand.   Eight cars were towed off of the track.  Tim Buckwalter required medical attention and was transferred for treatment.  

 

When the race was restarted, Pauch went back to work.  Jimmy Blewett now raced into the top five but brought out the caution when a flat tire and suspension issue occurred in turn three.

 

With Pauch out in front, the battle was on for second as Pratt raced with Bouc.  Then Yankowski challenged and the battle became for third as he and Pratt raced side by side.

 

Pauch took the win over Bouc, Yankowski, Pratt and Cale Ross.  Godown finished sixth followed by Matt Stangle, David Crossman, Jim Britt and Brett Ballard.  

 

Steve Kemery became the first to repeat in the 602 Sportsman action.  Kemery took the lead from Rick Wegner, Jr. on lap ten.  Wegner and Jim Gallagher, Jr. battled for second in the remaining laps with Wegner taking the high line and Gallagher racing on the bottom of the track.  They traded positions several times but Wegner had the advantage at the checkered.  Gallagher finished third followed by Wayne Weaver and Ryan Higgs.  Tom Moore, Jr. finished sixth with Jonathan Swift, Ryan Godown, Jr., Brad Roberts and Tommy Errico, Jr. rounding out the top ten.

 

TJ Henry picked up in second win of the season in the Street Stock feature.  The battle was for the runner-up spot which was won by Rich Stinson.  Mick Search, Lee Allen and Tom Wills, Sr. trailed the leaders to the line.  Tom Wills, Jr. finished sixth followed by Jeff Dirkes, Nick Sandone, III. Gary Klimeczak and Paul Donahue.

 

Harry Houdini was the race winner in the Rookie feature.  Anthony Sisco, last week’s winner finished second with Tim Borror, third.

 

Andy Best was the winner of the MASS twenty lap Sprint Car feature event, reaching the finish line just ahead of a charging Tim Tanner.  Tanner’s late race moves gave him a second place finish over Kevin Nagy, Dave Brown and Mark Bitner.  Tom Carberry, Rick Stief, Jeff Geiges, Joe Kay and Zak Vickers completed the top ten at the checkered.

 

Lee Allen closed out the night of racing with a win in the 8 Cylinder feature event over Scott Riggleman, Chris Allen, Sr. Tom Wolfe and Derek Jones.  

D.A’s Auto Body and Repair Rookies (8 laps)

  1. Harry Houdini, 2. Anthony Sisco, 3. Tim Borror, 4. Anna Parks DNS: Nolan Openshaw

Foley Cat Modifieds (30 laps)

  1. Billy Pauch, Sr. 2. Danny Bouc, 3. Alex Yankowski, 4. Richie Pratt Jr., 5. Cale Ross, 6. Ryan Godown, 7. Matt Stangle, 8. David Crossman, 9. Jim Britt, 10. Brett Ballard, 11. Jimmy Blewett, 12. Tommy Beamer, 13. Dominick Buffalino, 14. Tim Buckwalter, 15. Billy Pauch Jr., 16. Frank Cozze, 17. Neal Williams, 18. Joseph Watson, 19. Stan Frankenfield, 20. Ron Roberts, 21. Bill Lasko, 22. Jack Swain, 23. Bucky Kell DNS: Mike Franz

South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Sportsman (20 laps) 

  1. Steve Kemery, 2. Rick Wegner,Jr.  3. Jim Gallagher Jr., 4. Wayne Weaver, 5. Ryan Higgs, 6. Tom Moore Jr., 7. Jonathan Swift, 8. Ryan Godown Jr., 9. Brad Roberts, 10. Tommy Errico Jr., 11. Erik McKinney, 12. Billy Chester, 13. Chris Jenkins, 14. Pete Serra, 15. Ernie Miles Jr., 16. Harry Houdini, 17. Ernie Miles III, 18. Erick Mattson, 19. Scott Maher Jr., 20. Scott Hulmes, 21. Tim Borror, 22. Anthony Sisco, 23. Matt Peck

Sunbelt Rentals Street Stocks (20 laps)

  1. TJ Henry, 2: Rich Stinson, Jr., 3. Mick Search, 4. Lee Allen, 5. Tom Wills, 6. Tom Wills Jr., 7. Jeff Dirkes, 8. Nick Sandone III, 9. Gary Klimeczak, 10. Paul Donahue, 11. Ken Moren, 12. Jeff Waltz, 13. Keith McKinley, 14. Brian Ludwig, 15. Mike Creamer, 16. Mike Hughes Jr., 17. Ron Frees

Mid-Atlantic Sprint Cars (20 laps)

  1. Andy Best, 2. Tim Tanner Jr., 3. Kevin Nagy, 4. Dave Brown, 5. Mark Bitner, 6. Tom Carberry, 7. Rick Stief, 8. Jeff Geiges, 9. Joe Kay, 10. Zak Vickers, 11. Eddie Wagner, 12. CJ Faison, 13. Josh Bricker, 14. John Brennfleck, 15. Keith Anderson, 16. Johnny Yanek, 17. Kristina Pratt, 18. Darren Cox, 19. Dale Eggert, 20. Zach Berghof, 21. Troy Ale, 22. Jenna Shotz, 23. Chuckles Stone, 24. Larry McVay

8 Cylinders (20 laps)

  1. Lee Allen, 2. Scott Riggleman, 3. Chris Allen Sr., 4. Tom Wolfe, 5. Derek Jones, 6. Travis Guyer, 7. Nancy Riggleman