Bridgeport Motorsports Park

Bridgeport, NJ – Sam Martz Sr. raced to his first Bridgeport Motorsports Park victory in the Foley Cat Modifieds in what was the fifth caution free Modified feature event of the 2021 season. The victory came in less than nine mintues on Liberty Kenworth of South Jersey night at the speedway.

After being sidelined from the last Saturday night event, Steve Kemery returned with a new power plant under the hood of the B&K Sheet Metal No. 69K and raced to his third win of the season in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman feature. Rich Stinson out ran TJ Henry to pick up his fifth Bridgeport Motorsports Park Street Stock win of the season while Cody Kline earned his second Spirit Auto Center Speedway All Star Slingshot win of the season.

Clay Butler had the Cray Motorsports No. 4B out in front of the Modified feature for the first seven laps before a hard charging Sam Martz raced his Izzi Trucking No. 3 into contention. Martz had just the bumper advantage on lap eight but pulled ahead of Butler on lap nine.

Once out in front, Martz drove away from the field, setting a rapid pace for the thirty lap event. Butler, Jim Britt and Dominck Buffalino battled for second. Britt hung tough as he and Buffalino swapped the third and fourth spots several times. Once in third, Buffalino took on Butler for second, finally securing the runner-up spot with just ten laps remaining.

Martz was racing through lapped traffic with Buffalino in pursuit but Martz never slowed his pace. “I didn’t know who was second or where they were,” Martz explained following the win – not taking any chances late in the race.
Buffalino finished second with Ryan Krachun winning a hard fought battle for third, finally securing the position from Ryan Godown with just about five laps to go. Godown finished fourth with Joseph Watson rounding out the top five. Alex Yankowski, Bulter, Britt, Ryan Watt and Tommy Beamer rounded out the top ten at the checkered with Watt racing into the top ten after starting in seventeenth.

It was a special win for Martz who got to celebrate the victory with his family, including his nine month old grandson, Colton. The Martz family returned to Bridgeport for the 2021 season after a two year absence and they are certainly making their mark in both divisions. Sam Sr. has been in the thick of the action since changing to a small block and new Bicknell chassis. Sammy Jr. has five wins in the 602 Crate Sportsman and currently leads the points. “Doug told us to come down here and this place is amazing,” Martz said from the Weaknecht Archery Victory Lane. “Top, bottom, multiple lanes – you can run anywhere,” Martz added.

After engine troubles sidelined Steve Kemery from the last Saturday night program, Kemery made up for lost time and picked up his fourth win of the season in the 602 Crate Sportsman. And his trip to Victory Lane came after Kemery received some help from his fellow racers. Doug Snyder and Ryan Conrad had a Crate engine sitting in their garage. When they heard of Kemery’s situation, they offered Kemery the motor. “It saved me a long drive,” Kemery explained how he just ordered a replacement for Snyder and Conrad and made the much shorter drive to their shop.

Howard Huepful, Matt Ellery and Steve Davis all had their chance to lead the race before Kemery took over on lap thirteen. Cautions kept the field close as Sammy Martz, Jr. and Travis Hill battled for position in front of another three car battle with Ellery, Weaver and Ethan Bill. Weaver and Bill were later sidelined in the final laps.

Kemery took the win over Martz, Hill, Ellery and Brett Ballard who wheeled the Crossman No. 80D. Jim Dallett, Tom Sherby, John Stevenson, Huepful and Ray Woodall completing the top ten at the checkered.

Rich Stinson returned to Victory Lane in the Street Stock division after escaping from the clutches of TJ Henry and Jeff Dirkes during the fifteen lap feature.

Mike Hughes led the way for the first seven laps before Stinson took the lead, followed closely by Henry. Dirkes, Hughes and Jeramy Doerr battled through out the race for position, racing so close that Dirkes and Doerr became hooked together at one point. Doerr finished third at the checkered followed by Dirkes and Hughes. Nick Sandone II, John Parker, Jeff Waitz, Andrew Joslin and Ken Moren completed the top ten in the running order.

Cody Kline picked up his second Spirit win of the season as the All Star Slingshots raced in their Saturday Matinee event at the start of the night of racing. Amanda Angstadt finished second after loaning a motor from fellow competitor, Ryan Davey. Michael Beckett finished third after battling with Scott Phillip and Ryan Davey who finished fourth and fifth.

Christopher Allen, Sr. raced ahead of his brother Lee to win the 4/8 Cylinder event.

FOLEY CAT MODIFIEDS (30 laps – Non-stop)

1. Sam Martz, 2. Dominick Buffalino, 3. Ryan Krachun, 4. Ryan Godown, 5. Joseph Watson, 6. Alex Yankowski, 7. Clay Butler, 8. Jim Britt, 9. Ryan Watt, 10. Tommy Beamer, 11. Billy Osmun, III, 12. Matt Stangle, 13. Neal Williams, 14. Billy Lasko, 15. David Crossman, 16. Troy Ale, 17. Eric Kormann, 18. Briggs Danner, 19. Frank Cozze, 20. Tom Moore, Jr., 21. Wade Hendrickson, 22. Billy Pauch, Sr., 23. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 24. Brett Kelly, DNS – Joe Toth, Ron Roberts, Mike Franz

SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOORS (25 laps)

1. Steve Kemery, 2 Sammy Martz, Jr., 3. Travis Hill, 4. Matt Ellery, 5. Brett Ballard, 6. Jim Dallett, 7. Tom Sherby, 8. John Stevenson, 9. Howard Huepful, 10. Ray Woodall, Jr., 11. Josh Bricker, 12. Billy Chester, 13. Mike Creamer, 14. Scott Hulmes, 15. Brad Cicio, 16. Frank Holmes, 17. Ethan Bill, 18. Wayne Weaver, 19. Aaron Weaver, 20. Howie Finch, 21. Joseph Brown, 22. Ryan Godown, Jr., 23. Shane Kassekert, 24. Rich Stinson, Jr., 25. Steve Davis (technical infraction)

BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK STREET STOCKS (15 laps)

1. Rich Stinson, Jr., 2. T.J. Henry, 3. Jeramy Doerr, 4. Jeff Dirkes, 5. Mike Hughes, 6. Nick Sandone, III, 7. John Parker, 8. Jeff Waltz, 9. Andrew Joslin, 10. Ken Moren, 11. Tom Wills, Jr., 12. Gary Klimeczak, DNS – Wes Camp, Jr.

ALL STAR SLINGSHOTS (20 laps on ¼ mile)

1. Cody Kline, 2. Amanda Angstadt, 3. Michael Beckett, 4. Scott Phillipp, 5. Ryan Davey, 6. Dave Morrell, 7. Ryan Harris, 8. P.J. Bozowski, 9. Tim Franks, DNS – Zach Merola, Matt Sydoryk

4/8 CYLINDER ENDURO (12 laps)

1. Christopher Allen, Sr., 2. Lee Allen, 3. Jim Smith, 4. Robert Johnson.

Bridgeport, NJ – For the first time this season, defending Foley Cat Modified Champion, Billy Pauch drove to the Weaknecht Archery Victory Lane to celebrate his victory at the end of thirty laps of non-stop racing.  “Not bad for an old guy,” Pauch quipped from the Winner’s Circle after exiting his K&A Excavating sponsored No. 1.  Pauch became the ninth different winner in the Modified ranks this season on Scrappy’s Auto Service Night at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park.

Joe Toth put the Belmont’s Garage No. 14 in the Winner’s Circle in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Sportsman Feature.  Jeff Dirkes earned his second win of the season as he drove to the finish line, side by side with Jeramy Doerr.

Shane Kassekert earned his first victory in the DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie division, picking up the win on Graduation Night while Ethan Bill was crowned as the 2021 Rookie Champion.

Jim Gallagher Jr. put his Elite Welding No. 31 out in front at the wave of the green flag and immediately began to put some distance between himself and the rest of the field.  Gallagher led the way for the first ten laps with Pauch reeling in the leader a little each lap.  Pauch challenged Gallagher for the lead on lap eleven.  Clay Butler and Sam Martz trailed the leaders while Ryan Godown and Billy Osmun III battled for fourth.  

Pauch pulled away from the field and soon found himself in lapped traffic.  On lap fifteen, Pauch, Gallagher and Butler continued to lead the way while Ryan Krachun put his Amwell Auto Body No. 29 on the top of the track and drove by both Godown and Martz to race in fourth.

Pauch was well ahead of the field when Krachun took over second on lap seventeen.  Godown, Gallagher and Martz completed the top five with ten laps to go but Alex Yankowski was on his way to challenge the top five.

Gallagher, Martz and Yankowski had a torrid battle for fourth.  Gallagher pulled of the track with overheating issues and Yankowski took over fourth.

With five laps remaining,  Krachun was able to narrow the margin somewhat but it was Pauch who drove to the checkered flag for the victory over Krachun, Godown, Yankowski and Martz.  Joseph Watson finished sixth followed by Osmun, Ryan Watt, Jordan Watson and Matt Stangle.  Both Watt and Stangle came from deep in the pack,   sharing starting spot in row number nine.

Joe Toth was behind the wheel of the Belmont No. 14 this week, prepping for next week’s All American 40 for the 602 Crate Sportsman competitors.  Toth, who has a Modified win to his credit this season, was forced to park his Modified due to some motor issues.  

Toth went to work on race leader, Steve Davis and secured the lead just before the halfway mark.  Davis wasn’t about to go away but Toth was able to answer Davis’ slide jobs with a crossover move to secure the lead.

Toth took the win over Davis, Matt Ellery, Tom Sherby and first state invader, Bryan Brobst rounding out the top five.  Howie Finch finished sixth ahead of current point leader, Sammy Martz, Jr. Michael White, Ryan Higgs and Adam White rounded out the top ten.

Sixteen year old, Shane Kassekert came close to winning a Rookie feature earlier this season.  Kassekert ran the high line and was the leader on the final lap but Ethan Bill was able to win the drag race to the checkered flag.  This week there would be no last minute challenge as Kassekert raced to the victory on graduation night.  Bill finished second and was crowned as the 2021 Rookie Champion.  Mike Creamer finished third followed by Ethan Young and Zach Steffey.

With one win to this credit from earlier this season, Mike Hughes grabbed the lead in the Sunbelt Rental Street Stock feature.  Jeramy Doerr and Jeff Dirkes were racing hard for second right behind the leader.  Doerr had the lead at the end of five laps after a three wide battle for the top spot.  

Dirkes dogged the leader for the remaining laps, timing his challenge for the final turn on the last lap.  Dirkes won the race on the homestretch by the narrowest of margins over Doerr, Gary Klimeczak, Nick Sandone III and John Parker.  Dirkes waited until the end of the race to make his move.  “I didn’t want to give him (Doerr) another chance,” Dirkes explained.

The 602 Crate Sportsman will take center stage next Saturday night as they compete in the All American 40 for the first time.  The Modifieds and Street Stocks will make it a triple header show on the eve of the nation’s birthday.  

FOLEY CAT MODIFIEDS (30 laps): 1. Billy Pauch, 2. Ryan Krachun, 3. Ryan Godown, 4. Alex Yankowski, 5. Sam Martz, 6. Joseph Watson, 7. Billy Osmun III, 8. Ryan Watt, 9. Jordan Watson, 10. Matt Stangle, 11. Neal Williams, 12. Clay Butler, 13. Tommy Beamer, 14. Mike Franz, 15. Troy Ale, 16. Ron Roberts 17. Billy Lasko, 18. Jim Gallagher Jr., 19. Kevin Sockriter, 20. Tom Moore Jr., 21. Jim Britt, 22. Dominick Buffalino, 23. Brad Brightbill, 24. Brett Ballard

South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Sportsman (25 laps): 1. Joe Toth, 2. Steve Davis, 3. Matt Elery, 4. Bryan Brobst, 5. Tom Sherby, 6. Howie Finch, 7. Sammy Martz Jr., 8. Michael White, 9. Ryan Higgs, 10. Adam White, 11. Travis Hill, 12. Jim Dallett, 13. Brad Cicio, 14. Billy Chester, 15. Josh Bricker, 16. Scott Hulmes, 17. Nick Desantis, 18. Ryan Godown Jr., 19. Wayne Weaver, 20. Ethan Bill, 21. Andy Walko, 22. Joel Smith, 23. Pete Serra, 24. Zach Steffey, 25. Shane Kassekert, 26. Joe Brown, 27. Bob Lineman Jr.

Sunbelt Rentals Street Stocks (15 laps): 1. Jeff Dirkes, 2. Jeramy Doerr, 3. Gary Klimeczak, 4. Nick Sandone III, 5. John Parker, 6. Tom Wills Jr., 7. Mike Hughes

D.A.’s Auto Body & Repair Rookies (7 laps): 1. Shane Kassekert, 2. Ethan Bill, 3. Mike Creamer, 4. Ethan Young, 5. Zach Steffey, 6. Courtney Pickens