Bridgeport Motorsports Park

Bridgeport, NJ – It was Godown night at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park as both Ryan Sr and Ryan Jr raced to wins in their respective divisions. It was win number three for dad and win number two for son on a Saturday night of racing sponsored by RGI Landscaping which is Godown’s business.

Rich Stinson raced to his fourth win of the season in the Sunbelt Rental Street Stocks while Ethan Bill picked up his fourth victory in the DA’s Auto Body and Repair Rookie division. The Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series (MASS) sponsored by the Delaware Auto Exchange put on a thrilling race that saw Dave Grube race to his third consecutive win in 305 sprint car action.

Tommy Beamer had the Thornton Gulf No. 31 on a rail as Beamer led the field of Foley Cat Modifieds for the first eight laps. Beamer battled with Matt Peck for the lead and then raced away from the field until a lap seven caution.

Ryan Godown had made his way up to second in the first six laps after starting thirteenth. Thirteen certain;y wasn’t unlucky for Godown! Godown and Ryan Watt started side by side on the original start and both raced their way into the top five in the first few laps.

Beamer battled with Godown for several laps before Godown was able to put the Camp Out Inc. No. 26 out in front. Watt raced into second on lap twelve with Alex Yankowski taking over third just before the halfway mark. Godown led Watt, Yankowski, Beamer and Jim Britt at the crossed flags with Watt and Yankowski keeping pace with the leader.

A lap sixteen restart saw Watt’s No. 14w miss a beat as Yankowski took over second and Watt lost several positions. Yankowski was able to keep pace with the race leader, following behind Godown with about 2-3 car lengths separating the top two. Watt battled back to take over third on lap nineteen.

Neal Williams was the car on the move in the late stage of the race, first battling by Dominick Buffalino to take over fifth and then racing with Jim Britt for fourth.

Godown led the way to the checkered for his third win of the season followed by Yankowski, Watt, Williams and Buffalino who overtook Britt in the final laps. Trailing Britt was Matt Stangle in seventh, Jordan Watson, Billy Osmun III and Joseph Watson.

Ryan Godown, Jr. wasn’t going to let his dad have all the glory as he took the early race lead and led all the way to the checkered flag at the end of twenty-five laps in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman feature.

Steve Kemery overcame a myriad of issues to race from his scratch position start to finish second
followed by Matt Ellery who has now put together several consecutive top five finishes. Ellery made sure that Godown knew he was there and put some pressure on the second generation driver throughout the race. Sammy Martz, Jr. finished fourth, putting an end to his win streak after three victories. Howie Finch finished fifth.

Steve Davis trailed Finch in sixth followed by Ryan Higgs, Travis Hill, Bob Lineman, Jr. and Tom Sherby.

It may have been Stinson’s fourth win this season but Saturday night’s field was able to keep the race winner within reach right up to the checkered flag.

Jeff Dirkes battled with Nick Sandone III for the lead at the start. Dirkes led the first two laps and then raced across the line side by side with Stinson for lap three. Stinson was out in front the next time around. TJ Henry raced from the back of the field to make it a three car race in his first Bridgeport appearance of the season.

Stinson took the win over Dirkes, Henry, Jeramy Doerr and Sandone rounding out the top five.

Ethan Bill raced to his fourth Rookie win but it was Mike Creamer who led the way for the first four circuits. Bill took the lead at halfway and led the rest of the way to the checkered. Creamer had his best finish in second with Shane Kassekert finishing third followed by Marc Nappi and Courtney Pickens.

The MASS sprint car feature was full of excitement. After Mark Bittner went for a wild ride at the start, Phil Meisner and Ricy DiEva battled for the lead. Meisner led a pair of laps before DiEva took the lead and sixteen year old MASS rookie, Buddy Schweibinz raced into second on lap four. After making contact with the wall, DiEva would drop out of the competition with Dave Grube taking over the lead.

Grube may have been on a hot streak but Schwiebinz was not letting that intimidate him as he dogged the leader. Schwiebinz had just set up a slide job to challenge for the lead when the caution and then red waved for a multi-car incident on the homestretch.

Grube resumed the lead on the restart and led the remaining laps to the checkered. Kevin Nagy passed Schweibinz for second but the young driver battled back to finish second in just his seventh start. Nagy finished third in front of Craig Pellegrini and Christian Rumsey. Zack Bealer finished sixth after running within the top five for most of the race. Eddie Wagner was seventh followed by Jon Brennfleck, Cody West and Josh Bricker.

FOLEY CAT MODIFIEDS (30 laps)

1. Ryan Godown, Sr., 2. Alex Yankowski, 3. Ryan Watt, 4. Neal Williams, 5. Dominick Buffalino, 6. Jim Britt, 7. Matt Stangle, 8. Jordan Watson, 9. Billy Osmun, III, 10. Joseph Watson, 11. Tommy Beamer, 12. Sam Martz, Sr., 13. Billy Lasko, 14. Clay Butler, 15. Troy Ale, 16. Stan Frankenfield, 17. Mike Franz, 18. David Crossman, 19. Ryan Krachun, 20. Billy Pauch, Sr., 21. Art Liedl, 22. Matt Peck, 23. Joe Toth, 24. Jim Gallagher, Jr., DNS – Brett Kelly

SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOOR 602 SPORTSMAN (25 laps)

1. Ryan Godown, Jr., 2. Steve Kemery, 3. Matt Ellery, 4. Sammy Martz, Jr., 5. Howie Finch, 6. Steve Davis, 7. Ryan Higgs, 8. Travis Hill, 9. Bob Lineman, Jr., 10. Tom Sherby, 11. Ryan Conrad, 12. Howard Huepful, 13. Jim Dallett, 14. Ethan Bill, 15. Doug Snyder, 16. Billy Chester, 17. Ryan Stangle, 18. Joseph Brown, 19. Pete Serra, 20. Marc Nappi, 21. Nick DeSantis, 22. Scott Hulmes, 23. Ian Humphreys, 24. Brad Cicio, 25. Andy Walko, DNS – Joe Toth, DNQ – Mike Creamer, Eric Mattson, Shane Kassekert

D.A.’S AUTO BODY AND REPAIR ROOKIES (7 laps)

1. Ethan Bill, 2. Mike Creamer, 3. Shane Kassekert, 4. Marc Nappi, 5. Courtney Pickens

SUNBELT RENTALS STREET STOCKS (20 laps)

1. Rich Stinson, Jr., 2. Jeff Dirkes, 3. T.J. Henry, 4. Jeramy Doerr, 5. Nick Sandone, III, 6. Gary Klimeczak, 7. John Parker, 8. Terry Chaney, 9. Scott Max, 10. Tom Wills, Jr., 11. Ken Moren, 12. Mike Hughes

MID-ATLANTIC SPRINT SERIES (25 laps)

1. Dave Grube, 2. Buddy Schweibinz, 3. Kevin Nagy, 4. Craig Pellegrini, 5. Christian Rumsey, 6. Zack Bealer, 7. Eddie Wagner, 8. Jon Brennfleck, 9. Cody West, 10. Josh Bricker, 11. Joe Kay, 12. Phil Meisner, 13. Zack Berghof, 14. Kristina Pratt, 15. Keith Anderson, 16. Dale Eggert, 17. Rick Stief, 18. Jenna Shotz, 19. Bryant Davis, 20. Ricky DiEva, 21. Larry McVay, 22. Rory Janney, 23. Rich Janney, 24. Mark Bitner, DNQ – C.J. Faison, Brody Adamsky, Dave Bonner, Marie McVay, Justin Nowlen, Pat U’Selis, Michael Keen.

Bridgeport, NJ – Just one week earlier, the Bridgeport Speedway was still looking for its first repeat winner with seven races completed for the Foley Cat Modifieds.  Then Ryan Godown raced to his second win of the season in a mid-week show with to become the first repeat winner. On Saturday night, Dominick Buffalino had the Big Spring Car Wash sponsored No. 126 in peak form, racing thirty non-stop laps for his second win of the season.  

Sammy Martz, Jr. raced from his twelfth place start to pass leader, Steve Kemery following a lap thirteen caution to win his fifth win of the season and third win in a row in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Sportsman.  There was a new face in the Weaknecht Archery Victory Lane at the end of the DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie feature as Bryce Higgs led every lap for his first win of the season.  After weeks of being close, Jeff Dirkes was able to put together fifteen solid laps to pick up the win in the Sunbelt Rental Street Stocks in spite of getting a flat tire at the beginning of the race. 

Buffalino and Ryan Watt were so busy racing each other during Tuesday night’s show, that they never saw the black No. 26 who was making up time on the outside until Godown completed the pass for the lead.  Don’t think that that didn’t cross Buffalino’s mind while he was leading the race on Saturday night.  “I was running hot,” Buffalino explained, “so I was trying to roll out of the throttle a little bit to let it cool down but then you’ve got to be afraid of someone sliding you.”  But that didn’t happen this time.

Polesitter, Billy Lasko raced with Brett Ballard for the lead on the start with Ballard out in front as the field came around to score the first lap.  Ballard led Neal Williams, Buffalino, Ryan Watt and Tommy Beamer through lap ten but Buffalino was out in front on the next circuit.  

Buffalino raced away from the field while Williams and Watt battled for second and Ballard and Alex Yankowski raced for fourth.  Watt took over second on lap twenty-six and he raced hard to the finish, cutting into Buffalino’s lead but running out of laps and time.  

Buffalino raced to the win with Watt picking up his second runner-up finish of the week.  Yankowski crossed the line in third followed by Williams and Ryan Godown who raced into the top five from his fifteenth place start.  Joseph Watson, Ryan Krachun, Sam Martz, Ballard and Matt Stangle finished in sixth through tenth.

Sammy Martz, Jr. continues to dominate the 602 Sportsman, racing to his fifth win of the season and third consecutive victory.

After a four year absence, Ian Humphreys returned to racing action, qualifying through his heat race and then drawing the pole for the start of the feature.  After a three wide battle for the lead, Steve Kemery emerged with the lead over Ryan Godown, Jr. and Humphreys.  

Kemery led the way until half-way when Martz used the outside line to roll into the lead following a restart.  Martz immediately pulled away from the competition as he raced to the finish.  Kemery finished second followed by Tom Sherby who continues to work the bottom of the track to perfection.  It was another top five finish for Matt Ellery who is competing in his first full season of competition.  And then, there’s Ethan Bill.  With three wins in a row in Rookie competition, Bill raced to a fifth place finish after qualifying by winning the consolation.  Sean Metz, Ryan Conrad, Howie Finch, Travis Hill and Humphreys rounded out the top ten.

Bryce Higgs made his first start in Rookie competition and made it pay off.  Higgs led every lap and put an end to Ethan Bill’s win streak.  Bill finished second with Shane Kassekert finishing third.  Mike Creamer finish fourth with Ethan Young completing the top five.

After getting a late start on the season, Jeff Dirkes has made his presence known every week in the Street Stock competition.  This week, that consistent effort paid off.

Dirkes raced Nick Sandone to lead lap one but a flat tire had Dirkes headed to the pits for a replacement.  Sandone led lap two before Rich Stinson took over on lap three.  Stinson led the way over Tom Wills, Jr., Mike Hughes, Sandone and Jeramy Doerr through lap ten but a flat tire on his No. 27 had Stinson heading to the pits on the next lap.  

A three car incident in turn one brought about another caution and restart with Wills leading the way.  Dirkes took the lead on lap twelve and led to the checkered.  Following Dirkes across the line was Stinson Jr., Wills, Doerr and Gary Klimeczak.

The Monster Trucks invade the Bridgeport Motorsports Park next weekend for shows on both Saturday and Sunday.  Each ticket is a pit pass so come early and get a close look at the Monster Trucks before the start of the Monster Truck Throwdown.  Go to https://bridgeportspeedway.thundertix.com/.

FOLEY CAT BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS (30 laps) 

1. Dominick Buffalino, 2. Ryan Watt, 3. Alex Yankowski, 4. Neal Williams, 5. Ryan Godown, 6. Joseph Watson, 7. Ryan Krachun, 8. Sam Martz, 9. Brett Ballard, 10. Matt Stangle, 11. Tommy Beamer, 12. Billy Osmun, III, 13. Clay Butler, 14. Jim Britt, 15. Joe Toth, 16. Billy Lasko, 17. Mike Franz, 18. Troy Ale, 19. Tim Buckwalter, 20. Tom Moore, Jr., 21. Ron Roberts, 22. Billy Pauch, Sr., 23. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 24. Brad Roberts, DNQ – Tom Maccherone, Carson Wright, Matt Peck, Tommy Errico, Jr., Frank Cozze, Nick Keefe

SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOORS 602 SPORTSMAN (25 laps) 

1. Sammy Martz, Jr., 2. Steve Kemery, 3. Tom Sherby, 4. Matt Ellery, 5. Ethan Bill, 6. Sean Metz, 7. Ryan Conrad, 8. Howie Finch, 9. Travis Hill, 10. Ian Humphreys, 11. Brad Cicio, 12. Joe Brown, 13. Billy Chester, 14. Scott Hulmes, 15. Andy Walko, 16. Nick DeSantis, 17. Doug Snyder, 18. Ryan Godown, Jr., 19. Jim Dallett, 20. Ethan Young, 21. Ryan Stangle, 22. Zac Weller, 23. Matt Luzi, 24. Erik Mattson, DNS – Bryce Higgs, DNQ – Mike Creamer, Shane Kassekert, Zack Cox, Pete Serra, Greg Nailor 

D.A.’S AUTO BODY AND REPAIR ROOKIES (7 laps) 

1. Bryce Higgs, 2. Ethan Hill, 3. Shane Kassekert, 4. Mike Creamer, 5. Ethan Young, 6. Courtney Pickens, 7. Zach Cox

SUNBELT RENTALS STREET STOCKS (15 laps) 

1. Jeff Dirkes, 2. Rich Stinson, Jr., 3. Tom Wills, Jr., 4. Jeramy Doerr, 5. Gary Klimeczak, 6. Ken Moren, 7. John Parker, 8. Nick Sandone, III, 9. Keith McKinley, 10. Mike Hughes, DNS – Terry Chaney