Bridgeport Motorsports Park

Bridgeport, NJ – It was Tornado Relief Benefit Championship Night at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park as the Speedway celebrated the 2021 Track Champions and raised money to help residents of neighboring communities who were affected by the devastation of the tornados spawned during Hurricane Ida. The Saturday night crowd showed their support for this event as $9,000 was raised for the tornado victims in the neighboring communities.

The track paid tribute to the lives lost during the attacks of September 11, 2001. On the twentieth anniversary of that fateful day, American flags were distributed to the young fans in attendance to wave during the singing of the National Anthem. It was a wonderful sight to see – the youngsters in front of the grandstands, waving their flags while Andrew Joslin drove the No. 343 Street Stock around the track, carrying the flag. The Modifieds lined up behind the grandstands before the start of their feature. The crowd mingled among the starting line-up until God Bless American was sung by Keith Gerhart and the cars were sent to the track for their thirty lap feature event. ​

Ryan Godown raced to his eighth win of the 2021 season in the Foley Cat Modifieds on his way to the Bridgeport Motorsports Park 2021 Championship. Sammy Martz, Jr. was crowned as the 2021 Champion of the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman as he added his sixth win of the season on Saturday night. Jeff Dirkes was the winner of the Bridgeport Motorsports Park Street Stocks but it was Tom Wills, Jr. who was crowned as the Street Stock Champion for the 2021 season.

All three champions were joined in the Weaknecht Archery Victory Lane by family, friends and sponsors who joined in celebrating the teams’ accomplishments, illustrating that championships are not won by drivers or car alone but by a team effort.

​The tone was set for the evening with the twelve qualifying races for the three divisions. A large Saturday night crowd saw the lead change three times in the first lap of the first Modified heat race!

WB James led the Modifieds around the high banks for one lap before Joseph Watson raced the Blue Hen Special into the lead on lap two. Watson led the field for eleven laps while Godown raced his way through the top five, landing in second on lap eight after a back and forth battle with Billy Osmun III. Godown raced into the lead on lap thirteen with an outside pass by Watson.

At halfway, Osmun raced by both Godown and Watson to momentarily take the lead but both drivers fought back. Watson was scored as the race leader on lap fifteen but Godown raced back out in front on the next green flag lap.

Watson’s next challenge came from Dominick Buffalino and the Big Spring Car Wash No. 126 while Alex Yankowski took on Osmun for fourth. With ten laps to go, Godown led Buffalino, Watson, Osmun and Yankowski.

Godown raced to the win – his third in a row and fourth win out of the last five races. The Modified Champion’s finished every Saturday night point race in the top five with just one exception and that was a seventh place finish after being forced to pit for a flat tire.

Buffalino finished second, keeping the pressure on the leader throughout the second half of the race. Watson finished third ahead of Yankowski and a hard charging Matt Stangle who raced from deep in the field to fifth in the final laps. Osmun finished sixth followed by James, Clay Butler and Dave Hunt who was making his first appearance on the 4/10th mile track.

After a spirited battle with first year driver, Jim Dallett, Sammy Martz, Jr. took the lead and raced to his sixth win of the season, leading every lap from the green to the checkered. Martz had clinched the championship before the start of the feature but Hannah Korman made his life easier when she drew the pole for the new point champion.

Joe Toth and Eric Kormann battled for second, lap after lap until defending champion, Steve Kemery joined in the race. Martz led the way to the finish followed by Toth, Kormann, Howie Finch and Kemery. Steve Davis finished sixth with Travis Hill, Ethan Bill, Adam White and Ryan Higgs completed the top ten in the running order.

Martz had an incredible season with six wins and all top ten finishes. Twelve of those races were in the top five. Martz completed every Saturday night event.

Jeff Dirkes raced to his fourth win of the season in the Bridgeport Motorsports Park Street Stocks but it was Tom Wills, Jr. who came away with the 2021 Championship.

Polesitter, Nick Sandone III battled with Dirkes and Jeramy Doerr for the lead as they raced down the backstretch on the first lap. It was Dirkes who emerged with the lead. Wills quickly raced his way into second. Dirkes picked up the win as Wills held off the challenges of Lee Allen to finish second. Allen took third over Kyle Saylor and Doeer. Mike Hughes rebounded from an early race incident to finish sixth followed by Mike Creamer, Ken Moren, Tom Landwher and John Parker.

After a strong start to the season, Wills lost an engine and feared that his season was over but the Beaumont family provided the power for under the hood and Wills was back to the track and winning races.

Bridgeport Motorsports Park will host the Monster Truck Throwdown this weekend with shows on both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets can be purchased in advance including the Family Bundle that includes two adult and two tickets for children. Racing action returns the following weekend for a three day event for the Danny Serrano 100 Weekend featuring the Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman, Street Stocks USAC East Coast Wingless Sprints and USAC All Pro SpeedSTRS.

FOLEY CAT MODIFIED FEATURE (30 laps)

1. Ryan Godown, 2. Dominick Buffalino, 3. Joseph Watson, 4. Alex Yankowski, 5. Matt Stangle, 6. Billy Osmun, III, 7. W.B. James, 8. Clay Butler. 9. David Hunt, 10. Tom Moore, Jr., 11. Troy Ale, 12. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 13. Sam Martz, Jr., 14. Mike Franz, 15. Eric Williams, 16. Jimmy Horton, 17. Tommy Beamer, 18. Frank Cozze, 19. David Crossman, 20. Stan Frankenfield, Jr., 21. Billy Pauch, Sr., 22. Neal Williams, 23. Skylar Sheriff, DNS – Heath Metzer, Kevin Vaclavicek, DNQ – H.J. Bunting, Roger Manning, Jim Britt

2021 FOLEY CAT MODIFIED CHAMPION – RYAN GODOWN

SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOORS 602 SPORTSMAN FEATURE (25 laps)

1. Sammy Martz, Jr., 2. Joe Toth, 3. Eric Kormann, 4. Howie Finch, 5. Steve Kemery, 6. Steve Davis, 7. Travis Hill, 8. Ethan Bill, 9. Adam White, 10. Ryan Higgs, 11. Sean Metz, 12. Andy Walko, 13. Bryan Brobst, 14. Matt Ellery, 15. Greg Reed, 16. Jim Dallett, 17. Michael White, 18. Billy Chester, 19. Scott Hulmes, 20. Thomas Sherby, 21. Matt Smith, 22. Zach McDonald, 23. Wayne Weaver, 24. Jon Swift, 25. Ryan Godown, Jr., 26. Pete Serra, 27. Howard Huepful, DNQ – Aaron Weaver, Ethan Young, John Scarpati, Nolan Openshaw, Shane Kassekert, Erik Mattson

 2021 SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOORS 602 SPORTSMAN CHAMPION –   SAMMY MARTZ, JR. 

BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK STREET STOCKS FEATURE (15 laps)

1. Jeff Dirkes, 2. Tom Wills, Jr., 3. Lee Allen, 4. Kyle Saylor, 5. Jeramy Doerr, 6. Mike Hughes, 7. Mike Creamer, 8. Ken Moren, 9. Tom Landwher, 10. John Parker, 11. Gary Klimeczak, 12. Nick Sandone, III, 13. Doug Dubray, 14. Kevin Bifulco, 15. Mike Baldwin, DNS – Drew Brocklebank

2021 BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK STREET STOCKS FEATURE – TOM WILLS, JR.

Bridgeport, NJ – Ryan Godown, Travis Hill and Jeff Dirkes raced to victories on Saturday night at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park with just one more Saturday night event remaining in the 2021 Championships.  Champions will be crowned next Saturday night when the Foley Cat Modifieds, South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman and Bridgeport Street Stocks race in their final point race of the season.

Ryan Godown raced to his seventh win after leading just the final four laps of the thirty lap feature event.  Frank Cozze had the Dave Renaldo owned No. 401 out in front since lap ten and maintained his lead after the race’s final caution just past halfway.  As Cozze and Godown raced to the line to complete lap twenty-six, Cozze came up on a lapped car that caused Cozze to change his line and it allowed Godown to take the lead.  “He (Cozze) had some smoke tonight,” Godown stated after the checkered, “then he lost some momentum there.”  “I knew he (Godown) was there,” Cozze explained.  “I could hear him on and off.  They were giving the move over flag and I just expected the lapped car to respond to it.  I hit it right the one lap and then missed it the next.  That’s all it took.” 
Less than four laps from a win, it was nevertheless, a good night for the Cozze/Renaldo team with their best run of the season.  

Dominick Buffalino and Sam Martz spent most of the race racing each other for third with Billy Pauch adding an additional element on several occasions.  Buffalino crossed the line in third followed by Martz and Pauch.  Alex Yankowski finished sixth followed by Neal Williams, Billy Osmun III, Matt Stangle and Ryan Watt.  Both Stangle and Watt raced from deep in the field for top ten finishes.

Travis Hill started out the season by winning the Underdog 20 – a race that he was eligible for because he was winless during the 2020 season.  That won’t be the case this year as Hill raced to his second Saturday night victory with point leader, Sammy Martz, Jr. and defending champion, Steve Kemery racing just behind the winner.

Joe Toth And Wayne Weaver led the field to the start and traded the lead back and forth until Hill raced from his seventh place start and into the lead on lap four.  Weaver, Toth, Rookie Champion, Ethan Bill and Toth battled for position behind the leader.  The cars were frequently three wide as they battled for position and each chose their preferred line around the high banks. 

Martz Jr. raced his way into contention in the final ten laps, racing three wide with Weaver and Ryan Godown, Jr.  Bob Lineman, Jr. ran into trouble in turn two with seventeen laps on the books, bringing out the last caution and erasing Hill’s advantage.

Martz and Hill raced for the lead with Kemery right there to take advantage of any opportunity.  Hill raced to the win followed by Martz, Kemery, Godown and Bryan Brobst.  Bill finished sixth followed by Toth, Jim Dallet, Ryan HIggs and Howie Finch.

The competition was fast and furious in the Bridgeport Motorsports Park Street Stocks.    Jeff Dirkes and point leader, Tom Wills, Jr. raced for the lead in the early going with Wills taking the top spot on lap four.  Wills held the lead until a lap nine restart when Dirkes raced back out in front.  Dirkes led the way as Wills, Kyle Saller and Mike Hughes battled for position.  Contact was made in the final laps.  Wills was able to recover but not before Saller and Hughes had passed for second and third.  

Dirkes raced to the victory – his third of the season – over Saller, Hughes, Wills and Mike Creamer.  Vern McLaughlin, Drew Brocklebank, John Parker, Nick Sandone III and Jeramy Doerr completed the top ten.  
New faces are making appearances every week as Street Stock competitors prepare for the Street Stock Nationals on October 8th and 9th.  

Rich Page was the winner in the 4 Cylinder Enduro competition over the largest field of cars to date.  Chris Gall finished second  over Jim Tinnes, Joe Garey, Sr. and Jim Smith.

Saturday night action returns for Championship Night with the Foley Cat Modifieds, South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman and Bridgeport Motorsports Park Street Stocks.  

FOLEY CAT MODIFIEDS (30 laps) 

1. Ryan Godown, 2. Frank Cozze, 3. Dominick Buffalino, 4. Sam Martz, Sr., 5. Billy Pauch, Sr., 6. Alex Yankowski, 7. Neal Williams, 8. Billy Osmun, III, 9. Matt Stangle, 10. Ryan Watt, 11. Ryan Krachun, 12. Joseph Watson, 13. Jim Britt, 14. W.B. James, 15. Ryan Forte, 16. Clay Butler, 17. Kevin Vaclavicek, 18. Roger Manning, 19. Brett Kelly, 20. Mike Franz, 21. Troy Ale, 22. Tommy Beamer, DNS – Chris Jenkins 

SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOORS 602 SPORTSMAN (25 laps) 

1. Travis Hill, 2. Sammy Martz, Jr., 3. Steve Kemery, 4. Ryan Godown, Jr., 5. Bryan Brobst, 6. Ethan Bill, 7. Joe Toth, 8. Jim Dallett, 9. Ryan Higgs, 10. Howie Finch, 11. Matt Ellery, 12. Pete Serra, 13. Scott Hulmes, 14. Billy Chester, 15. Nolan Openshaw, 16. Shane Kassekert, 17. Ryan Walther, 18. Wayne Weaver, 19. Bob Lineman, Jr. 20. Tom Sherby, 21. Ian Humphreys, 22. Nick DeSantis, 23. Will Protinick, DNS – Ethan Young, DNQ – Erik Mattson, Jeramy Doerr, Ryan Stangle, Brandon Shipley 

BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORT PARK STREET STOCKS (15 laps) 

1. Jeff Dirkes, 2. Kyle Saller, 3. Mike Hughes, 4. Tom Wills, Jr., 5. Mike Creamer, 6. Vern McLaughlin, 7. Drew Brocklebank, 8. John Parker, 9. Nick Sandone, III, 10. Jeramy Doerr, 11. Chuck Joslin, 12. Tom Landwher, 13. Wes Camp 

4 CYLINDER/8 CYLINDER (15 laps) 

1. Rich Page, 2. Chris Gall, 3. Jim Tinnes, 4. Joe Garey, Sr. 5. Jim Smith, 6. Bobby Johnson, 7. Kyle Hurley, 8. Ed Ford, 9. Ricky Gergasko, 10. Dom Antonelli, 11. Joe Garey, Jr.

Bridgeport, NJ – For the second time this season, Ryan Godown Senior and Junior raced to victories in their Bridgeport Motorsports Park feature events on Saturday night. It was Ryan Godown’s sixth win in the Foley Cat Modifieds while Ryan Junior earned his fifth win of the season in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman. Briggs Danner raced to the win in the USAC All-Pro Speedster feature – that’s three wins at Bridgeport for Danner this season who also has a pair of victories in the USAC East Coast Wingless Sprint Cars.

The Modified feature event was full of slide jobs, cross-overs and close racing as Godown raced to the win in a highly contested thirty lap feature event. Regardless of who your favorite driver might be, it was a racing fans dream of a finish as several cars were contending for the win right up to the checkered flag.

Godown dedicated the win to the memory of his parents just days after his father’s birthday.

Defending Bridgeport Champion, Billy Pauch grabbed the lead at the wave of the green with Clay Butler, Matt Stangle and Billy Osmun III chase the yellow No. 1 around the high banks. Stangle moved into second at the end of the first lap with Dominick Buffalino taking over third on lap three. Godown raced into the top five from his eleventh place start on lap five.

Godown moved up to fourth and Neal Williams to fifth just one lap later.

Five laps later, the leaders were catching the back of the field. Alex Yankowski was challenging Williams for a spot in the top five just before the first caution flag with twelve complete. Buffalino headed to the pits with a flat tire, relinquishing his third-place run. Pauch restarted from the outside and led the way back to the green over Stangle and Godown.

Godown quickly moved into second but Pauch led the way through a pair of restarts. Godown raced into the lead on a lap twenty restart as Stangle raced in second over Yankowski, Tim Buckwalter and Williams.

With five laps to go, Stangle was racing inside and out, trying to find the way to the lead. Buffalino raced his way back into the top five and was racing with Buckwalter for fourth. A few laps later, Pauch battled his way back into the top five.

A last lap caution set up a single file restart and a dash to the checkered as Godown won the drag race to the finish over Stangle, Yankowski, Buffalino and Pauch. Buckwalter, Williams, Osmun, Butler and Troy Ale completed the top ten at the finish. However, the Stangle No. 6 was disqualified in post-race tech, moving everyone up one spot and Tom Moore, Jr. rounding out the top ten.

Ryan Godown, Jr. drew the pole for his starting spot in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman feature but frequent cautions kept Godown’s challengers close. By lap three, Joe Toth and Steve Kemery were racing behind Godown.

Godown led from the green to the checkered flag for the win. Toth had the advantage over Kemery at the finish line with Matt Ellery and Jim Dallett rounding out the top five at the checkered. Steve Davis, Ryan Simmons, Tom Sherby, point leader, Sammy Martz, Jr. and Bob Lineman, Jr. completed the top ten. Martz raced his way from the back of the field after pitting for a tire change.

Just days before the final race of the season at the Championship Energy Action Track, USA, Briggs Danner raced his E Schneider & Sons No. 78 All Pro SpeedSTR to victory in the twenty lap feature event at Bridgeport. After a total rebuild was needed after a crash in its last race, Danner wanted to test the car before the Tuesday event.

Former National SpeedSTR champion, Mike Bednar grabbed the lead at the start but the competition was three wide coming out of turn two. Some contact was made which led to Bednar hitting the turn three wall, ending his night.

On the restart, Tim Buckwalter led the field for the first two laps with Danner taking over second on lap two. One lap later, Danner had the No. 78 out in front.

Danner dominated the remaining laps for the win over Buckwalter, Billy Pauch Sr., Louden Reimert and Ryan Krachun. Jason Musser, Tom Mayberry, TJ Mayberry, Dustin Morris and Nick Pecko rounded out the top ten.

Racing returns to the high banks next Saturday with the Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman and Street Stocks in action with just two races remaining to determine the 2021 track champions!

FOLEY CAT MODIFIEDS (30 laps)

1. Ryan Godown, Sr., 2. Alex Yankowski, 3. Dominick Buffalino, 4. Billy Pauch, Sr., 5. Tim Buckwalter, 6. Neal Williams, 7. Billy Osmun, III, 8. Clay Butler, 9. Troy Ale, 10. Tom Moore, Jr., 11. Joseph Watson, 12. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 13. Frank Cozze, 14. Jim Britt, 15. Mike Franz, 16. Sam Martz, Jr., 17. Roger Manning, 18. Ryan Kratchun, 19. Billy Lasko, 20. David Burns, 21. David Crossman, 22. Tommy Beamer, 23. Ryan Forte, 24. Kevin Vaclavicek, DQ – Matt Stangle, DNS – Ron Roberts, Brandon Grosso, DNQ – D.J. Hunt, W.B. James

SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOORS 602 SPORTSMAN (25 laps)

1. Ryan Godown, Jr., 2. Joe Toth, 3. Steve Kemery, 4. Matt Ellery, 5. Jim Dallett, 6.

Steve Davis, 7. Ryan Simmons, 8. Tom Sherby, 9. Sam Martz, Jr., 10. Bob Lineman, Jr., 11. Nick DeSantis, 12. Travis Hill, 13. Ryan Higgs, 14. Anthony Tramontana, 15. Ian Humphreys, 16. Ethan Bill, 17. Joseph Brown, 18. Josh Brinker, 19. Will Dupree, 20. Billy Chester, 21. Wayne Weaver, 22. Brett Ballard, 23. Howard Huepful, 24. Bryan Brobst, 25. Scott Hulmes, DNQ – Pete Serra, Aaron Weaver, Shane Kassekert, Eric Mattson, Brian Rogers, Jeramy Doerr, Matt Miller, Will Protinick

USAC ALL PRO SPEEDSTRS (20 laps)

1. Briggs Danner, 2. Tim Buckwalter, 3. Billy Pauch, Sr., 4. Louden Reimert, 5. Ryan Krachun, 6. Jason Musser, 7. Tom Mayberry, 8. T.J. Mayberry, 9. Dustin Morris, 10. Nick Pecko, 11. Justin Thompson, 12. Scott Houdeshell, 13. Billy Pauch, Jr., 14. Mike Bednar

Bridgeport, NJ – While there is still plenty of racing left to be run in the 2021 season at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park, there are only three race dates left before the 2021 Champions are crowned on Saturday, September, 11. 2021.

The Foley Cat Modifieds have three races remaining before Championship Night. Mathematically, all of the drivers currently in the top ten in points have a chance to be named as this year’s champion with each feature win valued at sixty points. One hundred and seventy-seven points separate current point leader, Ryan Godown and tenth place, Neal Williams.

While Godown has five Bridgeport wins, only three came during Saturday night point competition. Godown has a thirty-four-point lead over Alex Yankowski who has won the last two Modified contests on the high banks of the Bridgeport Motorsports Park. Only one of those victories came in a point contest but you cannot deny Yankowski’s recent momentum. Ryan Krachun who sits third in points has found his formula for success at Bridgeport after winning a race early in the season. Krachun is seventy-six-points behind Godown and thirty-eight points behind Yankowski.

Dominick Buffalino is currently fourth in points in his first season behind the wheel of the Hyneman owned, Big Spring Car Wash No. 126. Buffalino has two victories this season but is still searching for a second points win in Saturday night competition. This would be a good time for Buffalino to get hot and eat up the ninety-eight-point deficit.

Matt Stangle, Joseph Watson, Billy Osmun III, Sam Martz, Billy Pauch and Neal Williams complete the top ten in points – all are more than a hundred points behind Godown with three races remaining on the schedule. Only Osmun and Williams have not made the trip to the Weaknecht Archery Victory Lane this season.

The South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman race shows the biggest point spread of the three Saturday night divisions. Sammy Martz, Jr. has four Saturday night wins and leads rookie, Matt Ellery by eight-four-points with three races remaining. Ellery just took over second place in the points with his second-place finish, capitalizing on Steve Kemery’s race back to eighth after a pit stop was needed to change a tire. Tom Sherby and Howie Finch round out the top five in points. Both drivers are winsless so far this season and are more than one hundred and fifty points behind the leader.

Ryan Godown, Jr has three wins and is sixth in points followed by Billy Chester, Rookie Champion, Ethan Bill, Travis Hill and Ryan Higgs. Only Hill has a win to his credit this season of the drivers currently in sixth through tenth in points.

Tom Wills, Jr. has won three races in a row to lead the Bridgeport Motorsports Park Street Stocks by forty points over Mike Hughes. Wills has a total of six wins but several DNFs have kept the run for the championship a close one. Mike Hughes has one win this season. Two-time feature winner, Jeff Dirkes and Jeramy Doerr share third in the points with just two races left on the 2021 schedule. Dirkes and Doerr are four points behind Hughes. Past Champion, Doerr is still looking for his first win of the season. Nick Sandone III is currently fifth in points, more than a hundred points behind Wills.

Who will the 2021 Champions be? Only time will tell! Will you be there when the 2021 Bridgeport Motorsports Park crowns the champions!