Bridgeport Motorsports Park

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 

Bridgeport, NJ – The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series returned to the Bridgeport Motorsports Park for their first ever race on the newly configured 4/10 mile surface. History was made as the World of Outlaws and the Foley Cat Modifieds combined for the doubleheader show before what had to be one of the if not THE biggest crowd ever to see a race on the Logan Township oval. Doug and Brittany Rose produced a Standing Room Only crowd in their second season at the Kingdom of Speed.

The night of racing, sponsord by Ellery’s Neighborhood Pub & Grill and R&M Motorsports, was a first for many of the fans in the stands who were treated to a prime example of the level of competition that has become the norm on the high banked track. The excitement began when Carson Macedo set a new, one lap track record during the World of Outlaw time trials. Macedo was the fifth driver to take time. He circled the track with the Jason Johnson No. 41 in 13.215 seconds. Macedo went on to win his Team Drydene heat race and then the DIRTvision Fast Pass Dash.

Starting from the pole, Macedo led the first eleven laps before Schuchart raced the bottom of the track to avoid lapped traffic and make the pass for the lead. Donnie Schatz closed in on the leaders around halfway but was unable to mount a serious challenge.

Schuchart would be the spoiler of Macedo’s outstanding performance. After struggling during recent events, Schuchart was excited to return to Victory Lane. “Bridgeport is only about a two hour drive so we had a lot of family and fans here from our area,” Schuchart explained. “This win makes us feel good. It’s good for the sponsors – they can be proud!” “They put a lot of time and effort into the track here. People like what they see, they’ll come back so it’s a win-win for everyone.”

Anthony Macri was the proud representative of the PA Posse. Macri charged from his third place start to challenge for the lead on the original start but he was unable to unseat Macedo. Macri fell out of the top three until late in the race when he charged by Schatz and put the pressure on Macedo.

Schuchart led the field to the checkered flag followed by Macedo, Macri, Schatz and Sheldon Haudenschild. Brent Marks was the next Posse member in sixth followed by defending World of Outlaw Champion, Brad Sweet, Danny Dietrich who picked up the win in 2019, Giovanni Scelzi and Buddy Kofoid.

Ryan Godown became the first repeat winner in the Foley Cat Modifieds, picking up the Tuesday night win after gaining his first victory of the season just two days earlier.

Troy Ale led the first eight laps from his pole position start. Dominick Buffalino and the Hynneman No. 126 raced by Ale on lap nine to become the new race leader. Four time track champion, Ryan Watt made his way by Ale to take over second just before the halfway mark. Watt closed in on Buffalino and began to challenge for the lead with less than ten laps to go. All eyes were focused on Buffalino and Watt who traded the lead several times in the final laps. No one saw the black No. 26 rolling the top of the track and closing in on the leaders. While Watt and Bufflino battled on the bottom, Godown rolled the top into the lead in the final laps. Godown took the checkered over Watt, Buffalino, Ale and Jeff Strunk who battled within the top five right up to the checkered. Matt Stangle finished sixth followed by Briggs Danner, Billy Pauch, Jr.. Tim Buckwalter and Duane Howard.

Godown expressed his gratitude to his team and sponsors who came together to support his racing this season. For the first time in several seasons, Godown is managing his own racing team with the help and support of family, friends and sponsors. “We’re having a good time,” Godown explained. “We are doing what we want to do and everyone has just worked harder.”

Racing action returns to the Kingdom of Speed Bridgeport Motorsports Park with a regular show of Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman, Street Stocks and Rookies on Saturday night.

World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series: (30 laps) 1. Logan Schuchart, 2. Carson Macedo, 3. Anthony Macri, 4. Donny Schatz, 5. Sheldon Haudenschild, 6. Brent Marks, 7. Brad Sweet, 8. Danny Dietrich, 9. Giovanni Scelzi, 10. Buddy Kofoid, 11. David Gravel, 12. James McFadden, 13. Tyler Ross, 14. Aaron Reutzel, 15. Freddie Rahmer, 16. Jacob Allen, 17. Justin Whittall, 18. Steve Buckwalter, 19. Kraig Kinser, 20. Ryan Smith, 21. Brock Zearfoss, 22. Wayne Johnson, 23. Dave Brown, 24. JJ Grasso

Foley CAT Modifieds: (30 Laps) 1. Ryan Godown, 2. Ryan Watt, 3. Dominick Buffalino, 4. Troy Ale, 5. Jeff Strunk, 6. Matt Stangle, 7. Briggs Danner, 8. Billy Pauch Jr., 9. Tim Buckwalter, 10. Duane Howard, 11. Joseph Watson, 12. Ryan Krachun, 13. Brandon Grosso, 14. Cale Ross, 15. Davey Sammons, 16. Dillon Steuer, 17. Rich Rutski, 18. Jimmy Blewett, 19. Sam Martz, 20. Joe Toth, 21. Mike Franz, 22. Alex Yankowski, 23. Ron Roberts, 24. Neal Williams, 25. Jimmy Horton, 26. Danny Bouc

Bridgeport, NJ – Ryan Godown became the sixth different winner in the Foley Cat Modifieds this season with his dominating run on Saturday night. Dominick Buffalino, Ryan Krachun, Joseph Watson, Joe Toth and Tim Fuller (Super DIRTcar winner) have each recorded one victory to date but no one has been able to get back to the Weaknecht Archery Victory Lane so far this season.

This is not the case in the other divisions as Sammy Martz, Jr. added his fourth win in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Sportsman, Tom Wills, Jr. raced to his third win of 2021 as did Ethan Bill in the DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookies.

Godown started fifteenth on the grid but raced into the top five in less than ten laps. The two previous Saturday night events for the Foley Cat Modifieds saw Godown finish second. Both races saw twenty-nine non-stop green flag laps with the one and only caution coming on the final lap. In both cases, Godown lined up third for the restart but crossed the finish line in second when the checkered waved.

But this week was different. Several yellow flags brought the field back together, especially during the early going. And that was the difference. “We had restarts tonight!,” the feature winner exclaimed. That was what made all of the difference.

But never mind that the Godown No. 26 was fast and enabled Godown to pass the competition at will.

Clay Butler was certainly hoping for another race with twenty-nine green flag laps as he led the way for the first eighteen laps. Godown took the lead on a lap nineteen restart and was never challenged once he put the No. 26 out in front.

Godown took the checkered flag over Dominick Buffalino, Alex Yankowski, defending track champion, Billy Pauch and Matt Stangle. After a very strong outing, Butler finished sixth after making hard contact with the turn one wall in the final laps. Krachun finished seventh with Joe Toth, Joseph Watson and Billy Osmun III rounding out the top ten.

Sammy Martz, Jr. added win number four in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Sportsman after Howie Finch and Wayne Weaver battled early for the lead. Martz took the lead from Finch following a lap seventeen restart and was able to pull away from the field once he was out in front.

Finch finished second with Ryan Godown, Jr. taking third from Wayne Weaver on the final lap. First year driver, Matt Ellery finished fifth after winning the battle with defending champion, Steve Kemery who finished sixth. Rookie, Ethan Bill finished seventh after starting in eighteenth. Tom Sherby, Howard Huepful and Billy Chester completed the top ten at the checkered.

The Rookie feature was the most competitive race yet. Shane Kassekert figured out how to run the outside and led the way through the first six laps, keeping previous winner, Ethan Bill at bay. A caution on the final lap put Kassekert on the inside and Bill used the outside line to take the lead and the win. Kassekert finished second followed by Mike Creamer, Zach Cox and Ethan Young.

Tom Wills, Jr. picked up his third win of the season in the Sunbelt Rental Street Stocks. His back to back victories were a first for Wills who had never won two races in a row before Saturday night – not even in the seasons where he won the championship. Spider Ensinger made his first Bridgeport appearance of the season and finished second in front of Jeff Dirkes, Jeramy Doerr and Brian Ludwig, who was also making his first Bridgeport start of the season

The Foley Cat Modifieds join the World of Outlaws on Tuesday night for a double header. Racing resumes next Saturday night with another full show of Modifieds, 602 Sportsman, Street Stocks and Rookies.

FOLEY CAT BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS (30 laps)

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

SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOORS 602 SPORTMAN (25 laps)

1. Sam Martz, Jr., 2. Howie Finch, 3. Ryan Godown, Jr., 4. Wayne Weaver, 5. Matt Ellery, 6. Steve Kemery, 7. Ethan Bill, 8. Tom Sherby, 9. Howard Huepful, 10. Billy Chester, 11. John Stevenson, 12. John Scarpati, 13. Brad Cicio, 14. Zach Steffey, 15. Nick DeSantis, 16. Will Protonick, 17. Josh Bricker, 18. Erik Mattson, 19. Mike Creamer, 20. Scott Hulmes, 21. Zach Cox, 22. Pete Serra, 23. Joseph Brown, 24. Shane Kassekert, 25. Ryan Higgs

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

1. Ethan Bill, 2. Shane Kassekert, 3. Mike Creamer, 4. Zach Cox, 5. Ethan Young, 6. Zach Steffey, 7. Courtney Pickens

SUNBELT RENTALS STREET STOCKS (15 laps)

1. Tom Wills, Jr., 2. Spider Ensinger, 3. Jeff Dirkes, 4. Jeramy Doerr, 5. Brian Ludwig, 6. Mike Hughes, 7. John Parker, 8. Keith McKinley, 9. Nick Sandone, III

Bridgeport, NJ – Tim Fuller raced to the front of the stellar field of Big Block Modifieds to capture the victory in the Super DIRTcar show at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park and become the new reigning King of the Big Blocks. In the five year history of the event, only Bridgeport Champion, Ryan Watt has been a repeat winner, winning back to back victories in 2018 and 2019.

The number thirteen was not an unlucky number for Fuller who raced from the thirteenth starting spot and into the lead on lap fifty-eight of the one hundred lap contest. It was Fuller’s first win since the 2018 season but not his first Bridgeport victory. Fuller won on the 5/8th mile track on opening day in 2003. “I had won on the old track,” Fuller stated, “I really needed this one!”

The Watertown, NY driver prefers the longer distance races. “I like the longer distance races,” Fuller explained. The races that require a driver to make good judgement calls on how aggressive to be an any given point in the race. “It takes a good bit of patience,” Fuller added.

Jimmy Phelps and Larry Wight made up the front row of the starting line-up and led the field to the wave of the green flag. Phelps immediately jumped into the lead as Wight, Dominick Buffalino and Mike Maresca raced three-wide for second. Buffalino won the battle and set sail after Phelps.

Ryan Godown brought out the first caution he bounced through turn one in need of a new Hoosier. Contact between Buffalino and Maresca while racing for second had both drivers heading to the hot pit for new rubber.
Fuller raced his way into the top ten quickly and then ran in the top five by the lap fifteen green flag.

Phelps led Max McLaughlin, Peter Britten, Fuller and Demetrios Drellos at the quarter century mark. Phelps led through lap thirty-four when McLaughlin powered into the lead with the Sweetner’s No. 32. It was McLaughlin’s first attempt on the Bridgeport high banks and he declared after the race that the he ranks the New Jersey speedplant as one of his top five favorite tracks.

McLaughlin ran away from the field, putting more and more distance between himself and second place Phelps. Peter Britten and Fuller took their wheel-to-wheel battle by Phelps to run second and third and the half way mark.

Just a few laps later, Fuller settled the battle with Britten to take second and then turned his attention to McLaughlin. By lap fifty-seven, Fuller was on the leader’s back bumper and took the lead on the next trip around the track.

Fuller raced away from the field – even while racing through heavy lapped traffic late in the race.

2020 King of the Big Blocks winner, Stewart Friesen raced by Phelps and then chased down Britten. Friesen wheeled the Halimar No. 44 by Britten and into third with just ten laps to go. With five to go, Friesen took over second but had little time to chase down Fuller.

Fuller took the $10,000 win over Friesen, McLaughlin, Britten and Phelps. Alex Yankowski, a regular on Bridgeport’s high banks finished sixth to be the first area driver to the finish line. Mike Maresca finished seventh after making an early race pit stop. Matt Shepperd, Jack Lehner and Tim Sears, Jr. rounded out the top ten.

The USAC All Pro SpeedSTRS were also on the card for the Tuesday night event. Defending Bridgeport Track Champion, Billy Pauch wheeled the Rodota Trucking No. R7 to a flag-to- flag victory in the twenty lap main event. Briggs Danner finished second after throwing everything he had at the leader. Tim Buckwalter finished third followed by Tom Mayberry and Jason Musser.

SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS: (100 laps) 1. Tim Fuller, 2. Stewart Friesen, 3. Max McLaughlin, 4. Peter Britten, 5. Jimmy Phelps, 6. Alex Yankowski, 7. Mike Maresca, 8. Matt Sheppard, 9. Jack Lehner, 10. Tim Sears Jr., 11. Mat Williamson, 12. Mike Mahaney,, 13. Larry Wight, 14. Tyler Dippel, 15. Duane Howard, 16. Chris Hile, 17. Dominick Buffalino, 18. Jordan Mcreadie, 19. Ryan Watt, 20. Billy Decker, 21. Kevin Root, 22. Sam Martz, 23. Brandon Walters, 24. Jim Britt, 25. Marcus Dinkins, 26. Ryan Godown, 27. Demetrios Drellos, 28. Erick Rudolph, 29. Joseph Watson

USAC ALL-PRO SPEEDSTRS: (20 laps) 1. Billy Pauch, 2. Briggs Danner, 3. Tim Buckwalter, 4. Tom Mayberry, 5. Jason Musser, 6. Jay Hartman, 7. Jeff Hartman, 8. Jeff Cot, 9. Dillon Steuer, 10. Tim Iulg, 11. Kenny Meisner, 12. Nick Havens 13. Ryan Godown Jr. 14. TJ Mayberry 15. Nick Pecko