Bridgeport Motorsports Park

 

 

The Colonial Pipeline 811 Dig Safely 2017 Poker Series returns to action this weekend with a special Sunday race date for the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds, Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman, PennCo Tech Outlaw Stocks and DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookies for All in at the Port.

Colonial Pipeline has returned to again sponsor Bridgeport’s popular Poker Series events.  In each of six events held throughout the 2017 season, drivers are awarded a card for their Poker hand, based upon their finish.  A win gives the driver a coveted Ace, second – a King, and so on.  At the end of the season, a Poker Champion is crowned with special awards given to the top three hands as well as the worst hand during the series.

Colonial’s petroleum pipelines are buried underground. The leading cause of damage to these types of buried utility’s is third party damage, someone digging without the utility’s approval or knowledge of what’s below the surface.  That’s why Colonial encourages you to call 811 before you dig!  Any project – large or small – you are required by law to call 8-1-1 before you dig. The 811 representative will take all your information, then will then notify all utility companies that may be affected by your work and a professional locator will visit the your work site and mark their utility with paint, flags or stakes. You must place your call at least three working days before the planned work allowing the utility’s time to mark their facility’s.   Remember “Know what’s below, Call 811 before you Dig”

Invader, Stewart Friesen picked up the win and the Ace in the first hand back in March during the running of the 60 Over event.  With Friesen’s commitments elsewhere, the Poker Series for the Big Blocks remains a wide open contest.  After Friesen captured two of Bridgeport’s special events this season, reigning champion, Ryan Watt picked up the win for the Bridgeport regulars last week in the Super DIRTcar Series/Friends of Mike Finale.  Rick Laubach was the winner of the first point race of the season while David Hunt was the winner of the last two events.  Neal Williams as been a contender every week but still seeks his first trip to Victory Lane with the Sal DeBruno owned No. 0 car.  You can bet that Sam Martz, Richie Pratt, Jr., Wade Hendrickson, Dominick Buffalino, Brett Kressley, Mike Barone and others will be contending when the green flag waves on Sunday.

Brian Papiez holds the first Ace in the Crate/Sportsman competition and will be challenged by 2017 feature winners, Matt Stangle, Travis Hill and Jeremy Harrington as well as drivers still searching for their first win of 2017 like 2016 Poker Champion, Steve Kemery, Eric Kormann, Roger Manning and more.

Jon Meyer is holding the Ace for the Outlaw Stock division but will have to go up against the competition supplied by most recent winners, Jeramy Doerr and Tom Wills, Jr.  Brian Ludwig, Jeff Dirkes, Jim Avery as well as Ron Frees and Billy Wroble will have plenty to say about the outcome of the Outlaw Stock event.

Racing gets underway at 7pm.  Come early and enjoy!  There will be musical entertainment before the races get underway.  Bridgeport offers a wide selection of appetizing offerings at their concession stands.  Pick up a new t-shirt to add to your collection.  The Bridgeport Bullet – the official program of the Bridgeport speedway – will be a great keepsake for this event.  Take a ride on the Bandit Bus and get a look at the behind the scenes action in the pits.

The Bridgeport Speedway is committed to maintaining a safe, fun, family atmosphere, creating life-lasting memories of excitement.

 

Upcoming events

Sunday, May 28 – All in at the Port, Poker Series Hand #2 – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies, racing at 7:15

Saturday, June 3 – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks, Rookies and Vintage, racing at 7pm

Thursday, June 8 – High Stakes at the Port, Poker Series Hand #3 – Big Blocks, Crate/Sportsman and Rookies, racing at 7:15

Saturday, June 10 – Misfits 4X4 Car and Truck Show and Demolition Derby

 

The twelve year run of the Friends of Mike (FoM) event will come to a close on Tuesday, May 16 at the Bridgeport Speedway when it is run in conjunction with the Super DIRTcar Series event.

Friends of Mike all started back in 2006 when Danny Serrano, a racing fan, and several of hisfriends, set out to support Mike Rogie, an avid racing fan who was battling cancer.  They came up with this event to give back to the drivers who put on the show for their enjoyment, week after week, and at the same time, honor their friend Mike.  Serrano had not yet made the move into track management when he began this venture.  “So many people wanted to be a part of it,” Serrano stated.  “It was like a whirlwind.”  No one would know then that this event would become a tradition that would extend through twelve racing seasons.

Sadly, Mike Rogie was never able to attend, his untimely passing came on the day of the inaugural FoM event.  Brian Godown picked up the win in the first ever Friends of Mike.

Keith Hoffman put Pat Michael’s No. 51M into Victory Lane in the second FoM race a year later.  “That race really turned our season around,” Hoffman offered.  “We switched cars for that race and won.”  Hoffman would be the first driver to repeat in FoM history when he won one of the four twenty lap events in 2008.  Rick Laubach, Tim Tanner and Tad Cox were also twenty lap winners that year.

Billy Pauch picked up the win in 2009 and then Willie Osmun a year later.  Another format change and it was Tim McCreadie who made a rare appearance for the win in 2011.  McCreadie headed to a Late Model race the next day but not before collecting the checkered in the FoM event.

Danny Johnson was the 2012 race winner in the last event to be held at the New Egypt Speedway.

In 2013, Jimmy Blewett made history as the winner of the first FoM event at the Bridgeport Speedway as he earned his first ever Big Block Modified victory as he raced Billy Pauch for the win.  In 2014, Stewart Friesen picked up his first FoM win which he promptly backed up with a second win the next year.  In 2015, Serrano honored Sam Martz who was the only driver to compete in all ten FoM races.  One year later, it was Martz who collected the victory as he raced to the win over Laubach, Dominick Buffalino and Ryan Watt.

Over the years, the format has changed as has the location, but the driver and fan support has never wavered.  One year, Serrano engineered a horseshoe tournament among the drivers before the race.  The fans and the drivers loved it!  And every year, this race in run in conjunction with a huge Chinese Auction and this year is no exception!  Tina Potts has been working hard with Serrano to make this year’s event the biggest one yet!  Race car doors and roofs, driver t-shirts and all sorts of racing memorabilia have been collected and will be won by a lucky race fan on race night.  Contributions for the Chinese Auction can be made by notifying Tina or Danny through Facebook.

Past FoM winners, Laubach, Pauch, Johnson, Friesen and Martz will be in the field, competing for a spot in the starting line-up of the final Friends of Mike.  The DIRTcar series regulars with names like Hearn, Sheppard, Fuller, Decker, Wight and Ward, Britten, Mahaney, Flach, Phelps, McLaughlin and Scagliotta will be at Bridgeport for the second race of the Super DIRTcar series.  They will have to meet the challenges presented by Bridgeport regulars led by reigning champion, Ryan Watt, past champions, Wade Hendrickson & Rick Laubach, back-to-back feature winner, David Hunt, Neal Williams, Richie Pratt, Jr., Dominick Buffalino and a host of others.  Add in the invaders from the Tri-state area – Duane Howard who has already collected a Bridgeport victory with his Norm Hansell owned ride, Jeff Strunk who has been very competitive on the 5/8th mile track this season, Ryan Godown who recently picked up a second place finish with the Atlas Trucking No. 66 and then there’s the “Sensational One”, Jimmy Horton who has collected more wins than any other driver in the history of the Bridgeport Speedway.

This will be a night that every race fan dreams of – with all of the top names in Modifieds right here at the Bridgeport Speedway for the first Super DIRTcar Series event since 2005!

Racing gets underway at 7:15.  Come early and enjoy!  There will be musical entertainment before the races get underway.  Bridgeport offers a wide selection of appetizing offerings at their concession stands.  Pick up a new t-shirt to add to your collection.  The Bridgeport Bullet – the official program of the Bridgeport speedway – will be a great keepsake for this event.  Take a ride on the Bandit Bus and get a look at the behind the scenes action in the pits.

 

The Bridgeport Speedway is committed to maintaining a safe, fun, family atmosphere, creating life-lasting memories of excitement.

 

 

Upcoming events

Saturday, May 13 – No racing

Tuesday, May 16 – Super DIRT Car Series/Friends of Mike finale – Big Block Modifieds & Crate/Sportsman – racing at 7:15 (RD Wed, 5/17)

Saturday, May 20 – No Racing

Sunday, May 28 – All in at the Port, Poker Series Hand #2 – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies, racing at 7:15

 

 

For the second week in a row, David Hunt led the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds for twenty-fivelaps to capture the win – this time in Saturday night Bridgeport action.

Jeremy Harrington picked up his first win of the season in Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman action while Jeramy Doerr made it to the checkered flag for his first win in the PennCo Tech Outlaw Stocks.  Jimmy Gallagher, Jr. was the first driver to repeat with a win in the DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie division.

Billy Pauch debuted his Tribute to Roy Pauch No. 15.  The Pauch car is a throwback, Kenny Weld inspired car, paying homage to the patriarch of the Pauch racing family.

Hunt and Jack Swain, the racing school principal, led the field to the green, handicapped for front row starts in just the second point race of the season.  Hunt took off at the wave of the green with Pauch hot in his tracks.  Pauch was soon joined  by Richie Pratt, Jr. who took over third and set his sights on Pauch’s No. 15.  Hunt led Pauch, Pratt, Sam Martz and Ron Roberts through eleven laps before the caution waved for the first time, just after Pratt challenged Pauch for the runner-up spot.  Wade Hendrickson had the C&S Equipment No. 6 on the move on the restart as he moved up to fourth with Ryan Watt following in fifth when the caution waved again for the slowing car of Roberts.

Hunt drove away from the field, leaving Pratt to work on Pauch and Watt to chase Hendrickson.  That’s the way they would run to the checkered with Hunt out in front by nearly a straightaway.  Pauch finished second with the No. 15 in its maiden voyage followed by a hard charging Pratt.  Hendrickson and Watt rounded out the top five with Watt racing from his thirteenth place start. 

“This car was really a handful during the heat race,” Hunt recounted.  Hunt, who races one of the few remaining Troyer chassis cars on Bridgeport’s 5/8th mile track, continued.  “It pushed like a dump truck,” even though he picked up the win in the first heat race.  Hunt and his team have just kept working, week after week, after a rather dismal start to the season.  “We really struggled those first few weeks,” Hunt explained.  “We just kept working on it.  This is the same engine we started the season with – we’ve just got the car working better now.”

Milford, DE driver, Jeremy Harrington took the lead from Brad Roberts and raced to his first win of the 2017 season in the Stewart Stainless Crate Sportsman feature.  Harrington, with his crate engine powered No. 30, had built up a sizeable lead by the time two time feature winner, Brian Papiez arrived on the scene.  Papiez finished a solid second over Eric Kormann, Matt Peck had his best outing of the season to finish fourth with Matt Stangle, another two time feature winner, rounding out the top five.

After coming close on so many other occasions, Jeramy Doerr finally sealed the deal with a win in the PennCo Tech Outlaw Stock main event.  Doerr set a new one lap record for this division during hot laps.  Jim Avery finished second in his first start of the season followed by Mike Creamer, Jeff Dirkes and Tom Wills, Jr.

Jim Gallagher, Jr. became the first repeat winner in theDA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie Division, taking the lead from Jeff Stuart on the second lap of the feature event.  Stuart led the first two circuits and went on to finish second, his best effort so far.   Matt Luzi finished third for his best finish to date, followed by Brett Belmont and Kevin Britt.

The next race on the Bridgeport 5/8th mile speedway will be Tuesday, May 16th for the Super DIRTcar Series/Friends of Mike finale.  The stars of the Big Block Modified ranks will headline the show along with the Crate/Sportsman.  Racing gets underway at 7:15 with Wednesday, May 17th being reserved as a rain date should it be needed.

 

SPIRIT AUTO CENTER BIG BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE (25 laps): 1. David Hunt, 2. Billy Pauch, Sr., 3. Richie Pratt, Jr., 4. Wade Hendrickson, 5. Ryan Watt, 6. Dominick Buffalino, 7. Sam Martz, 8. Rick Laubach, 9. Brett Kressley, 10. Jack Swain, 11. P.J. Oliver, 12. Mike Barone, 13. Jim Britt, 14. Tommy Beamer, 15. Ron Roberts, 16. Bob Sarkisian, 17. Mike Franz, 18. Neal Williams, 19. Dave Shirk, DNS – Ernie Miles, III.

STEWART STAINLESS SUPPLY CRATE/SPORTSMAN FEATURE (20 laps): 1. Jeremy Harrington, 2. Brian Papiez, 3. Eric Kormann, 4. Matthew Peck, 5. Matt Stangle, 6. Roger Manning, 7. Bill Briggs, 8. John Aumick, 9. Adam Cox, 10. Rich Wenger, Jr., 11. Clyde Cox, 12. Chris Jenkins, 13. Roger Gaskill, 14. Andrew Belmont, 15. Walt McIntyre, 16. David Crossman, 17. Joe Nappi, 18. Brad Roberts, 19. David Izzi, 20. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 21. Rich Deck, Jr., 22. Dave Damiano, 23. Brett Belmont, DNS – Kevin Belmont, DNQ – Pete Serra, Tom Holding, Ray Cost, Matthew Luzi, Ryan Simmons, Tom Sherby, Bob Bracall, Scott Hulmes, Chuck Sayres

D.A.’S AUTO BODY & REPAIR ROOKIE FEATURE (8 laps): 1. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 2. Jeff Stuart, 3. Matt Luzi, 4. Brett Belmont, 5. Kevin Britt, 6. Dave Izzi, 7. Olivia Ingersoll 8. Walt McIntyer, 9. Keith McKinley, 10. Scott Kohler, 11. Erik Mattson, 12. Tommy Errico, 13. Ray Cost

PENNCO TECH OUTLAW STOCK FEATURE (15 laps): 1. Jeramy Doerr, 2. Jimmy Avery, 3. Mike Creamer, 4. Jeff Dirkes, 5. Tom Wills, Jr., 6. Brian Ludwig, 7. Billy Wroble, 8. Cleve Riehl, 9. John Parker, 10. Ken Moren, 11. David Kramer, 12. Paul Donahue, 13. Andrew Joslin

 

Upcoming events

Saturday, May 13 – No racing(WMMR and Spirit Auto Center Presents Mudders Day Jeep Show

Tuesday, May 16 – Super DIRT Car Series/Friends of Mike ‘the finale’ – Big Block Modifieds & Crate/Sportsman – racing at 7:15 (RD Wed, 5/17)

Saturday, May 20 – No Racing

Sunday, May 28 – All in at the Port, Poker Series Hand #2 – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies, racing at 7:15

[vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom=”no” pb_border_bottom=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”]

 

David Hunt of Bridgewater, NJ, returned to Bridgeport’s Victory Lane for the first time since 2015 when he captured the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modified feature event on Joy Auto Parts sponsored Bike Night.  It was Hunt’s sixth Big Block win at Bridgeport.

 

Brian Papiez became the first driver to repeat in the Winner’s Circle in the Stewart Stainelss Crate/Sportsman with a last lap pass for the win.  Rick Stief captured the Mid Atlantic Sprint Series (MASS) win in their twenty lap main event while Jim Gallagher, Jr. became the fourth different winner in four races in the DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie competition.

 

Hunt led every lap of the twenty-five lap Big Block event after starting alongside of Neal Williams for the green flag.  Hunt played a game of hide and seek as he quickly distanced himself from the competition.  Even multiple caution flags that resulted in double file restarts couldn’t produce a challenge for the lead as Hunt handily drove away from the field each time.  After a frustrating season last year, Hunt was happy to capture a win early in 2017.  “We really needed it (the win),” Hunt explained.  “After last year and the very beginning of this year – it was tough to get up a lot of mornings after a race!”  The addition of Roger Mahan Motorsports LLC to Hunts No. 27 team has helped to put the young driver where he needs to be.

 

Ryan Godown raced his way into second following a lap eight restart and held off the persistent challenges of Jeff Strunk throughout the remainder of the twenty-five lap event.  Strunk dove underneath Godown on several occasions but wasn’t able to pull even with the Ringos, NJ driver.  Godown finished second with Strunk third.  Richie Pratt, Jr. made some solid moves during the late stages of the race to finish fourth in his family owned No. 28 while reigning Bridgeport Champion, Ryan Watt finished fifth.

 

Dave Damiano took the lead in the Crate/Sportsman feature when a flat tire sent Matt Stangle to the pits.  Damiano looked to be on his way to a career first victory has he handily raced out in front of rookie driver, Louden Reimert for most of the race.  A series of late race cautions would alter the outcome, however, has Papiez dove to the inside of Damiano on the final lap restart to take the lead.  Damiano held on to finish second with Scott Hitchens moving up to third on the final lap.  Brandon Grosso finished fourth with Eric Kormann moving into the top five on the final lap.

 

Rick Stief led the final six laps of the MASS 305 Sprint Car feature to capture his first win of the season and his third top five finish of the weekend.  Ryan Stillwaggon took the lead on the first lap and looked like a potential winner until mechanical woes sent him off the track with fourteen laps complete.  Tim Tanner finished second with Tommy Carberry taking third.  Mark Bitner used some late race moves to advance to fourth with Dave Brown rounding out the top five.

 

Jim Gallagher, Jr. may be a second generation race car driver but when Gallagher came to the track for the first time this season, “I didn’t even know how to make it go,” Gallagher related.  With absolutely no prior racing experience, Gallagher has shown that he’s a fast learner as he raced to the win in the Rookie division to become the fourth different winner this season.  Scott Kohler had his best finish to take second  with Brett Belmont duplicating his best effort to finish third.  Dave Izzi and previous winner, Tommy Errico rounded out the top five.

 

Racing returns to the Bridgeport Speedway this Saturday night.  It’s Kids Money Scramble Night with the Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies in action.  Racing gets underway at 6:30pm.  The Super DIRTcar Series returns to the Bridgeport Speedway on Tuesday, May 16^th for the Friends of Mike grand finale.  Racing will get under way at 7:15 for that event which will see drivers from all over the East Coast compete in qualifying and a feature event.  The Crate/Sportsman will also be on the program for the twelfth and final Friends of Mike event.

 

SPIRIT AUTO CENTER BIG BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE (25 laps): 1. David Hunt, 2. Ryan Godown, 3. Jeff Strunk, 4. Richie Pratt, Jr., 5. Ryan Watt, 6. Wade Hendrickson, 7. Mike Barone, 8. Neal Williams, 9. P.J. Oliver, 10. Jimmy Horton, 11. Dave Shirk, 12. Rusty Smith, 13. Jack Swain, 14. Bob Sarkisian, 15. Jim Britt, 16. Ron Roberts, 17. Tommy Beamer, 18. Ricky DiEva, 19. Billy Pauch, Jr., 20. Mike Franz, 21. Sam Martz, 22. Rick Laubach, DNS – Daniel Johnson, Brett Kressley, Clay Butler

STEWART STAINLESS SUPPLY CRATE/SPORTSMAN FEATURE (20 laps): 1. Brian Papiez, 2. Dave Damiano, 3. Scott Hitchens, 4. Brandon Grosso, 5. Eric Kormann, 6. Louden Reimert, 7. Clyde Cox, 8. Roger Manning, 9. Chris Jenkins, 10. Ryan Simmons, 11. Matthew Peck, 12. Tom Sherby, 13. Rich Deck, Jr., 14. Bobby Bracall, 15. Adam Cox, 16. Scott Hulmes, 17. Steve Kemery, 18. Matt Stangle, 19. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 20. Bill Briggs, 21. Brad Roberts, 22. Matt Budd, 23. Chuck Sayres, 24. David Crossman, 25. Chad Kohler, 26. Andrew Belmont, DNQ – David Izzi, Scott Kohler, Matt Luzi, Brett Belmont, Tom Holding, Chris Sammons, Ray Cost, Jim Gallagher, Sr., Jeff Bubori

D.A.’S AUTO BODY & REPAIR ROOKIE FEATURE (8 laps): 1. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 2. Scott Kohler, 3. Brett Belmont, 4. Dave Izzi, 5. Tommy Errico, 6. Kevin Britt, 7. Matt Luzi, 8. Jim Cheesman, 9. Jeff Stuart, 10. Chris Sammons, 11. Ray Cost, 12. Erik Mattson

MID-ATLANTIC SPRINT SERIES FEATURE (20 laps): 1. Rick Stief, 2. Tim Tanner, Jr., 3. Tommy Carberry, 4. Mark Bitner, 5. Dave Brown, 6. Joe Kay, 7. Stef Palmai- Carberry, 8. Eddie Wagner, 9. Jamie Kostic, 10. Jeff Geiges, 11. Bryant Davis, 12. Bobby Scherff, 13. Keith Anderson, 14. Douglas Snow, 15. Craig Pellegrini, 16. Harris Kohen, 17. Gabe Fox, 18. Ryan Stillwaggon, 19. Sam Lieberman

 

Upcoming events

Saturday, May 6 – Kids Money Scramble – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies, racing at 6m

Saturday, May 13 – No racing

Tuesday, May 16 – Super DIRT Car Series/Friends of Mike finale – Big Block Modifieds & Crate/Sportsman – racing at 7:15 (RD Wed, 5/17)

Saturday, May 20 – No Racing

Sunday, May 28 – All in at the Port, Poker Series Hand #2 – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies, racing at 7:15

 

[/vc_column_text]

 

Bridgeport Speedway Updates Rule Book:

Attention Bridgeport Speedway competitors;  The following rules have been updated, and are effective starting this Sunday.

Big Blocks:  Rule B-7 page 2 – In regards to Engines that are over 464 cubic inch.

Crate/Sportsman:  Rule 6 page 6 – In regards to ‘Sportsman’ gear rule

Outlaw Stock:  Rule 15 page 4 – In regards to Spoiler (was in place last year but never updated)

http://www.bpspeedway.com/forms-rules/

 

 

 

Bridgeport, NJ, April 17 – Bridgeport Speedway clarifies ‘show up’ point race procedure for 2017 season.  There are five races that don’t fall under the ‘regular’ point system this season for the Big Blocks & Crate/Sportsman (April 23, April 30, May 28, June 8, and July 3).  Previously, a driver had to attend each race to receive the ’50 bonus points’  for each event that counted towards the year-long point-system.  This year’s ‘show up’ point system has been slightly altered for the Bridgeport drivers.

A driver MUST compete in at least three of the five previously listed dates.  If a driver competes in three, four, or five of the races, then they will receive the maximum 150 points.  In other words, a driver can only ‘max out’ at 150 points for the five shows.  If a driver only makes one or two races then that driver receives zero points.  The driver along with car must be registered and attempt to qualify (warmups count) to receive credit for the night.  “We do realize that not everyone can make a Sunday or midweek show,” offered general manager Danny Serrano.  “We tried to find a ‘happy-medium’ and work with of our drivers to ensure their participation for open shows, while also allowing them to miss a show or two for other possible obligations.”

The Outlaw Stocks have only three ‘show up’ point events, so their status hasn’t changed as they will be required to be present and attempt to qualify to receive the 50 race day points.  The Outlaw Stocks will ‘max out’ at 150 points as well in 2017.  If any driver has questions about the point system, please call the speedway or send an email to the race track.

 

 

 

On Saturday night, Rick Laubach drove to his first Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modified feature win for car owners, Lori and Gary Hermann in the first point race of the season.  Matt Stangle earned his first victory in the Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman division while Tom Wills, Jr. earned his first win of the year in the PennCo Tech Outlaw Stock main event.  The DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie division produced a third first time winner when Tom Errico, Jr. took the win in the eight lap feature to open the night of racing.

2012 Bridgeport Champion, Laubach held off the challenges of a very persistent two time Bridgeport Champion in Ryan Watt to win the Big Block portion of Saturdaynight’s racing program.  Laubach drew the pole but had Watt to his outside for the start of the race.  Watt fought a tight race car at the start but battled back to second after losing several positions on the original start.  Several times, Watt got a nose under the leader but Laubach was able to pull away from his challenger as they raced down the backstretch.

“That’s the way these early (season) races go,” Laubach stated, making reference to the luck of the draw starting line-ups.  “I’ve been real lucky so far this season by drawing good starting positions.”  Laubach wanted to dedicate his win to Janet Ladner, a long time Bridgeport employee who passed away on Friday.  “I’ve been thinking about her all day today,” Laubach said of the woman who signed in the competitors each week at Bridgeport’s pit gate.  “This one is for her!”

Watt chased Laubach to the finish to take second with Neal Williams ending a very strong outing in Sal DeBruno’s Overhead Door No. 0 to finish third.  2015 Bridgeport Champion, Jamie Mills finished fourth with Brett Kressley taking a fifth place finish after starting in twelfth and then racing his way back from a mid-race incident. 

Brian Papiez led the first eleven laps of the Crate/Sportsman feature before being tracked down in lapped traffic by Stangle.  Stangle completed the pass for the lead on lap twelve and drove away from the field to capture his first win of the season – one week after setting a new one lap record for the Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman.  Papiez rebounded from a wreck one week earlier to finish second.  Dave Damiano finished third in his first outing of the new season.  Last week’s feature winner, Travis Hill finished fourth with Eric Kormann rounding out the top five
in his first race of the season.

Tom Wills, Jr. outgunned a hard charging Jeramy Doerr to take his first PennCo Tech Outlaw Stock feature of 2017.  Doerr, who was a late arrival, literally arrived at the track just in time for the feature.  He started at the pack of the pack but was there in the final laps to give Wills a run for the money.  Wills beat Doerr to the finish line with Brian Ludwig, who challenged Wills during the early laps of the race, finished third.  Jeff Dirkes and Ken Moren finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Dave Izzi led the first five laps of the DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie Feature before Tom Errico, Jr. raced his way into contention from his sixth place starting spot.  Errico took over the lead on lap six and went on to take the win in his red, white and blue X-Rated.  Izzi held on to finish second with Kevin Britt, the winner of the season opener, finishing in third.  Brett Belmont raced from a ninth place start to finish fourth with Jim Gallagher, Jr. rounding out the top five.

Bridgeport will host the third running of the South Jersey Shootout on Sunday, April 23rd.  Racing gets underway at 5pm for the second race of the season for the South Region of the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series fueled by Velocita.  The Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman and Outlaw Stocks will take to the track with the Big Blocks racing for $5,000 to win in their forty lap main event.

 

 

 

SPIRIT AUTO CENTER BIG BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE (25 laps): 1. Rick Laubach, 2. Ryan Watt, 3. Neal Williams, 4. Jamie Mills, 5. Brett Kressley, 6. Dominick Buffalino, 7. Wade Hendrickson, 8. Jim Britt, 9. Jimmy Horton, 10. Jesse Hill, 11. Mike Barone, 12. Tommy Beamer, 13. Pete Visconti, 14. Rusty Smith, 15. Ron Roberts, 16. Bob Sarkisian, 17. Dave Shirk, 18. Ricky DiEva, 19. Richie Pratt, Jr., 20. Sam Martz, 21. Billy Pauch, Sr. 22. Jack Swain, 23. Mike Franz, 24. Dave Hunt, DNQ – Bobby Firth

STEWART STAINLESS SUPPLY CRATE/SPORTSMAN FEATURE (20 laps): 1. Matt Stangle, 2. Brian Papiez, 3. Dave Damiano, 4. Travis Hill, 5. Eric Kormann, 6. Roger Manning, 7. Adam Cox, 8. Clyde Cox, 9. Jeremy Harrington, 10. Chris Jenkins, 11. Steve Kemery, 12. David Crossman, 13. Nick Nicotra, 14. Bobby Bracall, 15. John Gilroy, 16. Dave Izzi, 17. Roger Gaskill, 18. Matt Peck, 19. Matt Luzi, 20. Scott Kohler, 21. Brad Roberts, 22. Bill Briggs, 23. John Scarpati, 24. Andrew Belmont, 25. Tommy Errico. DNQ – Jim Gallagher, Jr., Brett Belmont, Melissa Scarpati, Chris Sammons, Tom Holding, Scott Hulmes

D.A.’S AUTO BODY & REPAIR ROOKIE FEATURE (8 laps): 1. Tommy Errico, 2. Dave Izzi, 3. Kevin Britt, 4. Brett Belmont, 5. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 6. Scott Kohler, 7. Matt Luzi, 8. Kyle Belmont, 9. Jim Cheesman, 10. Jeff Stuart, 11. Chris Sammons, 12. Ray Cost, 13. Erik Mattson

PENNCO TECH OUTLAW STOCK FEATURE (15 laps): 1. Tom Wills, Jr., 2. Jeramy Doerr, 3. Brian Ludwig, 4. Jeff Dirkes, 5. Ken Moren, 6. John Parker, 7. David Kramer, 8. Andrew Joslin, DNS – Michael Creamer, Bill O’Brien

 

Upcoming events

Sunday, April 23 – South Jersey Shootout, Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman & Outlaw Stocks – 5pm start

Sunday, April 30 – Bike Night presented by Joy Auto Parts, Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, MASS Sprint Cars, Rookies and Vintage, racing at 5pm

Saturday, May 6 – Kids Money Scramble, Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks and Rookies, racing at 6:30pm

Saturday, May 13 – No Racing

TueSday, May 16 – Super DIRT Series-Friends of Mike Finale for Big Block Modifieds plus Crate/Sportsman, racing at 7:15

 

Four drivers broke into the win column for the first time in the young 2017 racing season with wins on Sunday in Bridgeport Speedway racing action.

Oley, PA driver, Duane Howard picked up the first win of the season for his Norm Hansell No. 357 team in the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modified twenty-five lap feature event.  Nine time United Racing Club Champion (URC), Curt Michael was the winner in the BRB Contractor sponsored opener for the oldest traveling sprint car series in the United States.  Former Crate/Sportsman Champion, Travis Hill, climbed behind the wheel of Brett Cogdill’s No. 98 and raced to the win in the Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman feature event.  Jim Cheesman was the winner in the second DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie event of the 2017 season.

Howard drew the pole for the start of the Big Block Modified feature and then proceeded to lead from the green flag to the checkered for his first win of the 2017 season.  Howard held off Richie Pratt, Jr. on several restarts to capture his forty-sixth career win on Bridgeport’s 5/8 mile track.  Pratt was sidelined with mechanical issues in the closing laps, relinquishing his runner-up performance to 2015 Bridgeport Champion, Jamie Mills in his Blue Hen Racing No. 30.  Mike Barone finished third in his first start of the 2017 season, racing his family owned No 267.  Sam Martz rallied to capture fourth in his Izzi’s Trucking No. 3 ahead of Jeff Strunk in the Hyneman All Fab No. 126.  It was a red letter day for Bicknell Racing Chassis who captured the first four spots ahead of Strunk in a Teo chassis.

School was in session as Curt Michael drove his Bill Gallagher owned No. 5G into the lead in the closing laps, grabbing the lead and the win from reigning URC Champion, Davie Franek.  It was Michael’s tenth Bridgeport URC victory – a track rich in the URC history.  Franek trailed Michael to the checkered with Robbie Stillwaggon taking a third place finish over Derek Locke and Davey Sammons.

The Hill brothers, Jesse and Travis, haveeach had repeated victories in the Cogdill No. 98.  When Travis Hill’s racing schedule opened up for this weekend, the No. 98 was made available for Hill.   Hill took the lead on lap six after race leader, Roger Manning got out of shape, tangling with challenger, Brian Papiez.  Hill raced away from the field, taking the checkered ahead of Jeremy Harrington.  Harrington was later disqualified following a post race tech inspection.  2015 Rookie Champion, Stephen Kemery finished second followed by Brandon Grosso, Kevin Belmont and Davey Wenger.

After competing for the win in the first DA’sAuto Body & Repair rookie event of the season, Jim Cheesman made a strong statement, leading seven of the eight laps in the second Rookie feature of the year.  Jim Gallagher, Jr. crossed the finishline in second but was penalized two positions for his involvement in an on track incident.  Kevin Britt, with one Rookie feature win to his credit, finished second with second generation driver, Brett Belmont taking third.  Gallagher finished fourth with early race leader, Chris Sammons finishing fifth.

Racing action returns to the Bridgeport Speedway this Saturday for the start of the 2017 point season.  Racing gets underway at 6pm for the Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks and Rookies.

Photos by: JCAIV Imagery

SPIRIT AUTO CENTER BIG BLOCKMODIFIED FEATURE ( 25 laps): 1. Duane Howard, 2. Jamie Mills, 3. Mike Barone, 4. Sam Martz, 5. Jeff Strunk, 6. Dominick Buffalino, 7. Bill Pauch, Jr., 8. Ryan Godown, 9. Tommy Beamer, 10. Craig VonDohren, 11. Brett Kressley, 12. Rick Laubach, 13. Rusty Smith, 14. Dave Hunt, 15. Mike Franz, 16. Bob Sarkisian, 17. Ron Roberts, 18. Richie Pratt, Jr., 19. Jack Swain, 20. Neal Williams, 21. Ryan Watt, 22. Pete Visconti, 23. Hendrickson, 24. Jesse Hill, 25. Jordan Watson, 26. Ryan Krachun, DNQ – Ricky DiEva, Dave Shirk, P.J. Oliver, Ryan Anderson, Ernie Miles, Ryan Grim.

CAPITOL RENEGADE URC SPRINT CAR FEATURE (25 LAPS) – 1. Curt Michael, 2. Davie Franek, 3. Robbie Stillwaggon, 4. Derek Locke, 5. Davey Sammons, 6. Josh Weller, 7. Kevin Nagy, 8. Bill Unglert, 9. Steve Buckwalter, 10. Brett Michalski, 11. Ed Aiken, 12. Kris Lilick, 13. Travis Radivoy, 14. Mike Haggenbottom, 15. Paulie Colagiovanni, 16. Chris Coyle, 17. Matt Tanner, 18. Jonathan Swanson, 19. Andy Best, 20. Mark Bitner, 21. Chris Allen, 22. Bobby Scherff, 23. Troy Betts, 24. Justin Whittal, 25. Adam Carberry

STEWART STAINLESS CRATE/SPORTSMAN FEATURE (20 laps): 1. Travis Hill, 2. Steve Kemery, 3. Brandon Grosso, 4. Kevin Belmont, 5. Rich Wegner, 6. Matt Peck, 7. David Crossman, 8. Bobby Bracall, 9. Billy Briggs, 10. Harry Landis, 11. Jeremy Martino, 12. Chuck Sayers, 13. Scott Kohler, 14. Scott Hulmes, 15. Jim Gallager, Jr., 16. Joe Brown, 17. Roger Gaskill, 18. Jim Cheesman, 19. Matt Stangle, 20. Roger Manning, 21. Brian Papiez, 22. Andrew Belmont, 23. Nick Nicotra, 24. Tom Sherby, DQ – Jeremy Harrington, DNQ – Tyler Hulmes, Tommy Errico, Ray Cost, Chris Sammons, David Banko, Pete Serra, Jeff Bubori, Brett Belmont, Dave Izzi, Matt Luzi, Olivia Ingersoll

D.A.’S AUTO BODY & REPAIR ROOKIE FEATURE (8 laps): 1. Jim Cheesman, 2. Kevin Britt, 3. Brett Belmont, 4. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 5. Chris Sammons, 6. Jeff Stuart, 7. Trent Brewbaker, 8. Joe Brown, 9. Dave Izzi, 10. Matt Luzi, 11. Scott Kohler, 12. Ray Cost, 13. Tommy Errico, 14. Eric Mattson, 15. Olivia Ingersoll, 16. Keith McKinley

 

 

Upcoming events

Saturday, April 15 – 2017 Season Opener, Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks and Rookies, 6pm start – 1st night of points

Sunday, April 23 – South Jersey Shootout, Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman & Outlaw Stocks – 5pm start

Sunday, April 30 – Bike Night presented by Joy Auto Parts, Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, MASS Sprint Cars, Rookies and Vintage, racing at 5pm

Saturday, May 6 – Kids Money Scramble, Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks and Rookies, racing at 6:30pm

Bridgeport, NJ – In less than 6 weeks, the 12th and final Friends of Mike event will be held on Tuesday, May 16 at Bridgeport Speedway.  The stars and cars of the Big Block Super DIRTcar series will be towing south to the Garden State for the first time in over a decade.  Event organizer Danny Serrano wants the final F.O.M. race to be one that will be remembered.  “We’ve had all kinds of formats and purses for this race, but this will be the first time that it will D.I.R.T. sanctioned.  One of the disconnects that Big Block modified racing suffers is the separation from the NJ/PA/DE drivers and the D.I.R.T. racers that mainly hail from NY.  I wanted all the best drivers at this race and I’m confident that will happen here at Bridgeport in early May,” explained Serrano.

Racers are required to purchase a DIRTcar membership license for race competition in the Super DIRTcar Series.  “We realize that most of our drivers don’t have a DIRT license which is needed to compete for Friends of Mike,” pointed out the General Manager.  “We want to encourage everyone to be part of F.O.M VII, so we decided to offer a loyalty reward heading into this race.  If any of our drivers compete in all of our four ‘point’ shows leading up to F.O.M., Bridgeport will then purchase their DIRTcar license for May 16,” added Serrano.  The four shows consist of two ‘traditional’ point shows (April 15 and May 6) and two ‘show up’ point events (April 23 and April 30).

All Big Block drivers who compete in these four races will earn their DIRTcar membership courtesy of Bridgeport Speedway.  “We know it’s hard enough to come to the track and compete, let alone adding another expense for the racers.  Hopefully, this well help out Bridgeport’s own for this big race.”  The Friends of Mike Finale will take place at 7:15pm on Tuesday, May 16.  Joining the Big Blocks will be the Stuart Stainless Crate/Sportsman, which will race under the track’s ‘Poker Series’ rules that evening.  For more information you can log onto www.bp.speedway.com, call the track office at 856-467-4408, or call Danny Serrano at 609-433-4487.

 

Action returns to the Bridgeport Speedway this weekend as the winged warriors of the United Racing Club return to the 5/8^th mile speedway in addition to the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds, Stewart Stainless Crate Sportsman and DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookies.

URC welcomes title sponsor, Capitol Renegade for the 2017 season.   Capitol Renegade – “The Headquarters” for all you Race Transport Needs – is a good match for the traveling sprint car club who is celebrating their 70^th Anniversary season as America’s oldest traveling sprint car series.  This will be the third consecutive year that URC has opened their season at the Bridgeport Speedway.

2016 URC Champion, Davie Franek picked up his first of seven wins in the Bridgeport opener on his way to his second career URC Championship.

Josh Weller is looking forward to returning to Bridgeport where he picked up one his four wins last season during Bridgeport’s Three for All event during mid-season.  Weller returned to the cockpit of his family owned equipment in 2016 and had a momentous season.  Weller is hoping to carry that momentum into the new season.

With nine URC titles to his credit, Curt Michael is looking forward to the season opener.  Michael picked up a Brideport win last year during URC’s Big Track Classic weekend, winning the Friday night event while Lucas Wolfe earned his win on the next night.  Bridgeport is special to Michael who won the 2015 season opener  to celebrate his 50^th win in URC competition.

There will be one URC competitor who will be very familiar to Bridgeport Speedway fans as Kris Lilick has made the switch from Crate/Sportsman competition to sprint cars for the 2017 season.  Lilick tried his hand in a second Haggenbottom No. 24 during the Big Track Classic weekend and will race full time with URC this season.

Stewart Friesen was the feature winner of the only Big Block Modified race so far this season after capturing the win in the 60 Over Special/Doug Hoffman Memorial, taking the lead from Jeff Strunk in the final laps of the forty-four lap event.  Strunk will be in the field Sunday, looking for his first ever Bridgeport Big Block Modified feature win but he has his work cut out for him.

Two time Bridgeport Big Block Champion, Ryan Watt had his Roberts Racing No. 14w in mid-season form during the opener but his efforts were derailed twice by flat tires.  Watt had raced up to third before making his first visit to the pits.  After restarting at the rear of the field, Watt had just raced back into the top five when fate struck once again.

Other Bridgeport regulars will be on hand to defend their home turf against the invaders.  Sam Martz was one of the three drivers to lead laps in the season opener.  Rick Laubach was sidelined with mechanical ills with the Gary & Lori Hermann No. 7 during the opener, after picking up the win in the Small Block Modifed event the night before.  Dominick Buffalino made his presence known during the opening weekend and will certainly be looking for his first checkered flag of the season in addition to Neal Williams, Richie Pratt, Jr., Wade Hendrickson,  Tommy Beamer, David Hunt, Jamie Mills, Ron Roberts, Jesse Hill and a host of others.

Brian Papiez picked up the Crate/Sportsman win during the 60 Over weekend  and will be looking forward to continuing his winning ways.  Chris Jenkins had his best ever finish during the 60 Over Weekend.  After leading the  first half of last week’s race, Jenkins will be looking for that first checkered flag in the races to come.  Roger Manning and Kevin Belmont debuted new equipment during the first weekend of the season and will be competing for their share of the purse as will Stephen Kemery, Brad Roberts, Matt Stangle, Billy Briggs, Scott Hulmes and others.

DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookies division is one of the biggest to date.  There were three lead changes during their first eight lap feature event, promising a very exciting Rookie season in 2017.  Kevin Britt, brother of Modified driver, Jim Britt, picked up the win after Eric Mattson and Tom Errico Jr. both led several laps.

The green flag will wave on the Bridgeport Speedway at 4pm on Sunday with four divisions of racing coming your way.  Come early and enjoy the musical entertainment as well as the delectable offerings of the Bridgeport Speedway concession stands.  Or take a ride on the Bandit Bus and view the behind the scenes action in the pit area while the competitors prepare for the racing program.  Keep up to date with the latest news with the Bridgeport Bullet, the official program of the Bridgeport Speedway.

The Bridgeport Speedway is committed to maintaining a safe, fun, family atmosphere, creating life-lasting memories.

Upcoming events

Sunday, April 9 – United Racing Club season opener, Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman and Rookies, start time 5pm

Saturday, April 15 – 2017 Season Opener, Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks and Rookies, 6pm start – 1st night of points

Sunday, April 23 – South Jersey Shootout, Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman & Outlaw Stocks – 5pm start