I’ll never forget the first time Larry came down to Bridgeport with Dave (Adams) one Saturday night and Dave says, “Larry’s gonna be helping us out around here.”  I thought, “There’s no way…me and this guy don’t get along at all!”  Well, thankfully I was wrong.  More importantly, I am thankful that I made a new friend in the process.  This past Tuesday morning, Larry Daniels passed away at the age of 51 from cancer, leaving behind many fond memories.

 

For those of you thinking: “I have no clue who you’re talking about”.  I will guarantee you that you’ve seen his face a thousand times over the past 40 plus years.  Larry was what I would call a ‘Super Fan’.  The man LOVED stock car racing.  He lived it, breathed it, watched it; you name it he did it.  He grew up going to our gone yet beloved race tracks like East Windsor and Flemington.  His older brother would always take him in the 70s and 80s.  Nazareth, Penn National, Bridgeport, New Egypt, Delaware, if there was a race Larry was there.

 

Over the last two seasons Larry was a mainstay at Bridgeport, so much so he moved into one of the motorhomes at the track this past year.  If it needed attention, he was on it.  He helped maintain the equipment, cut the grass,  cleaned the skyboxes, picked up the trash, washed all the vehicles, pumped fuel, drove the courtesy cart (which he absolutely love doing for our fans), and helped out at all the promotional functions:  One things for sure, Larry Daniels’ help and services are going to be missed.

 

However, it’s much more than Larry the ‘Bridgeport Employee’ that this world will miss.  When you attend races all over the country for that long of a period, you build friendships over the years.  Larry was a one of the biggest Billy Pauch fans out there.  Believe me, we had our shouting matches over those years, lol.  Then came Billy Pauch Jr., and boy did Larry loved rooting for ‘Little Billy’.  He became closer to even more drivers since coming to Bridgeport and I’m sure those teams will miss Larry.  I know one of Larry’s highlights this past season was being able to help out Scottie Ambruster since he parked next to the fuel island.  Larry sincerely wanted to just help.  He missed the days of crewing, working on cars, towing haulers up and down the east coast.

 

Larry would tell me stories throughout the day, week, and year about his memories.  How he worked for Tom Capie back in the URC days.  How he towed Billy Pauch’s car to several tracks, working with Frank Cozze at Hagerstown and Windsor.  Working for Richie Cass Sr and the Cass & O’Neal Team.  My favorite story is probably how he got to see Gary Balough this past season at Syracuse.  Larry went up to the iconic Balough and said, “I bet you don’t remember me Gary?”  Gary of course said, “Should I?”  Then Larry told him how he was the little boy that always stood on Airport Road waving to him and all the other drivers because his brother would go into the pits leaving Larry by himself for a little while.  Gary and Larry just both laughed.

 

Larry proposed the idea of camping out at Super Dirt Week last year because he had never really camped out up there.  Well, neither had I…so I was down for it.  So Larry and I drove the rented motorhome up I-81 Tuesday afternoon in what was the last Syracuse for everyone, not just Larry.  Keith (Hoffman) joined us on Wednesday and the three of us had a good ‘ol fashioned fun time.  Ooooh Larry got mad at me at Weedsport.  See, he loved to bet on the races…on all the races!  $1 a race as Larry would say.  Well, of course the feature had to be $3 since it was more important lol.  Well, I took Larry’s money that night just like I did in Delaware for Camp Barnes.  That’s the kind of stuff I’m going to miss a lot when it comes to my friend.

 

I remember when he really wanted to go to Kutztown and was begging to ride with me for two straight days.  I kept saying “Larry, I’m not going back to the track, I’m going home and you’re way out of the way.”  Well, maybe I didn’t want to ride alone, or maybe I could just see the disappointment in his eyes but, we ended up going and I’m glad we did.  He would text me during the week:  ‘Pauch is coming to our race!’ and I could just see his excitement though the phone.  He was on Facebook, message boards, twitter, you name it, trying to find information on racing in general.

 

Don’t get me wrong, Larry wasn’t always all ‘peaches and cream’.  Larry was difficult to get along with sometimes.  We’d butt heads plenty of times, and he got into it with Dave, Keith, Kolby (Ramey), Ed (Olsen), especially Bob (Brown)…man they were some good ones with Bob.  But, that’s part of life, part of a relationship…the good times and the bad times and then you can sit back and laugh about the bad times.  He became close to the Ambrusters, the Britts, the Laubachs, and many more families.  I’m sure they’ll miss Larry too.

 

He simply wanted to help.  Larry wanted to be a part of something.  Larry’s sister informed us that for many years Larry fought addictions and eventually overcame them and he wasn’t happy for many years.  However, during the past two years Larry was the happiest she’d heard or seen him in a long, long time.  I’m thankful that Brian and the Bridgeport staff and drivers were able to make that possible, giving Larry hope and happiness.  Larry wasn’t just good for Bridgeport, he was great for racing.  We need more Larry Daniels to support this lifestyle that we live and love.  I’m sure Larry’s going to be looking down on us along with Bill(Thomas) Doug (Hoffman), Kenny (Walls), Paul (Rutherford), and Aileen (Oldt), and hopefully we can continue to make Bridgeport Speedway a place where friendships are made and memories are created for a long, long time.

Larry we will all miss you.
God Bless

 

 

 

 

Q – Tell us about your plans for the 2016 racing season.
 
Bandit – Now that my friend, Phil (that would be Punxatawny Phil, the famous groundhog) has forecasted an early Spring, I am really anxious for the start of the new racing season.

The roar of the racing engines will be heard for the first time on Saturday March 19th when both the 5/8 and 1/4 mile tracks are open for the first practice of the season.  The first green flag of the season waves one week later with the 60 Over Doug Hoffman Memorial Race.  This is one of my favorite races of the year.  First, it marks the start of a new season and secondly, this race always attracts a lot of drivers from throughout the Northeast.  This will be the fourth running of this event honoring former track champion and promoter, Doug Hoffman.  Each of the previous races has been won by an invader – Ryan Godown in ’13 and ’15 and Bobby Varin in 2014.

 
 Q – You spend a lot of time at the Bridgeport Speedway.  What are some of your favorite things to do there?

Bandit – I always get to the track early so that I am sure that I have plenty of time to do all the things I want to do.  I always spend some time in the Bounce House – it’s so much fun to jump around with my friends.  Then I make sure that I take a ride on my Bandit Bus so that I can ride through the pits and see all of my driver friends and check out the action behind the scenes.  Of course, I have to leave plenty of time to enjoy a meal before the races get started.  My very favorite menu item is the chicken fingers.  You know, raccoons like to dip their food and I really like to dip my chicken in the honey mustard sauce!  And then if I have room, I head to the Water Ice or Ice Cream stand later in the night for my snack.

I make sure to eat before the races start because I don’t want to miss any of the action on the track!
 

Q – What is your favorite divison at the Bridgeport Speedway?

Bandit – Don’t make me pick just one!  Every one of the divisions offers something to the Bridgeport fans.

With the Big Block Modifieds, it’s the speed!  They are so fast!  The competition is so close with the Crate/Sportsman cars – lots of wheel to wheel racing in that division.  The Outlaw Stocks use those full fenders for lots of banging and rubbing – their races are always full of action.  And the Rookies – well it’s a lot of fun to watch them progress and their skills to develop as the season goes on.

 

Q – What is your favorite event of the season?

Bandit – I always make sure to check my Bridgeport Speedway schedule because they have so many specials planned throughout the season.  One of my favorites is Bike Night.  There are four Bike Nights this year – the first one is on May 14th.  Several lucky boys and girls will go home with a brand new bicycle on Bike Night.  It’s a lot of fun!

And I really like Quarter Midget Night when many of my young friends bring their race cars (quarter midgets) to Bridgeport to show all of the fans how they race.

 

 

 

After welcoming Delaware’s Jordan Watson as the newest weekly Big Block addition last month, Bridgeport Speedway will have another new Saturday night competitor throughout the 2016 racing season.  Jim Britt recently confirmed that he will indeed be moving up from the Crate/Sportsman division into the weekly wars with the Spirit Auto Center Big Blocks at the 5/8 mile oval.

 

Although this will be Britt’s first full-season behind the wheel of a powerful 467 cubic inch Big Block, he is by no means a stranger to the racing scene, especially at Bridgeport.  Jim Britt started his racing career at the legendary Flemington Speedway in the Enduro division in 1997, where he raced with drivers like current racing sensations Ryan Godown and Earl Paules Jr. In ’99 Britt made the switch to race more locally at Bridgeport in the Street Stock division for a couple of seasons.   Then in 2002 he bought a sportsman car that he ran at East Windsor a few times before they permanently closed their doors.  Fellow sportsman driver at the time, Richie Pratt was a big help according to Britt.  The following year Britt was able to find victory lane for the first time at Bridgeport Speedway, while also competing at tracks such as Susquehanna and Delaware International.

  Then, in 2006 Jim Britt decided to get out of racing, but occasionally attended races and helped some friends like      modified driver Ron Roberts.  In ’08 Britt did jump behind the wheel once again, as he was offered to drive Roberts’  back up modified on a couple of occasions.  Fast forward five years later to 2013 and Britt caught the racing bug yet  again as he purchased a used Teo-Pro car for a couple of races at the end of the ’13 season.  The following year Jim  bought a brand new Hig-Fab chassis with a Delaware crate engine where he ran sporadically at venues such as  Bridgeport, Penn Can, and New Egypt.

 

Heading into the 2015 season Jim Britt and his team made the decision that they would shoot for the ’15 Crate/Sportsman championship at Bridgeport.  “We bought a motor from Gene Stravinsky and we really wanted that Bridgeport title,” Britt admitted.  Britt’s lofty goal from last year fell one position shy of accomplishment as he finished runner-up in the year-long point chase.  “Although we didn’t win the championship we had a pretty good season and we won six times at Bridgeport.  We also finished second twice at Thunder Mountain and ran well when we went to Penn Can, I-88, Five Mile Point, Grandview, and New Egypt.”  Britt’s ’15 season was also highlighted by his second place effort in the overall American Racer Cup Sportsman standings (missed title by 1 point), winning the A/R South Region, and second in Bridgeport’s Poker Series.

This season, Jim Britt will have brand new Hig-Fab chassis as part of his Big Block arsenal.  “Jerry’s (Higbie) a great guy that puts out a great product with his cars.  He’s all for the little guy and helps as much as he can no matter what.  We will also have a freshened up CC Performance Engine that I bought from Jamie Mills, a Jimmy Weiss prepared Sportsman motor, and currently are in the process of building an ‘open’ 358 small bock.”  Needless to say, Jim Britt is coming into the new season well-prepared for success.

The 36-year old Broomall, Pennsylvania resident is self-employed as he owns CIL Underground LLC, which is a drilling and utility construction company that operates along the east coast ranging from North Jersey all the way to North Carolina.  Britt’s family is extremely supportive of his racing endeavors as they attend Bridgeport weekly.  “My whole family comes to the track every week.  We bought a skybox for the whole season last year and my kids, wife, and everyone else just love coming there.  That’s another reason besides the good racing at the track.   It’s the ‘family atmosphere’ that makes us choose Bridgeport over everywhere else.  It’s a nice facility and it’s more than just racing, they give the fans a show each and every week.”

Britt was quick to point out some of the sponsors and help that make it all happen for the No. 118 Team.  “Of course there’s CIL, Buckley Cable Construction, Jim’s Lawn Service, Kevin Incorporated, and I can’t forget Terry & Stacie Poole as they stepped up big time this year.  I don’t know if any of what we do would be possible without by brother Kevin.  He houses and maintains the cars at his place which is just a few miles from the track.  He does most of the work on the car during the week, since I’m usually out of state working during the week.  My Dad and the rest of the crew are a big part of this team too.  We also help out some of my friends too with a little sponsorship.  Guys like Steve Davis and Brad Roberts are good guys so we try and help them get to the race track every week too.”

So what’s in store in 2016 for Mr. Britt?  “Well, we’re gonna run all the Big Block races at Bridgeport (regular point shows and 811 Dig Safely Poker races).  Once we get the small block ready we plan on hitting some of the local Short Track Super Series races and of the Georgetown races they have.  We still have the Sportsman car/motor so I think we’ll try and hit some of the better paying shows in NY and run Deyo’s North Sportsman Series.   After Bridgeport, I think I really like Thunder Mountain the best and plan on running any shows there that don’t conflict with Bridgeport’s races.  Basically we just wanna go out and race a lot this season and have fun.  I’m not looking to set the world on fire but, I obviously want to be competitive.”  If Jim Britt’s first full season at Bridgeport in 2015 in the Crate/Sportsman class was any indication of a ‘rookie year’, then 2016 looks to be a promising one as his journey begins in the Big Block division.

 

    It won’t be long before the roar of engines will again be heard at the Bridgeport Speedway!  An action-packed schedule has been set for the quickly-approaching 2016 racing season.  Competitors will have the opportunity to shake down their equipment during three scheduled practice sessions with the first coming on Saturday afternoon, March 19th.  The second practice date is planned for Friday, March 25th, the night before the 60 Over Special/Doug Hoffman Memorial Race on Saturday March 26.  The final ‘pre-season’ practice will be on Saturday evening, April 2nd.  Any and all competitors are welcomed to test and tune on any of the three 5/8 mile practices and as always, grandstand admission is FREE for the fans wanting to see what’s in store for the ’16 season.

 

The first Saturday night racing program, as well as the first night of points will be on April 30th.  The 2016 Track Championships will get under way for the Spirit Big Block Modifieds and Crate/Sportsman.  The Pennco Tech Outlaw Stock’s points will start the following Saturday as they are off the schedule this night with the TSRS 305 sprint cars making their first appearance of the season.  The 2016 point champion divisions will be crowned on the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend, September 3rd (Rain or Shine).

 

An all-new racing weekend has been planned for the fourth weekend in September.  The cutting-edge ‘King of the Big Blocks’ event will be presented on Saturday, September 24th, with a full slate of racing planned for Friday, September 23rd as well.  Specific details are still being worked out for the weekend however, a heavyweight purse of $12,000 to the winner of this inaugural event focusing on powerful Spirit Auto Center Big Block division.  The ‘Little Brothers’ of the Big Blocks will take center stage the night before for a special 358 Small Block program.  The Crate/Sportsman, Pennco Tech Outlaw Stocks, and 305 Sprints will all be a part of this much anticipated weekend.

 

     The United Racing Club (URC) 360 Sprints will be visiting the spacious 5/8 mile oval on three different occasions.  The first appearance of the year takes place on Sunday, April 10, as the Club joins the Spirit Auto Center Big Blocks, Crate/Sportsman, and Outlaw Stocks for a Sunday matinee.  Then on Tuesday, June 28 the winged warriors share the spotlight with the Super Late Models and 358 Small Blocks during the 2nd annual ‘Three For All’.  The URC season wraps up their season with a big weekend planned on November 4 and 5.  The first-ever ‘Bridgeport URC Big Track Classic’ has been scheduled.   The weekend will feature back to back days of 360 sprint car racing, with many of the other 360 touring series’ drivers looking to support this inaugural event.  The Crate/Sportsman will round out the racing card that weekend with the high-dollar paying ‘Crate/Sportsman Show Down’.

 

     The South Jersey Shootout is on tap on Sunday April 17th.  The Brett Deyo promoted event will include the Spirit Auto Center Big Blocks, Crate/Sportsman, and Outlaw Stocks.  Last year, Bridgeport’s home track turf was defended as Rick Laubach, was able to fend off a stout field of invading modified drivers.  As part of the South Region of the Short Track Super Series, fans can count on seeing out of state drivers towing in from Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.  The Xcel 600 Modifieds will return on the Spirit Auto Center quarter mile for their first of eight appearances during the 2016 campaign.

 

 

The Kenny Wallace Racing Experience returns to the Bridgeport in 2016 after an extremely successful debut last year.  This time, the ‘KWRE’ has signed on for two dates during the season.  The first coming Saturday, April 23rd and the second on Sunday, October 2nd.  This is a great opportunity for that avid fan to finally get to see how it feels getting behind the wheel of an actual stock car or at least be a passenger that will get to feel that rush.  For more information you please visit www.dirtracewithkenny.com

 

The D.A.’s Auto Body Rookie Class of 2016 featuring the Crate/Sportsman will have 10 races to decide a champion.  The first race will take place on Sunday, April 3rd with the final race and graduation commencing on Saturday, June 24.  All drivers who intend on competing in the rookie division are urged to call the speedway (856-467-4408) to register for the upcoming season.

 

 

For the first time ever it’ll be ‘Pack the House Night’ at the Bridgeport Speedway on Saturday, May 7th.  Admittance will be FREE for all fans this night as the Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks and Rookies compete on the 5/8 mile track.  What will make this evening even more enticing, is the fact that the Spirit Auto Center Speedway will also be in action sharing the spotlight.  With the 1/4 mile usually racing on Friday nights, their weekend racing will instead take place on Saturday night.  The 270 & 600 Micros will be joined by the Servpro 4-Cylinders for this unique event.  Rounding out the program will be the 8 Cylinder Enduro cars that will race for a whopping $1,000 to win!

 

If there’s one race that race fans are going to circle on their calendar it certainly has to be the 2nd Annual ‘Bridgeport Three-For-All’.  Tuesday, June 28 the South Jersey oval will be invaded by some of the most talented drivers in the tristate area.  The extremely popular Super Late Models will return, as a packed house watched Delaware fan-favorite Andrew ‘Rowdy’ Mullins take home the win with a late race pass over regional traveler Glenn Elliott.  SLM drivers representing Delaware International, Georgetown, Hagerstown, Port Royal, and Selinsgrove Speedways Speedway are expected to compete in their one and only appearance of the ’16 season.  The 358 Small Blocks will make their first of three appearances of the season.  Many of the local small block competitors from Grandview, New Egypt, Big Diamond, and Delaware will join some of Bridgeport’s Big Block faithful that have 358 small blocks.  The 360 URC Sprints will round out the three for all for all those fans that love open-cockpit racing.

 

In 2015, the first-ever Misfits 4 x 4 event took place.  The turnout from both competitors and spectators was so overwhelming, that for the 2016 season, there have been TWO Misfit 4 x 4 shows booked.  To enhance the atmosphere this year, both Spring and Fall shows have been extended to two-day events.  These shows consist of both street-legal and off-road trucks and jeeps running the gamut of a specialized obstacle course built specifically for these rough-terrain vehicles.  The first Misfits 4 x 4 event will be offered on May 21st and 22nd.  The TSRS sprint cars will be a stand-alone division on Saturday night as they strut their stuff to a totally different fan base.  The Sunday event will include a Demolition Derby.  The Misfits 4 x 4 show will return on October 15th & 16th for another two-day event with a Demolition Derby slated for Saturday night.

 

One of the mainstays at Bridgeport is the popular Poker Series, which will return once again in 2016, while seeing a new title sponsor for the six-race series.  Colonial Pipeline and the 811 Dig Safely program have joined forces once again at Gloucester County oval and have signed on to Bridgeport’s trademark series.  The 60 Over Special/Doug       Hoffman Memorial will be the first hand followed by ‘All in at the Port’ on Wednesday, May 25, Sunday, July 3rd’s ‘High Stakes at the Port’, then the 11th Annual Friends of Mike event on August 16th, and ‘Bonus Hand’ on Saturday, October 1.  The 811 Dig Safely Poker Series will conclude with the Wildcard Weekend to close out the season in mid-November as the best three hands and worst hand in the Big Block, Crate/Sportsman, and Outlaw Stock divisions.

 

The TSRS Sprint Car Series will once again thrill the Bridgeport Speedway fans 12 times throughout the ’16 season.  The 305 sprinters will see 8 nights of Saturday action (4/30, 5/21, 6/4, 6/18, 7/9, 7/23, 8/13, and 8/27) while making 4 appearances (6/24, 8/5, 9/23, 11/11) on Friday evenings.  The TSRS gang will also compete in their own Poker Series as they have the previous two years.  Local favorites Bobby DeVault and Eddie Wagner claimed the first two Poker Series titles.  The 5/21, 6/4, 6/18, 7/9, 7/23, and 8/27 dates wills serve as the six Poker Race events.  The August 13th date should also be noted that this will be an Inter-Regional race drawing cars from the PASS and CSRA 305 Sprint Series.

 

As always, Bridgeport Speedway will host many different ‘theme nights’ throughout the upcoming season.  Some of those nights include ‘Mechanics Night’ (6/11), where those who turn wrenches get to showcase their skills on the 1/4 mile.  ‘First Responder’s Night’ allows Bridgeport to honor all those that serve the community (7/16).  On August 20th the future race car drivers will be spotlighted on ‘Quarter-Midget Night’.  ‘Camera & Autograph Night’ will take place on June 4.  Close to 70 drivers and race cars line the midway behind the grandstands and hand out pictures, candy, and sign autographs before the races start.  August 13th is the annual ‘Scout Night’ where everyone in uniform (Boy, Girl, Cub, Eagle) are admitted FREE.  There are two ‘Powder Puff’ events on the 1/4 mile…the first on August 6th and the second on October 1.  July 30th will be ‘Jeep Jamboree Night’ as all spectators arriving in jeeps will be admitted free and will get to try out the ‘off-road’ course created in the 1/4 mile pit area.  The ‘Kids Money Scramble’ will see a bunch of the young fans go home with some extra $$$ on July 9.  And last but certainly not least, the ever-popular ‘Bike Nights’ return to Bridgeport Speedway.  Four ‘Bike Nights have been penciled into the ’16 schedule (5/14, 6/18, 7/23, & 8/27).  All riders on motorcycles receive FREE admission upon entry.  Like in the past, half a dozen bicycles will be given away at intermission to six lucky youngsters courtesy of the Bridgeport Speedway drivers.

 

The Garden State Vintage Car Club will be making 5 stops at the South Jersey facility in 2016.  Those dates include, April 24, June 18, July 23, September 3, and November 5.  The Pennco Tech Outlaw Stocks have several nights off when the TSRS Sprints are in town.  However, they will have two nights where they have twin features rather than the traditional single main event.  The Crate/Sportsman are also have a Twin-15’s night planned in July.

 

 

To learn all about the latest news regarding Bridgeport Speedway you can log onto www.bpspeedway.com, visit their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter.  The management team and many of the staff members will be on hand at the Motorsports Expo in Oaks, Pa this coming weekend.  Brand new schedules will be available as well as Bridgeport apparel and all the necessary paperwork for the 2016 season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016 Pit Licenses and Season Tickets Will Be Available

     Plans are underway to present the Bridgeport Speedway as well as the new Spirit Auto Center Speedway (1/4 mile) when the 31st Motorsports Racecar & Trade Show comes to the Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA on January 22-24, 2016.

     Popular Big Block Feature Winner, Sam Martz will have his Izzy Trucking/Forever Flowers No. 3 on display in the Bridgeport Speedway area.  Ed Barber’s No. 99b 600c Micro Sprint will be wrapped in Spirit Auto Center Speedway logos.

     Fans and competitors alike will find it advantageous to visit the Bridgeport display during the three day show.  Pit licenses, season passes and skyboxes will be available at discounted pre-season prices.  2016 schedules will be available for both tracks.  The staff and track officials will also be on hand to answer any questions that competitors may have as they prepare their equipment for the new season.

     Representatives from Spirit Auto Center of Swedesboro, NJ will also be on hand to help to promote the new Spirit Auto Center Speedway as well as to talk to potential customers about their automobile needs.

     A tricked out Jeep will be on display to promote the Misfits Down & Dirty shows at the Bridgeport Speedway as well as the scheduled Jeep Jamboree as the Logan Township facility continues to broaden its horizons.  There will also be a display on hand for the all new “811 Dig Safely Poker Series” at Bridgeport Speedway.  Representatives from 811 Colonial Pipeline will be on hand to present the new Poker Series and answer any questions anyone may have.

     The 2016 season is scheduled to open on the big 5/8 mile Bridgeport Speedway on March 26 while the new Spirit Auto Center Speedway has their lid-lifter scheduled for Friday, April 8th.

      Hours of operation for the Motorsports Racecar & Trade show are 2-9pm on Friday, 11am-9pm on Saturday and 11am-4pm on Sunday.

               After giving it some thought once the 2015 racing season concluded, the ‘First State’ racer Jordan Watson will be calling Bridgeport Speedway his new home in 2016.  Actually, Watson is no stranger to Bridgeport, as he’s been a track regular before.  However, this will be his first full season behind the wheel of a powerful Big Block touring the 5/8 mile oval.

               Watson was quick to point out that he’s looking forward to racing weekly at the South Jersey facility.  “We talked it over with my family and everyone and we just feel Bridgeport is where we need to be this year.  We came up last summer and had a blast.  We struggled at first but then we were able to visit victory lane (Bridgeport’s historical 1,000^th Big Block feature) which made it all worth it.”

               Watson has had plenty of success in his home state of Delaware where he’s recorded three Crate championships at Delaware International Speedway along with a 2014 Big Block track title as well as the ’13 Sportsman American Racer Cup.   Last year Watson conquered the Beach Blast at Georgetown and he closed his season out with a victory at the Delaware State Championships.  Jordan also owns a Crate Sportsman championship at Bridgeport along with a couple of prestigious victories coming in the Bill Hill Memorial and Friends of Mike races.

               “I’m honestly looking forward to running with the drivers that race at Bridgeport.  There’s some stiff competition and when you win there you’ve done something.  Guys like Jamie (Mills), Rick (Laubach), Watt, Pratt.  Their all tough there and a lot more.  I just feel Bridgeport is real racey.  There’s multiple grooves and you can move around and search for your line.  It’s definitely a place where I feel I can sharpen my skills this season.”

               Surprisingly, one of Jordan’s main reasons for making the switch didn’t pertain to the actual track or racing on it, although he expressed his fondness to the racing surface.  “What really excites me when I come to Bridgeport is all the things they do on the fan’s side over there.  I mean these kids are our next generation of fans   or drivers and Bridgeport keeps them excited and entertained.  A lot of these tracks need to do that kind of stuff like they do because it matters more than people think.  My wife, Alison and some friends came to a race this year there and had a blast there.  Listening to the band, seeing the cars up close, and watching the kids do all kinds of activities.  I’m glad I’m going to be part of that great atmosphere they’ve got going on up there.”

               Even though running up front at Bridgeport and hopefully a track championship will be Watson’s main focus, he does have a busy schedule planned this 2016      campaign.  “I’m going to run the whole South Region of the Short Track Super Series along with all of Georgetown’s races.  Some specials at Delmar and maybe even a  couple of races in New York.  Currently, we’re in the process of building an open-small block for some of these shows too.  I’d say we have close to 45 races penciled in  already this season.”

               Jordan’s very thankful for the people that are backing his racing efforts.  The 27-year old, State of Delaware equipment operator from Milford, De driver will be driving a ’13 and a ’15 Bicknell chassis in 2016 powered by a Larry Lombardo engine.  One will be owned by Glenn and Donna Watson while the other comes out of well-known Delaware owner Will Brown’s stable.  Some of the sponsors that make it all happen include Remax Twin Counties, Regan Watson Auction, Will Brown Truck Repair, Courtland Manor Nursing Homes, Miller Metal Fabrication, Delmarva RV, Swain’s Excavation, and Perfect Finish Powder Coating.  “Like I said, I have a lot of people that help me and we enjoy going to the races as a family.  That’s why Bridgeport is a perfect fit for me and my team this coming season.  I can’t wait ‘till March 26!”

                     
                              

       The Bridgeport Speedway Reintroduces the Quarter Mile!

   Following the announcement at the Bridgeport Speedway Awards Banquet in December, plans are moving forward for the Spirit Auto Center Speedway for the 2016 season.

     Spirit Auto Center of Swedesboro, NJ has shown their support for the Bridgeport Speedway since the start of the 2013 season.  As announced in December, Spirit has now decided to join forces with the Bridgeport Speedway to promote the quarter mile track and as a result, give it it’s own identity.  A new website, newsletter and Facebook page will be put into place with other social media outlets to follow.

     Bridgeport Speedway Marketing Manager, Kolby Ramey has been working on this project throughout the course of this past season.  Ramey felt that it was necessary to separate the identity of the two tracks in order to create a new marketing platform for the quarter mile track.   “We have seen an issue with the promotional efforts of the 1/4 mile track since I fully took Marketing over a year ago,” Ramey explains.  “We just weren’t sure what we were going to do to make it better.  We approached Spirit Auto Center whom we already had a relationship with and offered them the sponsorship package to re-brand the track.  They were excited about the opportunity to get their company out to more potential customers and we were excited to have an all new platform for the 1/4 mile track.”

     Sebastian Carpenter of Spirit Auto Center stated, “We’re excited about what we can bring to the table for Bridgeport.”  Spirit Auto Center has been a sponsor of the Bridgeport Speedway for several seasons, supporting the Big Block Modified division for the last two seasons.

     The Spirit Auto Center Speedway will continue to offer 270cc Micro Sprints, Wingless 600 Micro Sprints, 4 and 8 Cylinder Enduros on Friday nights with other divisions like Slingshots, 600 Xcel Modifieds, Open Modifieds being added for special events throughout the season.  The popular Poker Series will return in 2016.

     The Spirit Auto Center Speedway will open its gates on March 19 and April 2 for practice sessions with the first green flag of the season set to wave on Friday, April 8 when the Slingshots and 4 Cylinder Enduro cars will join the 270cc and 600cc Micro Sprints.    The first Poker Series event of the season is set to go on May 14.

     The Spirit Auto Center Speedway will be represented at the upcoming Motorsports Racecar & Trade Show event on January 22-24 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA.

   

 

Jamie Mills, the 2015 Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modified champion for the second time in his career, will be the top honoree of the evening along with the entire top 10 in the final point standings. Pat Wall will be celebrating his ’15 Stewart Stainless Supply Inc. Crate/Sportsman championship with his fellow top 10 racing competitors as well. Tom Wills Sr. will be closing the final chapter in his racing career as he caps of the 2015 season with the Pennco Tech Outlaw Stock Car championship (top 10 will be recognized).  The D.A.’s Auto Body Championship will be celebrated by the top three rookies including champion Stephen Kemery.

Lee Nardelli will represent the top 10 in the Friday night 600 micro sprint division after his dominating 2015 season. Tyler Reinhardt will be standing atop the podium for the third straight year come banquet time as he will lead the top 10 in the 270 micro sprint class. Chris Sammons earned his first championship in the Servpro Four-Cylinder division as the top four in points will be honored come next Saturday. Young Andrew Kreis will see all eyes on him, as he conquered the first ever OMS Racing/Speedway’s All Star Bagel Stop Slingshot point championship. A whopping top 20 will be recognized next Saturday evening regarding the slingshots. Chris Allen Sr. Was the top dog in the Gasko & Son Farm & Greenhouses 8-Cylinder Enduro Series in 2015 (top 4 recognized).

The top three/four finishers in the Poker Series for Big Block Modifieds (Neal Williams), Crate/Sportsman (Brett Kressley), John Blewett Inc. Outlaw Stocks (Tom Wills Jr.), 600 Micros (James Morris), 270 Micros (Jacob Hendershot), Four-Cylinders (Chris Sammons), Jeffrey Hogue/Action Track USA Slingshots (Andrew Kreis), and Bethman Auto Center/Bruce’s Speed Shop/Thayer Performance TSRS 305 sprint cars (Eddie Wagner) will all be recognized and honored on Dec. 5. Several specialty awards will be distributed among the different racing classes as well.