PAPIEZ, HUGHES, ALLEN AND DEGLER RACE TO BRIDGEPORT WINS
PAPIEZ, HUGHES, ALLEN AND DEGLER RACE TO BRIDGEPORT WINS
For just the third time in the 2024 season, the Bridgeport Motorsports Park completed a Saturday night show with Mother Nature’s cooperation. The new clay on the race surface produced some great racing in five different divisions.
Brian Papiez raced to his first win of the season in the IceLess LLC 602 Sportsman. Chris Allen, Jr. raced to the win in the Victory Fuel Wingless Sprints. Mike Hughes turned his 2024 season around with his first win of 2024 in the Blue Hen Speed & Performance Street Stocks. Scott Degler picked up the win in the Blue Hen Speed & Performance 4 Cylinders while Michael Beckett pushed his win total to three in the DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie feature.
Polesitter, Rob Tete grabbed the lead at the start of the twenty-five lap 602 Sportsman feature event. Tete led the way through the first fourteen laps while Papiez made his way through the top five. Papiez caught the leader on lap fourteen and took the lead with ten laps to go. Two caution flags regrouped the field with seventeen laps completed. The field was four wide for second on the restart before the caution waved for a single car incident just one lap later.
Ethan Bill and Steven Kemery executed a pair of great restarts to move into second and third behind Papiez. On lap nineteen, Tete had a tire go down on his No. 30, causing him to spin in turn four. Several other cars were collected in the incident that eliminated Matt Peck from the competition.
Papiez led the way to the checkered over Ethan Bill, Steve Kemery, Travis Hill and Billy Chester who had his best outing to date after racing in the top five throughout the twenty-five lap feature. Howie Finch finished sixth followed by Thomas Prychka, Howard Huepfle, Michael Beckett and Trent Willy.
Papiez had high praise for the track’s new surface and the work put in by the track crew. The feature winner dedicated his win to Art Lentini who paid a role in Papiez’ career.
The Victory Fuel Wingless Sprints competed in a twenty lap feature event that saw Chris Allen, Jr. take the lead from Jonathan Swanson late in the race. Swanson took the lead on the start racing ahead of Larry Drake and Allen who raced in third on lap three. Allen moved by Drake to take second on lap five.
Swanson held the advantage until lapped traffic forced the leader to change his line. With just four laps to go, Allen raced into the lead. Defending Champion, Brian Spencer raced into second.
Allen took the win over Spencer, Swanson, Rich Mellor and Larry Drake. First year competitor, Connor Gross finished sixth followed by another first year wingless competitor, Dan Leaper. David Swanson, Stan Ploski III and Thomas Radivoy rounded out the top ten at the checkered.
Mike Hughes turned his 2024 season around when he raced to the win in the Blue Hen Speed & Performance Street Stocks. It was Hughes first win of 2024 and came on the heals of several engine failures. Polesitter, Gary Bozowski led the first four laps before Hughes raced to the front.
With Hughes well out in front of the field, Bozowski battled with Gary Klimeczak for second. Klimeczak raced in second on lap five but Bozowski battled back.
It was Hughes for the win over Bozowski, Jimmy Combs, Nick Sandone III and Klimeczak.
Eric Degler may have needed a push truck to get to Champion Brands Victory Lane but the No. 7R gave the driver what he needed to pick up the win in the Blue Hen Speed & Performance 4 Cylinders.
Degler took the win followed by Lee Allen, Dan Stein, Jr. who has two wins to his credit this season, Joe Garey, Sr. and defending champion, Tim Jones.
After an early race challenge from Ashley Therien, Michael Beckett raced to his third DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie feature. Therien finished second with Kenny Ott taking third.
ICE LESS LLC 602 SPORTSMAN FEATURE (25 LAPS)
1. Brian Papiez, 2. Ethan Bill, 3. Stephen Kemery, 4. Travis Hill, 5. Billy Chester, 6. Howie Finch, 7. Thomas Prychka, 8. Howard Huepful, 9. Michael Beckett, 10. Trent Willey, 11. Jax Yohn, 12. Ethan Bill, 13. Brian Rogers, 14. Ashley Therien, 15. Rob Tete, 16. Brian Lillick, 17. Dave Hartman, 18. Wayne Weaver, 19. Matt Peck, 20. Kenny Ott, 21. Dan Adaire, 22. Bryan Olsen
D.A’S AUTO BODY & REPAIR ROOKIES (8 LAPS)
1. Michael Beckett, 2. Ashley Therien, 4. Kenny Ott, 5. Dan Adaire
VICTORY FUELS NORTHEAST WINGLESS SPRINTS (20 LAPS)
1. Chris Allen Jr., 2. Brian Spencer, 3. Jonathan Swanson, 4. Rich Mellor, 5. Larry Drake, 6. Connor Gross, 7. Dan Leaper, 8. David Swanson, 9. Stan Ploski, 10. Tom Radivoy, 11. Shea Wills, 12. Matt Peck, 13. Heidi Hedin, 14. Joe Byer, 15. Kurt Sodano, 16. Greg Sherpsis, 17. Frank Lorenzi
BLUE HEN SPEED & PERFORMANCE STREET STOCK FEATURE (15 LAPS)
1. Mike Hughes, 2. Gary Bozowski, 3. Jimmy Combs, 4. Nick Sandone III, 5. Gary Klimeczak, 6. Kevin Heckman, 7. Terry Chaney, 8. Bailey Tolson, DNS – Lee Allen
BLUE HEN SPEED & PERFORMANCE FOUR CYLINDER FEATURE (15 LAPS)
1. Eric Degler, 2. Lee Allen, 3. Dan Stein Jr., 4. Joe Garey, Sr., 5. Tim Jones, 6. John Parker, 7. Mark Stein Sr, 8. Collin Gale, 9. Joe Garey Jr