WATT RACES TO FIRST BRIDGEPORT WIN OF THE SEASON
2013 Bridgeport Champion, Ryan Watt raced to his first win on the 5/8 mile track on Saturday night in the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifed twenty-five lap feature event as he out distanced Duane Howard to the checkered flag. Kris Lilick picked up his first win of 2016 as he raced by Scott Hitchens to take the win in the Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman feature. Eddie Wagner picked up his first win in Hilborn Tri-State Race Saver Sprint Car action. TJ Henry and Chuck Sayres, Jr. were repeat winners as Henry earned his third PennCo Tech Outlaw Stock win of the season and Sayres took his fourth consecutive DA’s Auto Body Rookie feature win.
CJ Jones took the lead at the wave of the green flag and led through lap three when Ron Roberts made hard contact with the homestretch wall, bringing out the first caution. On the restart, it was Bob Sarkisian who moved out in front of Jones and the Overhead Door No. 0, to take the race lead as Watt, who started mid-pack, moved from sixth to second by the time the field exited turn two on lap four. “Everybody went to the bottom of the track and I just went around the outside” was how Watt explained his advance.
With five laps scored, David Hunt slowed on the speedway and the caution flag was again displayed. Race leader, Sarkisian, elected to restart from the outside line but Watt had command by the time the field passed the start/finish line on the restart. Jesse Hill moved into second as Sam Martz and Howard completed the top five. Howard moved up to third on a lap six restart with Martz and Wade Hendrickson completing the top five. Hendrickson was forced to switch cars after qualifying and started at the back of the starting line-up and quickly raced his way into the top five.
The top five remained unchanged through the half way mark but with nine laps remaining, Howard closed in to challenge Hill for the runner-up spot. The two drivers raced side by side as they crossed the line to complete lap sixteen with Howard wrestling the spot away from Hill on lap seventeen. Watt had stretched a substantial lead. Howard erased a few car lengths but was unable to close in on the leader.
Watt led the field to the checkered flag followed by Howard, Hill, Martz and Hendrickson. Early race leader, Jones, had his best outing to date to finish sixth with Sarkisian, Richie Pratt, Jr., Jordan Watson and Scott Ambruster completing the top ten at the end of twenty-five laps.
Eddie Wagner used lapped traffic to first close in on and then race Kevin Nagy for the win in the Hilborn Tri-State Race Saver (TSRS) Sprint car feature, his first of the season. Reigning TSRS champion, Mike Haggenbottom, passed Nagy in the final laps for second. After leading sixteen laps of the twenty lap feature, Nagy finished third. Rookie driver, Logan Diehl had a strong outing to finish fourth with Rick Stief rounding out the top five.
Kris Lilick took the lead away from Scott Hitchens on lap four and raced to his first win of the season in the Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman. Hitchens finished second followed by Steve Davis, Jeremy Harrington and the winner’s brother, Bob Lilick .
TJ Henry raced to his third PennCo Tech Outlaw Stock win of the season, taking the lead from Scott Dugan on lap three. Dugan finished second after holding off the challenges of Tom Wills, Jr. Jeff Dirkes and Jeramy Doerr finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Carney’s Point rookie driver, Chuck Sayres, Jr. won his four consecutive
DA’s Auto Body Rookie feature of the season after racing early leader, Shannon Marshall for the lead. Sayres took the lead from Marshall on lap three and then drove to the checkered flag at the end of eight laps. Tom Sherby finished second after making his first ever Bridgeport Rookie start. Marshall finished third followed by Tom Terry.
A very busy month of June continues at the Bridgeport Speedway next Saturday when the Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks and Rookies return to action a 7pm with the night capping off with Mechanics Races. It’s a night where the wrench turners get their chance to turn the steering wheel instead! The annual Friends of Mike returns on Wednesday night, June 15th for the third hand of the 811 Dig Safely Poker Series for the Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman and Outlaw Stocks. Racing gets underway at 7:15pm. And then on Saturday June 18th, Bridgeport and Spirit Speedways present PACK THE HOUSE NIGHT with all grandstand admission is FREE! Racing will take place on both tracks with the Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks, Rookies and TSRS Sprints racing on the 5/8th mile track while the 270cc & 600cc Micro Sprints, Slingshots and 4 & 8 Cylinder Enduros compete on the Spirit quarter mile.
RACE NOTES – Mike Petruska and his Atlas Trucking No. 66 and driver, Duane Howard made a Saturday afternoon deicision to move their Saturday night racing to the Bridgeport Speedway. Howard was the most recent winner on the 5/8 mile track, picking up the win in the 811 Dig Safely Poker Series Hand #2. The Blue Hen Racing Team returned to action with a new No. 30 with Joseph Watson behind the wheel, subbing for injured driver, 2015 Champion, Jamie Mills. Neal Williams plans to return to Bridgeport Modified action next Saturday with the help of Sal DeBruno’s Overhead Doors.
Upcoming events
Saturday June 11 – Mechanics Night – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies, racing at 7pm
Wednesday June 15 – FRIENDS OF MIKE – 811 DIG SAFELY POKER SERIES HAND #3 – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman & Outlaw Stocks, racing at 7:15pm
Saturday June 18 – PACK THE HOUSE – FREE GRANDSTAND ADMISSION – Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks, Rookies and TSRS Sprint Cars on 5/8th mile with 270cc, 600cc, 4 & 8 Cylinder Enduros and Slingshots on the Spirit Auto Center quarter mile – racing at 6pm
Saturday, June 25 – Spirit Auto Center’s Monster Truck Crush Cancer Night – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks and Rookie Graduation, racing at 7pm