STIEF CAPTURES FIRST CAREER SPRINT CAR VICTORY IN BRIDGEPORT TSRS EVENT
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Tri-State Racesaver Series
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** Special Thanks to Deb Smith for covering our TSRS event at Bridgeport Speedway on Saturday, August 27, 2016.
Rick Stief has turned many laps at the Bridgeport Speedway. Before moving up to sprint car competition, Stief was a regular in Micro Sprint competition at the Logan Township speedway.
But all of that experience came on Bridgeport's quarter mile track - not on the fast 5/8th mile speedway.
Rick Stief (WoS photo)
On Saturday night, Stief conquered the high speed Bridgeport clay to claim his first ever win in a sprint car and his first win in the Hilborn Tri State Race Saver (TSRS) competition.
Stief became the seventh different winner in Saturday night TSRS competition at Bridgeport - adding his name to the list of Kevin Nagy, Eddie Wagner, Christopher Allen, Jr., Ryan Stillwaggon, Jeff Geiges and Dave Brown. Current TSRS point leader, Mike Haggenbottom has captured both TSRS wins held in Friday night Bridgeport action.
Stief's win also came during the final hand of the Tanner Brothers Dairy Store/Thayer Performance 2016 Poker Series, giving the first time winner an Ace for his efforts. But it was a hand of three Kings that would take this year's Poker Series Championship and that hand belonged to Haggenbottom by virtue of his three second place finishes.
Stief was fast out of the box on Saturday night, racing to a second place finish to Geiges in his qualifying heat.
Heat winners, Geiges and Haggenbottom, started side by side on the front row, leading the starting line-up to the green flag. Geiges jumped out in front at the start with Haggenbottom running in second.
The caution waved on lap two as Samantha Lieberman made hard contact with the turn four wall, ending her night after just one complete lap. Geiges led the way when the green flag waved again with Haggenbottom, Stief, Tim Tanner and Eddie Wagner trailing. Geiges would go on to turn the fastest lap of the feature on lap two as he raced around the track in 19.4 seconds for an average speed of 115.9 miles per hour.
Stief was closing quickly and took over second on lap three. Geiges led Stief, Haggenbottom, Tanner and Christopher Allen, Jr. with five complete.
The caution was needed again on lap eight when Doug Snow spun in turn two, erasing the advantage that Geiges held over the fast closing challenger. Tanner had his hands full on the restart as Allen and Wagner challenged. Just before half way, Stief made his bid for the lead and led the field to the crossed flags with ten laps remaining. Geiges raced in second followed by Haggenbottom, Allen and Tanner.
Haggenbottom was closing the gap on Geiges with about five laps to go as Wagner made his way by Tanner to take over fifth. With Stief well out in front, Allen and Wagner raced toward Haggenbottom with three laps to go. Allen raced to the inside of Haggenbottom in turn three to take over third one lap later. Both Wagner and Mark Bitner advanced by the point leader with just one lap to go as Haggenbottom ran into mechanical difficulties.
Stief drove to the checkered flag over Gieges, Allen, Wagner and Bitner. Tanner finished sixth with Haggenbottom limping across the line in seventh. Mrs. and Mr. Carberry came next with Stef finishing eighth and Tommy taking ninth ahead of tenth place finisher, Kyle Purks.
Steif was elated - making his first trip to Victory Lane since the 2011 season. "This is awesome," the feature winner exclaimed. "We've been really fast but we've had a lot of bad luck. Lord knows I can't draw a good pill!" Steif went on to thank sponsors Church's Auto Parts, Bruce's Auto Body, SEK Telecom, All Seasons Glass Tinting and K&G Seal Coating for their support.
TSRS returns to the Bridgeport Speedway on Friday, September 23rd for a doubleheader along with the Small Block Modifieds.
HILBORN TSRS 305 SPRINTS - TANNER BROTHERS DAIRY/THAYER PERFORMANCE 2016 POKER SERIES (20 laps): 1. Rick Stief, 2. Jeff Geiges, 3. Chris Allen, 4. Eddie Wagner, 5. Mark Bitner, 6. Tim Tanner Jr.., 7. Michael Haggenbottom, 8. Stefanie Palmai Carberry, 9. Tommy Carberry, 10. Kyle Purks, 11. Scott Frack, 12. Bryant Davis, 13. Joe Lord Jr., 14. David Bonner, 15. Mike Kostic, 16. Douglas Snow, 17. Logan Diehl, 18. Doug Suiter, 19. Samantha Lieberman
