MID-ATLANTIC SPRINT SERIES NEWS..

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BISHOP WINS TWENTY LAP MASS FEATURE IN FRONT OF 'PACKED HOUSE' AT BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY BRIDGEPORT, NJ
By ERIKA PALMAI WAGNER
erikapalmai5@gmail.com

Austin Bishop won his fourth feature event of 2018, but his first ever with Delaware Auto Exchange Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series this past Saturday Night at Bridgeport Speedway. In front of a packed grandstands on account of the speedway's annual 'Pack the House Night' free admission to fans event, Bishop survived multiple restarts, pressure from a hard charging and fast Jeff Geiges and two red flags to take the $450 to win cash prize, thanks to race night sponsor Lin Bethman's Auto Center.

"In those final laps, all I could think about was a staying out front in the clean air and keeping my line straight because I knew Stillwaggon was close behind and he is usually fast at Bridgeport," Bishop mentioned. "I noticed the track started to take rubber in the middle groove, so the objective for me was to keep the car straight and in the rubber so that I could bring it home to victory lane!"

Bishop, who started on the inside pole along side Jeff Geiges after drawing the number one spot during the CRC Industries Brakleen redraw, quickly jumped out front of the twenty-four car field, and maintained the position all throughout the twenty lap feature, constantly facing a challenge from veteran driver, Jeff Geiges, who was all over the back bumper for the first half of the feature.

"Jeff and I were putting on an awesome race and we were both fast!" Bishop said. "At the half way point, I got caught up with the lapped car of Leaper, who was running the same middle line that I was, and coming out of turn two, I anticipated to get around Dan going low, and we came up to him quickly, and unfortunately he went low too, causing me to get into the back of him," Bishop explained.

"I tried to quickly unhook our bumpers by going around the outside of him, but it was just to late and we spun him around, collecting Geiges as well. I feel bad about the situation and how it happened, but I'm just glad that everyone walked away unharmed," Bishop said.

With Geiges now sidelined after the lap nine mishap, Bishop ran away with the win, with the battle for second gaining attention with Tim Tanner Jr. and Ryan Stillwaggon swapping positions, with Tanner eventually finishing up in the runner up spot, and Stillwaggon settling in third. Eddie Wagner and Dave Brown would round out the top five.

"Our season started off a little rocky, with us not being able to finish the first three races we've entered, but now, after running eight shows total in 2018, we've won four of them!" Bishop said. "We're running for National points and the MASS championship this year, so as long as we have twenty decent finishes, we should be in good shape."

Austin Bishop credits his success to the crew of the No. 11A (Parke Bishop, Tyler Rissler, and Frank Styer) and his sponsors Kozie Clothes, Sloan Ford, Doug's Welding, Classic Car Auto Mall, Frank's Shocks and Two Cousin's Pizza.

This weekend, the Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series has off, but is scheduled to return to action next Saturday, June 30th Grandview Speedway Inc.. Information on this event will be released in the coming days.

For more information on upcoming events, LIVE race day coverage, and exclusive interviews with drivers, visit our Facebook page Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series, on Instagram and Twitter @masprints305 and our website www.masprintseries.com.

LIN BETHMAN AUTO CENTER FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS): AUSTIN BISHOP, Tim Tanner Jr., Ryan Stillwaggon, Eddie Wagner, Dave Brown, Brendon Poff, Scott R Frack, Mark Bitner, Rick Stief, Tom Carberry, Bryant Davis, Samantha Lieberman, Cj Faison, Randy Wilbert, Craig Pellegrini Jr., Josh Fox, Jason Dunn, Chad Connor, Larry Mc Vay, Logan Diehl, Jeff Geiges, Dean Conk Jr., Dan Leaper, Doug Suiter DNS- Zack Burd

Professional Design Services HEAT 1 $50 CASH - Jeff Geiges
Freiberger Excavating HEAT 2 $50 CASH - Eddie Wagner
Bruce's Auto Body HEAT 3 $50 CASH - Tim Tanner Jr.
Engler Machine and Tool Front Row - Austin Bishop & Jeff Geiges
Thayer Performance Burning Rubber Hard Charger Bonus - Dave Brown (+10 positions)
Half Way Leader $25 CASH - Austin Bishop
Bitner Automotive Lightning Fast Time Award $25 CASH - Jeff Geiges
Kelly Racing Fuels 5 Gallons of FREE Fuel - Austin Bishop
Keizer Sprint Wheels $50 Gift Certificate 10th Place Finisher - Tom Carberry
$50 CASH Random Driver's Meeting Giveaway & $25 Worst Pill Draw - Craig Pellegrini Jr.