Friends of Mike Poker Series #3

Date: 6/15/2016

Whitehouse, NJ driver, Sam Martz is the only driver to have competed in every one of the eleven Friends of Mike events.

As a matter of fact, Race Director, Danny Serrano recognized Martz for his support during last year's event.

This year, Martz created his own "award" when he drove to the win in the 45 lap Friends of Mike race that also served as the third hand of the 811 Dig Safely 2016 Poker Series. In addition to the $5,000 check, Martz earned an "Ace" for his Poker Series win, joining Dominick Buffalino and Duane Howard who have been winners this season in previous 811 Dig Safely Poker Series events.

Martz, who is currently second in the Bridgeport Speedway point standings to 2013 Bridgeport Champion, Ryan Watt, had it all go his way. Martz had his son, Sammy draw for his starting position in the main event and Sammy came through by drawing the pole for his dad.

Martz and Craig VonDohren led the starting field to the green flag with Martz grabbing the lead as the leaders came off of turn two on the first lap. 2012 Bridgeport Champion, Rick Laubach moved into second on a lap two restart. Laqubach actually edged ahead of Martz on a lap eight restart but the caution flag waved before another lap could be scored and Laubach's efforts were negated. Martz went back out in front when the race restarted and never looked back.

Tenth place starter, Dominick Buffalino took over third on lap eight and after starting seventeenth in the field, Ryan Watt raced into fourth on the same lap. Eleventh place starter, Duane Howard broke into the top five one lap later.

Buffalino raced by Laubach for second on lap eleven.

After five cautions during the early laps, the remainder of the race went caution free, allowing Martz to stretch his lead before he caught up to the back of the field at the race's mid-point. Racing through lapped traffic allowed Buffalino, Laubach, Ryan Watt and Duane Howard to chase down the leader but Martz was able to keep a car length or two ahead of his challengers most of the way to the checkered flag.

On one occasion, Buffalino actually came within striking distance. "I never saw anyone but I could hear motors behind me," Martz stated. "But I didn't know who it was."

Martz led the way to the checkered flag and the win over the star studded field followed by Buffalino, Laubach, Watt and Howard. VonDohren, the winner of the last two Friends of Mike races, Stewart Friesen, Brett Kressley, Jesse Hill and Richie Pratt, Jr. rounded out the top ten.

Martz held the trophy high with pride. "I'm tired of the invaders coming here and winning," but Martz put a stop to that.

Brian Papiez has always wanted to win a race at the Bridgeport Speedway and Papiez did just that when he drove into the lead of the twenty lap Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman feature, taking the lead from polesitter, Adam Cox with on lap five.

Papiez led the rest of the way to the checkered, taking the win of Eric Kormann who was able to close the gap on the leader but not able to challenge for the lead. Kris Lilick finished third with Jeremy Harrington taking fourth over last week's first time feature winner, Matt Stangle. David Crossman, Stephen Kemery, Clyde Cox, Adam Cox and Bill Briggs completed the top ten in the running order at the finish line.

Action returns to the Bridgeport and Spirit Auto Center Quarter Mile this Saturday with Bridgeport's first Pack the House Night. Grandstand admission is FREE! Fans will get to see the Crate/Sportsman, Rookies, Outlaw Stocks and Sprint Cars of Tri-State Race Savers on the 5/8th mile track in addition to 270cc and 600cc Micro Sprint, 4 & 8 Cylinder Enduros and Slingshots on the quarter mile. All for FREE!! Racing gets underway at 6pm.

HAND #3 OF THE 811 DIG SAFELY 2016 POKER SERIES - FRIENDS OF MIKE RESULTS

Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds (45 laps) - 1. Sam Martz, 2. Dominick Buffalino, 3. Rick Laubach, 4. Ryan Watt, 5. Duane Howard, 6. Craig VonDohren, 7. Stewart Friesen, 8. Brett Kressley, 9. Jesse Hill, 10. Richie Pratt, Jr. 11. Jordan Watson, 12. Ryan Anderson, 13. Jim Britt, 14. Ron Roberts, 15. Stan Frankenfield, Jr., 16. Ryan Krachun, 17. CJ Jones, 18. Frank Cozze, 19. Ricky DiEva, 20. Jimmy Horton, 21. Steve Davis, 22. Kyle Borror, 23. Scott Ambruster, 24. Joseph Watson, 25. Jeff Strunk, 26. Ryan Godown, 27. Mike Iles, DNQ - Matt Peck, Ryan Grim, Brad Roberts, Mike Franz, Bob Sarkisian, Neal Williams

Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman (20 laps) 1. Brian Papiez, 2. Eric Kormann, 3. Kris Lilick, 4. Jeremy Harrington, 5. Matt Stangle, 6. David Crossman, 7. Steve Kemery, 8. Clyde Cox, 9. Adam Cox, 10. Bill Briggs, 11. Tom Princiotta, 12. Frank Holmes, 13. Scott Hulmes, 14. Jason Bittner, 15. Melissa, Scarpati, 16. Jeramy Doerr, 17. Kevin Belmont, DNS - Pete Visconti, Brandon Grosso, Bob Lilick

Upcoming events

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

Sunday, July 3 - HIGH STAKES AT THE PORT - 811 DIG SAFELY POKER SERIES HAND #4 - Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman & Outlaw Stocks, racing at 7:15

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Bike Night is one of the most popular Saturday night events on the Bridgeport Speedway schedule and the first one of the season comes this Saturday at the Logan Township race track. Bike Night means different things to different people. For one, anyone riding a motorcycle to the track will be admitted for FREE! Bikes are displayed behind the grandstands for all of the fans to admire. Awards are given for special categories. And the kids love Bike Night because several boys and girls will be going home with brand new bicycles!

Saturday night action will feature the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds, Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman, the PennCo Tech Outlaw Stocks and the DA’s Auto Body Rookies. 2015 Modified Champion, Jamie Mills opened the 2016 point chase with a feature win and will be the man to beat when the Modifieds take to the track for their twenty-five lap feature event. Mills has two wins so far this season while three time track champion, Wade Hendrickson picked up one win in pre-season competition. Past champions, Rick Laubach and Ryan Watt are looking for their first Bridgeport wins of the season along with Dave Hunt, Sam Martz, Richie Pratt, Jr., Jesse & Travis Hill, and others.

Eric Kormann picked up his first win of the season in the Crate/Sportsman division during the last event. This division has yet to see a repeat winner this season. Brad Roberts, Steve Davis and Jeremy Harrington each of one win during the pre-season events and are seeking their second wins of the season while Kevin Belmont, Stephen Kemery, Dave Damiano, and others will be looking to add their names to the win list for 2016.

TJ Henry will be looking to add to his win total in the Outlaw Stocks after a solid start to the season. 2015 Poker Series Champion, Tom Wills, Jr., 2014 Track Champion, Jim Avery, Jeff Dirkes and a host of others will all be trying to get to the checkered flag first in Outlaw Stock competition.

Chuck Sayres has won the last two Rookie feature events – will twice prove to be thrice when the 2016 Rookies take to the speedway? Or will there will be a new winner – Bob Hartman, Shannon Marshall or Tom Terry?

Come out to the track early and enjoy the volleyball or basketball courts. The kids can play on the bounce house while you enjoy the live music or catch up the racing action in the official program of the Bridgeport Speedway – the Bridgeport Bullet. Take a ride with the Bridgeport Bandit on the Bandit Bus and visit your favorite drivers in the pit area. Or enjoy the tasteful delights of the Bridgeport Speedway concession stands!

Bridgeport is the only track in the state of New Jersey to offer Big Block Modifieds; we are committed to maintaining a safe, fun, family atmosphere, creating life-lasting memories of excitement!

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Upcoming events

Saturday, May 14, 2016 – BIKE Night – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies

Saturday/Sunday – May 21 & 22 – Misfits 4×4 Down & Dirty Weekend, Noon on Saturday with TSRS Sprint Cars at 7pm, Sunday starting time at 10am with Demo Derby at 4pm

Wednesday, May 25 – All in the Port – Poker Series Hand #2 – Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds, Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman, PennCo Tech Outlaw Stocks & DA’s Auto Body Rookies – racing at 7:15 (Raindate if needed –Monday, May 29th)

Saturday, June 4 – Camera & Autograph Night – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks, Rookies & TSRS Sprints, racing at 7pm

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MILLS, ROBERTS, FREES & SAYRE PICK UP WINS IN FINAL BRIDGEPORT PRE-SEASON EVENTS

Godown, Grosso & Frees Win Pre-Season Titles

Swedesboro, NJ Sunday April 24 ....2015 Bridgeport Champion, Jamie Mills raced to his first win of the new season with a pass by Duane Howard just four laps before the checkered flag to become the fourth different winner in Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modified action this season. Brad Roberts earned his first win since 2013 in the Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman twenty lap main event - also the fourth different winner in this division. Ron Frees won his third race of the pre-season as he was chased to the checkered flag by TJ Henry in PennCo Tech Outlaw Stock action and Chuck Sayres earned his first win in the DA's Auto Body Rookie competition.

It was the final race of the four event pre-season that saw three drivers in each division earn a share of $1,000 in the special point fund offered by Oliver Construction Enterprises and Oliver Communication Group, Inc. With four top five finishes, the Ringos Rocket, Ryan Godown picked up the $500 check in the Big Block Modifieds for earning the most points during the four race pre-season. Mills finished second for $300 - the only driver in the top three to pick up a win during the pre-season. Rick Laubach earned $200 for his third place finish.

With one pre-season win to his credit at Bridgeport, Brandon Grosso picked up the $500 check in the Crate/Sportsman. Roberts earned $300 for his runner-up finish while Steve Davis finished third and collected $200. All three drivers had one pre-season win.

With three wins to his credit, Ron Frees earned the $500 check for the Outlaw Stocks. TJ Henry - with one win, two seconds and a third - finished second while 2014 Outlaw Champion, Jim Avery finished third.

In the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modified action, Brett Kressley and Jeff Strunk started side by side to lead the field to the green flag with Kressley jumping out to an early lead. The early laps were interrupted by several caution flags but each time, Kressley maintained control and led the talented field of competition. By lap five, Kressley was starting to feel some pressure from Duane Howard. Howard raced the outside line to first take over second and then to challenge the leader. Kressley led through the crossed flags, pulling away from Howard by several car lengths while Jamie Mills, Ryan Watt and Dominick Buffalino trailed the leaders.

Howard got the jump on Kressley on a lap fifteen double file restart that saw Mills take over second. Howard elected the outside line on a lap eighteen restart, leaving Mills his preferred line on the inside. Howard and Mills raced side by side before Howard was able to edge ahead as the completed the next lap. But on lap twenty-one, Mills put his Blue Hen No. 30 on the inside and drove by Howard to take the lead.

Mills led the way to the checkered flag followed by Howard, Godown, Buffalino and Rick Laubach.

Justin Lilick made his first start of the 2016 season and led the Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman Feature for fifteen laps before Brad Roberts took the lead on lap sixteen and headed to the checkered flag at the end of twenty laps for his first win of the season. Lilick finished second while Steve Davis drove across the line in third. Brandon Grosso and opening night winner, Jeremy Harrington rounded out the top five at the finish line.

Billy Wroble led the first five laps of the PennCo Tech Outlaw Stock main event with Ron Frees racing by on the inside to complete lap number six. Frees had it all his way for the rest of the race until TJ Henry came to life late in the race. Henry raced Frees hard on the final lap with the two drivers crossing the line together. Frees took the win by about a half of car length. Wroble finished third with Spider Ensinger and Brian Ludwig picking up top five finishes.

Bob Hartman took the lead from Shannon Marshall at the start of the eight lap DA's Auto Body Rookie Feature and led the first circuit before Chuck Sayre got by on lap two to take the lead. It was all Sayre to the checkered with Tom Terry taking second from Hartman just before the checkered.

The Bridgeport Speedway switches to Saturday night racing this Saturday with the start of the 2016 Championship season. The Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman and Rookies will be joined by the TSRS Sprint Cars for a four division show that gets underway at 6pm.

SPIRIT AUTO CENTER MODIFIEDS (25 laps) – 1. Jamie Mills, 2. Duane Howard, 3. Ryan Godown, 4. Dominick Buffalino, 5. Rick Laubach, 6. Brett Kressley, 7. Jimmy Horton, 8. David Hunt, 9. Jeff Strunk, 10. Ryan Watt, 11. Wade Hendrickson, 12. Kyle Borror, 13. Jack Swain, 14. Travis Hill, 15. Ron Roberts, 16. Richie Pratt, Jr., 17. Ryan Kratchun, 18. Dave Shirk, 19. C.J. Jones, 20. Mike Franz, 21. Billy VanInwegen, 22. Jim Britt, 23. Bob Sarkisian, 24. Scott Ambruster, 25. Rusty Smith, DNQ – Anthony Moran, Ricky DiEva, Tommy Beamer, Jesse Hill, Jordan Watson, Sam Martz.

STEWART STAINLESS SUPPLY CRATE/SPORTSMAN (20 laps) – 1. Brad Roberts, 2. Justin Lilick, 3. Steve Davis, 4. Brandon Grosso, 5. Jeremy Harrington, 6. Eric Kormann, 7. Ernie Miles, III, 8. Matthew Peck, 9. Scott Hitchens, 10. Dean Conk, Jr., 11. Dave Damiano, 12. Scott Hulmes, 13. Jeramy Doerr, 14. Clyde Cox, 15. Pete Serra, 16. Tom Holding, 17. Chuck Sayres, 18. Steve Kemery, 19. Kevin Belmont, 20. David Crossman, 21. Freddy Massey, 22. Matt Stangle, 23. Tyler Hulmes, DNS – Billy Briggs, Brett Ballard, Kris Lilick, DNQ – Melissa Scarpati, Pete Visconti, Shannon Marshall

PENNCO TECH OUTLAW STOCKS (15 laps) – 1. Ron Frees, 2. T.J. Henry, 3. Billy Wroble, 4. Spider Ensinger, 5. Brian Ludwig, 6. Jimmy Avery, 7. Terry Griffin, 8. Fred Tomarchio, 9. Tom Wills, Sr., 10. Scott Dugan, 11. Art Avery, 12. Joe Meron, 13. Everett Taylor, DNS – Tom Wills, Jr., Jeramy Doerr, David Kramer, Jeff Dirkes

D.A.’S AUTO BODY & REPAIR ROOKIES (8 laps) – 1. Chuck Sayres, 2. Tom Terry, 3. Bob Hartman, 4. Shannon Marshall

Upcoming events

Saturday, April 30, 2016 - start of 2016 Points - Spirit Auto Center Big Blocks, Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman, TSRS Sprints & DA's Auto Body Rookies. Racing at 6pm.

Saturday, May 7, 2016 - PACK THE HOUSE NIGHT - Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies on 5/8th mile track with 270cc & 600cc Micros, 4 & 8 Cylinder Enduros on the 1/4 mile - FREE ADMISSION - Racing at 6pm

Saturday, May14, 2016 - BIKE Night - Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies

The names Brett Hearn and Doug Hoffman absolutely go 'hand in hand' with each other. Arguably, two of the best modified chauffeurs to ever strap into a race car have raced thousands of times against each other throughout their illustrious careers. The 8-time Mr. DIRT champion had one of the fiercest battles in Super Dirt Car Series history back in 1996. Hearn edged Doug Hoffman for the Mr. Dirt title by a mere 3 points. Doug Hoffman won two of the battles that year by winning at Syracuse and the Bridgeport 200, however it was Brett 'The Jet' who won the war.

The Sussex, NJ driver has visited Bridgeport's victory lane twice in his Big Block career. Hearn won a season opener back in the 90's era while also capturing the USNA 200 back in 2000. Hearn's last competition at the 5/8 mile clay oval came in August of '13 during the 8th Annual Friends of Mike event. Hearn is not known to step outside of his familiar No. 20 machines, but this coming Saturday he'll be steering for one of the toughest teams in the Northeast, in the Mike Petruska-owned Atlas Paving No. 66. Ironically, it was the Atlas Team that stood in the winner's circle during the first ever '60over Special' with Bobby Varin as their driver and would like nothing short of the same results three years later.

The three-division program all goes down this Saturday, March 26 at 4pm. The Big Blocks will compete in Hand #1 of the '811 Dig Safe' Poker Series in the 44-lap $4,000 to win event. The Crate/Sportsman 20-lap race will see the victor take home a cool $1,000, while the Pennco Tech Outlaw Stocks battle it out for $500 in their 15-lap affair. An open practice will take place the night before from 7 to 10pm. Teams can leave their haulers overnight if they prefer, while the pit gates open 11am on Saturday. For all race day information please visitwww.bpspeedway.com, check out Bridgeport Speedway's official Facebook page, or call the track hotline at 856-467-4408.