Archive for Bridgeport Speedway
IT’S RACE DAY at Bridgeport Speedway!!
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Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series (MASS Photo)
IT'S RACE DAY!!
The Delaware Auto Exchange Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series will be making their final appearence in the state of New Jersey for 2019 AND on the fastest dirt track in the east - Bridgeport Speedway! Pit gates are scheduled to open at 4PM, with grandstands opening for fans also at 5:30PM, hot laps beginning at 6:00PM and racing starting promptly at 7:00PM!
Tonight will be the seventh and final night of the Snow's Sealcoating LLC.sponsored New Jersey State Championship portion of the "Tri-State Championship Series". Rick Stief and Ricky DiEva are tied in the New Jersey State Championship point battle heading into tonight, with Jason Dunn sitting just 11 points behind the two!
Snow's Sealcoating LLC. is a fully licensed and insured asphalt maintenance company, specializing in sealcoating, line striping & crack filling. Interested customers can call to get a free estimate and be put on their schedule for the upcoming year!
Additional contingency awards include $50 cash to each heat race winner presented by Bruce's Auto Body, John W. Kay Electric, and Professional Design Services, a $50 gift certificate to Keizer Sprint Wheels for the worst pill draw of the night, the $50 Bitner Automotive 'Lightning Fast Time of the Night' bonus, 5 gallons of fuel to the winner of tonights feature courtesy of Kelly Racing Fuels, a case of oil to the fourth place finisher courtesy of VP Lubricants the Fred's Trailers $50 Hard Charger Award, the “Burning Rubber Bonus” which is a BRAND NEW Hoosier Tire Racesaver Spec Right Rear tire courtesy of Thayer Performance, a $50 Gift Certificate courtesy of Competition Suspension Inc., the CRC Industries Brakleen feature redraw and the Worthington Rigging & Storage Worst Pill Draw $100 cash prize concludes the list of extras up for grabs tonight.
Associate marketing partner Engler Machine and Tool will be sponsoring the front row starters for all the MASS feature events in 2019. The pole sitters each night will be rewarded with two tickets for the fuel injection that is being raffled off at the season end banquet as part of the "Engler Machine and Tool Front Row Challenge" Award.
Several drivers looking forward to join the list of 7 different drivers who have earn victories so far this season like Eddie Wagner, Logan Diehl, Jason Dunn, Jon Brennfleck, Jon Haegele, Tom Carberry, Scott R Frack, and Larry Mc Vay to name a few.
For more information on THIS event, LIVE race day coverage, and exclusive interviews with drivers, visit our Facebook page Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series, our Instagram and Twitter pages @masprints305 and our website www.masprintseries.com!
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Jeffrey Geiges
Edward Wagner
Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series
PO Box 4172
Trenton NJ 08610
HENDRICKSON RUMBLES ON THE RIVER TO CAPTURE POKER SERIES VICTORY
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Bridgeport Speedway
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Wade Hendrickson has always considered the Bridgeport Speedway 5/8th mile his home track. Since his first feature win there in May of 1999, Hendrickson has done some of his best racing on the Logan Township surface.
On Thursday night, Hendrickson earned his 60th Bridgeport feature win in the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds, moving him one win closer to third place , Billy Pauch, on the All Time Feature Winner's list. "I learned to race here," Hendrickson told the crowd of fans, "It's been a special place in my heart. I had to win one last one here," Hendrickson said, referencing the changes coming to the Bridgeport Speedway next season.
Hendrickson's daughter, Brooke, drew the pole for her dad and his Pat Michael owned No. 51m. Hendrickson is not known for having any luck when it comes to drawing for position.
Hendrickson led every lap of the NAPA Auto Parts sponsored event. Danny Bouc, driving Hendrickson's former ride - the Craig and Lesley Pondish owned C&S Equipment No. 6 - who offered Hendrickson's biggest challenge as he raced from his thirteenth place starting position to challenge for the win. Bouc picked off the competition in the top five, one by one, until he got to Hendrickson. A caution with two laps to go gave Bouc his final shot on the single file restart. Hendrickson used his experience on the restart, slowing down the field, knowing that he would have the jump on the challenger's small block engine. And he was right.
Hendrickson took the win over Bouc who was all smiles after the race. The second place finish marked Bouc's best attempt at Bridgeport this season and he was well pleased with his car's performance.
Billy Pauch finished third in a throwback paint scheme of the L car on a night that he Cimpko family paid tribute to the late Tom Cimpko who played an important role in Pauch's career.
Dominick Buffalino finished fourth in the Horton No. 76, edging out Jimmy Horton at the start/finish line. Richie Pratt, Jr. finished sixth followed by Neal Williams, Jim Britt, Rick Laubach and Roger Manning.
The Cimko Family added an additional $1,000 to the winner's purse plus and additional $500 for fifth (Horton) and $800 for eighth place (Britt).
The win was worth $5,000 for Hendrickson in addition to an Ace for this 2019 Poker Series hand. The three Poker Series events have been won by three different drivers - Pauch, Horton and now, Hendrickson.
Travis Hill drove the Cogdill No. 98H to victory for the second time this season in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman feature.
Hill led every lap of the twenty lap main event to claim victory over Tom Sherby Jr. Wayne Weaver finished third followed by Matt Peck and Eric Kormann. James Hill, Jim Gallagher, Jr., Bobby Bracall, Ernie Miles III and Rick Wegner.
Rich Stinson, Jr. raced to his second consecutive win and fifth of the season in the Sunbelt Rental Outlaw Stock feature event.
Brian Ludwig led the way for the first two times around the track before Stinson raced into the lead after starting third at the green.
It was all Stinson for the remainder of the race as Tom Wills, Jr. picked off positions one by one from his eighth place start. Wills was racing for third at half way.
Stinson took the win with a healthy lead over Wills who edged out Ludwig at the finish line for second. Lee Allen finished fourth with Jeff Dirkes rounding out the top five.
The next race at the Bridgeport Speedway will be Scout Night on Saturday, August 24th when racing returns to the 5/8th mile track.
SUMMARY> – RUMBLE ON THE RIVER POKER SERIES HAND #3
SPIRIT AUTO CENTER BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS >(40 laps)
1. Wade Hendrickson, 2. Danny Bouc, 3. Billy Pauch, Sr., 4. Dominick Buffalino, 5. Jimmy Horton, 6. Richie Pratt, Jr., 7. Neal Williams, 8. Jim Britt, 9. Rick Laubach, 10. Roger Manning, 11. Ryan Krachun, 12. David Hunt, 13. Don Cogdill, III, 14. Jeramy Doerr, 15. Ron Roberts, 16. Matt Stangle, 17. Mike Franz, 18. Brett Ballard, 19. Brandon Grosso, 20. Tommy Beamer
SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOOR 602 CRATE SPORTSMAN (20 laps)
1. Travis Hill, 2. Tom Sherby, 3. Wayne Weaver, 4. Matt Peck, 5. Eric Kormann, 6. James Hill, 7. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 8. Bobby Bracall, 9. Ernie Mile, III, 10. Rich Wegner, Jr., 11. David Hartman, 12. Tom Holding, 13. Tom Moore, Jr., 14. Ryan Simmons, 15. Pete Serra, 16. Joe Toth, 17. Scott Hulmes
SUNBELT RENTALS OUTLAW STOCKS (15 laps)
1. Rich Stinson, Jr., 2. Tom Wills, Jr., 3. Brian Ludwig, 4. Lee Allen, 5. Jeff Dirkes, 6. Andrew Joslin, 7. Justin Nowlen, 8. Billy Wroble, 9. Ken Moren, 10. Nick Sandone III, 11. John Parker, 12. Paul Donahue
Upcoming events
Saturday, August 24 - Scout Night - Big Block Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman and MASS 305 Sprint Cars, racing at 7pm
Saturday, August 31 - Back to School Night by Arbor Material Handling - Big Block Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman & Outlaw Stocks,, racing at 7pm
Satuday, September 7 - Final Points Night - Big Block Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman & Outlaw Stocks, racing at 7pm
Dad Comes From Last To Win Bridgeport!
Posted by: | CommentsFire Trucks and Race Cars this Saturday at Bridgeport Speedway
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First Responders Night at Bridgeport Speedway
Come on out for First Responders Night at Bridgeport Speedway brought to you by Spirit Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. All first responders get in FREE on this night! Firemen, Police Officers, EMT's, Paramedics, and all service men. We also ask that the First Responder's bring their trucks and apparatuses with them to park behind the grandstands and we will have a parade lap with them on the track during intermission.
CLICK LINK TO PURCHASE TICKETS NOW https://bridgeportspeedway.thundertix.com/orders/new?performance_id=2363455&utm_source=Bridgeport+Speedway+Newsletter+-+txt&utm_campaign=72d8748f66-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_07_10_07_28&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_02b3aa6414-72d8748f66-354740497
Divisions: Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds, South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crates, Sunbelt Rentals Outlaw Stocks, and DA's Auto Body Rookies
Times: Pit Gates open at 4:30pm, Grandstands open at 5:30pm, and Racing starts at 7:00 pm
MORE FAN INFO and FAQ's Visit: www.bpspeedway.com/faq/
UPCOMING EVENTS
7/13: First Responders Night on the 5/8 mile
7/20: Bike Night on the 5/8 mile
7/27: Driver Appreciation Night on the 5/8 mile
BRIDGPORT’S PACK THE HOUSE IS HUGE SUCCESS
Posted by: | Comments- Bridgeport Speedway
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Bridgeport Speedway Pack The House Crowd (Wheels of Speed Photo)
The Bridgeport Speedway’s fourth annual Pack the House Night was a huge success as fans filed through the gates from four o’clock until well after the start of the night’s racing action. Fans enjoyed the free musicial entertainment, camera and autograph day, the many food concessions and the Bandit Bus before the start of the night’s events.
Fans were treated to a night of racing action among six different divisions. The South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman, Sunbelt Rentals Outlaw Stocks and the Delaware Auto Exchange Mid Atlantic Sprint Series (MASS) raced on the lightning fast 5/8th mile track while the Ace Overhead Door 600 Micro Sprints, the JS Weld-Rite/Mongoose Chassis 270 Micro Sprints and Slingshots raced on the Spirit Speedway quarter mile track. There was also a hot lap session for the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds held on the 5/8th mile track.
The South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman opened the night of racing with their twenty lap feature event. Polesitter, Eric Kormann led the first eleven laps around the 5/8th mile track before Steve Kemery drove into contention from his tenth place start. Kemery caught up to the leader and then made his pass for the lead with a move to inside off turn three on lap twelve. Kemery then drove away from the competition to claim his third victory of the 2019 season.
South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman Winner Steve Kemery (Wheels of Speed Photo)
Kormann finished a strong second followed by Jim Gallagher, Jr.in third. Matt Peck added a fourth to his collections of top fives this season with last week’s feature winner, Tom Sherby rounding out the top five. Travis Hill finished sixth followed by Tommy Errico, David Crossman, Howard Huepfel and Bobby Bracall completed the top ten in the running order at the checkered flag.
Tom Wills, Jr. turned his 2019 season around with his third win of the season in the Sunbelt Rentals Outlaw Stocks.
Polesitter, Nick Sandone led the first lap as the field raced three wide behind the leader for the runner-up position. Andrew Joslin won that battle and then took the lead as he raced Sandone off of turn two on the second lap. Wills, Jr. drove through the pack, taking the lead as he raced Joslin to the start finish line on lap three.
Wills, Jr. pulled away from the competition as Lee Allen took over second followed by Mike Creamer, Gary Klimeczak and Brian Ludwig through lap five.
Creamer raced by Allen on a lap eleven restart to take over second while Klimeczak and Ludwig continued the battle for fourth right down to the checkered flag.
Wills, Jr. took the win over Creamer and Allen with Ludwig edging out Klimeczak at the finish line.
Sunbelt Rentals Outlaw Stock Winner Tom Wills, Jr. (Wheels of Speed Photo)
Ricky DiEva, a former Big Block Modified competitor at the Bridgeport Speedway, moved into full time competition with the MASS 305 sprint cars this season and picked up his first victory in front of a packed house on Saturday night. DiEva led from the wave of the green flag to the finish to capture the victory over Andy Best who has already won a MASS event earlier this season.
This was the third race for the MASS Sprint Cars at Bridgeport this season but the first on the 5/8th mile track.
MASS 305 Sprint Car Winner Ricky DiEva (Wheels of Speed Photo)
DiEva led Best to the finish with Rick Stief finishing third. Eddie Wagner, who has played an integral role in DiEva’s sprint car experience, finished fourth with Jason Dunn taking fifth. Larry McVay finished sixth followed by Tom Carberry, Joe Kay, Tyler Brehm and Scott Frack.
Bridgeport invader, Jacob Hendershot debuted a new car and immediately put the No. 27 into Victory Lane in its maiden voyage in the JS Weld-Rite/Mongoose Chassis 270 Micro Sprint feature.
Pole sitter, Johnny Trendler led the first two times around the Spirit Speedway quarter mile. Hendershot, who started third in the twenty lap feature raced into the lead on lap three and never looked back. Three time feature winner, Alex Swift finished second followed by Brandon Shipley who recovered from an earlier incident, restarted at the rear of the field and drove back to a third place finish. Kyle Weiss finished fourth with Glenn Macomber taking fifth. Tom Landwher, Shea Wills, Ross Holler, John West and Ken Andreas completed the top ten at the end of twenty laps.
JS Weld-Rite/Mongoose Chassis 270 Micro Sprint Winner Jacob Hendershot (Wheels of Speed Photo)
2017 Track Champion, Matt Smith, drove to his third win of the season in the Ace Overhead Door 600 Micro Sprint Feature.
Polesitter, Jon Keller led the first five circuits around the quarter mile before Smith made his way to the front from his eighth place start. Gary Bozowski quickly raced into second on the first lap and held off any challengers to cross the finish line behind Smith for second. Luke Thomas finished third with PJ Williams in fourth and Jon Keller finishing fifth.
Ace Overhead Door 600 Micro Sprint Winner Matt Smith (Wheels of Speed Photo)
Brandon Pavel, Lee Nardelli, Richie Keller, Travis Hill and Mike Thompson who won the consolation event, completed the top ten in the running order.
Ryan Davey took the lead on the first lap of the Slingshot feature to earn his second win of the season at the Spirit Speedway. Dave McCullough trailed the leader to the finish with Ryan Harris finishing third. Dave Morrell finished fourth with Tomas Mowery rounding out the top five.
It was a beautiful June night for racing. It was a full night of racing action – the first for many in attendance. The Pack the House night continues at the Bridgeport Speedway.
There will be three nights of racing this weekend as the Spirit Auto Center quarter mile runs a regular show on Friday night with 270 & 600 Micro Sprints and Slingshots. The 270s will be featured in Twin 15 lap feature events. Racing gets underway at 8pm. The action moves to Bridgeport’s 5/8th mile track on Saturday night for Quarter Midget Night with the Big Block Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks and Rookies with racing getting underway at 7pm.
Then on Sunday, it’s Poker Series time on the Spirit quarter mile for the 270 & 600 Micro Sprints, Slingshots and Xcel 600 Modifieds. Racing starts on Sunday at 6:30pm.
BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY PACK THE HOUSE NIGHT
Saturday, June 22, 2019
SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOOR 602 CRATE SPORTSMAN feature (20 laps) –
1. Steve Kemery, 2. Eric Kormann, 3. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 4. Matt Peck, 5. Tom Sherby, 6. Travis Hill, 7. Tommy Errico, 8. David Crossman, 9. Howard Huepfel, 10. Bobby Bracall, 11. Rich Wegner, Jr., 13. Darren Cox, 14. David Hartman, 15. Roger Gaskill, 16. Ernie Miles, Jr., 17. Tom Holding, 18. Brett Belmont, 19. Matthew Luzi, 20. Wayne Weaver, 21. John Micek, 22. Jonathan Swift, DNS – Steve Bartos
SUNBELT RENTALS OUTLAW STOCK feature (15 laps) –
1. Tom Wills, Jr., 2. Mike Creamer, 3. Lee Allen, 4. Brian Ludwig, 5. Gary Klimeczak, 6. Justin Nowlen, 7. Terry Sammons, 8. Ken Moren, 9. Keith McKinley, 10. Nick Sandone, III, 11. Andrew Joslin, 12. Paul Donahue
DELAWARE AUTO EXCHANGE MID-ATLANTIC SPRINT SERIES feature (25 laps) –
1. Ricky DiEva, 2. Andy Best, 3. Rick Stief, 4. Eddie Wagner, 5. Jason Dunn, 6. Larry McVay, 7. Tom Carberry, 8. Joe Kay, 9. Tyler Brehm, 10. Scott Frack, 11. Bryant Davis, 12. Dave Brown, 13. Stephen Voorhees, 14. Josh Brinker, 15. Logan Diehl, 16. Tim Tanner, Jr., 17. Dave Bonner, 18. Dan Leaper, 19. Randy Wilbert, 20. Jon Haegele, 21. Charles Stone, 22. Keith Andersen, 23. Marie McVay
SPIRIT AUTO CENTER SPEEDWAY
ACE OVERHEAD DOORS 600CC MICRO SPRINT feature (20 laps) –
1. Matt Smith, 2. Gary Bozowski, 3. Luke Thomas, 4. P.J. Williams, 5. Jon Keller, 6. Brandon Pavel, 7. Lee Nardelli, 8. Richie Keller, 9. Travis Hill, 10. Mike Thompson, 11. Geordon Marrero, 12. Joey Amantea, 13. Jermain Godshall, 14. Mark Landwher, 15. Tyler Lindsay, 16. Aiden Borden, 17. Jim Tippin, 18. Alex Funari, 19. Billy Calvert, 20. Ed Barber III, 21. Nick Havens, 22. Fred Heinly, 23. Joe Dopke, 24. Dave Nelson, 25. Matt Davis, DNS – B.J. Antonio, DNQ – Phil Meisner, Dave Damaio, Rebecca LaMothe, Bobby Scherff, Adrianna Dellaponti, Cory Hunsberger, Kristi Hicks, Andrew Hannula
J.S. WELD-RITE/MONGOOSE CHASSIS 270CC MICRO SPRINT feature (20 laps) –
1. Jacob Hendershot, 2. Alex Swift, 3. Brandon Shipley, 4. Kyle Weiss, 5. Glenn Macomber, 6. Tom Landwher, 7. Shea Wills, 8. Ross Holler, 9. Jon West, 10. Ken Andreas, 11. Junior Ramer, 12. Pat Bealer, 13. R.J. Witcraft, 14. Ryan Wozunk, 15. Connor Sheffield, 16. Corey Andersen, 17. Johnny Trendler, 18. Nick Walton, 19. John Wagner, Jr., 20. Zach Berghof, 21. Mark Landwher, 22. Sarah Napora, DNS – Scott Phillip, Jayson Conover
SLINGSHOT feature (20 laps) –
1. Ryan Davey, 2. Dave McCullough, 3. Ryan Harris, 4. Dave Morrell, 5. Tomas Mowery, 7, Shawn Mowery, 8. Rich Afflerback, 9. Ashley Therien
Upcoming events
Saturday, June 29 – Quarter Midget Night – Big Block Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies, Racing at 7pm
Saturday July 6 – FANATIC NIGHT – Big Block Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies, racing at 7pm
Saturday, July 13 – FIRST RESPONDERS NIGHT – Big Block Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookie Grqanduation racing at 7pm
Saturday, July 20 – BIKE NIGHT – Big Block Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & VINTAGE,, racing at 7pm
Saturday, 27 – DRIVER APPRECIATION NIGHT – Big Block Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman & Outlaw Stocks, racing at 7pm
Bridgeport Speedway, Pack the House Night Free Admission To All
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Bridgeport Speedway, Pack the House Night Free Admission To All
This coming Saturday – June 22 – the Bridgeport Speedway will present their Pack the House Night. Race fans will get to see racing in eight different divisions on two of Bridgeport’s tracks and admission to the grandstand is FREE!
Racing action moves back to the lightning fast Bridgeport 5/8th mile track for the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate Sportsman, the Sunbelt Rentals Outlaw Stocks, the Delaware Auto Exchange Mid Atlantic Sprint Series (MASS) and the DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookies. The Spirit Speedway quarter mile will feature the JS Weld-Rite/Mongoose Chassis 270 Micro Sprints, the Ace Overhead Door Company 600 Micro Sprints, Slingshots and 8 Cylinder Enduros. There is something for everyone on Saturday night!
This is the night to bring all of those neighbors or friends or relatives out to the Bridgeport Speedway. If you have been telling anyone about the great racing and fun that you have at the Bridgeport Speedway – now is the time to bring them to the track to see for themselves what you have been talking about.
Pack the House Night also gives the Friday night fans of Spirit Speedway the chance to see what happens at Bridgeport on a Saturday night and it gives the Saturday night Bridgeport Speedway fans the chance to see what the is happening at the Spirit quarter mile on a Friday night.
Come early and enjoy all that the Bridgeport Speedway has to offer. Live music! A Bounce House and a wooden Monster truck for the kids to play on. Great food from the Bridgeport concession stands. Take a ride on the Bandit Bus with the Bridgeport mascot to view the action behind the scenes in the pit area. Take home a t-shirt or sweatshirt as a souvenir from the Bridgeport Speedway And don’t forget to pick up your copy of the Bridgeport Bullet – the official program of the Bridgeport Speedway – so you will be able to follow the night’s action!
Grandstands open at 4pm with Camera and Autograph Day taking place from 4 – 5pm. Racing gets underway at 6pm.
We are Bridgeport – the only track in New Jersey to offer Big Block Modifieds; we are committed to maintaining a safe, fun, family atmosphere, creating life-lasting memories of excitement.
Upcoming events
Saturday June 22 – PACK THE HOUSE NIGHT – 602 Crate Sportsman, MASS Sprint Cars, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies on 5/8th mile and 270 & 600 Micros, Slingshots & 8 Cylinder Enduros on Spirit Speedway quarter mile – FREE ADMISSION – racing at 6pm
Saturday, June 29 – Quarter Midget Night – Big Block Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies, Racing at 7pm
Saturday July 6 – Big Block Modifieds, 602 Crate Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks & Rookies, racing at 7pm
McDougal Crosses Bridgeport Off Eastern Storm Checklist
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The United States Auto Club.
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Contact: Richie Murray - USAC Media / richie@usacracing.com
Jason McDougal won his first career 'Eastern Storm' feature Wednesday night at Bridgeport Speedway. (Rich Forman Photo)
McDOUGAL CROSSES BRIDGEPORT OFF EASTERN STORM CHECKLIST
By: Richie Murray - USAC Media
Swedesboro, New Jersey (June 12, 2019).........To earn his first career USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car victory last September in Pevely, Mo., Jason McDougal played the role of the chaser on a late-race restart.
To gain his second career series win Wednesday night in round two of the 13th annual "Eastern Storm" at Bridgeport Speedway, the roles were reversed as the Broken Arrow, Okla. native had to hold off the competition on a green-white-checker restart.
Initially, McDougal was heralded as a quick study after making an impressive series debut less than a calendar year ago. Now, after acing both of those particular exams in his young career, he's rapidly becoming one of the elite, earning his first career Eastern Storm triumph on the 3/8-mile dirt oval.
Although, as hard as McDougal drove into turn one on the final restart, he might've made it stick on the 5/8-mile track that surrounds it.
"I drove it into one as deep as I could," McDougal exclaimed, emphasizing the word 'deep.' "That was the hardest I ran it into one during that whole race. It was either going to bike or stick."
Justin Grant, a 14-time USAC Sprint Car feature winner himself, was eager to tally his initial Eastern Storm win as he lined up second on the final restart, ready to make his run at McDougal.
"I was going to slide him into one, but I didn't have enough of a run," Grant explained. "Then I thought, 'well, if I can hook the bottom off of two, I can at least stay tucked up alongside of him and slide him going into three. Then, I about half-spun in the middle of one and two, and that whole plan went away."
McDougal checked out initially on the start from the outside of the front row, though pole sitter Carson Short made a bid for the lead, running side-by-side and edging ahead momentarily on the bottom of turn three on the opening lap before McDougal used the top to drive around the outside of Short to lead the field back to the stripe.
As McDougal checked out to a 1.5 second advantage, the battled raged for second with Kevin Thomas, Jr. smothering Short for second to no avail as Short slammed the door on Thomas on the tenth lap into one. Short had enough momentum each time to guard the challenge from Thomas, but three laps later, at the same spot, Thomas kicked the door open, grooving to the bottom and edging ahead for the second position exiting turn two.
Nearing midway, the sense was that, with an open track, Thomas would be able to start reeling McDougal in. Initially, he did, cutting a half-second off the interval to knock McDougal's lead down to nine-tenths of a second. As McDougal began to encounter the tail end of the field on lap 19, he built his lead back up to 1.3 seconds.
However, gridlock, road construction-type traffic lay ahead with not one, not two, but three cars occupying three different grooves together as McDougal approached. Seemingly stuck, McDougal tried to split two of the lappers on separate occasions without much luck. That allowed both Grant and Thomas to come back into play with five laps remaining.
On lap 26, Grant and Thomas' see-saw positioning saw Grant slide Thomas into turn three. Thomas countered and the two drag raced into turn one with Thomas poking ahead and briefly surging ahead by a car length over McDougal between turns one and two. That is, until McDougal zipped back past on the outside to regain the lead, albeit with the lapped cars of Brian VanMeveren and Dominick Buffalino running in tandem just ahead.
"They were racing just close enough side-by-side to where I couldn't split them getting into the corner," McDougal recalled. "One of them entered low enough every time, that I probably could've drove around the outside of him, but we would've crashed about halfway through the corner. Basically, I just waited until the guy on the bottom messed up enough to where I could almost push the guy at the top off the track."
Jason McDougal's first 'Eastern Storm' victory came in just his second career 'Eastern Storm' start. With Brady Bacon's win Tuesday at Grandview, it now makes Oklahoma natives 2-0 thus far in the mini-series. (Rich Forman Photo)
McDougal was on high alert and was able to wedge the front bumper between the two off the second turn on lap 28, cutting through the middle of both cars on the back straightaway to clear both in one fell swoop between turns three and four.
As soon as McDougal appeared to be in the clear, the yellow flag dropped for the stopped car of Dustin Christie in turn four, setting up one final two-lap showdown. However, McDougal was flawless on the resumption, spurting away uncontested throughout the last 1-3/4 of a lap earn the $6,000 victory, the money with which McDougal said he might spend on a new Gucci belt to boost his appearance for the fans.
McDougal's victory in the Daigh-Phillips Motorsports/Frank & Jill Daigh - Roger & Barb Tapy - Griffin's Propane/DRC/Foxco Chevy provided the Phillips team their first Eastern Storm feature victory since Dave Darland's win at Port Royal in 2013.
Thomas outdueled Grant in a ferocious battle in the waning laps to take second. Grant finished third ahead of fast qualifier and new one-lap track record holder Chase Stockon, while new "Eastern Storm" point leader C.J. Leary rounded out the top-five.
Contingency award winners Wednesday night at Bridgeport Speedway were Chase Stockon (Fatheadz Eyewear Fast Qualifier), Tyler Courtney (Simpson Race Products First Heat Winner), Robert Ballou (Competition Suspension, Inc. Second Heat Winner), Dave Darland (AutoMeter/Indy Race Parts Third Heat Winner), Joey Biasi (Roger & Barb Tapy 13th Fastest Qualifier), Chad Boespflug (Wilwood Brakes 13th Place Finisher) and Brady Bacon (KSE Racing Products Hard Charger).
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USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS: June 12, 2019 - Bridgeport Speedway - Swedesboro, New Jersey - 13th "Eastern Storm" - 3/8-Mile Dirt Oval
FATHEADZ EYEWEAR QUALIFYING: 1. Chase Stockon, 32, 32 TBI-15.767 (New Track Record); 2. C.J. Leary, 19AZ, Reinbold/Underwood-16.010; 3. Justin Grant, 4, TOPP-16.019; 4. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 19, Hayward/Thomas-16.056; 5. Jason McDougal, 71p, Daigh/Phillips-16.089; 6. Carson Short, 20, Dyson-16.150; 7. Chris Windom, 5G, Goacher-16.163; 8. Chad Boespflug, 98e, EZR-16.186; 9. Bill Balog, 2, Lein-16.215; 10. Tyler Courtney, 7BC, Clauson/Marshall/Newman-16.278; 11. Isaac Chapple, 52, LNR/Chapple-16.309; 12. Brady Bacon, 69, Dynamics-16.340; 13. Joey Biasi, B1, Biasi-16.408; 14. Robert Ballou, 12, Ballou-16.469; 15. Dave Darland, 39, Hogue-16.520; 16. Steven Drevicki, 19s, Drevicki-16.520; 17. Brian VanMeveren, 24, VanMeveren-16.560; 18. Jarett Andretti, 18, Andretti-16.690; 19. Dustin Christie, 75, Christie-16.836; 20. Dominick Buffalino, 3x, Wasitowski-17.181; 21. Ryan Godown, 4F, Freyer-17.284; 22. Craig Pellegrini, Jr., 11A, Pellegrini-17.476.
SIMPSON RACE PRODUCTS FIRST HEAT: (8 laps, top-5 transfer) 1. Courtney, 2. Biasi, 3. Stockon, 4. Thomas, 5. Windom, 6. Drevicki, 7. Christie, 8. Pellegrini. NT
COMPETITION SUSPENSION (CSI) SECOND HEAT: (8 laps, top-5 transfer) 1. Ballou, 2. McDougal, 3. Leary, 4. VanMeveren, 5. Boespflug, 6. Chapple, 7. Buffalino. NT
AUTOMETER/INDY RACE PARTS THIRD HEAT: (8 laps, top-5 transfer) 1. Darland, 2. Bacon, 3. Andretti, 4. Grant, 5. Short, 6. Balog, 7. Godown. 2:15.75 (New Track Record)
FEATURE: (30 laps, starting position in parentheses) 1. Jason McDougal (2), 2. Kevin Thomas, Jr. (3), 3. Justin Grant (4), 4. Chase Stockon (6), 5. C.J. Leary (5), 6. Tyler Courtney (10), 7. Brady Bacon (12), 8. Chris Windom (7), 9. Carson Short (1), 10. Robert Ballou (14), 11. Bill Balog (9), 12. Steven Drevicki (16), 13. Chad Boespflug (8), 14. Isaac Chapple (11), 15. Joey Biasi (13), 16. Dave Darland (15), 17. Jarett Andretti (18), 18. Ryan Godown (21), 19. Dominick Buffalino (20), 20. Brian VanMeveren (17), 21. Dustin Christie (19), 22. Craig Pellegrini, Jr. (22). NT
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FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-30 McDougal.
KSE RACING PRODUCTS HARD CHARGER: Brady Bacon (12th to 7th)
WILWOOD BRAKES 13TH PLACE FINISHER: Chad Boespflug
ROGER & BARB TAPY 13TH FASTEST QUALIFIER: Joey Biasi
NEW USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1-Leary-684, 2-K. Thomas-651, 3-Courtney-626, 4-Windom-624, 5-Stockon-624, 6-Bacon-600, 7-Grant-562, 8-Ballou-538, 9-Short-525, 10-McDougal-518.
NEW EASTERN STORM POINTS: 1-Leary-145, 2-Thomas-144, 3-Bacon-136, 4-Stockon-135, 5-Courtney-133, 6-McDougal-129, 7-Grant-127, 8-Windom-123, 9-Ballou-113, 10-Short-98.
NEXT USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: June 13, 2019 - BAPS Motor Speedway - York Haven, Pennsylvania - 13th "Eastern Storm" - 4/10-Mile Dirt Oval
