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PRATT POWERS HIS WAY TO VICTORY AT BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY
BRIDGEPORT, NJ (April 27, 2008) - Richie Pratt Jr. captured the 25-lap Big Block Modified feature event in the Overhead Doors #0 on a chilly brisk Saturday night at Bridgeport Speedway. In the 358 Sportsman division, defending champion Kevin Collins captured his first victory of 2008. Andy Best blistered the field in the lidlifter for the Bridgeport Limited Sprints. The GM Sportsman race was won by Mike Barone, who took his second career checkered flag. Jason Bitner claimed his first victory in the Rookie GM Sportsman contest. Rich Reider drove his #1 Outlaw Stock to perfection, winning the 15-lap Outlaw Stock feature for his first win of the season.
Ricky Rutt and Anthony Moran paced the field to start the Big Block Modified feature. Moran grabbed the lead but was quickly passed by Steve Durand on lap 2. Durand looked very strong early but a flat tire on lap 5 ended his night of racing. Shortly after the restart, Chic Cossaboone grabbed the lead and was joined by veteran modified driver Ray Swinehart and Richie Pratt Jr. who started in the thirteenth position. Swinehart jumped the cushion in turn 3 on lap 15 and Pratt assumed the runner up position. A caution on lap 16 for Moran, allowed Cossaboone to choose the outside pole position for the restart. On the restart, Pratt powered off the inside and assumed the lead for good. A yellow flag on lap 19 for Ryan Watt brought the field back together one final time. When Starter Ken Golden waved the double checkered flags, Pratt collected his first win of 2008 and his fifth career Bridgeport Big Block Modified victory. Swinehart, Jimmy Horton, Cossaboone and Mike Iles completed the top five. Horton and Iles started in the twenty-second and twenty-third positions respectively for the feature. Cossaboone, Steve Bottcher and Chad James won the qualifying events and Brent Hoffman claimed the consolation event for the Big Block Modifieds.
In the 358 Sportsman 20 lap feature race, John Scarpati Jr. started on the pole and scurried to an early lead. Following a restart on lap 8, John Purcell grabbed the lead from Scarpati and seemed to be in charge with Eric Kormann and Kevin Collins, who started in eighth place, in chase of the leader. Kormann dropped out of the race on lap 12 with an engine failure and Collins assumed the runner up spot. Pursell continued to lead until mechanical problems sidelined him for the evening on lap 18. Collins took over the lead and led the remaining laps. Jessie Hill finished in the third spot after starting in the eighteenth position. Dan Cogdill, Jimmy Horton IV and Brett Ballard rounded out the top 5. Heat winners in the 358 Sportsman were Scarpati Jr., Pursell and Collins. Bob Lineman Jr. took the checkered flag in the consolation event.
Andy Best took advantage of his pole starting position and wired the field in the opener for the Bridgeport Limited Sprints. 2007 champion Kevin Darling finished a strong second after starting the feature in the eighth position. Hank Trum, Jack Curtis, and Tim Iulg filled out the top five.
Mike Barone started on the point and assumed the lead in the GM Sportsman feature event. Jon Haegele and rookie driver Tom Moore Jr. who started fourteenth began pursuing Barone. Moore moved to the second position on lap 6. Barone survived multiple restarts and went on to the victory in the 15 lap main event. Moore, Haegele, John Micek, and Pat Hires completed the top five. Gino Postorivo and Barone were the winners of the qualifying events.
Jason Bitner claimed his first victory in the Rookie GM Sportsman event. Bitner started on the pole and led all 8 laps. Bob Burgess and Corey Anderson gave chase but were unable to track down Bitner. Burgess, Anderson, Tom Moore Jr. and Brandon Guyer rounded out the top five.
In the Outlaw Stock main event, Rich Reider started in the sixth position and rocketed to the lead on lap 4 by passing pole sitter Karl Wagner. Ken Watson Sr. started in seventh position and claimed second place on lap 6 in pursuit of Reider. In the end, Reider held on for the victory. Watson Sr., Wagner, Jim Honeker and Terry Griffith completed the top five.
NOTES: After the motor expired in warm-ups in the Lincoln Auto Body #5 owned by Dieter Schmidt, Horton was able to secure a ride in a second #711 owned by Iles. Following the modified hot lap sessions, Horton and Iles swapped cars due to mechanical issues and started in the rear of the feature. Veteran modified drivers Tom Hager and Rusty Smith each made their first 2008 Bridgeport Speedway start. Motor problems during warm-ups unfortunately ended Tommy Beamers racing night.
Bridgeport Speedway Results - Saturday April 26, 2008
Big Block Modifieds
Heat 1 Chic Cossaboone, Rick Laubach, Gary Hager, Richie Pratt Jr., Steve Durand, Ricky Rutt
Heat 2 Steve Bottcher, Mike Iles, Bob Sarkisian, Ray Swinehart, Ryan Watt, Anthony Moran
Heat 3 Chad James, Wade Hendickson, Mike Franz, Jimmy Horton, Jimmy Chester, Scott Irwin
Consolation Brett Hoffman, Brian Kressley, Dave Howard, Rusty Smith, Rich Acolia, Tom Hager
BIG BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE 25 LAPS
RICHIE PRATT Jr., Ray Swinehart, Jimmy Horton, Chic Cossaboone, Mike Iles, Wade Hendrickson, Rick Laubach, Mike Franz, Steve Bottcher, Jimmy Chester, Gary Hager, Chad James, Bob Sarkisian, Brian Kressley, Anthony Moran, Brett Hoffman, Scott Irwin, Dave Howard, Rusty Smith, Ryan Watt, Ricky Rutt, Rich Acolia, Steve Durand
DNS: Tom Hager
DNQ: Chris Knopp, Tommy Beamer
358 Sportsman
Heat 1 John Scarpati Jr., Dan Cogdill, Jesse Hill, Ron Roberts, Brett Ballard, Scott Davis Jr.
Heat 2 John Pursell, Randy Yaple, Frank Dorry Jr., Jarrad Miller, Tom Miller, Guy Germano
Heat 3 Kevin Collins, Eric Kormann, Jimmy Horton IV, Sean Gunther, Chuck Hopkins, John Cavallaro
Consolation Bob Lineman Jr., Don Bogey, Adam Miller, Kyle Borror, Steve Transue, Mike Brannigan
358 SPORTSMAN FEATURE 20 LAPS
KEVIN COLLINS, Jesse Hill, Dan Cogdill, Jimmy Horton IV, Brett Ballard, Bob Lineman Jr., Ron Roberts, Jarrad Miller, Frank Dorry Jr., Randy Yaple, John Scarpati Jr., Sean Gunther, Tom Miller, Don Bogey, Guy Germano, Kyle Borror, Adam Miller, Scott Davis Jr., Steve Transue, John Pursell, Eric Kormann, Steve Kassekort, John Cavallaro, Mike Brannigan
DNS: Chuck Hopkins
DNQ: Steve Kassekort, Billy Briggs, John Kelly
BRIDGEPORT LIMITED SPRINTS 20 LAPS
ANDY BEST, Kevin Darling, Hank Trum, Jack Curtis, Tim Iulg, Jim Walter, Steve Petry, Jonathan Baker, Jonathan Swanson
GM Sportsman
Heat 1 Gino Postorivo, Bob Bartleson, Jon Haegele, Michael Cogdill, Travis Hill, Chuck Buchman
Heat 2 Mike Barone, David Bell, Pat Hires, Jason Rivers, Rich Jackson, Tom Moore Jr.
GM SPORTSMAN FEATURE 15 LAPS
MIKE BARONE, Tom Moore Jr., Jon Haegele, John Micek, Pat Hires, Brandon Guyer, Travis Hill, Corey Anderson, Bob Burgess, Jason Rivers, Doug Urbano, David Bell, Jason Bittner, Eric Renninger, Rich Jackson, Peach Cole, Gino Postorivo, Bob Bartleson, Michael Cogdill, Chuck Buchman
ROOKIE GM SPORTSMAN FEATURE 8 LAPS
JASON BITNER, Bob Burgess, Corey Anderson, Tom Moore Jr., Brandon Guyer, Doug Urbano, Erik Renninger, Joey Milza
OUTLAW STOCKS FEATURE 15 LAPS
RICH REIDER, Ken Watson Sr., Karl Wagner, Jim Honeker, Terry Griffith, Jeff Dirkes, Joe Ecret, Bob Dooley, Rick Haegele, Bill Miller
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