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Richie Pratt in the Sal De Bruno Overhead Doors #0 Rockets from deep in the field to win the Bridgeport Speedway Big Block Modified Feature for the 2nd week in a row.
The Bridgeport 5/8ths clay was fast for the Big Block Mod feature with Richie Pratt chasing down Ryan Watt from his 17th starting spot for the 25-lap feature win. Chad James matches his best ever finish as he inches closer to his first Big Block win. Chris Knopp, Mike Franz and Ray Swinehart deliver strong top 5 finishes.
Fawn Grove PA’s Chris Knopp sat one the pole for the 25 lap Fawn Grove PA’s Chris Knopp sat one the pole for the 25 lap Modified feature event on Tacky & Fast Bridgeport Clay Oval. Things got heated right away as 3 wide racing erupted exiting turn 2 after the drop of the green. Heading into turn three, still 3 wide, things quickly went wrong as several cars got together with the #19B of Brian Kressley, 7A of Cassabone and the #47 of Bob Sarkisian tangling in turns 3-4. Sarkisian got the bad end of the deal and had the leave on the hook. On the restart, Knopp charges out to a lead heading into the corners but #24 of Steven Durand takes Knopp hi and wide exiting in the corners heading down the backstretch follow by #61m of Anthony Moran, Chad James and #14 of Ryan Watt in 4th. As the top 4 complete the 1st lap several cars pack’em up 4 wide exiting four with Jimmy Chester putting on a fireworks show of sparks below the flag stand runnin the rail and #92 of Scott Irwin limping to the corners with a flat to bring out the first yellow of the event. As the field lines up two abreast Durand is your leader on the inside with Knopp, Watt, James, Mike Frantz, and Jimmy Horton, in the new Gino Postorivo #7, in the top six as the green flies. Watt gets a great restart and passes James and then Knopp on the high side in turns one and two to move into the 2nd spot. Frantz, 44H Gary Hager begin a battle with James for the top 4. Watt quickly runs down Durand and is all over his bumper before the yellow flies again for a spinning Brian Kressley on the backstretch. Pratt has now made his move from his 17th starting spot into 7th with only 3 laps completed. As the green drops Watt quickly takes Durand two wide around the corners but cant make the pass. James moves into the 3rd spot as Pratt gets a great restart passing Gary Hager for the 5th heading down the backstretch. Pratt quickly races by Frantz bringing with him Hager and Iles down the front stretch to the corners with Wade Hendrickson, Horton, Rick Laubach and Steve Bottcher in hot pursuit to the front. Pratt is now in the 4th spot as he passes Knopp and sets his sight on Chad James. Exiting turn four, the "Medford Mad Dog" breaks an axle and takes a hard spin into the front stretch to bring out a yellow. As Iles leaves on the hook, the field lines up for the restart with Watt looking to get a great jump on the inside of the leader Durand. On the start, Pratt continues his charge as he takes Watt and James 3-wide through the corners passing James and nearly passing Watt to move into third. Watt and Pratt slug it out for the next few laps, often tradin paint exiting the corners, as they chase down the leader of Durand. Heading down the back stretch with Watt and Pratt all over Durand’s bumper they go 3 wide with Pratt Hi and Wide, Watt in the middle through the corners with Watt exiting as the new leader and Pratt right on his tail. Pratt works all over Watt for the lead for the next two laps as Durand breaks and limps off track putting James back into 3rd Hendrickson now 4th followed by Knopp and Horton. There are now three different side-by-side two cars battles up front between Watt/Pratt, James/Hendrickson and Knopp/Horton. Watt now begins to hit lapped track allowing Pratt once again to get back on his rear bumper. Pratt sets up Watt heading down the backstretch as they hit the corners, taking Watt 2-wide around lapped traffic through the corners. Pratt inches out ahead on the turn four exit to become the new leader heading into turn 1. As the leaders head down the backstretch, Horton gets a run on Hendrickson and Knopp to move into fourth. James stays all over Horton bumper before Hendrickson’s motor explodes into a mass of smoke as he pulls off into the infield, bringing out a safety caution on lap 18. As Pratt jumps back out to his lead, Watt does all he can to get a run on Pratt, goes into turn three hard, spins towards the guard rail, hooks the cushion and flips. Horton also gets a flat as the yellow then red stops the action. Watt is OK but his strong night is now over as he leaves on the hook and a hard charging Horton has to join the rear of the field. Pratt goes on the take the checker for the second consecutive week for his 2nd feature win of the season. Chad James finishes a real strong 2nd, Chris Knopp a top 3, Mike Franz and Ray Swinehart finishing out the top 5. Horton manages to recover from his late race flat to finish a respectable 6th
Jimmy Horton IV gets his first 358 Sportsman Feature Win of the season on the tacky fast Bridgeport Clay. The 358’s were a plenty as over 30 cars showed up to put on one a heck show. There was plenty excitement with lots of passing and 3 wide racing as the Top 5 battled to the front from the rear of the field during 358 Sportsman feature.
#707 of Ron Wyant sat on the pole and jumped out to an early lead followed by John Scarpati as the 358 Sportsman feature got under way. A yellow quickly flew as Scarpati loops it exiting the turns and nearly collects the field as cars scramble everywhere to avoid Scarpati. Scarpati was able to rejoin at the rear of the field for the restart. On the restart, several drivers took advantage, quickly moving up several positions with several drivers making it 3 wide down the front stretch and through the corners. The #75 of James Morris wins big on the restart as he quickly assumes the lead from Wyant heading into turn three. Yellows flies again for a multi car scramble entering the front stretch as two stop with locked bumpers just under the flag stand. As the field lines back up for the green, Randy Yaple, Bob Lineman Jr, Dan Cogdill and Kevin Collins again take advantage of the restart and pick up several spots as they work their way to the front. Morris jumps out to a strong lead followed by Wyant, Lineman with Horton passing Don Bogey to move into the top 5. Morris starts to open up some daylight as the leader with Collins and Yaple moving into the top ten from way back in the field. Horton IV and Lineman Jr. are now the big battle on the track as they fight for the third spot for several laps. Yaple has now raced into the top six from his 16th starting spot looking to chase down the leaders to contend for the lead. Yellow flies with 9 laps in for a top 10 running #31 of Frank Dorry Jr. for a RR flat. As the field lines up for the restart, Morris is still your leader, Wyant is second, Horton 3rd, Lineman 4th and Cogdill round out the top 5. As the leaders take the green, 3wide forms starts as Horton moves into 2nd, Cogdill takes 4th from Lineman. Horton doesn’t stop there, as he and Morris hit the corners, Horton goes hi and wide to snatch the lead away as the two exit the turns. Lineman gets a flat and heads off track on the follow lap bringing out the yellow. The race resumes with Lineman back at the rear of the field, Horton jumps back out to the lead, Morris second with Cogdill and Yaple now in the top 5 at the half way mark. Cogdill and Yaple are now in a slug fest for the forth spot with Yaple finally gaining the position from Cogdill. Yaple doesn’t stop there as he easily motors by Wyant to take 3rd. Yaple now becomes a man on a mission as he chases down the 2nd spot of Morris who now appears to be getting loose exiting the corners. Yaple is now all over Morris bumper to bumper entering and exiting the corners for the next few laps. Tom Miller now spins on the backstretch bringing out a needed caution for not only Yaple but for Kevin Collins who has charged up into the 6th spot. On the restart, Horton IV resumes the nice lead leaving Yaple and Morris to continue their fight for 2nd. Collins gets a great start and quickly passes Wyant and Cogdill hi and wide for 4th. Jess Hill comes from out of nowhere on the restart and rockets into the top 5 bringing with him Lineman Jr who had to earlier restart at the rear of the field from a flat. With 2 laps remaining Yaple is now all over Morris’s bumper as Morris is still loose exiting the corners and the two touch with Yaple spinning out of contention exiting four bringing out the final yellow. On the restart, Horton gasses back out to the lead as Hill, Collins and Morris battle 3 wide nearing the final lap. Collins wins the 3 wide battle taking second, Jesse Hill takes 3rd and Morris spins exiting turn 4 as the checker waves moving Lineman and Cogdill into the top 5. Horton IV gets his first Feature win of the season. The hard charger award goes to both Collins and Hill who started 19th and 20th to race into the top 3.
Mantua, NJ’s Gino Postorivo gets his 2nd ever and first of the season win in the always exciting GM Sunoco Sportsman feature event at Bridgeport on Saturday Night.
Gino started on the pole and fought off several challenges to go ahead and win the GM Sunoco Feature. Things got scary right from the beginning as two spin on the backstretch causing a mad scramble to avoid #724 of Joey Milza and 91A of John Micek. Postorivo jumped to the lead as the rookie Neil Williams picked up several spots as things got back under way before another caution for a multi car tangle in turn 4. On the restart, Postorivo quickly resumed his led as Chuck Buchman made a early charge for the top spot but Gino shut him down. Mike Barone, Corey Anderson and Travis Hill soon jumped into the mix to shake it up with Buchman. Travis Hill sits up on the wheel and makes passes on both Anderson and Barone before setting his sights on Buchman. On lap 8 the yellow flies again for a spinning #77 of Brandon Guyer to bring out a single file restart. Buchman makes a bid on the lead on the restart but Travis Hill takes Buchman high to snatch the second spot away. Jon Haegele sneaks into the action from his 14th starting spot to battle for the top 5 with Barone, Anderson and Bob Bartleson. With 5 to go, Chuck Buchman’s bad luck continues as he breaks and has to limp off track. Travis Hill does all he can to get a run on Gino Postorivo but Gino wont be denied as he races on for the win. Hill takes second, Barone third, Anderson 4th and Jon Haegele a top 5. Haegele gets the hard charger award for missing several mishaps to race hard into the 5th spot form a 14th starting position.
Delaware’s Kevin Darling blows away the field to win by a half track in the Bridgeport Limited Sprint Feature Event Saturday night. Darling, who clearly had the strongest sprint in the field on Saturday, did not take long to get to the front using the high side around the Speedway to get his first feature win of the season.
Jonathon Swanson started on the pole but was quickly passes by #e45 of Jonathon Baker as the two raced down the backstretch into turns 3-4. Baker held the lead for the next two laps with the #8s of Tim Iulg racing into second. Last week’s winner, #88 of Andy Best and Darling were soon in a chase to the leaders. Darling quickly made a hi side pass on Best to move into 3rd and set his sights on the leader. It didn’t take long for Darling to start applying pressure on Iulg and take his second spot away. Darling was throwin it hi at both ends of the Speedway has he chased down and passed Baker for the lead. Darling never looked back has he opened up a huge lead on the field leaving Baker, Iulg and Best to battle it out for the top 4. Iulg makes his pass on Baker to take over second bringing with him the 88 of Best. Baker settles in for third as Andy Best eventually gets the BEST of Iulg and takes his second spot away. Darling takes the checkered flag alone with Andy Best second, Iulg third, Bakers holds on to fourth and Hank Trum rounds out the top 5.
“Rapid” Rich Reider makes it two in a row in the Outlaw Stock Feature Saturday on the Bridgeport Clay.
It did not take long for it to become the Reider/Watson show as the two quickly to work their way through the field to chase down pole sitter and leader #9 of Bill Miller. Watson played follow the leader as Reider ran down the leader of miller and making the pass for the lead bringing with him Watson in 2nd. The two put on their weekly side-by-side battle with Miller in third. As the race starts to wind down to a close, Bill Miller looses a wheel with him and the wheel parking it in the infield. Watson and Reider continue swap the lead several times, as they reach lapped traffic heading down the backstretch. Watson and Reider are now side-by-side with 2 to go, again dueling for the lead, when Watson tangles with a lapped car of #44 Terry Griffith and the two spins off into the infield. Reider goes on for the win, Jeff Dirkes second, Watson re-enters the track to still finish third, Jim Honeker fourth and Bob Dooly rounding out the top 5.
The Rookie Sportsman put on another great show as Mullica Hills, NJ’s #96 Corey Anderson races to his second feature win of the season.
At the drop of the green #311 of Doug Urbano quickly jumped out to the lead passing pole sitter Joey Milza followed by #96 of Corey Anderson. Neil Williams in the #0 quickly makes a charge to the front from his ninth starting spot and begins doing battle with #77 of Brandon Guyer for position in the top 5. Urbano and Anderson start to put a little distance on the rest of the filed as Williams starts to work Guyer and finally pulls off the pass to move into 3rd. Guyer now has his hands full with the #59 of Tom Moore Jr. who has now moved into the top 5 from the last starting position. Urbano and Anderson start a duel for the lead at the half waypoint testing each other 2 wide in the corners. Anderson finally gets an inside run on Urbano heading into turn 2 and exists the corner as the new leader heading down the back stretch on lap 5. Anderson quickly opens up a lead as Neil Williams now begins to knock on the door of Urbano for the 2nd spot. Urbano fights off Williams to keep the 2nd spot as Corey Anderson takes the checkered flag for his 2 Rookie sportsman Feature win of the season. Neil Williams settles for 3rd, followed by Brandon Guyer 4th and Tom Moore Jr. in 5th.
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