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DURAND AND ILES TAKE MODIFIED FEATURES; MICHAEL TOPS INVADING URC SPRINTS AT BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY
By Michael Wisniewxki
BRIDGEPORT, NJ (May 25, 2008) - In twin twenty lap features for the Big Block Modifieds, Steve Durand and Mike Iles each claimed a victory at Bridgeport Speedway on Saturday, May 24. Curt Michael took home his second victory of the season in the URC Sprint feature. In the 358 Sportsman main event, Chuck Hopkins of Williamstown, NJ was the victor. Chuck Buchman won the GM Sportsman feature.
In the first twenty lap modified feature, Durand, a resident of Mahwah, NJ, blasted from his second starting position past pole sitter Brett Hoffman into the lead. Iles, who started in the fourteenth, quickly moved to the third position on lap five just behind second place runner Bob Sarkisian. Iles passed Sarkisan on lap seven and tried to catch the front running Durand. Durand continued to lead the race and began to encounter lapped traffic on lap fifteen. Iles drew up to Durands rear bumper on lap 16. On the final lap, Iles pulled along the inside of Durand on the final turn but Durand held on for his second career big Block Modified victory. Iles, Sarkisian, Jimmy Chester and Chic Cossaboone rounded out the top five.
For the second twenty lap modified feature, Gary Hager and Jimmy Horton sat on the front row and Hager jumped out to the lead. Hager, who hails from Stewartsville, NJ, led the first twelve laps. From his tenth starting spot, Iles had maneuvered his #711 modified to the fourth position by lap six. Iles passed Wade Hendrickson on lap eight and Jimmy Horton on lap ten to move into second place. Iles caught Hager on lap twelve and passed him on lap thirteen for the lead. Iles led the remaining laps for his first checkered flag in 2008. Hager, Hendrickson, Cossaboone, and Horton filled out the top five. Heat winners for the Big Block Modifieds were Durand, Brian Kressley and Steve Bottcher. Don Barone won the consolation event.
In the URC Sprint main event, front row starter Michael led the initial eight laps. Michael entered lapped traffic on lap six and second place runner Chris Coyle began to inch closer to Michael. Coyle took the lead on lap nine and appeared to be on his way to victory lane. Several cautions brought the field back tightly and Michael was able to regain the lead on lap seventeen following a restart. Coyle fought back valiantly on the final lap but appeared to lose traction in turn two and Michael went on to claim his thirty-seventh career URC victory. Coyle, Justin Collett, Randy West and JJ Grasso completed the top five. A strong and competitive field of thirty-two URC sprints invaded Bridgeport Speedway with heat race victories going to Michael, Scott Pursell and Coyle. Mark Bitner won the Don Ott "B" Main.
Tom Miller quickly charged to the lead in the 358 Sportsman feature and led the first two laps. Following a restart on lap two, Chuck Hopkins grabbed the point by passing Miller. Hopkins survived numerous cautions and drove off to his first victory in 2008. Jarrad Miller finished in the second position. Jimmy Horton IV, Brett Ballard and Eric Kormann rounded out the top five. Dan Cogdill, Bob Lineman Jr. and Hopkins were winners in the 358 Sportsman heats. Guy Germano picked up the victory in the consolation race.
In the GM sportsman feature, Chuck Buchman took advantage of his second starting position and assumed the lead on lap one. Leading all twelve laps of the curfew shortened event, Buchman survived a late race challenge from John Micek. Rounding out the top five were Travis Hill, Pat Hires and Jon Haegele. Micek and Buchman were victors in the qualifying events.
NOTES: Veteran Modified drivers Ed Firth and Dave Stonebreaker made their first starts in 2008. After finishing in third place in the second Big Block Modified heat, Richie Pratt Jr. brought out his back up ride and re-qualified through the consolation event.
Bridgeport Speedway Results - Saturday May 24, 2008
Big Block Modifieds
Heat 1 Steve Durand, Ray Swinehart, Mike Iles, Ryan Watt, Brett Hoffman, Chris Knopp
Heat 2 Brian Kressley, Gary Hager, Richie Pratt Jr., Chad James, Chic Cossaboone, Jimmy Horton
Heat 3 Steve Bottcher, Scott Irwin, Bob Sarkisian, Wade Hendrickson, Jimmy Chester, Mike Franz
Consolation Don Barone, Scott Ambruster, Dave Stonebreaker, Richie Pratt Jr., Matt Harrell, Rich Acolia, Tom Hager
BIG BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE #1 20 LAPS
STEVE DURAND, Mike Iles, Bob Sarkisian, Jimmy Chester, Chic Cossaboone, Ryan Watt, Chris Knopp, Wade Hendrickson, Ray Swinehart, Jimmy Horton, Gary Hager, Matt Harrell, Steve Bottcher, Don Barone, Chad James, Brian Kressley, Scott Irwin, Tom Hager, Rich Acolia, Scott Ambruster, Mike Franz, Brett Hoffman, Richie Pratt Jr., Dave Stonebreaker
BIG BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE #2 20 LAPS
MIKE ILES, Gary Hager, Wade Hendrickson, Chic Cossaboone, Jimmy Horton, Steve Durand, Richie Pratt Jr., Jimmy Chester, Steve Bottcher, Chad James, Bob Sarkisian, Ryan Watt, Mike Franz, Don Barone, Scott Irwin, Rich Acolia, Matt Harrell, Ray Swinehart, Chris Knopp, Scott Ambruster, Brian Kressley, Tom Hager, Ed Firth, Dave Stonebreaker
DNQ: Ricky Rutt, Anthony Moran, Ed Firth, Dave Howard
United Racing Company (URC) Sprints
Heat 1 Curt Michael, Jamie Bodo, Robbie Stillwagon, Ed Aiken, Randy West, Rory Janney
Heat 2 Scott Pursell, Justin Collett, Dave Ely, Chuck Palmucci, Jason Clauss, Davey Sammons
Heat 3 Chris Coyle, Joey Biasi, Kyle Purks, JJ Grasso, Becca Anderson, Brandon Weibley
B-Main Mark Bitner, Mares Stellfox, Brian Seidel, Dave Betts, Dave Gable, Jon Eldreth
UNITED RACING COMPANY SPRINTS FEATURE 25 LAPS
CURT MICHAEL, Chris Coyle, Justin Collett, Randy West, JJ Grasso, Dave Ely, Mark Bitner, Robbie Stillwagon, Davey Sammons, Becca Anderson, Ed Aiken, Kyle Purks, Chuck Palmucci, Jamie Bodo, Jon Eldreth, Dave Betts, Art Leidl, Scott Pursell, Joey Biasi, Mares Stellfox, Brandon Weibley, Dave Gable, Jason Clauss, Brian Seidel, Rory Janney
DNQ: Brett Schoenly, Gary Gollub, Jimmy Reppert, Jeff Fithian, Mike Kostic, Tim Hogue, Scott McClaren, Jim Walters
358 Sportsman
Heat 1 Dan Cogdill, Tom Solderich, Jimmy Horton IV, Brett Ballard, Billy Briggs, Tom Miller
Heat 2 Bob Lineman Jr., Rob Pierce, John Kelly, Randy Yaple, Jarrad Miller, Steve Transue
Heat 3 Chuck Hopkins, Jesse Hill, Eric Kormann, Ron Roberts, James Morris, Bill Klingmeyer
Consolation Guy Germano, Scott Davis Jr., Jason Duppel, Don Bogey, John Scarpati Jr., John Cavallaro
358 SPORTSMAN FEATURE 20 LAPS
CHUCK HOPKINS, Jarrad Miller, Jimmy Horton IV, Brett Ballard, Eric Kormann, Jesse Hill, Tom Solderich, Dan Cogdill, Ron Roberts, Randy Yaple, John Kelly, Bill Klingmeyer, Guy Germano, John Cavallaro, Scott Davis Jr., Tom Miller, John Scarpati Jr., Billy Briggs, Don Bogey, Rob Pierce, Bob Lineman Jr., James Morris, Steve Transue, Jason Duppel
DNQ: Adam Miller, Bob Rambone, Steve Kassekert, Craig Whitmoyer
GM Sportsman
Heat 1 John Micek, Brandon Guyer, Tom Moore Jr., Neil Williams, Peach Cole, Dan Stout
Heat 2 Chuck Buchman, David Bell, Pat Hires, Mike Barone, Jon Haegele, Travis Hill
GM SPORTSMAN FEATURE 12 LAPS - CURFEW
CHUCK BUCHMAN, John Micek, Travis Hill, Pat Hires, Jon Haegele, Tom Moore Jr., Bob Bartleson, Corey Anderson, Mike Barone, Jason Rivers, Brandon Guyer, Bob Burgess, David Bell, John Bilofsky, Peach Cole, Brooke Bartleson, Eric Renninger, Dan Stout, Doug Urbano, Neil Williams
DNS: Gino Postorivo
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