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CHAD JAMES GETS HIS FIRST BIG BLOCK MODIFIED VICTORY AT BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY
BRIDGEPORT, NJ (June 22, 2008) - On a beautiful warm Saturday evening in Southern New Jersey, Chad James from Laurel, Delaware captured his first ever Big Block Modified main event in thrilling fashion. In the 358 Sportsman feature, Jesse Hill was the victor and his brother, Travis Hill, was the winner in the GM Sportsman event. Rich Reider won an exciting Outlaw Stock race. Jason Bittner claimed his second win of the season in the Rookie GM Sportsman contest.
In the twenty five lap feature event, Brian Kressley and Rich Acolia led the field of Big Block Modifieds to the green flag with Kressley assuming an early lead. Third position starter James grabbed the lead from Kressley on lap four. Richie Pratt Jr. vaulted to second place on lap five and began pursuing the leader. Sixteenth place starter Duane Howard had motored up to the third position by lap six. With these top contenders directly behind him, James continued to drive a masterful race on a very fast track as he turned a fast lap time of 108 MPH on lap seven. After a restart on lap eight, James still had the J&J Shop #27 machine in front with Pratt and Howard continuing their pursuit of the lead. A caution on lap seventeen for Steve Transue brought the field together one final time. With James choosing the inside position on the restart, he maintained the lead and held off a hard charging Pratt Jr. in the final laps for the victory. A jubilant first time winner, James climbed onto the roof of his car on the frontstretch and was greeted by a large contingent of family and crew members in victory lane. Pratt Jr., Duane Howard, Steve Bottcher and Wade Hendrickson completed the top five finishers. Heat winners were James, Pratt Jr., and Chic Cossaboone.
Bill Klingmeyer seized the lead in the 358 Sportsman event from his pole starting position and survived several cautions to lead the first thirteen laps. From his ninth starting spot, Jesse Hill advanced to the second position on lap four. Erik Kormann passed Hill for the runner up spot on lap six but Hill returned the favor 2 laps later. Following a lap ten restart, Hill continued to close the gap and gained the top spot on lap fourteen. Hill led the remaining laps for his second victory of the season. Running a very strong race, Klingmeyer finished in second place. Erik Kormann came home in third position followed by Kevin Collins and Jarrad Miller. Tom Solderich, Kormann, and Klingmeyer were the winners of the 358 Sportsman heat races.
In the GM Sportsman contest, veteran driver Rich Jackson sprinted out from his front row starting position and led the first four laps. Following a lap four restart, Jon Haegele passed Jackson for the lead. Hill moved to the second position on lap 5 and ascended to the top spot on the next lap. Hill upheld the lead for the remaining laps to get his second victory of the year. Pat Hires finished in the runner up spot. Haegele, John Micek and rookie Corey Anderson filled out the top five. Hill and Haegele were winners in the GM Sportsman qualifying events.
Bill Miller, Ken Watson, Tom Wills and Rich Reider put on a racing display in the Outlaw Stock feature. With Miller and Watson swapping the top spot during the first eight laps, Reider and Wills maintained a very close pursuit of the top two runners. After moving to second on lap nine, Reider wrestled the lead from Watson on lap ten. Reider pulled away in the final laps for his fifth checkered flag. Watson held on for second place. Miller, Wills and Bob Hopely completed the top five.
Jason Bittner led all eight laps and became the first repeat winner of 2008 in the GM Rookie Sportsman feature. Brandon Guyer finished a strong second. Bob Burgess, Tom Moore Jr. and Joey Milza rounded out the top five.
NOTES: Mechanical woes continue to plague Jimmy Horton this season. Driving the Lincoln Auto Body Modified, Hortons engine showed considerable smoke in his heat race and he did not participate in the feature. Ray Swinehart returned to action but his night ended with engine problems during his heat race. Veteran Sportsman driver Jack Swain made his first Bridgeport Speedway start in 2008 and finished ninth in the feature.
Bridgeport Speedway Results - Saturday June 21, 2008
Big Block Modifieds
Heat 1 Chad James, Duane Howard, Steve Bottcher, Ryan Watt, Scott Ambruster, Mike Franz
Heat 2 Richie Pratt Jr., Brian Kressley, Mike Iles, Jimmy Chester, Gary Hager, Matt Harrell
Heat 3 Chic Cossaboone, Wade Hendrickson, Rich Acolia, Scott Irwin, Bob Sarkisian, Ed Firth
BIG BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE - 25 LAPS
CHAD JAMES, Richie Pratt Jr., Duane Howard, Steve Bottcher, Wade Hendrickson, Ryan Watt, Mike Iles, Gary Hager, Brian Kressley, Chic Cossaboone, Matt Harrell, Scott Irwin, Dave Howard, Rich Acolia, Don Barone, Steve Transue, Ed Firth, Jimmy Chester, Mike Franz, Bob Sarkisian
DNS: Scott Ambruster, Ray Swinehart, Jimmy Horton
358 Sportsman
Heat 1 Tom Solderich, Chuck Hopkins, Scott Davis Jr., Sean Gunther, Jarrad Miller, Bob Lineman Jr.
Heat 2 Eric Kormann, Kevin Collins, Guy Germano, Dan Cogdill, Tom Miller, Billy Briggs
Heat 3 Bill Klingmeyer, Ron Roberts, Jimmy Horton IV, Jack Swain, Randy Yaple, Jesse Hill
358 SPORTSMAN FEATURE 20 LAPS
JESSE HILL, Bill Klingmeyer, Eric Kormann, Kevin Collins, Jarrad Miller, Jimmy Horton IV, Randy Yaple, Tom Solderich, Jack Swain, Dan Cogdill, Scott Davis Jr., Tom Miller Sr., Guy Germano, Mike DiMedio, Sean Gunther, Ron Roberts, John Scarpati Jr., Bob Lineman Jr., Brett Ballard, John Cavallaro, Chuck Hopkins, Don Bogey
DNS: Rob Wyant, Tom Miller Jr.
DNQ: Greg Saeger
GM Sportsman
Heat 1 Travis Hill, Mike Barone, Gino Postorivo, John Micek, Bob Burgess, Jason Bittner
Heat 2 Jon Haegele, Neil Williams, Rich Jackson, Chuck Buchman, Jason Rivers, Pat Hires
GM SPORTSMAN FEATURE 15 LAPS
TRAVIS HILL, Pat Hires, Jon Haegele, John Micek, Corey Anderson, Brandon Guyer, Bob Bartleson, Bob Burgess, David Bell, Jason Rivers, Mike Barone, Kyle Borror, Jason Bittner, Chuck Buchman, Gino Postorivo, Rich Jackson, Neil Williams, Tom Moore Jr., Brooke Bartleson, Michael Cogdill, Peach Cole
DNS: John Bilofsky, Mark Suk, Joey Milza, Erik Renninger, Doug Urbano
OUTLAW STOCKS FEATURE 15 LAPS
RICH REIDER, Ken Watson, Bill Miller, Tom Wills, Bob Hopely, Terry Griffin, Jeff Dirkes, Bob Dooley, Rick Latza, Ken Sampson, Rick Broschard, Rick Haegele
DNS: Draper Ellis
ROOKIE GM SPORTSMAN FEATURE 8 LAPS
JASON BITTNER, Brandon Guyer, Bob Burgess, Tom Moore Jr., Joey Milza, Brooke Bartleson, Doug Urbano, Neil Williams, Corey Anderson, Erik Renninger
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