Howard Still Hot, Grabs Win - Wyers Sweeps Sprints

BRIDGEPORT, NJ (August 20, 2005)- Defending Modified Champion and current Modified Point Leader, Duane Howard, of Oley, PA, fought his way from an 18th place starting position, to pick up his sixth victory of the season, as Stockburger Chevrolet/Chrysler presented "Hot Summer Nights" at the Bridgeport Speedway.

"Glenn (Hynemann) made some shock changes before the feature and this car was right on the money," and elated Howard proclaimed. "This team is so dedicated, they deserve everything we've accomplished this season, you couldn't get a better bunch of guys."

"The Medford Mad Dog" Mike Iles and "The Fyin' Farmer" Wade Hendrickson clawed their way from the mid-pack to grab the top spots on the fifth circuit. The duo battled back and forth, high and low looking for a sweet spot, when out of nowhere "Jammin'" Jamie Mills, Duane Howard and Rick Laubach rocketed past three cars to make it a five-way battle for the lead. It was mayhem up front with Howard and Mills dicing past the top two. A lap fifteen caution stacked the field and when front runners Iles and Laubach made contact on the front stretch, Iles' Active Environmental #711 broke with no place to go. Hendrickson hit Iles hard and an eight car pile up ensued blocking the track and retiring the majority of the top ten. The restart opened the doors for Kenny Brightbill who powered past Laubach into the third position, followed by "The Doctor" Danny Johnson - who fought back from an early race pitstop. It was all Howard at the white flag, but the battle to watch was for third, as Johnson powered past "Mr. Excitement" coming out of turn two. With the checkered flying Johnson charged into turn three and Brightbill made hard contact from behind sending both cars sideways. When they finally gathered back up it left a 6 car scramble for the fifth position. Howard would go on to Victory Lane, Jamie Mills would come home second, Laubach third, Sarkisian would cross fourth after the melee and Tommy Beamer would win the drag race for fifth.

"I'm going to Disney World," is what Steelmantown, NJ's Jasper Sprint hot shoe, Jim Wyers, shouted out after sweeping both of the Sprint events of the night. In the initial outing, Wyers took advantage of a front row starting position leading every lap of the twenty lap feature event. John Wyers, Jim's uncle, would ride home in second, with Shane Smith, Jeff Mueller and Mares Stellfox rounding out the top five.

In the second feature event, Wyers proved it was no fluke. With a four-way battle for the top spot in the closing stages, Jim, rim-riding the top side, held off John Wyers, Mike Piersig, and Mares Stellfox to pick up his second victory of the night. Wyers, Piersig and Stellfox would ride home in that order with Tim Iulg rounding out the top five.

In the sportsman fray, -- no surprise, Sewell, NJ's Richie Pratt Jr. would make a gutsy three wide pass through the middle -- to take over the second position, and chase down early leader John Pursell, catching the Point Leader in traffic and using a lapped car to gain the advantage. Pratt would go on to take the victory, Pursell would settle for second with Jimmy Horton IV, Bob Lineman Jr. and Ron Roberts.

Ken Watson would put on a fierce battle with Pat Conaway, in Outlaw Stock action, edging out the man with 11 feature victories this season by less then half a car length. Conaway would settle for second, Gary Klimgczak would pick up third, Jeff Dirkes came home fourth and Mike Panza rounded out the top five.

Friday, August 26 - US Food Service presents an exciting night of racing activities. Our 358 DIRT Modifieds and GM Crate Sportsman light-up the "Big Track" with ultra-fast competition and exciting three-wide racing action. Our 1/4 speedway offers tight racing conditions for the 'Winged Warrior' 270cc and 600cc Micro Sprints - and our 4 Cylinder Stock cars battle it out. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students, $5 for kids, and, as always, 5 and under are free. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. with the first Green Flag flying at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 27 - A Pre-race bash like no other kicks off our fourth and final BIKE NIGHT. East Penn Biker Magazine along with Adams Motorsports and the Bridgeport Speedway bring you "Bikes, Cars and Wrestlin'" A Custom Car and Motorcylce show brings in Hot Rods and Hot Bikes from all over the tri-state area. With music from Drag Pipe DJ's and the East Penn Biker Girls it will prove to be the party of the year. Then the Rough and Tough competitors of Professional Wrestling see who will be the "King of the Ring" in four all-out, no holds barred wrestling matches. The Bikes, Cars and Wrestlin' show kicks off at Noon and admission is $5.00.

But the Action Doesn't Stop There! Stick around as US Food Service presents a full night of hardcore racing action. The Big Block Modified "Bridgeport Badboys" live up to their name in a Down and Dirty 25 Lap feature event. The Winged Warriors of the Jasper Sprint Series light up the famed five-eighth mile speedway. Along with the Sportsman and Outlaw Stocks. All divisions compete in full qualifying heat races and exciting feature events. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students, $5 for kids, and, as always, 5 and under are free. Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m., with Grandstand gates opening at 4:30 p.m., and the first race at 6:30 p.m.

Big Block Modifieds

Heat 1 - 1. Mike Iles 2. Tom Hager 3. Duane Howard 4. Don Barone 5. Kenny Brightbill 6. Mike Franz

Heat 2 - 1. Tommy Beamer 2. Pete Visconti 3. Jamie Mills 4. Steve Bottcher 5. Rick Laubach 6. Kevin Hirthler

Heat 3 - 1. Wade Hendrickson 2. Chic Cossaboone 3. Danny Johnson 4. Fritz Epright 5. Gary Hager 6. Jim Stong

Consi - 1. Bob Sarkisian 2. Jimmy Chester 3. Kevin Hahn 4. Steve Durand 5. Jeff Ebersole 6. Scott Ambruster

Feature - 1. Duane Howard 2. Jamie Mills 3. Rick Laubach 4. Bob Sarkisian 5. Tommy Beamer 6. Kenny Brightbill 7. Steve Bottcher 8. Jimmy Chester 9. Danny Johnson 10. Mike Franz 11. Jim Stong 12. Scott Amrbuster 13. Jeff Ebersole 14. Kevin Hahn 15. Mike Iles 16. Wade Hendrickson 17. Gary Hager 18. Don Barone 19. Steve Durand 20. Chic Cossaboone 21. Pete Visconti 22. Kevin Hirthler 23. Fritz Epright 24. Tom Hager

DNQ - Scott Irwin, Joe Dekutoski, Doug Boyce, Mark Forte, Barry Voss

Sportsman

Heat 1 - 1. Jimmy Horton IV 2. Richie Pratt Jr. 3. John Salvatore, Jr. 4. John Pursell 5. Bob Lineman, Jr. 6. Bob Rambone

Heat 2 - 1. Sean Carman 2. Dan Cogdill 3. Bill Klingmeyer 4. John Kelly 5. Brett Hoffman 6. Bob Cook

Heat 3 - 1. Tom Miller 2. Ron Roberts 3. Rob Pierce 4. Ken Sowden 5. Steve Lozorak 6. Drew Ricco

Consi - 1. Eric Kormann 2. Mike Brannigan 3. Kevin Collins 4. Mark Forte Jr. 5. John Stangle 6. Phil McCloughan 7. Brian Lilick 8. Shaun Burd

Feature - 1. Richie Pratt, Jr. 2. John Pursell 3. Jimmy Horton IV 4. Bob Lineman Jr. 5. Ron Roberts 6. Eric Kormann 7. Bill Klingmeyer 8. Sean Carman 9. Steve Lozorak 10. John Stangle 11. Dan Cogdill 12. Mark Forte, Jr. 13. Tom Miller 14. Mike Brannigan 15. Ken Sowden 16. Brett Hoffman 17. Brian Lilick 18. Bob Cook 19. Shaun Burd 20. Bob Rambone 21. Phil McCloughan 22. John Kelly 23. Rob Pierce 24. John Salvatore, Jr. 25. Drew Ricco 26. Kevin Collins

DNQ - Steve Warner, Carmen Leggio, Jared Hill, John Pratt, Blain Sadler, Don Bogey

Jasper Sprints

Make-Up Feature - 1. Jim Wyers 2. John Wyers 3. Shane Smith 4. Jeff Mueller 5. Mares Stellfox 6. Tim Iulg 7. Mike Piersig 8. Joe Thuet 9 Frank Polimeda 10. Torrey Rose 11. Bob Rasmussen 12. Jack Curtis 13. Tyler Ramirez 14. Doug Smith 15. Andrew Weldon 16. Keith Anderson 17. Lee Nardelli 18. Jeff Davis 19. Bill Jackson 20. Steve Petry

Feature - 1. Jim Wyers 2. John Wyers 3. Mike Piersig 4. Mares Stellfox 5. Tim Iulg 6. Jack Curtis 7. Tyler Ramirez 8. Lee Nardelli 9. Torrey Rose 10. Andrew Weldon 11. Bob Rasmussen 12. Keith Anderson 13. Jeff Davis 14. Shane Smith 15. Bill Jackson 16. Joe Thuet 17. Jeff Mueller 18. Doug Smith 19. Frank Polimeda 20. Steve Petry

Outlaw Stocks

Feature - 1. Ken Watson 2. Pat Conaway 3. Gary Klimgczak 4. Jeff Dirkes 5. Mike Panza 6. Rick Haegele 7. Bucky Albright 8. Jim Honaker 9. Bob Dooley 10. Fred Ingham 11. Jim Erdbrink 12. Terry Griffin 13. Bill Miller 14. Leroy Ratcliff 15. Rob Baird 16. Rich Reider