Bottcher Blisters Modified Field at Bridgeport
BRIDGEPORT, NJ (August 13, 2005)- "Lehighton Lightning" Steve Bottcher, of Lehighton, PA, capitalized on the misfortune of leaders Jamie Mills and Pete Visconti to pick up his second victory of the season as Napa Auto Parts presented a night of scorching hot night action on and off the track.
"I was really lucky that we started up front - that helped a lot, but after the past two weeks we really needed it," Bottcher joked in Victory Lane. "If it wasn't for Cliff Krause and Supreme Manufacturing we wouldn't be able to do this. He's really the best owner around."
Pete Visconti of Rosenhayn, NJ took the lead in the early stages of the twenty-five lap feature event with Steve Bottcher and Jamie Mills right on his tail. As Mills and Bottcher battled for second, Visconti pulled away in his Tony Braga Excavating #83 Dirt Wheels Race Car. "Jammin' Jamie" powered past Bottcher and set his sights on the leader, moving to the outside of Visconti; Mills took the lead down the backstretch. In a strange twist of fate - Mills' I.G. Burton Car Dealers #30 Bicknell slowed on the frontstretch for motor problems -- moving to the inside of the speedway to avoid bringing out the yellow, Mills had no idea Visconti was low - both drivers were hard on the brakes and slid to the infield retiring both machines. This handed the lead over to Steve Bottcher, who had his hands full with "The Doctor" Danny Johnson, powering the J&J Shop #27 Teo Pro Car from deep in the field, to now show second position. A drag race for the green flag ensued and Bottcher was the first to turn one, weaving high and low with Johnson, Bottcher held on - giving the Supreme Manufacturing #27x Teo Pro Car their second victory of the season. Johnson would settle for second position, Hendrickson would ride home third in the Overhead Doors Teo machine, with Jimmy Chester (JC Leasing-C&H Motorsports Teo) coming home fourth and Mike Iles (Active Environmental - Larkin Auto Service/Dirt Wheels).
In the sportsman fray, Richie Pratt Jr. picked up his fifth and sixth victories of the season in the Lipinski Snow Service #28 Bicknell.
Pratt dominated the scheduled event, overtaking Tom Miller for the top spot on the sixth circuit. Pratt overcame mechanical problems and held off a strong late race charge from Drew Ricco. Ricco would settle for second, the third top five in three races for the Klair Motorsports/Bogey's Paving #34 Speed Palace mount, "The Stockton Stalker" Sean Carman (Pleasure Pools - Lentini Auto Salvage Bicknell) would ride home third, with John Stangle and the Lightning Delivery #6 Bicknell in fourth and John Pratt in the Bogey Paving #9x Speed Palace ride rounding out the top five.
In the 15 lap May 21st make-up event, Pratt powered past Anthony Tramontana on lap 10 to go on and take his fifth checkered flag of the season. Tramontana rode home in second his best finish to date, John Pratt came home third, "The Outlaw" Eric Kormann came home fourth and Ron Roberts rebounded from a vicious crash last week to round out the top five.
Glassboro, NJ's Bill Miller picked up his third of the season, and second in a row, bringing the Flash in the Pan Graphics #m80 to victory lane in the Outlaw Stock Feature event. Miller held of a Strong late race charge from Rich Reider and Ken Watson. Watson barely edged out Reider at the line picking up second, Point Leader Pat Conaway came home third with Gary Klimgczak rounding out the top five spots.
The All-Star Truck Series event was won by Joe King. King was followed to the line by Jon Mannis, Chris Yeaton, Gary Bruckler and Tom Catanzaro.
Saturday, August 13 - Napa Auto Parts presents Trucker Night-All truckers that provide their CDL at the window will get free grandstand admission. The Modifieds headline the four division card with a 25 lap feature event. The Sportsman division doubles up for a regular feature event and a make up race. The Outlaw Stocks and All-Star Trucks will also be in competition with full qualifying races and exciting feature events. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students, $5 for kids, and, as always, 5 and under are free.
Tuesday, August 16 -- The Walt Chernokal Memorial presented by Hoffman Bros. Speed and Performance. The Bridgeport Bad Boys challenge local drivers to step up to the plate and see if they have the guts to take on the famed five-eighth mile speedway. The Modifieds will compete in a 40 lap-$4000 to win feature event with the Sportsman holding a 25 lap - $1000 to win special. Competitors will draw for positions and compete in full qualifying heat races. Any 13 x 92 Modified track tire will be allowed for competition and no pit license is required for admittance.
Friday, August 19- Stockburger Chevrolet-Chrysler presents "Hot Summer Nights" at the Bridgeport Speedway. Our Friday Night Program features a full five-division card headlined by the 358 DIRT Modifieds, also in action on the 5/8th track will be the GM Crate Sportsman. In ¼ Mile action -- the 600cc Micro Sprints, along with the 270cc Micro Sprints and 4 Cylinder Stocks. 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 20 - Stockburger Chevrolet-Chrysler presents "Hot Summer Nights" at the Bridgeport Speedway. The Winged Warriors of the Jasper Sprint Car Series roll in to try and tame the famed five-eighth. The Big Block Modified Bridgeport Bad Boys compete in a 25 lap feature event and the Sportsman and Outlaw Stocks will be in competition with full qualifying races and exciting feature events. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students, $5 for kids, and, as always, 5 and under are free.
Results August 13, 2005
Big Block Modifieds
Heat 1 - 1. Wade Hendrickson 2. Danny Johnson 3. Fritz Epright 4. Don Barone 5. Rick Laubach 6. Chic Cossaboone
Heat 2 - 1. Mark Forte 2. Jamie Mills 3. Kevin Hirthler 4. Gary Hager 5. Mike Iles 6. Jim Stong
Heat 3 - 1. Duane Howard 2. Jimmy Chester 3. Steve Bottcher 4. Pete Visconti 5. Tommy Beamer 6. Steve Durand
Consi - 1. Mike Franz 2. Ron Seltman 3. Kevin Hahn 4. Bob Sarkisian 5. Scott Irwin 6. Scott Ambruster
Feature - 1. Steve Bottcher 2. Danny Johnson 3. Wade Hendrickson 4. Jimmy Chester 5. Mike Iles 6. Duane Howard 7. Bob Sarkisian 8. Kevin Hirthler 9. Fritz Epright 10. Jim Stong 11. Kevin Hahn 12. Gary Hager 13. Scott Irwin 14. Ron Seltman 15. Mark Forte 16. Don Barone 17. Pete Visconti 18. Jamie Mills 19. Steve Durand 20. Scott Ambruster 21. Tommy Beamer 22. Tommy Hager 23. Rick Laubach 24. Mike Franz
DNQ - Chic Cossaboone
Sportsman
Make Up Feature 5/21/05 - 1. Richie Pratt Jr. 2. Anthony Tramontana 3. John Pratt 4. Eric Kormann 5. Ron Roberts 6. John Pursell 7. Sean Carman 8. Mark Forte Jr. 9. Dan Cogdill 10. Tom Miller 11. Jimmy Horton IV 12. John Salvatore Jr. 13. Rob Pierce 14. John Stangle 15. Bill Klingmeyer 16. Kevin Collins 17. Phil McCloughan 18. Don Bogey 19. Bob Lineman Jr. 20. Mike Brannigan
Heat 1 - 1. Bill Klingmeyer 2. Kevin Collins 3. Bob Lineman Jr. 4. John Pursell 5. Jimmy Horton IV 6. Eric Kormann
Heat 2 - 1. John Salvatore Jr. 2. John Pratt 3. Richie Pratt Jr. 4. John Kelly 5. Drew Ricco 6. Anthony Tramontana
Heat 3 -- 1. Dan Cogdill 2. Sean Carman 3. Tom Miller 4. Rob Pierce 5. Mike Brannigan 6. John Stangle
Consi - 1. Ron Roberts 2. Brett Hoffman 3. Steve Lozorak 4. Ken Sowden 5. Dennis Price 6. Phil McCloughan 7. Mark Forte Jr. 8. Shaun Burd
Feature - 1. Richie Pratt Jr. 2. Drew Ricco 3. Sean Carman 4. John Stangle 5. John Pratt 6. Kevin Collins 7. John Kelly 8. John Pursell 9. Eric Kormann 10. Jimmy Horton IV 11. Steve Lozorak 12. Rob Pierce 13. John Salvatore Jr. 14. Mike Brannigan 15. Brett Hoffman 16. Ken Sowden 17. Phil McCloughan 18. Dan Cogdill 19. Shaun Burd 20. Ron Roberts 21. Dennis Price 22. Bob Lineman Jr. 23. Bill Klingmeyer 24. Anthony Tramontana DNS - Mark Forte Jr.
DNQ - Don Bogey, Glenn Knell
Outlaw Stock
Feature - 1. Bill Miller 2. Ken Watson 3. Rich Reider 4. Pat Conaway 5. Gary Klimgczak 6. Joe Trumbetti 7. Mike Panza 8. Terry Griffin 9. Bob Dooley 10. John Turnurg 11. Rick Haegele 12. Jim Erdbrink 13. Jim Honaker 14. Jeff Dirkes 15. Fred Ingham
All-Star Truck Series
Feature - 1. Joe King 2. Jon Mannis 3. Chris Yeaton 4. Gary Bruckler 5. Tom Catanzaro 6. Rich Jackson 7. Dominick Casola 8. Tag Neil