Bottcher Back on Top at Bridgeport

BRIDGEPORT, NJ (July 2, 2005)- Lehighton, PA's, Steve Bottcher finally found the fast line around the Bridgeport Speedway, ending a four year Bridgeport winless streak on Saturday with a convincing Modified victory in "The Great American Shootout" extra-distance event.

Bottcher set sail early in the 30 lap feature event battling rail-to-rail with Mike Iles - who made a bold three-wide outside pass to take over the second position from Ricky Elliott. Steve Durand in the Bates Motel #5D made the best of the outside of the 5/8th mile dirt oval, rim riding to challenge for fourth at the mid-way mark. With ten to go, second and third place runners Iles and, defending Champion, Duane Howard tangled in turn three resulting in Iles spinning and Howard being forced to the rear for over-aggressive driving. This opened the door for the hard-charging Durand, who rode right on the edge until a hard hit in turn one retired the Mahwah, NJ hotshoe. It was all Bottcher at the finish picking up his 12th career Bridgeport Speedway victory. Jamie Mills came home in second, Jimmy Chester finished third, a well-deserved fourth went to Bob Sarkisian and Fritz Epright rounded out the top five.

The Young Guns vs. Outlaws battle showed its head once again in the 20 lap Sportsman feature event as "The Stockton Stalker" Sean Carman battled with "The Outlaw" Eric Kormann. It was Stockton, NJ's Sean Carman taking the win at the line picking up his second of the season. Kormann settled for second with Bob Lineman Jr., battling up from the consi to finish third, followed by Mark Forte Jr. and Bruce Hirthler.

Pat Conaway picked up his ninth and tenth victories in Outlaw Stock competition during a double header for the fierce division. In the make-up event Conaway held off a hard charging Bill Miller for the second week in a row. Dave Wilhem finished third with Ken Watson and Gary Klimeczak rounding out the Top five. In the second feature event Conaway bested Joe Trumbetti at the line with Dave Wilhem, Jim Honaker and Terry Griffin finished out the top five.

Laurel, DE's Chad James brought home the victory closing the gap in the points battle and picking up his fifth win of the season. Jon Haegele came home second with Chuck Buchman, Charles Hopkins and Forrest Peters rounding out the top five.

Joe King held of Gordon Neil to "pick-up" the victory in the All-Star Truck feature event. Jon Mannis came home third, Chris Yeaton came home fourth and Rudy Rindener finished in fifth

Friday, July 8 - Our regular 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. Also in ¼ Mile action will be 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, July 9 Banner Night Everything from fingerpaints to professional flags can be displayed as fans show off a tribute to their favorite driver.

Triple your pleasure; triple your fun as the Big Block Modified division will compete in Triple 20 lap feature events.

"We're throwin' a Party!" It's Graduation time as our GM Crate Rookies put on their cap and gown and advance to our Friday Night Crate Division.

All this action along with the Sportman and Outlaw Stocks see competition with full qualifying races and exciting feature events. Admission is $18 for adults, $10 for students, $5 for kids and 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.

For more information about Bridgeport Speedway and JD3Graphics/Bridgeport Speedway Young Guns visit our website at www.bridgeportspeedway.net or contact the Speedway Office at 856-467-4408.

Big Block Modifieds

Heat 1 - 1. Steve Durand 2. Jimmy Chester 3. Wade Hendrickson 4. Rich Tobias 5. Danny Johnson 6. Jim Stong

Heat 2 - 1. Kevin Hirthler 2. Kyle Strickler 3. Joe Dekutoski 4. Mike Iles 5. Duane Howard 6. Mark Forte

Heat 3 - 1. Steve Bottcher 2. Ricky Elliott 3. Gary Hager 4. Jamie Mills 5. Bob Sarkisian 6. Scott Irwin

Consi -- 1. Don Barone 2. Mike Franz 3. Tom Beamer 4. Scott Ambruster 5. Jim Stong 6. Ron Seltman

Feature - 1. Steve Bottcher 2. Jamie Mills 3. Jimmy Chester 4. Bob Sarkisian 5. Fritz Epright 6. Mark Forte 7. Tom Beamer 8. Jim Stong 9. Mike Franz 10. Kevin Hirthler 11. Gary Hager 12. Joe Dekutoski 13. Scott Irwin 14. Ron Seltman 15. Rich Tobias 16. Scott Ambruster 17. Rick Laubach 18. Steve Durand 19. Mike Iles 20. Duane Howard 21. Wade Hendrickson 22. Don Barone 23. Kyle Strickler 24. Ricky Elliott 25. Danny Johnson

DNQ - Jesse Hill, Kenny Brightbill, Chic Cossaboone, Pete Visconti, Kevin Hahn, Dave Howard

Sportsman

Heat 1 - 1. Bill Klingmeyer 2. John Kelly 3. Mike Brannigan 4. Bob Lilick 5. Steve Lozorak 6. Tom Miller

Heat 2 - 1. John Pursell 2. Richie Pratt 3. Eric Kormann 4. Rob Pierce 5. Sean Carman 6. John Stangle

Heat 3 - 1. Mark Forte Jr 2. Dan Cogdill 3. Kevin Collins 4. Sam Wescott 5. Jimmy Horton IV 6. Ron Roberts

Consi - 1. Bob Lineman Jr 2. Bruce Hirthler 3. Billy Briggs 4. Anthony Tramontana 5. Troy Lippincott 6. Ron Ford 7. Phil McCloughan 8. John Salvatore Jr

Feature - 1. Sean Carman 2. Eric Kormann 3. Bob Lineman Jr 4. Mark Forte Jr. 5. Bruce Hirthler 6. Billy Briggs 7. John Pursell 8. Ron Roberts 9. Bill Klingmeyer 10. John Salvatore Jr. 11. Troy Lippincott 12. John Kelly 13. Phil McCloughan 14. Ken Sowden 15. Bob Lilick 16. Sam Wescott 17. Jimmy Horton IV 18. Richie Pratt Jr. 19. John Stangle 20. Anthony Tramontana 21. Mike Brannigan 22. Tom Miller 23. Dan Cogdill 24. Kevin Collins 25. Rob Pierce 26. Ron Ford

DNQ - Bob Rambone, Jack McCallion, Jim Britt

Outlaw Stock

Make-Up Feature - 1. Pat Conaway 2. Bill Miller 3. Dave Wilhem 4. Ken Watson 5. Gary Klimeczak 6. Jeff Dirkes 7. Bucky Albright 8. Jim Honaker 9. Bob Dooley 10. Jesse DeGarmo 11. Joe Trumbetti 12. Mike Panza 13. Jim Erdbrink 14. Fred Ingham 15. Rick Erdbrink 16. Tom Gibson 17. Rich Reider 18. Ron Dirkes 19. Terry Griffin 20. John Bilofsky 21. Rick Haegele

Feature - 1. Pat Conaway 2. Joe Trumbetti 3. Dave Wilhem 4. Jim Honaker 5. Terry Griffin 6. Fred Ingham 7. Jesse DeGarmo 8. Rick Erdbrink 9. Jim Erdbrink 10. John Bilofsky 11. Bob Dooley 12. Bucky Albright 13. Bill Miller 14. Tom Gibson 15. Ron Watson 16. Mike Panza 17. Jeff Dirkes 18. Ron Dirkes 19. Rich Reider 20. Gary Klimeczak DNS Rick Haegele

GM Crate Sportsman Feature - 1. Chad James 2. Jon Haegele 3. Chuck Buchman 4. Charles Hopkins 5. Forrest Peters 6. Pat Hires 7. Kevin Labs 8. Mike Hires

All-Star Truck Series Feature - 1. Joe King 2. Gordon Neil 3. Jon Mannis 4. Chris Yeaton 5. Rudy Rindener 6. Tom Catanzaro 7. Richie Pratt Jr. 8. Rich Jackson 9. Dominick Casola