Pratt Perseveres: From Zero to Hero Friday Night at Bridgeport
BRIDGEPORT, NJ (June 17, 2005)- After a sending the Lipinski Snow Service #10x through a cycle of flips during the opening lap of last Friday Night's 358 DIRT Modified feature, Richie Pratt Jr. and team showed their "Never say die" attitude debuting a brand new race car and dominating the feature event.
"This is a brand new Bicknell car we put together and boy can it run," an elated Pratt stated in Victory Lane. "I really have got to give credit to the guys up north, we ran the tour (358 Modified Super DIRT Series) last year and those guys can really teach you a lot."
Sewell, NJ's Pratt picked up the lead on a lap 4 restart blasting past Ryan Godown's #27KC machine. The battle to watch was for second, as the continuation of a heated exchange between All-Time Feature Winner Jimmy Horton and Young Star GR Smith was settled on the race track. Horton and Smith battled back and forth for the runner up spot with Horton maintaining the advantage for the majority of the race. This opened the door for "The Kid" as Billy Pauch boldly moved to the fourth position rocketing past Ken Meisner and Ryan Godown on the outside of the Speedway. Leader, Pratt brushed the front stretch wall as he weaved in and out of heavy traffic with Horton closing in. A caution with two laps remaining cleared a path in front of Pratt and set the stage for a hard charge from the Grosso Trucking #42 of Jimmy Horton. It was all Pratt at the checkers picking up his second win of the season. Horton proves his consistency settling for second in each of the DIRT Small Block races held this season. Pauch powered to finish third, with Smith and Godown rounding out the top five.
Vineland, NJ's Eric Kormann continued his dominating fashion in the GM Crate Sportsman feature event. Kormann, who has won all except for one of the five Crate Sportsman features he has competed in, blasted past John Micek to take the lead and never looked back. Micek settled for second with, Rookie Sensation Chuck Buchman finishing third followed by Todd Kuhl and Don Bogey.
PJ Garguilo picked up the victory in the 600cc Micro Sprint division. PJ became the sixth different winner in just as many races on the Bridgeport ¼ mile. Gary Hunter came home second with Phil Meisner Jr, Jack Conover, and Young "Hot Shoe" Robbie Stillwagon rounding out the top five.
Frank Venezia was the victor in the 270cc Micro Sprint Class. Shaun Ratchford brought the Ratchford Racing #66 home in second with Jimmy Cammock, Jim Wyers and John Blanda rounding out the top five.
Jeff Walls picked up his first win of the season in a heated battle in the Four Cylinder Stock division. Dave Bentley Sr. came home second, Brian Crisman third, Dave Damiano finished fourth and Jim Hughes finished fifth.
Saturday, June 18 JASPER MDA NIGHT -- The popular JASPER Sprints will return to action on the dirt 5/8 mile. The Mighty Big Block Modifieds take to the track, with Sportsman, GM Crate Rookies, and Outlaw Stocks. Admission is $15 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.
SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY June 19 DAY OF DESTRUCTION III - The Motorized Madness that is Monster Truck Racing invades the Bridgeport Speedway with the ever popular Demolition Derby it plans to be a FATHER'S DAY OF DESTRUCTION. Monster Truck Action begin at 4:00 PM.
The Micro Sprint Nationals kick off the event with a full card of WINGED ACTION. The 600cc and 270cc Micro Sprints headline the card with the 4 Cylinder Stocks and Newly added SLINGSHOTS participating on the DIRT ¼ mile as well. Pit Gates opening at 10:00 AM, Grandstand gates open at 11:00, Warm Ups will begin at 12 Noon and Racing slated to start at 1:00 PM.
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.
Small Block Modifieds
Heat 1 - 1. Ryan Godown 2. Ken Meisner 3. GR Smith 4. Jimmy Chester 5. Jimmy Horton 6. Darren Schuler 7. Joe Dekutoski 8. John Pratt
Heat 2 - 1. Billy Pauch 2. Ryan Beltz 3. Richie Pratt Jr. 4. Wade Hendirckson 5. Tommy Beamer 6. Tom Pompei 7. Jesse Hill 8. Becca Anderson
Consi - 1. Scott Flammer 2. Mark Schweibinz 3. Dale Crouch 4. Billy Pauch Jr. 5. Stan Frankenfield Jr. 6. Jarad Petnska 7. Ron Roberts 8. Anthony Moran 9. Doug Boyce
Feature - 1. Richie Pratt 2. Jimmy Horton 3. Billy Pauch 4. GR Smith 5. Ryan Godown 6. Ken Meisner 7. Wade Hendrickson 8. John Pratt 9. Tommy Beamer 10. Jesse Hill 11. Ryan Beltz 12. Billy Pauch Jr. 13. Joe Dekutoski 14. Tom Pompei 15. Jarad Petnska 16. Mark Schweibinz 17. Scott Flammer 18. Darren Schuler 19. Becca Anderson 20. Dale Crouch 21. Ron Roberts 22. Doug Boyce 23. Anthony Moran 24. Jimmy Chester 25. Stan Frankenfield Jr.
GM Crate Sportsman
Feature - 1. Eric Kormann 2. John Micek 3. Chuck Buchman 4. Todd Kuhl 5. Don Bogey 6. Mike Fattori 7. Chuck Hopkins 8. John Bangs 9. Mike Hires 10. Forrest Peters DNS Tracy Rocap
600 cc Micro Sprints
Heat 1 - 1. Sam Cassella 2. Rick Stief 3. PJ Garguilo 4. Phil Meisner Jr 5. Don Biggs 6. David Graziano
Heat 2 - 1. Jack Conover 2. Robbie Stilwaggon 3. Bill Thomas 4. Robbie Nixon 5. Jamie Durboraw 6. Ronnie Tobias
Heat 3 - 1. Gary Hunter 2. George Ulner 3. Mike Keppler 4. Jimmy Carpenter 5. Bruce Tharp 6. Mark Harkleroad
Feature - 1. PJ Garguilo 2. Gary Hunter 3. Phil Meisner 4. Jack Conover 5. Robbie Stilwaggon 6. Sam Cassella 7. Jamie Durboraw 8. Rick Stief 9. Ronnie Tobias 10. Stewart Carmichael 11. Bruce Tharp 12. Rob Virona 13. Gary Zanolini 14. Barry Racan 15. George Ulmer 16. Dan Biggs 17. David Graziano 18. Mark Harkleroad 19. Jimmy Carpenter 20. Robbie Nixon 21. Rick Panczner 22. Bill Thomas 23. Mike Keppler 24. Matt Esham 25. Dan Salmons Jr. DNS Glenn Heverin
270cc Micro Sprints
Heat 1 - 1. Mike King 2. Frank Venezia 3. Jim Wyers 4. Jimmy Cammock 5. Jesse Harper 6. Luke Fogg
Heat 2 - 1. John Blanda 2. Shaun Ratchford 3. Eddie Wagner 4. Chuck Palmucci 5. Dan Salmons Jr. 6. Jessica Lindmeier
Feature - 1. Frank Venezia 2. Shaun Ratchford 3. Jimmy Cammock 4. Jim Wyers 5. John Blanda 6. Jesse Harper 7. RJ Magyari 8. Ryan Stillwagon 9. Mike Shea 10. Ashley Camilleri 11. Dan Salmons Jr. 12. Steve Gaspari 13. Jessica Lindmeier 14. Michael Creamer 15. Bill Springer 16. Eddie Wagner 17. Luke Fogg 18. Rich Wagner 19. Chuck Palmucci DNS Mike King
4 Cylinder Stock
Heat 1 - 1. Jim Hughes 2. Brian Crisman 3. Bill McNeir 4. Ken Wallace 5. Dave Damiano 6. Bob Hartman
Heat 2 - 1. Jeff Walls 2. Dave Bentley Jr. 3. Dave Bentley Sr. 4. Warren Stradley 5. Joe Meron
Feature - 1. Jeff Walls 2. Dave Bentley Sr. 3. Brian Crisman 4. Dave Damiano 5. Jim Hughes 6. Terry Sammons 7. Ken Wallace 8. Gary Walls 9. Bob Hartman 10. Dave Bentley Jr. 11. Joe Meron 12. Bill McNeir 13. Warren Stradley 14. Fred Martin DNS Steve Fleetwood Jr., Roy Combs