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Howard and Johnson Top Double Modified Features




BRIDGEPORT, NJ (June 11, 2005)- It was twice as much racing this past Saturday at the Bridgeport Speedway as the Big Block Modifieds competed in twin events. It was a set of firsts in the make-up twenty lap feature event. "The Doctor" Danny Johnson picked up his first career victory at the Bridgeport Speedway and the first victory of the season for the J&J Shop #27. In the second Modified feature Duane Howard put the Big Springs Car Wash #126 in victory lane for the first time this season.

Steve Bottcher grabbed the early lead in the twenty lap feature event and pulled away as Johnson blasted from sixth up to the runner up spot by the second trip around the 5/8th mile. A three car battle for second position ensued as Johnson fought back and forth with Kenny Brightbill and a hard charging Duane Howard. Johnson and Howard blew past Bottcher with four laps to go and never looked back. Johnson picked up the win, Howard ran second, Kevin Hirthler finished third, Bottcher settled for fourth and Jimmy Chester rounded out the top five.

Fritz Epright grabbed the lead early in the regularly scheduled twenty-five lap feature event with Bob Sarkisian and Duane Howard right on his tail. Howard powered his way into the lead on lap sixteen of the feature event and held off a hard-charge late in the race from "The Doctor" Danny Johnson. Epright settled for third, with Jamie Mills finishing fourth and Kevin Hirthler grabbing his second top five of the night coming home fifth.

Sewell, NJ's Richie Pratt took the lead early and dominated the remainder of the 20 lap Sportsman event. Pratt rebounded from early season woes to win his first Sportsman race of the season. Ron Roberts, Dan Cogdill, Jimmy Horton IV and Kevin Collins followed Pratt's Lipinski Snow Removal #28 across the checkered flag.

Jon Haegele was hard on the throttle of the GM Crate Sportsman Feature event. Haegele, who has finished outside of the top five only once since picking up the ride in the Triple S Electric #61, maintained as much as a half-track advantage over second place runners Pat Hires and Chad James. Chuck Buchman and Forrest Peters rounded out the top five.

Pat Conaway won his sixth straight feature in the Outlaw Stock division. Conaway picked up the lead halfway through the feature and never looked back. Joe Trumbetti, Gary Klimgczak, Jim Honaker and Ken Watson followed at the stripe.

Friday, June 17 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 ΒΌ 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, 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.

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.

June 11, 2005
Big Block Modifieds
Heat 1 - 1. Fritz Epright 2. Jamie Mills 3. Bob Sarkisian 4. Jimmy Chester 5. Steve Durand 6. Mike Iles 7. Danny Johnson 8. Gary Hager
Heat 2 - 1. Kyle Strickler 2. Duane Howard 3. Kenny Brightbill 4. Kevin Hirthler 5. Mike Franz 6. Don Barone 7. Steve Bottcher 8. Jesse Hill
Consi - 1. Rick Laubach 2. Mark Forte 3. Ron Seltman 4. Scott Irwin 5. Rich Acolia
Feature - 1. Duane Howard 2. Danny Johnson 3. Fritz Epright 4. Jamie Mills 5. Kevin Hirthler 6. Jimmy Chester 7. Kyle Strickler 8. Steve Bottcher 9. Kenny Brightbill 10. Bob Sarkisian 11. Mike Iles 12. Steve Durand 13. Rich Acolia 14. Don Barone 15. Jesse Hill 16. Scott Irwin 17. Chic Cossaboone 18. Mark Forte 19. Mike Franz 20. Rick Laubach 21. Gary Hager 22. Ron Seltman 23. Jason D'Allesio DNS Scottie Ambruster

Make-Up Feature - 1. Danny Johnson 2. Duane Howard 3. Kevin Hirthler 4. Steve Bottcher 5. Jimmy Chester 6. Kenny Brightbill 7. Don Barone 8. Jamie Mills 9. Bob Sarkisian 10. Mike Iles 11. Kyle Strickler 12. Rick Laubach 13. Mark Forte 14. Mike Franz 15. Rich Acolia 16. Steve Durand 17. Chic Cossaboone 18. Ron Seltman 19. Jesse Hill 20. Scott Irwin 21. Fritz Epright
DNS Wade Hendrickson, Ricky Elliott, Tom Beamer, Joe Dekeutoski, Bob Firth, Ron Soloman

Sportsman
Heat 1 - 1. Richie Pratt 2. Rob Pierce 3. Sean Carman 4. Ron Roberts 5. Dan Cogdill 6. Jimmy Horton IV 7. Sam Wescott 8. Billy Briggs
Heat 2 - 1. John Salvatore 2. Tom Miller 3. Eric Kormann 4. John Pratt 5. Kevin Collins 6. Bob Lilick 7. John Pursell 8. Bob Lineman Jr
Feature - 1. Richie Pratt 2. Ron Roberts 3. Dan Cogdill 4. Jimmy Horton IV 5. Kevin Collins 6. John Pratt 7. Jim Britt 8. Bill Klingmeyer 9. Rob Pierce 10. Eric Kormann 11. John Pursell 12. Tom Miller 13. Bob Lilick 14. Steve Lozorak 15. Mark Forte Jr 16. John Kelly 17. Bob Rambone 18. Bob Lineman Jr 19. John Salvatore Jr 20. Sam Wescott 21. Sean Carman 22. Mike Brannigan 23. Phil McCloughan DQ Billy Briggs

Outlaw Stock
Feature-1. Pat Conaway 2. Joe Trumbetti 3. Gary Klimgczak 4. Jim Honaker 5. Ken Watson 6. Jeff Dirkes 7. Bob Dooley 8. Rick Haegele 9. Jim Erdbrink 10. Rick Erdbrink 11. Ron Dirkes 12. Mike Panza 13. Bob Dooley 14. J Griffin 15. Joe Ecret

GM Crate Rookie Sportsman
Feature - 1. Jon Haegele 2. Pat Hires 3. Chad James 4. Chuck Buchman 5. Forrest Peters 6. Tracy Rocap

All Star Truck Series
Feature-1. Chris Yeaton 2. Joe King 3. Gordon Neil 4. Rich Jackson 5. Jon Mannis 6. Rudy Rinderer 7. John Murray