Pratt Powers to Win and Syracuse Qualifying Spot

BRIDGEPORT, NJ (May 28, 2005) – Sewell, NJ’s Sportsman stand-out, Richie Pratt, made his presence known this past Friday capturing his first victory in a Modified. Pratt, who competed regularly in the DIRT 358 Series points last year, also grabbed a guaranteed spot in this years 150 lap race at the Syracuse Fairground.
Jimmy Horton, in the Grosso Trucking #42, grabbed the lead on the second circuit around the five-eighths mile with Pratt right on his tail, the two diced for the lead until a lap 10 restart gave Pratt the opportunity to gain the advantage blasting past Horton on the bottom of the track. As the leaders pulled away, the battle for third was fierce, GR Smith and Ken Meisner fought back and forth with Smith powering past the Encon Heating and Cooling #4 taking the spot. A lap 22 caution set up a 3 lap shootout for the victory, Pratt pulled away on the restart as Smith moved under Horton challenging for the second position, contact between the two had Horton sliding to the top of the track, allowing Smith and Meisner to get by and dropping the All-time Feature Winner back to the fourth spot. Pratt would go on to take the victory in the Lipinski Snow Service #10x with GR Smith, Ken Meisner, Jimmy Horton and Mike Franz rounding out the top five. Heat race victories went to Tommy Beamer, Jimmy Horton and GR Smith.
John Micek of Flemington, NJ was handed the victory in GM Crate Sportsman class after apparent winner Todd Kuhl was disqualified at the scales. Series Points leader Mike Fattori finished in second with John Bangs, Mike Hires, and Forrest Peters finishing out the top five.
Jack Conover was the victor of the 600cc Micro Sprint feature event with Glenn Heverin, Sam Casella, Robbie Stilwagon and Stewart Carmichael following at the line. Heat race victories went to Jack Conover, Sam Casella and Glen Heverin.
Frank Venezia picked up the win in the 270cc Micro Sprint division. Chuck Palmucci grabbed second with Jim Wyers, Bob DeVault and Shaun Ratchford completing the top five. Heat race victories went to Mike King, Michael Creamer and Jay Hartman.
Jim Hughes was the winner of the 4 Cylinder Stock race with Brian Crisman finishing second, Dave Bentley Sr. in third, Jeff Walls in fourth and Ken Wallace finishing fifth. Heat race victories went to Jim Hughes and Bill MacNeir.
TONIGHT, Saturday, May 28, Armed Forces Night/BIKE NIGHT. Those with a Military ID can “Buy One, Get one Free.” Bring in your equipment to display behind the grandstands before and during the evening’s events. Also it’s BIKE NIGHT come show off your stuff behind the grandstands. Anything can happen in the last 5 Laps as the Big Block Modifieds compete in an extra-distance 30 lapper with $3000 going to the winner, Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks, Jasper Sprint Seres and the GM Rookie Sportsman class will also be in competition with full qualifying races and exciting feature events. An added Demolition Derby is also on the card. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students, $5 for kids, and, as always, 4 and under are free. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. with the first Green Flag flying at 6:00 p.m.
Friday, June 3rd, 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, 4 and under are free. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. with the first Green Flag flying at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 4th, UNION MEMBER NIGHT. Free Admission with a current Union Member card. The Big Block Modifieds “Double Up” for Twin 20 action. Sportsman, Outlaw Stocks and the GM Rookie Sportsman class 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, 4 and under are free.
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.

358 DIRT Modifieds
Heat 1 – 1. Tommy Beamer 2. Jason Hamilton 3. Darren Schuler 4. Joe Dekutoski 5. Tom Pompei 6. Stan Frankenfield Jr.
Heat 2 – 1. Jimmy Horton 2. Ryan Beltz 3. Ron Roberts 4. Dale Crouch 5. Ryan Godown 6. Lee Nardelli
Heat 3 – 1. G.R. Smith 2. Ken Meisner 3. Richie Pratt 4. Tom Solderich 5. Mark Schweibinz 6. Mike Franz
Feature- 1. Richie Pratt 2. G.R. Smith 3. Ken Meisner 4. Jimmy Horton 5. Mike Franz 6. Tommy Beamer 7. Darren Schuler 8. Ryan Beltz 9. Jason Hamilton 10. Joe Dekutoski 11. Dale Crouch 12. Tom Solderich 13. Tom Pompei 14. Stan Frankenfield Jr 15. Anthony Moran 16. Ron Roberts 17. Ryan Godown 18. Wade Hendrickson 19. Mark Schweibinz
DNS – Jimmy Chester, Billy Pauch, Lee Nardelli

GM Crate Sportsman
Feature- 1. John Micek 2. Mike Fattori 3. John Bangs 4. Mike Hires 5. Forrest Peters 6. Warren Floyd 7. Chuck Hopkins 8. Jimmy Horton IV 9. Chuck Buchman 10. Don Bogey 11. Eric Korman DQ – Todd Kuhl

600cc Micro Sprints
Heat 1 – 1. Jack Conover 2. Robbie Nixon 3. Gary Hunter 4. Bruce Tharp 5. Mark Harkleroad 6. Steve Mercoqliana
Heat 2 – 1. Sam Casella 2. Phil Meisner Jr. 3. PJ Garguilo 4. Chuck Sherby 5. Andrew Weygand 6. Eric Ludwig
Heat 3 – 1. Glenn Heverin 2. Stewart Carmichael 3. Barry Racan 4. Rick Panzer 5. Willie Harrington
Feature – 1. Jack Conover 2. Glenn Heverin 3. Sam Casella 4. Robbie Stillwagon 5. Stewart Carmichael 6. PJ Garguilo 7. Phil Meisner Jr 8. Robbie Nixon 9. Ronnie Tobias 10. Andrew Weygand 11. Mark Harkleroad 12. Rick Panzer 13. Bruce Tharp 14. Gary Hunter 15. Eric Ludwig 16. Matt Yeager 17. Barry Racan 18. Willie Harrington 19. Chuck Sherby

270cc Micro Sprints
Heat 1 – 1. Mike King 2. Steve Caslop 3. David Martin 4. Ryan Stillwagon 5. John Chalmers 6. Bill Springer
Heat 2 – 1. Michael Creamer 2. Chuck Palmucci 3. Jesse Harper 4. Frank Venezia 5. Jim Wyers 6. Eddie Wagner
Heat 3 – 1. Jay Hartman 2. John Blanda 3. Jimmy Cammock 4. Jessica Lindmeier 5. Steve Gasapari 6. Marco Machetti
Feature – 1. Frank Venezia 2. Chuck Palmucci 3. Jim Wyers 4. Bob DeVault 5. Shaun Ratchford 6. Jesse Harper 7. Jimmy Cammock 8. Eddie Wagner 9. Steve Caslop 10. Michael Creamer 11. March Machetti 12. Jessica Lindmeier 13. Steve Gasapari 14. Jay Hartman 15. John Blanda 16. David Martin 17. Ryan Stillwagon 18. Mike King

4 Cylinder Stocks
Heat 1 – 1. Jim Hughes 2. Jeff Walls 3. Warren Stradley 4. Ken Wallace 5. Brian Crisman 6. Mike Hughes
Heat 2 – 1. Bill McNeir 2. Dave Bentley Sr. 3. Dave Bentley Jr. 4. Terry Sammons 5. Steve Fleetwood Jr. 6. Bob Hartman
Feature – 1. Jim Hughes 2. Brian Crisman 3. Dave Bentley Sr. 4. Jeff Walls 5. Ken Wallace 6. Warren Stradley 7. Mike Hughes 8. Terry Sammons 9. Steve Fleetwood Jr. 10. Bob Hartman 11. Lee Danese 12. Ian Wray 13. Craig Kerns 14. Ray Combs 15. Bill McNeir 16.Fred Martin 17. Joe Meron 18. Dave Bentley Jr.

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