Mills Thrills the crowd, Saturday at Bridgeport

BRIDGEPORT, NJ (May 15, 2005) – It was an almost perfect Saturday night for Milford, DE’s “Jammin” Jamie Mills. He may have lost the Bridgeport vs. New Egypt Challenge but he picked up the checkered when it really counted grabbing his first victory since 2003.

“This track is smooth as glass and really fast. When it’s like that it is fun to race on,” Mills stated in Victory Lane. “I really got to give credit to Jay James and his entire crew.”

Mills, who started fourth on the grid, grabbed the lead on the third lap and drove away gaining a full straight-a-way advantage over 2nd place runner, Kevin Hirthler. A lap 7 restart, for an altercation involving Jimmy Chester, Fritz Epright and Jimmy Horton, left the door open for, 18th place starter, Duane Howard as he moved into the 5th position only to challenge for third 2 laps later. It was two and three-wide action all the way back through the pack as Mills, Hirthler and Howard dodged in and out of lapped traffic. A late race yellow would set up a five lap shootout for the win. Howard moved passed Hirthler on the restart, demanding the lead from Mills. They battled back and forth for 3 laps until Howard jumped the cushion in turn three allowing “Jammin Jamie” to grab his first win of the season. Howard settled for second. Hirthler, who suffered a severe crash two weeks ago, battled back to finish third, Mike Iles and Rick Laubach rounded out the top 5 coming from the 17th and 25th starting spots, respectively.

2004 Sportsman Champion, Richie Pratt picked up the win over Bill Klingmeyer in the Sportsman Division. Young Guns, Rob Pierce and Sean Carman came home third and fourth with invader, Mike Lyons, rounding out the top five.

It was the race nobody wanted to win in the Outlaw Stock Division. Three different leaders suffered mechanical and tire problems on three different occasions. Finally, it was Pat Conaway coming back from an early race flat to pick up the victory in his Horn Dental, #US2. Joe Trumbetti came home second, Jim Honaker third, Jeff Dirkes fourth and Rick Franchetti fifth.

Pat Hires picked up his first victory in the GM Crate Rookie Sportsman with Chuck Buchman coming home second, Jon Haegele bring home his second top-three finish in just as many weeks, Tracy Rocap and Chad James rounding out the top five.

Jon Mannis grabbed up the win in the debut event for the All-Star Truck Series. Rich Jackson, Tag Neil, John Murray and Chris Yeaton finished out the top five.

Fire Companies from all over New Jersey and Pennsylvania were saluted with a parade lap around the speedway before the Modified Feature.

Friday, May 20 A Six-division card will be headlined by the 358 DIRT Modifieds in a 25 Lap feature event. Also in action on the 5/8th track will be the GM Crate Sportsman and the Jasper Sprint Cars. The 270cc and 600cc Micro Sprints and 4 Cylinder Stocks will be participating in features only on the ¼ mile track. 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, May 21, Law Enforcement/Armed Forces Night. Those with a Military ID can “Buy One, Get one Free.” All Officers that “flash their badge” will be admitted free of charge. Bring in your equipment to display behind the grandstands before and during the evening’s events. The Big Block Modifieds headline the show, with Twin 15’s for the 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 www.bridgeportspeedway.net or contact the Speedway Office at 856-467-4408.

Big Block Modifieds

Heat 1 – 1. Joe Dekutoski 2. Ron Solomon Jr. 3. Kyle Strickler 4. Fritz Epright 5. Mike Iles 6. Steve Durand

Heat 2 – 1. Kevin Hirthler 2. Ron Seltman 3. Doug Hoffman 4. Mike Franz 5. Jimmy Chester 6. Kenny Brightbill

Heat 3 – 1. Jamie Mills 2. Tommy Beamer 3. Jimmy Horton 4. Don Barone 5. Bob Sarkisian 6. Duane Howard

Consi – 1. Wade Hendrickson 2. Ricky Elliott 3. John Dixon 4. Gary Hager 5. Steve Bottcher 6. Mark Forte (Points Provisional – Rick Laubach)

Feature – 1. Jamie Mills 2. Duane Howard 3. Kevin Hithler 4. Mike Iles 5. Rick Laubach 6. Kenny Brightbill 7. Wade Hendrickson 8. Steve Bottcher 9. Tommy Beamer 10. Ron Seltman 11. Jimmy Horton 12. Bob Sarkisian 13. Kyle Strickler 14. Ron Solomon Jr. 15. Don Barone 16. John Dixon 17. Rich Acolia 18. Mark Forte 19. Joe Dekutoski 20. Steve Durand 21. Ricky Elliott 22. Doug Hoffman 23. Mike Franz 24. Fritz Epright 25. Jimmy Chester

DNQ Rich Acolia, Scott Irwin, Jim Stong, Kevin Hahn, Scottie Ambruster

Sportsman

Heat 1 – 1. Bill Klingmeyer 2. Richie Pratt 3. Anthony Tramontana 4. Bruce Hirthler 5. John Stangle 6. Ron Roberts

Heat 2 – 1. Rob Wyant 2. John Salvatore Jr. 3. Dan Cogdill 4. Jimmy Horton IV 5. Mike Brannigan 6. Kevin Collins

Heat 3 – 1. John Pratt 2. Rob Pierce 3. Sean Carman 4. Sam Wescott 5. Phil McCloughan 6. Gene Stravinsky

Consi – 1. Billy Harris 2. Mike Lyons 3. Eric Kormann 4. Bob Lilick 5. Bob Lineman Jr 6. Tom Miller (Points Provisional John Pursell)

Feature – 1. Richie Pratt Jr. 2. Bill Klingmeyer 3. Rob Pierce 4. Sean Carman 5. Mike Lyons 6. John Pratt 7. John Pursell 8. Ron Roberts 9. Jimmy Horton IV 10. Bob Lilick 11. Eric Kormann 12. Jim Britt 13. Justin Hoffman 14. John Stangle 15. Gene Stravinsky 16. Bruce Hirthler 17. Rob Wyant 18. Dan Cogdill 19. Mike Brannigan 20. Kevin Collins 21. Sammy Wescott 22. John Salvatore Jr 23. Phil McCloughan 24. Billy Harris 25. Anthony Tomontana 26. Bob Lineman Jr. 27 Tom Miller

DNQ Justin Hoffman, Jim Britt, Billy Briggs, Rick Beavers, John Kelly, Marc Herman, Steve Kassekert, Brett Hoffman, John Pursell, Jim Dallet, Bob Rambone

Outlaw Stocks

Heat 1 – 1. Gary Klimeczak 2. Terry Griffin 3. Joe Trumbetti 4. Rich Reider 5. Tommy Alley 6. Fred Ingham

Heat 2 – 1. Mike Williams 2. Ken Watson 3. Pat Conaway 4. Jesse DeGarmo 5. Bucky Albright 6. Jim Honaker

Feature – 1. Pat Conaway 2. Joe Trumbetti 3. Jim Honaker 4. Jeff Dirkes 5. Rick Franchetti 6. Rick Haegele 7. Mike Williams 8. Terry Griffin 9. Rich Reider 10. Tommy Alley 11. Fred Ingham 12. Ken Watson 13. Jesse DeGarmo 14. Gary Klimeczak 15. Bucky Albright 16. Tyler Bohrer 17. Duke

GM Crate Rookie Sportsman

Feature – 1. Pat Hires 2. Chuck Buchman 3. Jon Haegele 4. Tracey Rocap 5. Chad James 6. Forrest Peters 7. Danny Dorf

All-Star Truck Series

Feature – 1. Jon Mannis 2. Rich Jackson 3. Tag Neil 4. John Murray 5. Chris Yeaton

Bridgeport vs. New Egypt Challenge

Modified – Jimmy Horton over Jamie Mills

Sportsman – Gene Stravinsky over Bill Klingmeyer