HORTON SNAGS BRIDGEPORT $3100 IN 31ST ANNIVERSARY RUN; SARKISIAN DOMINATES SPORTSMAN; DURBIN TAKES SPRINTS

Bridgeport, NJ (9/6/03) – What a fitting feat as Bridgeport Speedway’s all time leading Big Block Modified feature driver Jimmy Horton of Neshanic Station, NJ captured the 31st Anniversary race Saturday night on New Jersey’s fastest oval. The victory came aboard the Jay James owned Troyer chassis car for Horton’s 105th victory at the speedway. Woolrich Township, NJ driver Bob Sarkisian blasted out to win his second Saturday night feature in the Sportsman division. Warren Durbin out of New Egypt, NJ took the 20 lap Jasper Sprint Car feature leading from start to finish. Ken Watson picked up his third checkered in the main event for the Outlaw Stocks. Sherman Harris was the victor in the September edition of the Demolition Derby.

Stephan Durand in his Thornton Gulf sponsored Bicknell chassis car took the lead at the start of the 31 lap Anniversary feature over Brian Truppi in his Speed Palace chassis Big Block. By lap three Lehighton, PA veteran and second generation star Steve Bottcher motored his Way Buff Farms Modified from seventh into the lead past Durand. Bottcher would maintain the front spot as on lap seven Allentown, PA Doug Hoffman would move his Lincoln Auto Body machine into second and begin to pressure Bottcher for the lead. As the mighty Modifieds placed lap nine into the books, Hoffman found the horsepower to move the Dieter Schmidt owned yellow number 5 into the lead and began to build an advantage over the field. As lap ten was scored, Oley, PA defending champion Duane Howard had his Big Spring Car Wash and Storage Dirt Wheels chassis into third and was keeping pace with second running Bottcher. As the middle portions of the event were unfolding, Hoffman seamed like a man on a mission as he would begin to check out on the field and it was becoming apparent that no one had the car to catch him. Then all thing would change as the yellow would appear for a stopped Kyle Strickler in turn one. During this caution, Hoffman’s mount would develop a flat left rear tire ending his dominating effort at this point. The misfortune for Hoffman handed the lead back to a steady running Steve Bottcher and he had a quiet thus far in the event Jimmy Horton right behind him. When the race resumed to speed, Bottcher would lead lap twenty but had some heavy pressure from the J&J Shops car of Horton. The very next circuit saw Horton take command in the immaculate looking Troyer chassis 27. In the meantime, Hoffman returned with new skin on his car as was passing cars left and right moving back toward the front. Horton though would continue to lead over Bottcher and Howard and would then be forced to fend off any challenges for one last time with a restart as Hoffman who worked his way back to sixth came to a halt ending his tremendous run. Horton was up to the challenge as he would be flawless in taking the $3100 victory which draws him yet closer to another milestone of 400 career wins. Bottcher finished off the night with a fine run for second with Howard third. Rick Laubach who was involved in an early race incident came back for a solid fourth and Seaford, DE ace Ricky Elliott completed the top five. The second five were Ryan Kerr, Mike Franz, Wade Hendrickson, Don Barone and Dave Adams. The three heats were won by Duane Howard, Ricky Elliott and Doug Hoffman with Kyle Strickler taking the consi.

The Sportsman seen an event start with Newfield, NJ Billy Jo Chester take the early lead from his outside pole starting position over Pine Hill, NJ nice guy Bill Briggs and New Castle, DE Steve Lindale. Chester would maintain command over Briggs during the first four circuits but they would soon feel some pressure coming as the defending champion Bob Sarkisian in his Superior Scaffolding sponsored mount was steaming from his 11th place start to the front. As lap five hit the record books, Sarkisian made a tremendous move from fourth to the lead in just one circuit bringing along Lindale into second. As the field approached the halfway mark, the race was still not slowed and Sarkisian was beginning to see his lead build up to close to four second and finding lap car ahead. At this point it was Sarkisian leading over Lindale and Mullica Hill, NJ Jim Britt. The second half of the race had Sarkisian running as though he was on rails as he still was pulling away and negotiating the lap traffic with ease. The as the white flag was being waved, the non-stop race thus far would receive it first any only yellow flag for Todd Kuhl who came to a halt on the speedway. This regrouped the field and would see if Sarkisian in his Dirt Wheels chassis car could hold onto the top spot. Well, the answer was yes as Sarkisian powered to a dominating second Saturday night win of the season. Steve Lindale had a solid second over Jim Britt, Richie Pratt, Jr. and Ron Roberts. Sixth through tenth were Billy Jo Chester, Eric Kormann, Bill Briggs, John Purcell and Sammy Wescott, Jr. Kevin Collins, Steve Lindale and Bill Briggs were the heat winners with Dennis Price winning the consi.

Rain and URC nights has limited action for the Jasper Sprint cars thus far and with this being only the ninth event of the year and the first in over a month the drivers were anxious to hit the speedway with a good showing. The drivers did not disappoint as Warren Durbin in his Lucas Electric sponsored car would take the lead at the start and never look back. Action was abound behind the leader though as Mike Piersig in his Comcast Cable sponsored car would run a consistent second as he would have pressure from behind with the likes of Ron Karnbach and the high flying Steve Schmidt and the steady John Wyers. With Durbin and Piersig solidly in front, Steve Schmidt Ron Karnbach and Jeff Foote would battle intensely lap after lap toward the finish. In the end Durbin who has had his share of bad luck would pull into victory lane for his second win of the year over the steady Piersig. Schmidt would find third with Karnbach and Foote rounding out the top five. Jon Brenfleck, John Wyers, Matt Beasley, Steve Fleetwood and Chip Brown would complete the top ten. Three heats were run with the victories to Chip Brown, Warren Durbin and Mares Stellfox. The consi winner was Steve Fleetwood.

Joe Trumbetti took the early lead over Ron Dirkes when the thirty two Outlaw Stocks took the green flag. Trumbetti would lead the first five laps until Frank Blauvelt would take over on the sixth circuit pushing Trumbetti back to second. Blauvelt would command the race till lap thirteen when the high flying Ken Watson would make his presence know and take over the top spot. Watson would then feel some immense pressure from Brian Ludwig as the two leaders would wage an exciting side by side battle lap after lap. As the white flag wave the top two drivers of Watson and Ludwig motored into turn urn one door handle to door handle and continued down the back glued together. Ludwig made one last ditch effort to take over the lead only to spin in turn four handing the victory over to Watson for his third on the season. Blauvelt crossed the line second with Brent DeJohn third, Robert Benz was fourth and Dave Gould, Jr. came home fifth. The two heats were taken by Zark Markovich and Brian Ludwig.

Modified

Heat 1 - Howard, Durand, Truppi, Bottcher, Adams, Weaver

Heat 2 – Elliott, Franz, Horton, Iles, Laubach, Irwin

Heat 3 – Hoffman, Ale, Hendrickson, Mills, Kerr, Barone

Consi – Strickler, Dekutowski, Heiber, Solomon, Jr., Hallowell, Fanslau

Feature 31 Laps $3100 - JIMMY HORTON, Steve Bottcher, Duane Howard, Rick Laubach, Ricky Elliott, Ryan Kerr, Mike Franz, Wade Hendrickson, Don Barone, Dave Adams, Wayne Weaver, Scott Irwin, Danny Heiber, Mike Iles, Stephan Durand, Don Hallowell, Ron Solomon, Jr., Don Fanslau, Troy Ale, Doug Hoffman, Kyle Strickler, Brian Truppi, Joe Dekutowski, Jamie Mills DNQ – Butch Glisson, Dave Daniels, Jason D’Allesio, Barry Voss, Mark Forte

Sportsman

Heat 1 – Collins, Purcell, Kormann, Pratt, Jr., Hunt, Wyant

Heat 2 – Lindale, Sarkisian, Amunsen, Chester, Horton, Harris

Heat 3 – Briggs, Britt, Klingmeyer, Roberts, Burkhart, Wescott, Jr.

Consi – Price, Cogdill, Kuhl, Sadler, Jr., Tucker, Stepenchuk, Townsend, J. Pratt

Feature 20 Laps – BOB SARKISIAN, Steve Lindale, Jim Britt, Richie Pratt, Ron Roberts, Billy Jo Chester, Eric Kormann, Bill Briggs, John Purcell, Sammy Wescott, Jr., Bill Klingmeyer, Andy Burkhart, Jay Horton, Kevin Collins, Dennis Price, Dan Cogdill, Randy Tucker, Rob Wyant, John Pratt, Blaine Sadler, Jr., John Townsend, Todd Kuhl, Dave Hunt, Billy Harris, Doug Stepenchuk, Jack Amunsen DNQ – Bob Gibbons, Drew Ricco, Steve Harrison, Aron Roberts, Frank Russo, Steve Warner, Steve Lozorak, John Scheidler, Court Ottinger

Jasper Sprint Cars

Heat 1 – C. Brown, Curtis, Barnett, Jr., Rasmussen, Beasley, D. Brown

Heat 2 – Durbin, Mueller, Karnbach, Schmidt, Adams, Bowman

Heat 3 – Stellfox, Wyers, Piersig, Foote, Foulk, Iulg

Consi – Fleetwood, S. Smith, Grasso, Davis, Brenfleck, Rose

Feature 20 Laps – WARREN DURBIN, Mike Piersig, Steve Schmidt, Ron Karnbach, Jeff Foote, Jon Brenfleck, John Wyers, Matt Beasley, Steve Fleetwood, Chip Brown, Bob Adams, Dave Brown, Mares Stellfox, John Barnett, Jr., Bob Rasmussen, Jack Curtis, Tim Iulg, Jeff Davis, Torrey Rose, J.J. Grasso, Shane Smith, Layne Foulk, Jeff Mueller, Brooke Bowman DNQ – Doug Smith, Donnie Smith, A.J. Ernesto, Steve Strubble, Joe Butts

Outlaw Stocks

Heat 1 – Markovich, Benz, Trumbetti, R. Dirkes, Rocap, Alley

Heat 2 – Ludwig, Gould, Jr., Blauvelt, DeJohn, J. Haegele, Watson

Feature 20 Laps – KEN WATSON, Frank Blauvelt, Brent DeJohn, Robert Benz, Dave Gould, Jr., Joe Trumbetti, Bob Hopely, Sean McHugh, Steve Starke, Brian Ludwig, Tom Alley, Pat Hires, Rick Haegele, Steve Haegele, Gary Klimeczak, Jeff Dirkes, Alan Fiel, Steve Scotten, Jim Honaker, Walter Hayes, Tim Ralston, Chuck Faisst, Rich Franchetti, Jon Haegele, Kevin Mandic, Joe Ecret, Jr., Zark Markovich, Tracy Rocap, Ron Dirkes, Chris Prychka, Mike Lonabaugh, Ralph Tome

Demo Derby – SHERMAN HARRIS