HOWARD GETS SECOND WIN OF THE YEAR AT BRIDGEPORT; PRATT, JR. HOT IN SPORTSMAN; HAGGENBOTTOM TAKES URC

Bridgeport, NJ (8/23/03) – Defending Champion Duane Howard out of Oley, PA took his second win of the season in the 25-lap Big Block Modified feature Saturday night on Triple R Truck Parts, Racing Against Drugs and Donor Awareness Night at Bridgeport Speedway. Richie Pratt, Jr. padded his point lead with his fourth Saturday night win and his seventh overall in the 20-lap Sportsman feature. Mike Haggenbottom took the 25-lap United Racing Club Sprint feature.

University of Pennsylvania Donor Awareness Physician Dr. Susan Brazia waved the green flag to the 24 Mighty Modifieds to begin the 25-lap feature with Eastern Door Service sponsored Troy Ale grabbing the lead followed by Franz Garage car of Mike Franz. Ale would feel strong pressure from Franz and Newfield, NJ driver Jimmy Chester. On the fourth circuit, Franz’s persistence would payoff as he powered his Olsen chassis into the lead past the slowly fading Ale. Four laps later with Franz still in command, Chester would also get by Ale into second and present himself as a contender for the race lead. As lap ten hit the books, the Big Spring Car Wash and Storage car of Oley, PA ace Duane Howard motored his way into second and was about to mount a serious challenge for the lead after leader Franz. When lap 13 was scored, Howard in his Glen Hynaman owner Dirt Wheels chassis would find an opening on the bottom of the speedway to take over the lead in this race that had gone non-stop thus far. Howard would continue to maintain a slight but comfortable lead as he would soon find Allentown, PA veteran Doug Hoffman appear on his back bumper as the leader negotiated lap traffic. Howard was powering his way around the 5/8th mile clay at torrid pace with Hoffman in his Lincoln Auto Body car trying everything to pull up with the leader in traffic. As the 22nd lap was about to be put into the record books, the 2000 point champion, Wade Hendrickson slowed bringing out the first yellow of the race as Hendrickson lost his steering in the Rio Brothers Auto Body Teo. Everyone was on the edge of the seats as the restart was getting set to go with the members of the “H” gang in the top three spots with Howard, Hoffman and Jimmy Horton in his J&J Shops Troyer in third. The restart proved that the defending champ Howard had enough muscle to pull away from Hoffman to pick up win number two on the year and also pick up a $100 bonus posted by Ken Walls on behalf of the Donor Awareness program over Hoffman and Horton. Seaford, DE ace Ricky Elliott finished fourth in his Bill Hewlett Dirt Wheels chassis car and early leader Mike Franz held on for a solid fifth place effort. The second five had Steve Bottcher, Jimmy Chester, Rick Laubach, Ryan Kerr and Mike Iles. The three heats were taken by Jimmy Chester, Duane Howard and Ricky Elliott with Wade Hendrickson winning the consolation.

The Triple R Truck Parts Sportsman main event caped off the evening with a bang at the start as 6 cars got together just as the 20-lap race was given the green flag. After this melee was cleared the actual race began with Delaware driver Steve Lindale getting off to the lead over rookie Dave Hunt and John Purcell. Lindale who has had a tough 2003 looked to be a real contender as he would lead the race with a solid command over Purcell who grabbed the second position and tried to keep pace. On the sixth time around, Richie Pratt, Jr. in his potent Klair Speed Palace chassis car would find his way past Purcell and would get sight of race long leader Lindale. Lindale would maintain the top spot till the events second caution flag was flown at the midway point of the race. As the field was circling the speedway at the reduce speed for the yellow, Lindale’s bad luck struck and continued as he came to a halt and would not restart. This continued misfortune for Lindale would hand over the lead to the Sewell, NJ second generation driver Pratt, Jr. The second half of the event would run straight through with the Union Auto Glass sponsored Pratt, Jr. pull away and hide for his seventh win of the season in both night of competition on the speedway. Pratt, Jr. also picked up a $50 bonus from Ken Walls for Donor Awareness. John Purcell would finish a distant second with Kevin Collins third. Sammy Wescott, Jr. bet 2002 point champ Bob Sarkisian for four after a many lap side by side battle for the position between the two. Ron Roberts, Dennis Price, Jay Horton, Bill Briggs and Andy Burkhart would round out the top ten. Richie Pratt, Jr., Andy Burkhart and Ron Roberts took the heat wins and Billy Jo Chester grabbed the consi.

Fans were greeted by members of the Racing Against Drugs campaign and the Bridgeport Fire Department and were given Smoke Detectors as part of the safety awareness in the very positive cause. The doctors and nurses from the transplant department from the University of Pennsylvania Hospital were also on hand to enjoy the evening activity and bring to light the crucial need for Donor Awareness.

In other news of interest, Reserved Seat tickets will be available very shortly for the Sunday October 5, 2003 return of the O’Reilly World of Outlaws. In addition, the speedway will also have a limited amount of Advanced General Admission tickets on sale that will allow holder an early entrance to the grandstand area on race day. For further information please keep a close watch on the Bridgeport Speedway website at www.bridgeportspeedway.com

Bridgeport Speedway is New Jersey’s fastest ¼ mile and 5/8th mile clay speedway’s and located on Floodgate Road off of exit 14 of Interstate 295 minutes from PA and DE bridges. Information is available on the official website at www.bridgeportspeedway.com or by calling the speedway office at 856-467-4407 or 856-467-4408.

Modifieds

Heat 1 – Chester, Horton, Mills, Franz, Kerr, Dekutowski

Heat 2 – Howard, Iles, Bottcher, Ale, Adams, Durand

Heat 3 – Elliott, Laubach, Truppi, Hoffman, Barone, Forte

Consi – Hendrickson, Irwin, Stonebraker, Glisson, Hallowell, Soloman, Jr.

Triple R Truck Parts Feature 25 Laps – DUANE HOWARD, Doug Hoffman, Jimmy Horton, Ricky Elliott, Mike Franz, Steve Bottcher, Jimmy Chester, Rick Laubach, Ryan Kerr, Mike Iles, Brian Truppi, Troy Ale, Mark Forte, Dave Adams, Scott Irwin, Dave Stonebraker, Joe Dekutowski, Wade Hendrickson, Don Barone, Stephan Durand, Jamie Mills, Butch Glisson, Ron Soloman, Jr., Don Hallowell DNQ – Jim Stong, Don Fanslau, Barry Voss, Dave Daniels, Jason D’Allesio, Gene Hornberger

Sportsman

Heat 1 – Pratt, Jr., Cogdill, Purcell, Harris, Hunt, Kormann

Heat 2 – Burkhart, Wescott, Jr., Lindale, Price, J. Horton, Briggs

Heat 3 – Roberts, Collins, Klingmeyer, Amunsen, Sarkisian, Lineman, Sr.

Consi – Chester, Wyant, Ricco, Lineman, Jr., Townsend, Britt, Sadler, Jr., Lozorak

Triple R Truck Parts Feature 20 Laps – RICHIE PRATT, JR., John Purcell, Kevin Collins, Sammy Wescott, Jr., Bob Sarkisian, Ron Roberts, Dennis Price, Jay Horton, Bill Briggs, Andy Burkhart, Bob Lineman, Jr., Bill Klingmeyer, Jim Britt, Drew Ricco, Billy Jo Chester, Dan Cogdill, Rob Wyant, Jack Amunsen, Dave Hunt, Steve Lozorak, Steve Lindale, Blaine Sadler, Jr., Billy Harris, Eric Kormann, Bob Lineman, Sr., John Townsend DNQ – John Pratt, Rick Kuiken, Steve Warner, Joe DeMaris, Bill Horton, Randy Tucker, Joe Masiado, Kevin Schultz, Bob Rambone, Bobby Firth, Doug Stepanchuk, Todd Kuhl, Frank Curry

Triple R Truck Parts URC Sprints 25 Laps – Mike Haggenbottom, Bill Brian, Jr., Doug Emery, Tim Hogue, Chris Coyle

Show Completed at 9:45PM