HORTON SNAGS WIN NUMBER 104 AT BRIDGEPORT; PRATT, JR. PICKS UP THE $1,000 SPORTSMAN VICTORY
Bridgeport, NJ (7/19/03) – All time leading feature winner Jimmy Horton added win number 104 in the 25-lap Big Block Modified feature Saturday night on the spacious Bridgeport Speedway. Sewell, NJ star Richie Pratt, Jr. pocketed a cool $1000 in his second Saturday night victory of the year in the Sportsman main event. Second generation youngster Dave Brown held off a charging Jeff Foote for also his second win in 2003 in the SJSCC Jasper Sprint Car feature. Ken Watson was best of the Outlaw Stock drivers to win his first of the season.
On a beautiful summer evening, 24 mighty Modifieds roared to starter Dennis Weir’s green flag. Sinking Springs, PA driver Kyle Strickler pulled out to the lead over fellow Bridgeport Modified rookie Blue Anchor, NJ resident Mark Forte and Stockton, NJ Ryan Kerr. Strickler held the point as 14th starting Jimmy Horton powered his way up to third position behind Forte as lap three was being completed. On the next circuit, Horton worked his way past Forte into second bringing along “everyone’s favorite Modified driver” Doug Hoffman into third. The pace at the front was becoming torrid as Horton and Hoffman pressured the teenager Strickler intensively with Horton taking the high road to the lead on lap 8. Three laps later, Hoffman got by Strickler for second with Seaford, DE Ricky Elliott also moving by for third in the Bill Hewlett 901. Horton, in his Jay James owned Troyer chassis car has be on fire of late as they recently picked up a victory in Delaware starting last and would build up a lead over Hoffman in his Lincoln Auto Body modified. As the Bridgewater, NJ veteran Horton would approach lap traffic in his J&J Shops car Hoffman would begin to cut into the lead that had been built up by the former Winston Cup driver. As the final five laps were being put into the books the Allentown, PA ace Hoffman was closing fast as a cautious Horton maneuvered the lap cars he approached. With thirty years of experience behind him, Horton knew what was needed to hold off the fellow “H” gang member’s to take home his third win of the year and his 104th at the South Jersey speedway. Hoffman finished second with Duane Howard returning to top form after his horrifying accident two weeks ago to take third over Ricky Elliott. Richlandtown, PA Rick Laubach in his Small Block ride finished a solid fifth. Kyle Strickler held on for sixth over Mike Franz, Ryan Kerr, Jimmy Chester and Jamie Mills. Ryan Kerr, Joe Dekutowski and Duane Howard won the heat races. The consi was taken by Jimmy Chester.
The sportsman division had the 26 best of the evening start the 20-lap affair with Doylestown, PA Bob Lineman, Jr. leading the first six laps over Pedricktown, NJ solid contender Dan Cogdill. As lap seven was being completed, the Klair number 34 of Richie Pratt, Jr. found his way up to second from his 12th starting position a begin to pressure Lineman for the lead. One lap later the second generation start Pratt, Jr. would power by Lineman, Jr. for the lead. At the crossed flag mark from starter Mike Knappenberger it was Pratt, Jr. leading Lineman, Jr., Cogdill, Sarkisian and Ron Roberts. In the action during the second half of the smoothly run event Pratt, Jr. would push his Speed Palace chassis car to a commanding lead. As the final five laps were getting run, Cogdill would pressure Lineman, Jr. and finally get by into second position. No one on this night would have anything for Pratt, Jr. as he would win his second Saturday night feature of the year. The car that was driven to the $1000 victory was the former DiAntonio number 3 that Pratt, Jr. had recently picked up a win on Friday July 4th. Dan Cogdill finished a solid second over Lineman, Jr. and 2002 point champ Bob Sarkisian was fourth with Big Wheel Race Trophy sponsor Ron Roberts was fifth. The rest of the top ten were Kevin Collins, Sammy Wescott, Dennis Price, Jim Britt and Steve Lindale. The three heat races were taken by Doug Stepenchuk, Dan Cogdill and Bob lineman, Jr. with Ron Roberts taking the consolation event.
Action for the SJSCC Jasper Sprint cars in the 20-lap feature was exciting to say the least. Dave Brown hailing from Pilesgrove, NJ would take advantage of his pole starting position and motor out to the lead over Port Norris, NJ and 2000 Jasper Sprint champion Steve Fleetwood from his fifth starting spot. Brown would hold the top spot for the first half of the race as Fleetwood would dog his every move. Just as lap eight was being completed all eyes focused on a charging Monroeville, NJ driver Jeff Foote who started the race way back in 17th spot and now was into a powering fourth position. At the half way mark Brown still had the advantage over Fleetwood and now Foote was up to a pressuring third. As lap 12 was in the books, another driver on the move appeared in fourth as John Wyers was sailing to the front from his 21st starting position. Brown still maintained the top spot but the fast charging Foote had something to say about that as got by Fleetwood for second as the five to go signal was displayed. One lap later, Wyers also got by Fleetwood for third. As the final two laps were run Foote showed his hand and got under Brown in turn one for the lead briefly but Brown had the right line going down the back to retake the spot for the white flag. On the final circuit, Foote tried the high side to no avail as Brown held on for his first win since opening day way back in March. Foote finished a real close second with Steve Strubble getting by John Wyers for third. Wyers was fourth and Fleetwood completed the top five. The second five were Shane Smith, Gary Mondschein, Steve Schmidt from last, Joe Howe and Bob Rasmussen. The three heats for the 28 cars were won by Ron Karnbach, Dave Brown and Shane Smith with John Barnett, Jr. taking the consi.
The exciting Outlaw Stock feature had female driver Tracy Rocap leading the first two laps before 8th starting Ken Watson would motor into the lead on the third time by. By the fifth lap, Maryland Enduro and Outlaw Stock ace Curtis Nichols powered up to second from seventeenth and began to charge after a strong Watson. As the laps were clicking by, Watson was being pressure by a steady Nichols and by lap twelve the defending champ Pat Hires from 20th. Watson was able to negotiate the lap traffic as a master and continue to hold the top position as Nichols was trying for the top spot yet defending his position to a pressuring Hires. In the end it was Watson taking win number one of the season over Nichols and Hires. Mike Hires took fourth and Jon Haegele was fifth.
Bridgeport Bits: It was very nice to see a recovering Duane Howard back in full force behind the wheel of the Glenn Hynaman owned Big Spring Car Wash car. Howard stated: “I am back to normal and feel pretty good” as he entered the speedway grounds Saturday night. Jeff Foote, John Wyers and Steve Schmidt showed that the Jasper Sprint cars can come from the back to the front in what was one of the best races since the inception in 2000 by speedway owner Bill Lincoln. The kids were graciously awarded with nice trophies and gifts from Ron Roberts and Faye as the entire Roberts race team participated in the July Big Wheel Race on the front straightaway. Pit Stop the clown deserved a large thank you for entertaining kids of all ages in his July appearance on this kid’s night.
Modified
Heat 1 – Kerr, Strickler, Heiber, Hoffman, Irwin, Durand
Heat 2 – Dekutowski, Franz, Adams, Mills, Horton, Hendrickson
Heat 3 – Howard, Forte, Elliott, Schwiebinz, Laubach, Infante
Consi – Chester, Iles, Bottcher, Ale, Weaver, Smith
Feature 25 Laps – JIMMY HORTON, Doug Hoffman, Duane Howard, Ricky Elliott, Rick Laubach, Kyle Strickler, Mike Franz, Ryan Kerr, Jimmy Chester, Jamie Mills, Mark Forte, Dave Adams, Mike Iles, Carmine Infante, Steve Bottcher, Troy Ale, Stephan Durand, Wayne Weaver, Bud Schwiebinz, Joe Dekutowski, Danny Heiber, Scott Irwin, Wade Hendrickson, G.R. Smith DNQ – Don Barone, Butch Glisson, Bud Hayes, Ed Firth, Don Fanslau, Jason D’Allesio, Don Hallowell
Sportsman
Heat 1 – Stepenchuk, Tucker, Pratt, Jr., Lindale, Lineman, Sr., Chester
Heat 2 – Cogdill, Klingmeyer, Price, Britt, Amunsen, Pierce
Heat 3 – Lineman, Jr., Masiado, Wescott, Jr., Collins, Burkhart, Purcell
Consi – Roberts, Sarkisian, Acolia, Wyant, Miller, Briggs, Korman, Horton
Feature 20 Laps - RICHIE PRATT, JR., Dan Cogdill, Bob Lineman, Jr., Bob Sarkisian, Ron Roberts, Kevin Collins, Sammy Wescott, Jr., Dennis Price, Jim Britt, Steve Lindale, Joe Masiado, Eric Korman, Bill Briggs, Jay Horton, Rob Wyant, Doug Stepenchuk, Randy Tucker, Andy Burkhart, Jack Amunsen, Bob Lineman, Sr., Rob Pierce, John Purcell, Billy Jo Chester, Jeff Acolia, Tom Miller, Bill Klingmeyer DNQ – Drew Ricco, Jason Duppel, Bill Horton, Steve Warner, Dave Hunt, Aaron Roberts, Chuck Faist, John Scheidler, Tom Hann, Kevin Schultz, Eddie Pilling, Jr., Steve Harrison, Billy Harris, John Townsend, Joe DeMaris, Steve Lozorak, Rich Stinson, Jr.
Jasper Sprint Cars
Heat 1 – Karnbach, Rose, Rasmussen, Fleetwood, Mondschein, C. Brown
Heat 2 – D. Brown, Bowman, Strubble, Piersig, Brenfleck, Foote
Heat 3 – S. Smith, Howe, Stellfox, Beasley, D. Smith, Trum
Consi – Barnett, Jr., Adams, Wyers, Mueller, Butts, Schmidt
Feature 20 Laps - DAVE BROWN, Jeff Foote, Steve Strubble, John Wyers, Steve Fleetwood, Shane Smith, Gary Mondschein, Steve Schmidt, Joe Howe, Bob Rasmussen, Brooke Bowman, Jon Brenfleck, Mike Piersig, Matt Beasley, Jeff Mueller, Hank Trum, Donnie Smith, Chip Brown, Mares Stellfox, Bob Adams, Torrey Rose, Joe Butts, Ron Karnbach, John Barnett, Jr. DNQ – Layne Foulk, Jonathon Swanson, Jack Curtis, Warren Durbin
Outlaw Stocks
Heat 1 – Nichols, Trumbetti, Watson, Benz, M. Hires, Fiel
Heat 2 – Stark, Rocap, Gould, Jr., Haegele, Ellis, Lonabaugh
Feature 20 Laps – KEN WATSON, Curtis Nichols, Pat Hires, Mike Hires, Jon Haegele, Robert Benz, Joe Trumbetti, Steve Stark, Tracy Rocap, Alan Fiel, Rich Franchetti, Jim Erdbrink, Sean McHugh, Dave Gould, Jr., Jim Honaker, Walter Hayes, Ron Dirkes, Draper Ellis, Mike Lonabaugh DNS – Brian Ludwig, George Kohrman