ILES, PIERCE AND GRASSO TAKE CAREER FIRST WINS AT BRIDGEPORT

Bridgeport, NJ (7/5/03) – Mother Nature tried it’s hardest to spoil the Fourth of July event Saturday night at Bridgeport Speedway. Just as the cars were about to hit the speedway for hot laps a heavy shower moved through the grounds and saturated the speedway. With a gallant effort between the track crew and drivers running in the race surface the first heat was able to hit the speedway one hour late despite the weathers attempt at ruining the evening.

Second generation driver Mike Iles out of Medford, NJ dominated the 25-lap Modified feature to bag his first ever big block feature Saturday night on the very fast Bridgeport Speedway. Millville, NJ driver Rob Pierce picked up a popular win for his career first Sportsman win. J.J. Grasso out of Pedricktown, NJ, proved that his most wins in the northeast during the 2002 season in the Micro Sprints were not a fluke, as he won his first ever Jasper Sprint car feature in only his fifth start. 2002 Champ Pat Hires won the 20-lap Outlaw Stock feature. Anthony Jacobs towed from Long Island, NY to win the Independence weekend Demolition Derby.

On this very humid evening, Scott Irwin and Mike Iles would bring the mighty Modifieds down to starter Dennis Weir’s green flag. Immediately, the Active Environmental Technology number 711 powered into the lead over the C. Irwin and Sons TEO of Scott Irwin. The Modifieds were moving around the tacky 5/8th mile at a torrid pace with Dave Adams in his Hooter’s Restaurant sponsored car moving into second on the third lap. The pace was slowed on lap 7 for a spinning Phil Vasquez in turn three. When the race was resumed, a violent series of barrel rolls occurred in turn one as Duane Howard in his Big Spring Car Wash car caught a wheel and ended up sticking a light pole and landing upside down on the guard rail. Howard was initially deemed fine, however, upon further evaluation he was then transported to Crozier Chester Trauma Center. On things got back to the track, Iles and Adams continued to pour on the power and maintain the top two spots over a steady Wade Hendrickson in the RIO Brothers R-10. Hendrickson’s night would come to an end on lap 17 as he was forced to retire from the event along with fellow “H” Guy Doug Hoffman. On this night of attrition, Iles would continue his dominance of the event, and power to a comfortable first ever victory over Adams. Brian Truppi was third with Rick Laubach fourth and modified rookie Rich Stinson, Jr. fifth for his best big block finish. The second five were Jimmy Chester, Danny Heiber, Jimmy Horton, Brian Kressley and Steve Durand. The heats were taken by Mike Iles, Joe Dekutowski and Scott Irwin with Kevin Hirthler winning the consi.

The Sportsman feature started off with Andy Burkhart in his Burkhart Brothers Speed Dirt Wheels car taking the lead from his third starting position over Millville, NJ driver Rob Pierce and Jim Britt. The Reading, PA second generation youngster would pull out to a large lead and would power his way around the speedway a wicked pace. Lap 5 would find Steve Lindale and Bob Lineman, Jr. get into each other in the second turn and slow down Burkhart’s pace. When we got back to racing, Burkhart would again power out front over Pierce and Britt as the received the half way sign. The top three remained the same as the second part of the event continued as the Sportsman drivers motored around New Jersey’s fastest speedway at a remarkable pace. On lap 16, disaster struck Burkhart as he entered turn two; the right front wheel and tire broke free from the car and rolled down the exit ramp into the pit area ending his chance at his first win of the year. This incident then handed the lead over to a steady running Pierce in his SJDR website car number 88. The final four laps would be the longest and toughest in the young mans racing career as Richie Pratt, Jr. was coming toward the front. Pierce ran the last laps steady and strong to hold off the current point leader, Pratt, Jr. for an exciting first ever victory. Consistent Ron Roberts was third followed by John Purcell and Billy Harris. The rest of the top ten were Kevin Collins, Jay Horton, Billy Jo Chester, Jeff Acolia and Joe Masiado. Jim Britt, John Townsend, and Rob Wyant won the heats and the consi was taken by Dan Cogdill.

Dave Brown took the lead at the start of the Jasper Sprint Car feature over Al DeAngelis, Jr. Brown would find DeAngelis, Jr. quickly take over the number one spot on lap two. The sprint cars were getting around the speedway in the range of 120 MPH on the quick speedway with DeAngelis, Jr. and Brown holding the top two spots throughout the first half of the race. At the halfway mark a noticeable charge was developing as rookie driver J.J. Grasso was carefully making his move past the top five cars and moved into second. As the field was running through the lap traffic with the fast pace, Grasso made a bold outside move and swept into the lead on lap 11. As the balance of the event unfolded, the 18 year old Grasso would prove that he is for real as an open cockpit chauffer as he hit his mark lap after lap to earn his first ever full size car victory and become the first rookie to win in only his fifth feature of the 2003. A jubilant and proud father could not get to victory lane to congratulate his victorious son. Following Grasso across the line was DeAngelis, Ron Karnbach, Steve Fleetwood and Mike Piersig. The balance of the top ten were Jon Brenfleck, Warren Durbin, Dave Brown, John Barnett, Jr. in his first Jasper Sprint run from 24th and Mares Stellfox. The three heats were picked up by Al DeAngelis, Jr., Dave Brown and J.J. Grasso.

In Outlaw Stock action, defending champion Pat Hires out of Levittown, PA picked up the win by almost a straight away. Hires, who started 13th was the first of the top guns to power to the front as it only took him four laps to grab the lead from Brian Ludwig. Action for second was very heated throughout the race as Ken Watson, Mike Hires and Cutis Nichols waged a battle royal for the position. In the early part you also had a strong Bob Hopely with his hat in that ring. Watson and Hopely developed trouble in the late going and were forced to retire from the event. As Pat Hires picked up the win, Mike Hires won the battle for the bridesmaid position over Curtis Nichols, Jim Erdbrink and Robert Benz. The two heats were won by Pat Hires and Mike Hires.

Bridgeport Speedway is 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.

Modified

Heat 1 – Iles, Kressley, Forte, Howard, Bottcher, Ale

Heat 2 – Dekutowski, Barone, Elliott, Stinson, Jr., Laubach, Hoffman

Heat 3 – Irwin, Adams, Hendrickson, Mills, Strickler, Horton

Consi – Hirthler, Truppi, Chester, Franz, Durand, Heiber

Feature 25 Laps – MIKE ILES, Dave Adams, Brian Truppi, Rick Laubach, Rich Stinson, Jr., Jimmy Chester, Danny Heiber, Jimmy Horton, Brian Kressley, Steve Durand, Don Barone, Joe Dekutowski, Doug Hoffman, Wade Hendrickson, Mike Franz, Ricky Elliott, Mark Forte, Scott Irwin, Duane Howard, Phil Vasquez, Troy Ale, Kyle Strickler, Kevin Hirthler DNS – Steve Bottcher, DQ – Jamie Mills, DNQ – Bud Hayes, Butch Glisson, Ed Firth, Carmine Infante, Wayne Weaver, Rich Acolia, Ryan Kerr

Sportsman

Heat 1 – Britt, Collins, Korman, Hirthler, Briggs, Chester

Heat 2 – Townsend, Burkhart, Lineman, Sr., Pratt, Jr., Acolia, Scheidler

Heat 3 – Wyant, Purcell, Pierce, Harris, Wescott, Jr., Masiado

Consi – Cogdill, Lindale, Lineman, Jr., Roberts, Klingmeyer, Sarkisian, Ottinger, Horton

Feature 20 Laps – ROB PIERCE, Richie Pratt, Jr., Ron Roberts, John Purcell, Billy Harris, Kevin Collins, Jay Horton, Billy Jo Chester, Jeff Acolia, Joe Masiado, Bruce Hirthler, John Townsend, Rob Wyant, Jim Britt, Andy Burkhart, Bob Sarkisian, Eric Korman, Sammy Wescott, Jr., Dan Cogdill, Bill Briggs, Bob Lineman, Sr., Steve Lindale, Bill Klingmeyer, Bob Lineman, Jr., John Scheidler, Steve Schultz, DNS – Court Ottinger, DNQ – Chris Christ, Tom Miller, Drew Ricco, Steve Harrison, Eddie Pilling, Dennis Price, Jack Amunsen, Bob Rambone, Chuck Faisst, Randy Tucker, Doug Stepenchuk, Joe DeMaris

Jasper Sprint Cars

Heat 1 – DeAngelis, Jr., Bowman, Schultz, Howe, Foulk, D. Smith

Heat 2 – Brown, S. Smith, Karnbach, Durbin, Wyers, Barnett, Jr.

Heat 3 – Grasso, Fleetwood, Brenfleck, Piersig, Stellfox, Beasley

Feature 20 Laps – J.J. GRASSO, Al DeAngelis, Jr., Ron Karnbach, Steve Fleetwood, Mike Piersig, Jon Brenfleck, Warren Durbin, Dave Brown, John Barnett, Jr., Mares Stellfox, Brooke Bowman, Jeff Foote, Tim Iulg, Donnie Smith, Bob Adams, Joe Howe, John Wyers, Matt Beasley, Torrey Rose, Bob Rasmussen, Jeff Davis, Steve Strubble, Shane Smith, Steve Schultz, Greg Lotosky, DNS – Layne Foulk, Jack Curtis

Outlaw Stocks

Heat 1 – M. Hires, Watson, Erdbrink, Hopely, Lonabaugh, J. Dirkes

Heat 2 – P. Hires, Rocap, Nichols, Ludwig, J. Haegele, Benz

Feature 20 Laps – PAT HIRES, Mike Hires, Curtis Nichols, Jim Erdbrink, Robert Benz, Steve Stark, Jon Haegele, Rich Franchetti, Tracy Rocap, Mike Lonabaugh, Joe Trumbetti, Don Strouse, Ron Dirkes, Jim Honaker, Chris Prychka, Walter Hayes, Mike Rudolph, Bob Hopely, Brent DeJohn, Ken Watson, Brian Ludwig, Jeff Dirkes, Gary Klimeczak, Dave Williams, Draper Ellis, DNS – Brian McConnell, Bill English