Duane Howard Picks Up Third Modified Win; Closes Gap On Point Leader Horton

Bridgeport, NJ – Oley, PA’s Duane Howard is having one of the most consistent seasons ever seen at the South Jersey Bridgeport Speedway, and now is starting to add victories to his string of top five finishes. Howard started the twenty-five lap big block modified feature in eighth place and by the end of the first lap, he had the Big Spring Car Wash #126 in the runner up position, ready to take the lead on the very next lap. Howard had to hold off a very determined Jimmy Horton to register his third win of the season on Jasper Racing Engines night at New Jersey’s fastest dirt track. In other action at the track, Bob Sarkisian took his third win of the season in the Bridgeport Sportsman feature and in the process took the point lead from Billy Harris, who finished third and is now one point back in the chase. The Jasper Racing Engine Winged Sprint twenty-lap A Main was won by Prospect Park, PA’s Mares Stellfox, getting her first win of the season in the Comcast sponsored sprinter.

After two tries at starting the twenty-five lap big block modified feature race that were caused by yellow flags before a lap could be completed, pole sitter Bud Schweibinz finally got to lead the field to complete the first lap. Duane Howard started the race in eighth place, and charged through the pack to fly into second place on the backstretch of the first lap. Coming down the front straight to complete the first lap, Howard slid the #126 past Schweibinz entering turn one to take the lead as the two battled side by side. On the next lap, all-time feature winner Jimmy Horton took over the runner up spot from his tenth starting spot and began his assault on Howard and the lead. Running the high groove, Howard had his work cut out for him as Horton made move after move to try and get the Miles Concrete #901 into the lead. Horton was able to actually get a little ahead of Howard a few times, but on each pass Howard was able to fight back and retake the lead before the start-finish line. At halfway, Horton now had problems of his own, as 2001 champion Doug Hoffman was now in third in a new Lincoln Auto Body #5 modified and closing in fast. With Horton now having his hands full with Hoffman, Howard was able to pull ahead, building up a three or four car length lead. Horton moved up to the high groove that Howard had been using, and pulled away from Hoffman while at the same time, closing in on the leader. On the last lap, Horton was able to get within two car lengths of Howard, but time ran out and Howard had his third win of the season, with Horton right behind in second. Hoffman took third, but not without a fight with Richlandtown, PA’s Rick Laubach, who has become a weekly threat in the Auger Manufacturing #93. Laubach, with three feature wins already this season, started the race in ninth place, between Howard and Horton. Completing the top five was Wade “the Flying Farmer” Hendrickson, who put on a show all by himself, coming all the way from last place after going to the rear of the field in one of the lap one tangles. Hendrickson was back in the top ten by halfway, and made his final move to crack the top five with just three laps left in the race. Heats for the modifieds were won by Ricky Elliott, who suffered engine problems and was unable to start the main event, Hendrickson, and Stephan Durand, with newcomer Brian Kressley, driving a former Steve Bottcher racer, winning the consolation race.

Eldora. NJ’s John Townsend started the twenty-lap Bridgeport Sportsman feature on the pole, and jumped out to lead the first six circuits of the race. With Billy Harris, who began the night as the point leader of the sportsman division, pressuring Townsend for the lead, all eyes were on Bob Sarkisian and his #47 as he was charging through the field from his eleventh starting spot. Harris, who started eighth, was right on Townsend’s rear bumper on lap two and stayed there until lap four when Sarkisian pulled along side the D’Antonio #3 on the backstretch. Sarkisian dove under Harris in turns three and four to take over second place as the two came down the front straight to complete lap five, but Harris wouldn’t give up and pulled even again in turn one. With these two running door to door through the turn, Sarkisian was able to pull away as he powered out of turn two and down the back straightaway. One lap later, on lap six, Sarkisian now made his assault on Townsend and the lead, this time making the pass in turn three. For the next several laps, Townsend had to fight off Harris, who was trying to catch Sarkisian and protect his point lead, which was down to seven points at the start of the race. Another unbelievable move was made when second generation driver Andy Burkhart shot underneath a three way battle for second between Townsend, Harris, and Richie Pratt to take second place for himself at the halfway mark. Two laps later, Harris regained the runner up spot when he passed Burkhart on the outside of turns one and two. Sarkisian seemed to be on rails and was building up a huge lead while everyone behind him was constantly battling for position. At the finish, Sarkisian had a full straightaway lead, while Pratt made a last gasp move at the finish line to take second place by just inches over Harris, with Burkhart right behind in fourth and Bill Klingmeyer, driving the #Z14 for Ron Roberts as he continues to recover from leg injuries suffered earlier in the season, completing the top five. The win, combined with Harris’ third place finish, gave Sarkisian a one point lead for the season sportsman title. Sarkisian also picked up the $50 bonus posted by Dennis Drain Property Maintenance for winning the feature race. Townsend, Sarkisian, and Bill Briggs won their qualifying heats, while Tom Miller took the consolation race.

On Jasper Racing Engine Night, it was fitting that the Jasper Winged Sprint cars would put on an entertaining and exciting show for the Jasper customers in attendance at the track. While Prospect Park, PA’s Mares Stellfox would start the race on the pole and lead every lap on the way to her third career Jasper Sprint win, the action behind her was hot enough to keep everyone on the edge of their seats. On the first lap, a wild four car crash in turn two saw New Egypt, NJ’s Warren Durbin flip while Ron Karnbach slammed the turn two exit gate, with all drivers walking away uninjured. Another four car collision would occur in turn four on the fourth lap, this time only bringing out the yellow flag, again with all drivers walking away. With the high speed crashes out of the way, the high speed sprinters could now display their driving skills, with most of the crowd watching Kevin Nagy, who was slowly working his way to the front from his twelfth starting spot. Nagy was in eighth on just the third lap and was in the top five on lap five. With Stellfox flying around the speedway, negotiating lapped traffic with ease, Jeff Mueller, Mike Piersig, and Dave Brown were all battling each other for the runner up spot, with Mueller taking hold of the spot by the halfway mark. Brown dropped out with engine problems, moving point leader Shane Smith into the top five, but Stellfox had almost a straightaway lead at this point. With two to go, Nagy got past Mueller for second place and tried to cut into Stellfox’ lead, but two laps weren’t enough time for Nagy to pose a threat to the lead, and at the finish Stellfox had her first win of the season, with Nagy closing in. Mueller, who bounced back from flipping out of the speedway three weeks ago, had his best finish in a while coming home third, with Piersig and Smith filling out the top five. The Comcast teammates of Stellfox and Piersig won their qualifying heat races.

BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY RESULTS

JASPER RACING ENGINES NIGHT SATURDAY 7-20-02

MODIFIEDS

Heat 1 – Elliott, Howard, Horton, Infante, Franz, B.Chester,

Heat 2 – Hendrickson, Schweibinz, Laubach, Stonebraker, Hieber, Iles

Heat 3 – Durand, J.Chester, Adams, Hoffman, Kerr, Hirthler

Consi – Kressley, Hatt, Dekutoski, Vasquez, Bottcher, Hughes

MODIFIED FEATURE – 25 LAPS

DUANE HOWARD, Jimmy Horton, Doug Hoffman, Rick Laubach, Wade Hendrickson, Carmine Infante, Ryan Kerr, Dave Adams, Kevin Hirthler, Bud Schweibinz, Dave Stonebraker, Danny Hieber, Steve Bottcher, Scott Davis, Mike Iles, Brian Kressley, Mike Hughes, Phil Vasquez, Billy Joe Chester, Mike Franz, Joe Dekutoski, Ben Hatt, Jimmy Chester, Stephan Durand DNS-Ricky Elliott

Lap Leaders: Schweibinz-1, Howard-24

SPORTSMAN

Heat 1 – Townsend, Burkhart, Wescott, Forte, Collins, Lindale

Heat 2 – Sarkisian, Harris, Robinson, Horton, Britt, Mills

Heat 3 – Briggs, Klingmeyer, Lineman, Pratt, Price, Lilick

Consi – Miller, Cogdill, Wyant, Stinson, Pursell, Masiado, DeMedio, Pierce

SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 20 LAPS

BOB SARKISIAN, Richie Pratt, Billy Harris, Andy Burkhart, Bill Klingmeyer, Mark Forte, Kevin Collins, Rich Stinson, Dan Cogdill, John Townsend, Bill Briggs, Bob Lilick, Judd Mills, John Pursell, Tom Miller, Joe Masiado, Bob Lineman Jr, Dennis Price, rob Pierce, Rob Wyant, Mike DeMedio, Jay Horton, Jim Robinson, Steve Lindale, Sam Wescott, Jim Britt

Lap Leaders: Townsend-6, Sarkisian-14

JASPER WINGED SPRINTS

Heat 1 – Stellfox, D.Brown, Mueller, Nagy, Donaghy, Andersen

Heat 2 – Piersig, Smith, C.Brown, Strubble, Durbin, Howe

JASPER WINGED SPRINT A-MAIN 20 LAPS

MARES STELLFOX, Kevin Nagy, Jeff Mueller, Mike Piersig, Shane Smith, Chip Brown, Joe Howe, Steve Fleetwood, Keith Andersen, Mike Donaghy, Doug Suiter, John Barnett, Steve Strubble, Matt Beasley, Dave Brown, Don Smith, Frank Stallfire, Greg Lotosky, Brett Romano, Warren Durbin, Steve Schmidt, Ron Karnbach, Jack Curtis

Lap Leaders: Stellfox-20