PAUCH TAKES NEW JERSEY MODIFIED SEASON OPENER ON NEW ‘PORT CLAY

Bridgeport, NJ – Chilly weather didn’t keep hot racing action off the new clay surface of the Bridgeport Speedway, as Frenchtown, NJ’s Billy Pauch won the twenty-five lap big Block modified feature here on Saturday night. Pauch, who won at New Jersey’s fastest dirt track for the first time since August of 1999, took the win over a forty-eight car all-star field of modifieds from all over the east coast. Bridgeport Speedway all-time feature winner Jimmy Horton came home in the runner-up spot, followed by 2001 champ Doug Hoffman and 2000 champ Wade Hendrickson. Dom Buffalino grabbed his first Bridgeport career win, taking the twenty lap Sportsman feature, while 2001 Bridgeport Sprint Champion, Jeff Foote, picked up where he left off, winning the twenty lap Bridgeport Sprint A-Main.

Seven time modified champ Jimmy Horton jumped from his outside pole position starting spot to take the early lead in the Big Block Modified feature event, while Billy Pauch was charging through from his fifth starting place, to grab the runner-up spot by the second lap. On the fifth lap, Pauch made his move past Horton to take the lead. While Pauch tried to push his #1 modified to pull away, Horton stayed right with him, never falling back more than one or two car lengths from the leader. 2001 modified point champ Doug Hoffman had his own #60 flying also, as he came from tenth spot to third place by the fifth lap. A lap eighteen caution for the Auger Machine #93 driven by Rick Laubach tightened up the field, but Pauch was able to again hold off Horton for the lead. At Starter Dennis Weir’s checkered flag, it was Pauch by three car lengths over Horton, with Hoffman, Lawrenceville, NJ’s Wade Hendrickson, and Oley, PA’s Duane Howard filling out the top five. In his Victory Lane interview with Announcer Jeff Ahlum, Pauch said, “Boy is that track bitey and it made it real challenging tonight. It got a little rough, but a new surface will do that. Once it gets set after a couple of races, I’m sure it’ll be wide and fast. I’ve always liked Bridgeport and I want to run down here every chance I get. I really want to thank the fans tonight for braving it out in this cold. You guys are really diehards!” Pauch’s last statement brought a loud cheer from the cold crowd.

Bill Klingmeyer and Bill Briggs led the twenty-six car field to the post to start the Sportsman feature, with Klingmeyer taking the number one spot. Klingmeyer held on to the lead for four circuits, before Scott Singley pulled past to lead lap five. Singley had a comfortable lead for the next few laps, but a three pack of Klingmeyer, John Pursell, and Dom Buffalino were closing in on the leader. Lap thirteen proved to be Buffalino’s lucky lap, as he blasted past Singley for the lead on the wide 5/8th mile oval’s back straightaway. Buffalino and Singley pulled away from the rest of the field, and at the finish, it was Buffalino with a comfortable lead over Singley, with second generation driver Bob Lineman Jr. coming all the way from fourteenth place to finish third. Willie Osmun and Pursell completed the top five. Buffalino, Sam Wescott, and Brian Godown were heat winners, while Joe Tinnes and 2001 leading feature winner Bob Sarkisian took the consolation races.

The first Bridgeport Sprint A-Main of the new season saw 2001 champ Jeff Foote jump out to a quick lead from the outside pole position, with Greg Lotoskey right on his tail. Foote put some daylight between himself and Lotoskey before lap four red flag for Joe Howe, who flipped his #43 in turn four. On the restart, Lotoskey planted himself on Foote’s rear bumper, and stayed there for lap after lap. These two put on some great racing, with Lotoskey catching Foote on the straightaways, while Foote would regain his advantage driving deeper into the turns. With four laps to go, Foote used his experience to slice through lapped traffic to build up a five car length lead over the runner-up spot. With Assistant Starter Chris Burd waving the checkered flag, Foote had his first win of the new season, while Lotoskey had his best ever second place finish, with Jeff Mueller, newcomer Shane Smith, and Matt Beasley rounding out the top five.

NOTES: Over 115 racers jammed the pits of the big 5/8th mile oval, with a large opening day crowd on hand to catch the action of the three division show….Along with the fire engine rides through the pits and the scooter giveaways, new for the kids’ fun this season are the weekly appearances by “Speedie” the Clown. He had the kids smiling all day, another nice touch by the Lincoln family to make Bridgeport Speedway fun for the whole family. Speaking of kids, Tommy Roper of Levittown, PA went homing smiling as the winner of a new scooter….Pauch’s modified win was his 47th career victory at the South Jersey clay oval….Opening day festivities included a car show and display behind the main grandstand, with restored race cars, street rods, and antique cars all part of the show. First prize winner was Clarksboro, NJ’s Samuel Gregor, who had his 1939 Ford convertible on display. The 1955 Chevy of Pitman, NJ’s Ralph Richards took second place while Bob Hopely of Mantua, NJ was the third place winner with his 1957 Ford Thunderbird….Coming up this week, the facility moves into its regular two day pattern, with a Friday night practice session scheduled for the new ¼ mile oval, with all micro sprints and four cylinder stocks invited to participate, while on Saturday, the same show of big block modifieds, sportsman, and Bridgeport Sprints joined by the first Enduro Stock race of the season. Again this week, the track will run with an open tire rule, with all other regular rules in force. The show starts at 4pm, with pit gates opening at noon, and the front gates opening at 2pm. Information for all Bridgeport Speedway shows may be obtained by calling the track office at 856-467-4408 during regular business hours or on the web at www.bridgeportspeedway.com.

NOTES: Over 115 racers jammed the pits of the big 5/8th mile oval, with a large opening day crowd on hand to catch the action of the three division show….Along with the fire engine rides through the pits and the scooter giveaways, new for the kids’ fun this season are the weekly appearances by “Speedie” the Clown. He had the kids smiling all day, another nice touch by the Lincoln family to make Bridgeport Speedway fun for the whole family. Speaking of kids, Tommy Roper of Levittown, PA went homing smiling as the winner of a new scooter….Pauch’s modified win was his 47th career victory at the South Jersey clay oval….Opening day festivities included a car show and display behind the main grandstand, with restored race cars, street rods, and antique cars all part of the show. First prize winner was Clarksboro, NJ’s Samuel Gregor, who had his 1939 Ford convertible on display. The 1955 Chevy of Pitman, NJ’s Ralph Richards took second place while Bob Hopely of Mantua, NJ was the third place winner with his 1957 Ford Thunderbird….Coming up this week, the facility moves into its regular two day pattern, with a Friday night practice session scheduled for the new ¼ mile oval, with all micro sprints and four cylinder stocks invited to participate, while on Saturday, the same show of big block modifieds, sportsman, and Bridgeport Sprints joined by the first Enduro Stock race of the season. Again this week, the track will run with an open tire rule, with all other regular rules in force. The show starts at 4pm, with pit gates opening at noon, and the front gates opening at 2pm. Information for all Bridgeport Speedway shows may be obtained by calling the track office at 856-467-4408 during regular business hours or on the web at www.bridgeportspeedway.com.

Bridgeport Speedway Results – 3-23-02

Modifieds

Heat 1 – Hendrickson, Johnson, Truppi, Hirthler, Laubach, Grosso

Heat 2 – Howard, Bottcher, Chester, Schweibinz, Radd, Franz

Heat 3 – D.Hoffman, Pauch, Horton, Von Dohren, Adams, DeSantis

Consi 1 – Iles, Dekutoski, Weaver

Consi 2 – K.Hoffman, Infante, Hughes

Modified Feature – 25 Laps

Billy Pauch, Jimmy Horton, Doug Hoffman, Wade Hendrickson, Duane Howard, Steve Bottcher, Jimmy Chester, Keith Hoffman, Mike Iles, Don Radd, Carmine Infante, Joe Dekutoski, Mike Hughes, Mike Franz, Craig Von Dohren, Kevin Hirthler, Dave Adams, Danny Johnson, Brian Truppi, Rick Laubach, Paul Weaver, Bud Schweibinz, Rick Grosso, MeMe DeSantis

Sportsman

Heat 1 – Buffalino, Collins, McDonnell, Klingmeyer, Harris, McClelland

Heat 2 – Wescott, Pursell, Singley, Osmun, Lineman, Horton

Heat 3 – Godown, Scherer, Briggs, Mills, Britt, Sadler

Consi 1 – Tinnes, Forte, Price, Cook

Consi 2 – Sarkisian, Lindale, Cogdill, Matherly

Sportsman Feature – 20 Laps

Dom Buffalino, Scott Singley, Bob Lineman Jr, Willy Osmun, John Pursell, Bob Sarkisian, John McClelland, Brian Godown, Steve Lindale, Sam Wescott, Dan Cogdill, Paul Collins, Judd Mills, Jim Britt, Frank McDonnell, Blaine Sadler, Jay Horton, Dennis Price, Bob Cook, Bill Klingmeyer, Joe Tinnes, Curtis Matherly, Mark Forte, Bill Briggs, Billy Harris, Jim Scherer