RICK LAUBACH, GR SMITH AND BRIAN POWELL PICK UP FIRST WINS OF 2001 IN MODIFIEDS, SPORTSMAN, AND SPRINTS

Bridgeport, NJ – In Saturday night action at Bridgeport Speedway, a pair of drivers each picked up their first win of the season and the second victory of their career in their respective divisions, as Rick Laubach won the big-block Modified twenty-five lap feature and G.R. Smith took the checkers in the Bridgeport Sportsman twenty lap event. Richlandtown, PA’s Laubach, driving the Auger #93, led every lap but one taking the win in a race that was marred by a lap two crash that saw eight modifieds eliminated from action. In the Bridgeport Sportsman feature, Smith, in the Statewide #2GR, started seventh and had to work his way to the front, taking the lead on lap fifteen from point leader Richie Pratt. Former Little Bridgeport Micro Sprint driver Brian Powell, in his first year of action in the Bridgeport Winged Sprint class, grabbed his first win in the division, taking the twenty lap A-Main. Easton, PA’s Phil Retter scored his third win of the season, winning the fifteen lap Street Stock feature.

The Big Block Modifieds, racing at the track for the first time in three weeks after two straight rain-outs, saw a lap two accident in turn one that involved at least eight of the high powered racers. Seaford, DE’s Ricky Elliott and Kennett Square, PA’s Don Hallowell both took violent flips, with Hallowell having to be taken to the hospital by ambulance with an injury to his arm. Elliott walked away from the accident scene, and was checked in the pits by the EMTs after complaining about headaches. When racing action finally resumed, Laubach took the lead and never looked back, holding off Duane Howard, in the Big Spring Car Wash #126, and then point leader Jamie Mills, who started the race in twentieth place and took over the runner up spot on lap twenty. Mills, driving the Dairy Queen #30 out of Milford, DE, put on quite a show charging from sixth to second in five laps after lap fifteen, passing Jimmy Horton, Doug Hoffman, Jimmy Chester, and Howard in the process. With five to go, Mills tried to cut down Laubach’s lead, but Laubach was really flying along, and maintained his advantage to grab the victory. Mills finished second, with Howard, Horton, and Chester completing the top five. Howard, Bob Lineman, Sr. and Chester won heat races, while Bucky Kell won the consolation race.

The Bridgeport Sportsman feature was led to Starter Dennis Weir’s green flag by second generation driver Andy Burkhart, who led for the first seven circuits around the big 5/8th mile oval. Richie Pratt, who started the race in ninth position, was in second on lap six, and on a lap seven restart, got alongside Burkhart in turns one and two and powered by on the entrance to the backstretch to take the lead. One lap later, G.R. Smith charged past Burkhart for second place and began to hunt down Pratt. These two battled each other for six laps running door to door for much of the time, with Pratt never getting more than a car length away. With Weir signaling five to go, Smith charged past Pratt on the outside of turn two to take the lead. Pratt was experiencing mechanical problems, and while Smith was pulling away, Pratt had his hands full with Brandon Visser and Sam Wescott, who both were able to get by. At the finish, Smith had a full straightaway lead over runner up Visser, followed by Wescott, Pratt, and Dan Cogdill. Frank McDonnell, Burkhart, and 2000 champion Mark Forte won qualifying heat races, with Bob Cook and Tom Miller taking the consolation events.

Chip Brown and Mike Donaghy led the field to the post for the start of the Bridgeport Winged Sprint A-Main, and after leading the first lap, Brown dropped out with mechanical problems, turning the lead over to Donaghy. Jeff Foote, in the Eastern Door #15, passed Donaghy for the lead one lap later in turn two, and went on to lead until lap fourteen, when the caution flag had to be displayed for the Lucas Electric #69 of Warren Durbin. On the restart, Brian Powell charged past Foote on the outside of turn two, running the RTF Welding #115 in the high groove. At the finish, Powell had his first career Bridgeport Winged Sprint victory, with Donaghy holding on to the runner up spot. Jon Brennfleck had another fine run to finish third in the Warren’s Servicecenter #49, with two time winner Jeff Mueller and Wayne Mauro filling out the top five. Mueller had an interesting night in the Precise Landscaping #3J, passing more cars than anyone after spinning out on lap one and going to the rear of the field after taking the green in tenth place. Later in the race, Mueller excited the crowd by doing a complete 360 degree spin in turn two, while only losing two positions after getting the car pointed in the right direction. Bob “The Lone Ranger” Adams, in his #14, duplicated this same move later in the race. Brown and Donaghy won the qualifying heats for this exciting new race class.

The last feature of the night was the fifteen lap Street Stock race, which saw Rich Reider jump out to lead from the outset, and hold the front spot for the first eight laps. After taking the halfway sign, second generation driver Paul Marra Jr., in the Pulcin Machine #30, pulled alongside Reider in turn one and actually took the lead momentarily, only to have the move negated by a caution flag for Bill Force in the #29 on the frontstretch. Phil Retter passed Marra on the restart and worked by Reider one lap later. With two to go, Retter had a comfortable lead, while a blanket could be thrown over Marra, Reider, and Pat Conaway in a torrid battle for second place. When the race was over, Retter had his third win of the year, with Reider holding off Marra for second spot. Gary Voss and Daddy Pfeil completed the top five.

NOTES:

The hard flips by Elliott and Hallowell were a couple of the worst flips at the track in the last few years. Elliott’s modified went around at least six times, in one of those flips we’ve all seen where the car actually picks up speed as it flips. It was a welcome relief for everyone when he exited from the destroyed racer and walked down the track. Hallowell wasn’t as lucky, as he had to be transported to the hospital by ambulance with an injury to his arm. Hallowell was kept overnight at the hospital, but was resting comfortably awaiting test results concerning his arm….

Brian DiFonzo was back in action in the Bridgeport Sportsman division, driving the Bruce Ward owned Cool Earl #91. DiFonzo hasn’t competed at the track in almost two years, and after shaking off the rust in his heat race, qualified for the feature after a strong run in his consi…..Coming up this Saturday night at the track will be regular features for the Bridgeport Sportsman, Street Stocks and Winged Sprinters, while the Big Block Modifieds will compete in a thirty lap, $3000 to win main event. First race is scheduled for six o’clock, with pit gates opening at 3:30 and front gates opening one hour later at 4:30. For more information, call the track office at 856-467-4407 during business hours, or check the Internet at www.bridgeportspeedway.com.

BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY - RESULTS SATURDAY JUNE 30, 2001

MODIFIEDS

HEAT 1 – Howard, Hoffman, Horton, Kania, Fortna, Smythe

HEAT 2 – Lineman, P.Weaver, Laubach, Elliott, Truppi, Nicholas

HEAT 3 – Chester, Polenz, Hirthler, Pompei, Adams, Hendrickson

CONSI – Kell, Mills, Durand, Franz, Hallowell, Bottcher

MODIFIED FEATURE – 25 Laps

Rick Laubach, Jamie Mills, Duane Howard, Jimmy Horton, Jimmy Chester, Doug Hoffman, Rich Polenz, Steve Bottcher, Scott Kania, Stephan Durand, Jason Smythe, Bob Lineman, Bucky Kell, Tom Pompei, Dave Adams, Kevin Hirthler, Wade Hendrickson, Mike Franz, Don Hallowell, Paul Weaver, Ricky Elliott, Randy Fortna, Mike Nicholas, Brian Truppi

BRIDGEPORT SPORTSMAN

HEAT 1 – McDonnell, Czachorowski, Pratt, Sarkisian, Pursell, Fucilli

HEAT 2 – Burkhart, Cogdill, Ratoskey, Smith, Dixon, Roberts

HEAT 3 – Forte, Barone, Wescott, Klingmeyer, Visser, Lindale

CONSI 1 – Cook, Harris, DiFonzo, K.Collins

CONSI 2 – Miller, Clark, Baylor, Wyant

BRIDGEPORT SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 20 LAPS

GR Smith, Brandon Visser, Sam Wescott, Rich Pratt, Dan Cogdill, Billy Harris, Steve Lindale, Ron Roberts, Andy Burkhart, Joe Czachorowski, Frank McDonnell, Bob Sarkisian, Brian DiFonzo, Kevin Collins, Tom Miller, John Pursell, Robert Wyant, Bob Cook, Walt Clark, Scott Baylor, Don Barone, Bill Klingmeyer, Rob Ratoskey, Mark Forte, Brian Fucilli, John Dixon

BRIDGEPORT WINGED SPRINTS

HEAT 1 – Brown, Durbin, Brennfleck, Mueller, Walters

HEAT 2 – Donaghy, Foote, Powell, Mauro, Stellfox

BRIDGEPORT WINGED SPRINTS FEATURE – 20 LAPS

Brian Powell, Mike Donaghy, Jon Brennfleck, Jeff Mueller, Wayne Mauro, Warren Durbin, Joe Howe, Bob Adams, Jeff Foote, Jim Walters, Mares Stellfox, Steve Fleetwood, John Wagner, Mike Piersig, Chip Brown, Kevin Nagy, George Coffin, Tim Moore

STREET STOCK FEATURE – 15 LAPS

Phil Retter, Rich Reider, Paul Marra, Jr., Gary Voss, Daddy Pfeil