HORTON, SARKISIAN, AND REIDER GET FIRST WINS OF SEASON AT BRIDGEPORT

Bridgeport, NJ – Racing action at South Jersey’s Bridgeport Speedway produced four new winners at the track for the 2001 season. Somerville, NJ’s Jimmy Horton, a seven-time modified champion at Bridgeport, won the twenty-five lap Big Block Modified feature, while Deptford, NJ’s Bob Sarkisian picked up his second career victory in Bridgeport Sportsman competition, winning the twenty lap event. Rich Reider won the fifteen lap Late Model race, with George Suprick picking up the win in the twenty-five lap United Racing Club sprint car race. One hundred thirty-five racers filled the pits for the four division show, that despite an hour-fifty minute rain delay, was still completed by eleven o’clock.

Sellersville, PA’s Tom Pompei, a new regular at the 5/8th mile oval this season, led the field to the green to start the modified feature, with outside polesitter Mike Iles, in the #711, grabbing the lead from Pompei on the backstretch to lead the first lap. Iles held the front spot for the next two laps, but Horton, in the Hewlitt #901, was charging up from his fifth starting place with his sights set on the lead. Horton ran past Iles to take over the lead on lap four, and began to run away from the field. Lehighton, PA’s Steve Bottcher, in the Zellers #31, had no intention of letting Horton walk away with an easy win though, and was blasting his way around the big track to try and run down Horton. Bottcher, who started eighth, was in the runner-up spot on lap nine, and began to pull in the leader. With ten to go in the race, Bottcher had trimmed Horton’s straightaway lead down to one car length, and the crowd braced themselves for the upcoming battle. Lap eighteen saw Bottcher pull even with Horton, as the two racers ran side by side down the backstretch. One lap later, the battle was over, as Bottcher spun in turn three trying to make his move by Horton, bringing out the first caution of the race. Bottcher’s miscue put the Big Spring Car Wash #126, driven by Duane Howard, in second place, while Iles and Ricky Elliott were battling for third place. With Starter Jimmy Phillips Jr. waving the checkered flag, Horton had his first win of the new season at Bridgeport, with Howard in second, and Elliott edging by Iles by a front bumper to take third. 1995 modified champion Jamie Mills, completed the top five. Doug Hoffman, Elliott, and Bottcher won heats for the thirty-six modifieds. Newfield, NJ’s Jimmy Chester came from last starting position to win the consolation race.

Robert Wyant and Marty Mulch might have started the twenty lap Bridgeport Sportsman feature on the front row, but Bob Sarkisian had his #47 hooked up to the wide 5/8ths mile speedway. Sarkisian blasted from his sixth starting spot and passed everyone in front of him by the third turn to lead lap one. By lap five, Sarkisian had a full straightaway lead over Richie Pratt Jr, who was running in second place. John Dixon charged his #47D past Pratt on a lap fourteen restart, and it appeared that the running order of the top three would stay the same to the finish, but Pratt never gave in. Pratt tossed his #77 to the outside of turn four on the last lap and was able to gain enough momentum to overtake Dixon coming down for the checkered flag. Jesse Sterling finished fourth, with BJ DiMascio making another fine run to finish fifth. Forty-two sportsman participated in the night’s action, with Bill Briggs, Sterling, and Sarkisian winning the qualifying heats. Last week’s winner, Sam Wescott, and Tom Fox won the two consolation races.

It took until lap ten, but Absecon, NJ’s Rich Reider took the lead with five to go, and went on to win his first late model race of the 2001 season. Opening day winner Phil Retter held the early lead in the fifteen lap race, until Wayne Pfeil took over in his #72. Pfeil held off Reider for four laps, until Reider made his move and went for the lead. Reider went uncontested the rest of the way, with Retter taking second place after Pfeil had to pit after lap ten. Bud Hayes, Paul Marra and two time Late Model champion Ron Coverly completed the top five.

In the twenty-five lap United Racing Club sprint feature, Clark Summit, PA’s George Suprickled every lap to win his third career victory with the traveling winged sprints. Four URC heat race events were needed, with victories going to Midge Miller, Jason Clauss, Chris Coyle and Brian Seidel. The "C" main saw Doug Borger take the win as Scott Pursell won the "B" Main. Forty-four sprints signed in the pits for the night’s activities.

BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY RESULTS - SATURDAY 4-21-01

MODIFIEDS

HEAT 1 – Hoffman, Horton, Lineman, Hendrickson, Kania, Pierson

HEAT 2 – Elliott, Pompei, Weaver, Mills, Adams, Laubach

HEAT 3 – Bottcher, Howard, Kerr, Iles, Hirthler, Schultz

CONSI – Chester, Truppi, Durand, Polenz, Franz, Smythe

MODIFIED FEATURE – 25 LAPS

Jimmy Horton, Duane Howard, Ricky Elliott, Mike Iles, Jamie Mills, Doug Hoffman, Wade Hendrickson, Bob Lineman, Rick Laubach, Ryan Kerr, Paul Weaver, Brian Truppi, Tom Pompei, Scott Kania, Dave Adams, Steve Bottcher, Howard Pierson, Jared Schultz, Stephan Durand, Mike Franz, Rusty Smith, Jason Smythe, Kevin Hirthler, Jimmy Chester DNS – Rich Polenz

DNQ – Randy Fortna, Dave Stonebraker, Ron Johnson, Jim Reppert, Butch Glisson, Don Hollowell, Don Rose, Craig Jackson, Ben Hatt, Dave Howard, Scott Davis

BRIDGEPORT SPORTSMAN

HEAT 1 – Briggs, Pratt, Dixon, Wyant, McDonnell, Cook

HEAT 2 – Sterling, DiMascio, Mulch, Ratoskey, Bruno, Harris

HEAT 3 – Sarkisian, Roberts, Townsend, Barone, Forte, Collins

CONSI 1 – Wescott, Czacharowski, Smith, Pursell

CONSI 2 – Fox, McCardell, Fucilli, Lindale

BRIDGEPORT SPORTSMAN FEATURE – 20 LAPS

Bob Sarkisian, Richie Pratt Jr, John Dixon, Jesse Sterling, BJ DiMascio, Ron Roberts, Mark Forte, Billy Briggs, Don Barone, Rob Ratoskey, Sam Wescott, Jim Bruno, GR Smith, Brandon Visser, Billy Harris, Robert Wyant, John McCardell, Kevin Collins, Steve Lindale, Tom Fox, Bob Cook, Joe Czacharowski, John Pursell, Brian Fucilli, John Townsend, Frank McDonnell, Marty Mulch

DNQ – Dan Cogdill, Bob Lineman Jr, AL Suhr, Joe Dekutski, Jay Horton, Bill Klingmeyer, Eric Poole, Eric Kermetel, Scott Hulmes, Paul Collins, Len Moncaleri, Walt Clake Jr, Dennis Price, Steve Harrison, Greg Peck

LATE MODELS – FEATURE – 15 LAPS

Rich Reider, Phil Reutter, Bud Hayes, Paul Marra, Ron Coverly, Dave Williams, Greg Schmidt, Daddy Pfeil, Ron Dirkes, Chip Brandt, Dan Weir, Wayne Pfeil, Bill Force

UNITED RACING CLUB SPRINT FEATURE – 25 LAPS

George Suprick, Jeff Rohrbaugh, Mike Haggenbottom, Jeremy Trout, Fran Hogue, Chris Coyle, Jimmy Martin, Ray Staats, Doug Emery, Scott Pursell, Midge Miller, Jeff Whary, Bill Brian Jr., John Barnett, Todd Rittenhouse, Dave McGough, Jon Eldreth, Donnie Ennis, Ian Borden, Jason Clauss, Trevor Lewis, Don Kretiz Jr., Kevin Welsh, Brian Seidel DNQ- Pete Green, Kramer Williamson, Greg Coverdale, Jeff Busby, Jason Hagenbuch, Bill Case, Matt Gerber, Doug Borger, Sam Ross, Danny Massey, Tim Hogue, Rick Hart, Tommie Martocci, Junior Martin, Mike Kostic, Billy Courtwright, Ashley Parlett, Adam Gorden, Brian Brittingham.