WATSON, GODOWN AND HENRY PICK UP WINS IN EXCITING NIGHT OF RACING AT BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK
Bridgeport, NJ – “Nowhere has racing like this,” is what Joseph Watson had to say after claiming his first ever win at the Bridgeport Speedway!
Another night of racing produced more slide jobs and three and four wide racing. Don’t blink or you are sure to miss something!
As the driver of the Blue Hen Racing No. 30, Watson wanted to continue the tradition of other drivers who came before him like his uncle, Jamie Mills, a past champion at Bridgeport. That wish was fulfilled when Watson led two of the best – Jimmy Horton and Billy Pauch – to the checkered flag at the end of thirty thrilling laps of racing in the Foley Cat Modified feature event.
Watson’s biggest challenge came just before halfway when Alex Yankowski drove from his nineteenth starting spot to second and had no intentions of stopping there. Yankowski, who was behind the wheel of Big Block Modified for the first time ever, pulled ahead of Watson on several occasions. It seemed like Yankowski had the better run off of turn four while Watson held the advantage off of turn two.
Slide job after slide were traded before Watson crossed over coming out of two and put the No. 30 out in front for the last time. Watson raced out in front while first, Jimmy Horton took over second from Yankowski and then Pauch, who drove back through the pack after a trip to the pits, raced by Yankowski to take over third.
It was Watson, Horton, Pauch, Yankowski and Richie Pratt, Jr. at the checkered. While Watson used a spec small block for this win, both Horton and Yankowski had Big Block power under the hoods of their race cars. Both engine choices seem to be evenly matched on Bridgeport’s new 4/10 mile track.
Clay Butler finished sixth followed by Neal Williams who also had to race from the back of the field after a trip to the pits. Rich Rutski finished eighth followed by Tommy Beamer and Rocco Infante.
Ryan Godown, Jr. raced ahead of Adam White to capture his first Bridgeport victory in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Sportsman feature.
Godown led all the way but a last lap caution gave White another chance to make a bid for the win. While Godown chose the top, White found the bottom of the track to his liking and made his way through the top five using the bottom all of the way.
Godown took the win over White, James Hill, Tom Moore, Jr. and Joe Toth. Tom Errico, Jr., Brett Belmont, Steve Kemery, Brad Roberts and Matt Peck rounded out the top ten.
To start out the night of racing, Tim Borror picked up his third win a row in the DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie Feature. Second place, Harry Houdini cut into Borrer’s lead in the final laps but was never able to challenge for the lead. Borror took the win over Houdini, Anthony Sisco, Justin Eason and Nolan Openshaw.
TJ Henry won the very competitive Sunbelt Rentals Street Stock feature that saw plenty of three wide racing during the fifteen lap event. A lap six restart saw Tom Wills, Sr., Lee Allen and Henry go three wide down the homestretch in a battle for the lead.
It was Henry’s third win of the season, tying him with Rich Stinson for wins in this division. Stinson finished second to Henry with Jeff Dirkes battling all fifteen laps for a third place finish. Tom Wills, Jr. finished fourth with Brian Spencer taking fifth after racing back through the field.
Lee Allen finished sixth after battling for the lead during most of the race. Wills, Sr. finished seventh followed by John Parker, Nick Sandone and Ken Moren.
Brenden Hires was the winner of the 4 Cylinder feature event after battling for the race lead. Justin Dunn, last week’s winner, finished second, followed by Scott Dunn, Shea Wills and Ryan Drews. Wills is a regular at the Spirit quarter mile in the 270cc Micro Division. He tried his hand in a bigger car on the bigger track and fared well in his first attempt.
Racing returns to the Bridgeport Motorsports Park on Saturday with the Foley Cat Modifieds, South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Sportsman, Sunbelt Rental Street Stocks and Four Cylinders. The All Star Slingshots return for their third matinee event of the season.
FOLEY CAT MODIFIES (30 laps)
Joseph Watson, 2. Jimmy Horton, 3. Billy Pauch, Sr., 4. Alex Yankowski, 5. Richie Pratt, Jr., 6. Clay Butler, 7. Neal Williams, 8. Rich Rutski, 9. Tommy Beamer, 10. Rocco Infante, 11. Ron Roberts, 12. Mike Franz, 13. Ricky Wegner, Jr., 14. Brett Ballard, 15. Brett Ballard, 16. Scott Ambruster, 17. Trent VanVorst, 18. Matt Stangle, 19. Stan Frankefield, 20. Bobby Firth, 21. Jordan Watson, DNS – Billy Osmun, Dale Hawkins
SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOOR 602 SPORTSMAN (20 laps)
Ryan Godown, Jr., 2. Adam White, 3. James Hill, 4. Tom Moore, Jr., 5. Joe Toth, 6. Tom Errico, Jr., 7. Brett Belmont, 8. Steve Kemery, 9. Brad Roberts, 10. Matt Peck, 11. Michael White, 12. Sean Metz, 13. Brian Lilick, 14. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 15. Chris Jenkins, 16. Billy Chester, 17. David Jenkins, 18. Tim Borror, 19. Pete Serra, 20. Tom Sherby, 21. Ernie Miles, III, 22. Rick Wegner, Jr., 23. Kris Lilick, 24. Matt Luzi, DNQ – Justin Eason, Harry Houdini, Scott Hulmes, Nolan Openshaw, Greg Nailer, Ernie Miles, Jr., Chad Sandt, Wayne Weaver, Howard Huepfel, Anthony Sisco
D.A.’S AUTO BODY AND REPAIR ROOKIE (8 laps)
Tim Borror, 2. Harry Houdini, 3. Anthony Sisco, 4. Justin Eason, 5. Nolan Openshaw
SUNBELT RENTALS STREET STOCKS (15 laps)
T.J. Henry, 2. Rich Stinson, Jr., 3. Jeff Dirkes, 4. Tom Wills, Jr. 5. Brian Spencer, 6. Lee Allen, 7. Tom Wills, Sr., 8. John Parker, 9. Nick Sandone III, 10. Ken Moren, 11. Justin Nowlen, 12. Paul Donahue, 13. Keith McKinley
FOUR CYLNDER (20 laps)
Brenden Hires, 2. Justin Dunn, 3. Scott Dunn, 4. Shea Wills, 5. Ryan Drews