By KEN BRUCE
Horton wins the feature and championship on Bridgeport’s ¼ mile, Scott Albert wires the field at Big Diamond, 16 y/o Ryan Krachun wins again at NES, Strunk makes it two in a row at Grandview and David Hunt takes 1st of the year at Bridgeport.
Bridgeport Speedway (1/4 Mile) – Friday 7/31/15 – There isn’t much left for modified superstar Jimmy Horton to accomplish in his long and illustrious career but on Friday Horton somehow managed to win something he has never won before. Horton won for the second time this season on the Bridgeport Speedway ¼ mile inner oval and in doing so won his first ever and the tracks first ever ¼ mile track championship. The series sponsored by 811 Dig Safely was the brainchild of longtime Bridgeport supporter Mike Wisniewski from Wiz Motorsports Communication and produced some great racing on the ¼ mile oval. Horton driving the Rocco Infante #JR1 had to outduel a determined Richie Pratt for the victory. Horton winning the championship was significant in the fact that it assures Horton a guaranteed spot in the season ending “Romp in the Swamp Call Before You Dig” Championship race on Saturday, September 26. In addition, Horton will receive a check of at least $1,000 at the season ending Bridgeport Speedway banquet for winning the championship.
As the 25-lap feature got underway, Dom Buffalino grabbed the lead with Richie Pratt, Jimmy Horton, Mike Iles and Johnny Cornell in tow. Pratt took the top running spot away from Buffalino with two tours completed. The top five of Pratt, Buffalino, Horton, Iles and Cornell remained in order until the sixth circuit as Horton slipped by Buffalino for second. Following a restart on lap 7, Pratt and Horton began a multi-lap duel for the lead with Iles and Buffalino battling for third. For several laps, the outside lane running Horton would gain the lead coming out of turn two with Pratt regaining the lead upon exiting the fourth corner. Following a caution period on the twelfth tour, Horton grabbed the top spot from Pratt with Iles, Buffalino, and Cornell racing hard for third place. After a few more restarts for minor cautions, Horton was still in command on the nineteenth circuit but Pratt edged to the front as flagger Gary Buzby gave the five to go signal to the racers. On the next lap, Horton regained the lead from Pratt. Over the final four circuits, Horton held off Pratt to gain his second consecutive victory in the Modified 811 Dig Safely Series. Completing the top five were Dom Buffalino, Johnny Cornell and Ryan Forte.
25 LAPS FEATURE
1. JIMMY HORTON 2. Richie Pratt 3. Dom Buffalino 4. Johnny Cornell 5. Ryan Forte 6. Mike Iles 7. Bob Drayton 8. Corey Andersen 9. Mike Butler 10. DJ Ruppert 11. Tommy Tanner 12. Bobby Butler 13. Ron Roberts 14. Tom Carberry, Sr.
DNS: Lou Cicconi
DNQ: Bobby Firth, Brad Roberts, Frank Holmes, Brett Ballard
Big Diamond – Friday July 31st, 2015 – Veteran throttle jockey Scott Albert took advantage of his pole starting position to grab the lead at the start and lead all 25 laps to claim his first Big Diamond win of his career.
Speaking with Albert after his big win. “We have been fairly fast the past three weeks and just kept getting involved in crashes. I am not as good as the veteran guys here in traffic but if we get out front I think we can hold our own as the year goes on.”
When the green flag came out Albert quickly jumped to the lead with Justin Grim directly behind him applying the pressure but Albert was able to hold Grim off to lead lap one. A multi-car crash on lap two involving Duane Howard, Jared Umbenhaurer, John Willman, Meme Desantis among other slowed the action after lap two was completed. All drivers were able to continue after most of them went to the pits to check on any damages. The green flag was displayed but once again the yellow flag was in the air quickly as Shawn Fitzpatrick and Umbenhaurer getting together in turn two. Umbenhaurer was not so lucky this time as his car had to be towed into the pits finished for the night.
Albert led once again as we went back to green with Grim still right behind him until lap seven when Grim suddenly slowed and came to a stop on the front stretch ending his strong run. At this point it was looking like another modified feature at Big Diamond with yellow after yellow but not on this night as that turned out to be the final caution of the feature. Albert jumped to a safe lead and began to stretch his lead out as Colt Harris and Kyle Follweiler battled for the second position behind him.
At the halfway signal it was still Albert followed by Harris, Follweiler, Kevin Beach Jr and Andy Burhardt making up the top five as the track championship contenders could do no more on this evening but battle in sixth thru tenth. Albert stretched his lead until about five to go when he came up on a lapped car and seemed to have trouble getting by him which allowed Harris and Follweiler to start chomping into his lead.
“The lapped car gave us a little trouble there but it was mostly due to my car having issues with the power steering again this week,” stated Albert. “We lost the power steering last week that is why I pulled off and it started working intermittently again this week and I couldn’t keep it down in the corners. He held me up a little but not too bad”
Albert held on for the win followed by Harris, Follweiler, Beach Jr. and Howard coming back from his early wreck to finish 5th.
Harris who had his best finish of the season was pretty ecstatic in the tech area after the race.
“We have been really good in the heat races but when it comes feature time we miss it a little but that is usually not our thing. If it wasn’t for bad luck we wouldn’t have any but tonight we put it all together and the car was really good and we needed another five laps and I think we could’ve won the thing. It’s really good for Scott (Albert) though, he has really come along way and what he left the sport for how many years so it’s nice to see somebody come back and run upfront like that.
With the 305 Sprint cars running this weekend the Sportsman cars were given the night off.
Lias Tire 358 Modified Feature Results – 1. Scott Albert 2. Colt Harris 3. Kyle Follweiler 4. Kevin Beach Jr. 5. Duane Howard 6. Rick Laubach 7. Andy Burkhart 8. Billy Pauch Jr. 9. John Willman 10. Ray Swinehart 11. Meme DeSantis 12. Joe Mooney 13. Steve Searock 14. Heath Metzger 15. Shawn Fitzpatrick 16. Paul Moyer 17. Kent Reinart 18. Jimmy Bobbit Jr. 19. Justin Grim 20. Jared Umbenhauer
Lias Tire 358 Point Standings as of 7/31/15 – 1. Billy Pauch Jr 3489, 2. Duane Howard 3393, 3. Rick Laubach 3149, 4. John Willman 2868, 5. Kevin Beach Jr 2765, 6. Ray Swinehart 2669, 7. Meme Desantis 2664, 8. Colt Harris 2569, 9. Shawn Fitzpatrick 2482, 10. Justin Grim 2435
Grandview Speedway – August 1st, 2015 – It was an emotional evening on Saturday as the speedway paid tribute to fallen racer Mike Bailey who lost his life this past Tuesay due to a heart attack as he sat in his racecar awaiting the start of the modified feature. The pace car for the modified race was Mike’s #81 driven by his father Randy Bailey. The track also saluted Mike by doing a 4 abreast parade lap before the green flag was waved. The honary starter for the modified feature was Mike’s young son Eli who waved the green flag to start the race.
Jeff Stunk fresh off his win at Tuesday’s TOTH race made it two in a row for his Zubi’s Racing, Hig-Fab Chassis #88 by taking the lead early and then walking away with the modified feature. The win was Strunk’s second points paying win and fourth overall win of the season at “The Hill”.
Eric Biehn got the jump on polesitter Todd Smith to take the lead at the start with Kyle Borror, Meme Desantis and Ray Swinehart racing hard behind them for the third spot with Desantis winning the battle. Desantis quickly moved by Smith for second and set his sights on Biehn. The caution flag came out on lap nine for the spinning cars of Ron Haring and Jamie Speers. When the field went back to green Desantis was able to grab the lead from Biehn as a hard charging Strunk was able to get bay as well and move into second from his 12th starting position.
As the field completed lap 10 the caution flag again flew, this time for the third place running Biehn as he came to a stop on front stretch. When the field went back to green Strunk was able to battle by Desantis and the race was over for all intensive purposes as Strunk drove off and left everyone in his wake. While Strunk was stretching his lead lap after lap, there were torrid battles going on behind him for positions in the rest of the top five between Desantis, Swinehart, Borrow, rookie Jared Umbenhauer and last week’s winner and 15th place starter Duane Howard.
Howard worked his way into third by lap 18 setting up a great battle with Desantis for second as Strunk was in his own zip code leading the race. Howard and Desantis dueled hard for several laps before Howard finally made his way into second and set his sights on Strunk. But Strunk was nowhere to be found won going away to record the win. Howard finished a distant second followed by Desantis, Craig VonDohren and Umbenhauer who was debuting a new Bicknell Chassis this night to round out the top five.
The 20 lap sportsman feature was won by first time winner Mark Kemmerer after a rousing battle with veteran Ryan Beltz. Kemmerer lead from the outset to record the win. Finishing second was Beltz with Brett Gilmore, Craig Whitmoyer and Brandon Whitmoyer rounding out the top five.
This Saturday night August 8th will be the annual “Forrest Rogers Memorial” 40 lap feature for the mighty modifieds paying a whopping $10,000 to the winner. The winner will also receive a guaranteed redraw spot for the prestigious “Freedom 76” in September. Last year’s race was one of the best of the year when invader Danny Johnson passed Duane Howard with three laps to go to take the checkered flag and take the money back to New York.
T.P. Trailers NASCAR WNPV 1440 Modified Feature Finish (30 Laps): 1. Jeff Strunk, 2. Duane Howard, 3. Meme DeSantis, 4. Craig Von Dohren, 5. Jared Umbenhauer, 6. Kyle Borror, 7. Frank Cozze, 8. Doug Manmiller, 8. Danny Erb, 10. Don Norris Jr., 11. Glenn Strunk, 12. Ray Swinehart, 13. Ryan Grim, 14. Nate Christman, 15. Mike Gular, 16. Mike Laise, 17, Todd Smith, 18. Brian Houseknecht, 19. Mark Kratz, 20. Jamie Speers, 21. Ron Haring Jr., 22. John Willman, 23. Glenn Owens, 24. Eric Biehn, 25. Kevin Hirthler, 26. Mike Kellner, 27. Blaine Bracelin. DNS: Donnie Hoffman.
WNPV 1440 NASCAR Sportsman Feature Finish (25 Laps): 1. Mark Kemmerer, 2. Ryan Beltz, 3. Brett Gilmore, 4. Craig Whitmoyer, 5. Brandon Whitmoyer, 6. Mike Lisowski, 7. Kenny Gilmore, 8. Erik Renninger, 9. Ryan Lilick, 10. Brett Kressley, 11. Jordan Henn, 12. Brad Brightbill, 13. Brian Hirthler, 14. Ryan Shupp, 15. Joe Funk III, Sean Weiss, 17. Steve Young, 18. Kyle Lilick, 19. Jason Neidlinger, 20. Lex Shive, 21. Paul Houseknecht, 22. Brad Arnold, 23. Jim Housworth, 24. Paul Kline. DNQ: Paul Effrig, Mike Koffel, Nathan Mohr and Jesse Landis.
POINT STANDINGS FOR NASCAR 358 Modifieds as of 8/1/15 – 1. Craig VonDohren 3849, 2. Duane Howard 3803, 3. Doug Manmiller 3604, 4. Jeff Strunk 3399, 5. Danny Erb 3040, 6. Jared Umbenhauer 2932, 7. Mike Gular 2927, 8. Frank Cozze 2898, 9. Don Norris 2811, 10. John Willman 2614.
Sportsman Point Standings as of 8/1/15 – 1. Brett Kressley 3202, Kenny Gilmore 2952, 3. Craig Whitmoyer 2764, 4. Brett Gilmore 2663, 5. Jordan Henn 2644
New Egypt Speedway – August 1st, 2015 – On a night where the legends of dirt track racing were being honored at an intermission autograph session, it was 16 years young Ryan Krachun who stole the show by winning the 358 Modified feature, his second victory on the season. Krachun held off a hard charging Billy Pauch, Jr. at the line to score the victory.
Mike Butler and Krachun led the field to the green flag with Butler quickly jumping to the top spot. The first caution of the night waved for Neal Williams who spun in turn four and collected John Pakenham. On the restart Butler again jumped to the lead with Krachun giving chase as the caution would wave again for a spinning point leader Ryan Godown who collected Sammy Piazza. Butler would again jump out in front of Krachun who quietly began his pursuit of the leader. On lap 16 using the inside of turn four Krachun passed Butler to take the lead. The red flag would wave for Godown as his brake rotor caught fire along the back stretch and came to a stop in turn four. The fire was quickly extinguished and Godown was able to continue. On the impending restart Krachun again jumped to the lead and it was a hard charging Billy Pauch, Jr. who made quick work of third place Jimmy Horton and second place Butler to take over the second position. While Pauch, Jr. began his pursuit of the lead, it was his father Billy Pauch, Sr. and Horton who put on a show for several laps battling back and forth for the third position. On the final lap, Pauch, Jr. had made his way to the middle of Krachun’s side panel challenging the young gun for the lead. In the end it was Krachun by a nose at the line over Pauch, Jr., Pauch, Sr., Horton, and Godown who fought back for a solid fifth place finish.
Johnny Cornell of Neshanic Station, NJ was the victor of the first of two Sportsman features. Cornell led all 15 laps of the feature event that he dedicated to his late father who passed away earlier in the season. Young Brandon Grosso finished runner-up followed by JT Trstensky, Clay Butler, and Mike Lyons. Clay Butler, the third place finisher in feature number one, scored the victory in the second Sportsman feature event. Butler passed leader Will Dupree, who had led every lap of the event thus far, on lap 13 to take the victory. Finishing second was JT Trstensky followed by Johnny Cornell, Brandon Grosso, and Mike Hendershot.
Next Saturday, August 8th, is Beach Party night. Racing will be the 358 Modifieds, Crate Modifieds, Street Stocks, and NEWS Sprints. The first 100 children through the front gates will receive a free beach ball courtesy of Physical Therapy Associates of Mercer County. There will be boardwalk games and $1 food specials set up in the picnic area from 5 pm to 6 pm. Pit gates open at 4 pm, front gates open at 5 pm, hot laps begin at 6:15 pm, and racing starts at 7 pm. Adults are $20, seniors 65 and older are $18, teens 12-15 and military and their spouses with ID are $10, and children 11 and under are free.
Modified Feature (30 Laps): 1. Ryan Krachun 2. Billy Pauch Jr. 3. Billy Pauch 4. Mike Butler 5. Jimmy Horton 6. Ryan Godown 7. Chris Grbac 8. Sammy Piazza 9. David Van Horn 10. John McClelland 11. PJ Oliver 12. Chad Barney 13. Doug Ostwald 14. Patrick Gold 15. Chris Esposito 16. Danny Bouc 17. Neal Williams 18. John Packenham 19. Rick Holsten
Sportsman 1st Feature (15 Laps): 1. Johnny Cornell III 2. Brandon Grosso 3. J.T Trstensky 4. Clay Butler 5. Mike Lyons 6. Will Dupree 7. Mike Hendershot 8. Bobby Butler 9. Steve Davis 10. Matt Stangle 11. Jimmy Amato 12. Mike Mongiello 13. Dakota Kessler 14. Marty Resnick 15. Bob Lineman Jr. 16. Brian Papiez 17. Jason Dunn 18. Ryan Simmons 19. Tom Princiotta
Sportsman 2nd Feature (15 Laps): 1. Clay Butler 2. J.T Trstensky 3. Johnny Cornell III 4. Brandon Grosso 5. Mike Hendershot 6. Steve Davis 7. Bob Lineman Jr. 8. Bobby Butler 9. Matt Stangle 10. Dakota Kessler 11. Will Dupree 12. Mike Mongiello 13. Marty Resnick 14. Jimmy Amato 15. Ryan Simmons 16. Mike Lyons
Bridgeport Speedway (5/8) – August 1st, 2015 – David Hunt scored his first feature win of the season Saturday night at Bridgeport Speedway. Hunt and his crew worked to the late hours Friday night installing a new motor in their big block modified and all their hard work paid off with the win. Scott Ambruster led the first three laps until Dave Hunt drove his Furino & Sons General Contracting No. 27 into the lead on lap four of the twenty-five lap Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modified feature event and then proceeded to drive away from the field to capture his first win this season. Several times after taking the lead, Hunt had to restart with 2013 Bridgeport Champion, Ryan Watt to his outside but each time, Hunt was able to drive away from the competition. Watt was the first to congratulate Hunt in Victory Lane followed by third place finisher, Ryan Anderson. Completing the top five were Rick Laubach and Jamie Mills.
It was a similar story for CJ Jones who was forced to replace the engine in his Sal DeBruno owned No. 0 car after last week’s feature event. Jones led that event until a punctured oil pan cost him an engine as well as a win. This week, Jones returned with a Friesen Chevrolet Crate Engine under the hood and drove to victory. Jeff Bubori led the first six circuits before current point leader, Jim Britt took the lead on lap seven. Britt passed Jones in traffic and led through lap fifteen. Jones closed in on the leader and took the lead on lap sixteen. Jones took the win over Britt, Pete Visconti, Gary Hieber, Jr. and Pat Wall.
SPIRIT AUTO CENTER BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS (25 LAPS) 1. Dave Hunt, 2. Ryan Watt, 3. Ryan Anderson, 4. Rick Laubach, 5. Jamie Mills, 6. Wade Hendrickson, 7. Richie Pratt, Jr. 8. Jack Swain, 9. Kyle Hieber, 10. Howard O’Neal, 11. Jesse Hill, 12. Bob Sarkisian, 13. Jimmy Chester, 14. Tommy Beamer, 15. Dominick Buffalino, 16. Scott Irwin, 17. Ricky DiEva, 18. Ron Roberts, 19. Travis Hill, 20. Scott Ambruster, 21. Mike Franz, 22. Dave Shirk, 23. Jordan Watson
STEWARD STAINLESS CRATE/SPORTSMAN (20 LAPS) 1. CJ Jones, 2. Jim Britt, 3. Pete Visconti, 4. Gary Hieber, Jr. 5. Pat Wall, 6. Jeff Bubori, 7. Billy Osmun, 8. Steve Kemery, 9. Matthew Peck, 10. Jeremy Harrington, 11. Kevin Belmont, 12. David Crossman, 13. Pete Serra, 14. Melissa Scarpatti, 15. Scott Hulmes, 16. Ernie Miles, III, 17. Steve Desmelyk, 18. Chuck Potts