FIVE WINNERS IN BIG EVENT AT BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY; Howard, Michael, Jones, Doerr & Tanner Come Up with Bridgeport Wins

FIVE WINNERS IN BIG EVENT AT BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY; Howard, Michael, Jones, Doerr & Tanner Come Up with Bridgeport Wins

     The new track surface on the Bridgeport Speedway is getting rave reviews as fans sat on the edge of their seats for all twenty-five laps of the Spirit Dodge Big Block Modifed feature event on Sunday that saw three abreast racing before eventual winner, Duane Howard was able to claim the win.  The United Racing Club made its return to the Bridgeport Speedway with eight time URC Champion, Curt Michael capturing the win.  CJ Jones earned his first win of the season in the Crate/Sportsman feature event while Tom Tanner was the winner of the first D.A.’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie Feature event of the 2015 season.  Jeramy Doerr became the first driver to repeat at Bridgeport this season with his flag to flag win in the Stewart Stainless Outlaw Stock feature event.

     A former multi time Bridgeport Champion, Howard couldn’t contain his enthusiasm about the new track surface.  “Hats off to Keith (Hoffman) for the track preparation,” Howard exclaimed.  “I ran flat out the whole way, the top, bottom, you could run anywhere!”  Howard continued, “And this was an afternoon show!  Just wait until the night races – this track is going to be really racey!”

     Dominic Buffalino and Travis Hill led the field to the start with Buffalino grabbing the lead.  When Hill took a look to the outside of Buffalino, Mike Iles and David Hunt moved in to take second and third.  Iles took the lead following a lap three restart with Buffalino, Howard, Sammy Piazza and Jamie Mills in tow.  Buffalino challenged for the lead on lap six and crossed the start finish line side by side with Iles.  Howard made it three wide in turn two but took over second on lap eight.  Howard ran to the inside of Iles in turn three and the two drivers ran side by side for lap ten.

     Jesse Hill was a man on a mission as he cracked the top five just before half way.  Two laps later, Piazza fell to Hill’s challenge as Howard led Iles, Buffalino, Hill and Piazza with ten laps remaining.

     Hill used a lapped car to move ahead of Buffalino but Buffalino regained the spot before the lap was scored.

     A late race caution saw Iles head to the pits with the field realigning double file for the restart.  Howard chose the outside and had no trouble holding the lead as Mills move into second and 2013 Bridgeport Champion, Ryan Watt, took over third as he broke into the top five for the first time.  With Howard out in front, Watt chased down Mills for second.

     Howard led the way to the checkered flag for his forty-second Bridgeport win over Watt, Mills, Hill and Buffalino

      Curt Michael challenged for and took the lead on the first lap of the URC Sprint car feature and never looked back as he added win number fifty to his storied career.  Josh Weller picked up the runner-up spot for the URC season opener followed by Troy Betts, 2014 URC Champion, Davey Franek and Tyler Ross.

       CJ Jones picked up his first win of the season in the Crate/Sportsman main event as he raced Jim Britt to the finish line in the twenty lap feature.  Bob Lilick came from the rear to finish third with rookie driver, Steve Kemery finishing fourth.  Pat Wall nursed a flat rear tire to the finish for fifth.

     Jeramy Doerr made it two in a row in Stewart Stainless Outlaw Stock competition with Ron Frees picking up second for the second week in a row.   Brian Ludwig raced to third ahead of Jeff Dirkes and 2014 Champion, Jim Avery.

     Tom Tanner became the first winner in the Rookie Division with a flag to flag win over Steve Kemery in the D.A.’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie feature.

SPIRIT DODGE BIG BLOCK MODIFEDS (25 LAPS)

1. Duane Howard 2. Ryan Watt 3. Jamie Mills 4. Jesse Hill 5. Dominic Buffalino 6. Sammy Piazza 7. Craig VonDohren 8. Richie Pratt, Jr. 9. Wade Hendrickson 10. David Hunt 11. Ryan Anderson 12. Scott Ambruster 13. Mike Franz 14. Mike Barone 15. Ron Roberts 16. Mike Iles 17. Stan Frankenfield 18. Howard O’Neal 19. Scott VanGorder 20. Chuck Potts 21. Tommy Beamer 22. Eric Kormann 23. Bob Sarkisian 24. Travis Hill

CRATE/SPORTSMAN FEATURE (20 LAPS)
1. CJ Jones 2. Jim Britt 3. Bob Lilick 4. Steve Kemmery 5. Pat Wall 6. Justin Lilick 7. Dave Damiano 8. Scott Hulmes 9. Kris Lilick 10. Tom Tanner 11. Pete Serra 12. Bobby Bracall 13. Joe Nappi 14. Jeff Sargent 15. Robert Gaskill 16. JR Burritt 17. Bob Scott 18. Andy Lambert   DNS – Brett Kelly, Tom Holding, Dennis Drain

STEWART STAINLESS OUTLAW STOCKS (15 LAPS)
1. Jeramy Doerr 2. Ron Frees 3. Brian Ludwig 4. Jeff Dirkes 5. Jimmy Avery 6. Jack Beaumont 7. Joe Meron 8. Mark Vanimen 9. Jim Neely 10. Tom Wills, Jr.

D.A.’S AUTO BODY & REPAIR ROOKIES (8 LAPS)
1. Tom Tanner 2. Steve Kemmery 3. Roger Gaskill 4. Andy Lambert 5. JR Burritt 6. Dennis Drain 7. Tom Holding 8. Bryan Olsen

UNITED RACING CLUB FEATURE SPONSORED BY BRB CONSTRUCTION (25 LAPS)
1. Curt Michael 2. Josh Weller 3. Troy Betts 4. Davie Franek 5. Tyler Ross 6. Jimmy Stitzel 7. Mark Bitner 8. Jason Clauss 9. Scott Lutz 10. Mike Haggenbottom 11. Bill Unglert 12. Brad Franks 13. David Swanson 14. Justin Hoffman 15. Jason Cherry 16. Randy West 17. Jonathan Swanson 18. Robbie Stillwagon 19. Chuck Hebing 20. JR Berry