EDDIE WAGNER MAKES A LAST LAP PASS FOR THE WIN AT BRIDGEPORT
EDDIE WAGNER MAKES A LAST LAP PASS FOR THE WIN AT BRIDGEPORT
(Bridgeport, NJ)
Eddie Wagner, of Franklinville NJ, earned his first victory of the 2015 season, making a thrilling last lap pass to win over Dave Brown, Mike Haggenbottom, Jon Haegele, and Bob DeVault. This was Wagner’s first visit to victory lane since November of 2013, and by the looks of how well his season has started off, it does not look to be his last.
There were twenty-two TSRS sprint cars in attendance for the “Camera and Autograph” themed event, with two heat race triumphs going to Mike Haggenbottom and Adam Carberry. Before the night began, fans were able to meet and greet with their favorite drivers, receiving photos and autographs behind the grandstands at Bridgeport Speedway.
The field was inverted by 10, putting Dave Brown and Jon Haegele on the front row. As the field came around to take the green flag, it was Brown who shot to the lead going into turn one. Going down the back stretch and into turns three and four, Mike Haggenbottom and Eddie Wagner seemed to be on a mission, with Wagner advancing from fifth to third and Haggenbottom coming from ninth to the sixth position. The caution came out on lap two for the first time for Tim Smolenyak who spun out in turn four.
On the restart, Brown brought the field to the green and when entering turn one, Jon Haegele went to the high side making an attempt to capture the lead. Going down the back stretch it was Haegele and Brown drag racing for the top spot with Haegele once again sailing his bright orange number 61 CRC sponsored sprinter around the top, this time taking over the lead on lap three. A second caution was brought out on lap three for Scott Frack, who spun in turn three.
With the cars all bunched back together, Jon Haegele lead the field down the front stretch, again using the top side to his advantage, pulling away from the field as the race continued on. Although the 61 was making the high side look like the fastest way around the high speed oval, Eddie Wagner was making his way to the front by working the inside, taking second spot from Dave Brown on lap six. Mike Haggenbottom, who was also maneuvering his way on the bottom moved into fourth position, just in time to make it into the show that was unfolding between the top three.
“With this new clay, the racing is so much better,” says Wagner about the multi-groove racing. “We’re able to run where ever we want, making it a much better show for the fans, and a great time racing out there for us drivers. I can’t thank Danny, Keith, Brian and Dave enough for all they do to provide us with a great race track every time TSRS comes to Bridgeport”.
Lapped traffic came into play on lap nine, and Wagner, Brown and Haggenbottom began to gain some ground on the leader. On lap eleven, the AC Racing number 70 of Eddie Wagner seized the lead from Jon Haegele while chopping back and forth between the slower cars. On lap twelve however, Haegele captured the lead back from Wagner running again on the high side coming out of turn two. Wagner almost got tangled with the lapped car of Smolenyak, who was pulling off onto the quarter mile track down the front stretch, but was able to recover, not losing the second position or much ground on the 61 car. Dave Brown, who was running in third, seemed to have pulled a magic trick out of his hat, when he passed both Wagner and Haegele on the high side in turns three and four on lap thirteen, capturing his early lead back in a crowd pleasing way. Maneuvering through heavy lapped traffic continued with Dave Brown leading, Eddie Wagner second, and Mike Haggenbottom now sitting in third after passing Haegele coming out of turn three. The third and final caution of the night came out for Zack Burd, who was sitting on the front stretch after spinning.
When asked about his preference to the inside lane, Wagner explained “The leaders were running the top, and the bottom was left open, so I didn’t feel the need to go up there. My car always runs well on the inside groove, so I just focused on being fast down there, so when I caught the leaders, I would be able to pass them without any trouble”.
With six laps remaining, and no lapped cars in sight, the winner was soon to be determined with at least five possible contenders now in line ready to take to final green flag. Dave Brown took the lead, stretching it out over ten car lengths down the back straight away on the fourteenth circuit, with Eddie Wagner sitting in second, not showing any signs of giving up. Haggenbottom began putting the pressure on Wagner for second, but the number 70 did not let up and continued to hunt down Dave Brown and his Ennis Fuels & Burners Service number 44 machine for the front-running spot. While Brown worked the top and Wagner, again showing favoritism to the bottom, Eddie finally took the lead on lap nineteen and never looked back. With the checkered flag waving, Eddie Wagner took the win, with Dave Brown finishing a strong second place, Mike Haggenbottom coming home in third, Jon Haegele finishing fourth, and Bob DeVault rounding out the top five, finishing fifth.
Eddie, who has had a history of heart breaks throughout his six year sprint car racing career, took time to thank the ones who have helped him through the years. “Without the help of my dedicated crew guys, Mark “Shag” Dundon, Marco Michetti, and Brandon Weber, my family for all of their continuing support, the Purks Family at Langhorne Racing Engines for getting my engine program back in order, AC Racing & Palmco Race Car Repair, tonight would not be possible. I can’t forget my Dad who was unable to make it tonight because he was stuck at work, because without him, I would not be standing here today”.
The TSRS Sprints return this coming Saturday on May 9th at New Egypt Speedway for the second time this season. Pit gates open at 3 pm, front gates open at 4 pm, hot laps start at 5:15 pm, and racing starts at 6 pm. Adults are $20, seniors 65 and older are $18, teens 12-15 and active military and their spouses are $10, and children 11 and under are FREE. Visit www.tsrs1.com,www.newegyptspeedway.net or follow us on our Facebook page for more details or upcoming events.
HEAT#1: Mike Haggenbottom, Bob DeVault, Eddie Wagner, Joe Lord, Jon Haegele, Karl Fryer, Rick Stief, Chris Allen, Harris Kohen, Joe Kay, Tim Smolenyak
HEAT#2: Adam Carberry, Jamie Kostic, Tim Tanner, Jeff Geiges, Dave Brown, Scott Frack, Bryant Davis, Zack Burd, Tony Smolenyak, Pat U’Selis, Samantha Lieberman
FEATURE: Eddie Wagner, Dave Brown Jr., Mike Haggenbottom, Jon Haegele, Bob DeVault, Adam Carberry, Tim Tanner, Jeff Geiges, Rick Stief, Chris Allen, Jamie Kostic, Karl Fryer, Joe Lord, Scott Frack, Samantha Lieberman, Harris Kohen, Zack Burd, Bryant Davis, Joe Kay, Tim Smolenyak, Pat U’Selis
HARD CHARGER: Mike Haggenbottom
FEATURE FAST TIME: Jon Haegele – 20.108
