Quick Draw: Rick Laubach Makes History As First-Ever ‘South Jersey Shootout’ Winner At Bridgeport Speedway; Hellertown, PA Driver Earns $5,400-Plus In Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek South Region Opener

Quick Draw: Rick Laubach Makes History As First-Ever ‘South Jersey Shootout’ Winner At Bridgeport Speedway; Hellertown, PA Driver Earns $5,400-Plus In Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek South Region Opener

Written by Cody Manmiller

BRIDGEPORT, NJ – Rick Laubach was quickest to the draw and outgunned the competition on his way to a ‘South Jersey Shootout’ victory at Bridgeport Speedway on Sunday.

As the class of the field, Laubach took the pole starting position and cruised to the $5,400 payday plus contingency awards in the opening race of the Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled by Hi-Tek Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. South Region presented by Scotty’s Speed & Diesel. Laubach, 44, of Hellertown, Pa., led all 40 laps of the big-block/small-block Modified feature event.

Sunday’s event at the spacious South Jersey oval kicked off the five-race STSS South Region, in its first season under the management of BD Motorsports Media LLC.

“It just all worked out,” said Laubach in the familiar Bridgeport Victory Lane. “The track was good tonight, it was more my style. Obviously it didn’t hurt starting first but then everyone behind you can go where they want,” noted Laubach.

With Laubach, in the Gary Hermann-owned No. 7, and much of the leaders running the bottom groove early in the race, it allowed cars from deeper in the pack to make some headway on the outside.

At the drop of the green, it was Laubach who snatched the early lead ahead of David Van Horn, the outside pole-sitter. He quickly widened his margin while Van Horn and Duane Howard battled for the runner-up spot.

The second caution of the night came on lap 15 when J.R. Heffner slowed in turn four, a fortunate time for the race leader, as Laubach just began to catch lap traffic. The big mover at the time was Ryan Watt, coming from the 12^th position.  Watt’s extreme outside lane progress landed the Boyertown, Pa., driver in sixth position at the yellow.

Shortly after the green waved, Watt jumped into fourth, roaring around the outside of Ryan Godown and Richie Pratt Jr. before a caution halted things again on lap 24.

Watt electrified the crowd on lap 26 when he blistered passed Howard and Van Horn to take the second spot with Craig Von Dohren, the 24^th-starter, now following suit on the outside, in fifth, driving the Dick Biever-owned No. 14s.

On lap 31, Watt made his charge for the lead, reaching the back bumper of Laubach’s machine. But when Laubach moved to the outside himself, it was all over.

“My crew was waving their arms at me, so I thought I better get going on the outside,” Laubach said.

Van Horn, of Harmony, N.J., battled back for a second-place finish in a rare Bridgeport Speedway start. Van Horn, a New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway regular, earned the largest single-event payday of his Modified career as a result of the runner-up effort.  Van Horn earned $3,200 plus other incentives for his efforts.

Oley, Pa.’s Von Dohren placed third. Von Dohren was leading his heat race when a right-rear tire went down. He ultimately had to qualify via a consolation. Von Dohren’s advance netted him $500 cash as the Touch of Green Landscaping (Boyertown, Pa.) Hard Charger.  Von Dohren’s third-place total was $2,560-plus.

Watt settled for fourth in the Ron Roberts-owned No. 14W but not without leaving an impression on the crowd. His run to the front was the only significant challenge that Laubach faced on the night.

Rounding out the top five was a returning Jack Swain, who started inside row two. Swain, of Pilesgrove, N.J., hovered somewhere inside the top five all evening and was able to bring home a solid finish.

Finishing sixth through 10^th, respectively, were Ryan Godown of Ringoes, N.J., a winner at Bridgeport already this season; Billy Pauch Jr. of Frenchtown, N.J., in the Pakenham Motorsports No. 18 Jr.; Milford, Del.’s Jamie Mills, the 20^th-place starter; Mike Franz of National Park, N.J., another big mover from the 16^th spot; and Montgomery, N.Y.’s Anthony Perrego, who had to drop to the tail end of the field when he suffered a right-rear flat on lap 24.

A total of 42 big-block/small-block Modifieds attempted to qualify for the STSS South Region opener.  Drivers in the field represented New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New York and Massachusetts.

Heat winners – earning $50 each from C&S Equipment – were Wade Hendrickson (Lawrenceville, N.J.), Mike Iles (Medford, N.J.), Ryan Anderson (Peach Bottom, Pa.) and Perrego.

Consolation victors were Andy Bachetti of Sheffield, Mass., and Mike Barone of Hillsborough, N.J.

Brett Kressley continued his domination of the area’s Sportsman division, scoring a dominant win in the 20-lap Sportsman/Crate 602 headliner. Kressley, of Orefield, Pa., used a front-row starting berth to earn a $750 payday, holding off Pat Wall.

The win was Kressley’s third of the weekend and sixth of the very early ’15 campaign.

Brian Carber of Pipersville, Pa., drove from sixth position to win the 20-lap XCel 600 Modified main. Carber is a moonlighting Sprint Car and Micro-Sprint driver in Doug Borger’s traveling XCel 600 Modified series. He earned $1,000 for his efforts.

Jeramy Doerr of Richland, N.J., was the Outlaw Stock 20-lap victor.

The Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek continues Tuesday, May 5 (rain date: May 6) at Pa.’s Big Diamond Speedway with the ‘Anthracite Assault’ special offering $5,000 to win, $1,000 for 10^th and $400 to take the green flag for 50 laps. The event is a combination North and South Region event. Sportsman and XCel 600 Modifieds complete the program.

To learn more about the Short Track Super Series or BD Motorsports Media LLC, visit www.shortttracksuperseries.com orwww.bdmotorsportsmedia.com, call 845.728.2781 or e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com.  “Like” Short Track Super Series on Facebook or follow @ShortTrackSS on Twitter.

Located in South Jersey, just minutes from Pennsylvania and Delaware at I-295 Exit 14, Bridgeport Speedway is a spacious five-eighths-mile clay oval with a quarter-mile embedded in the center. Bridgeport Speedway provides a safe and secure family atmosphere, free parking, giveaways and fan participation. To learn more, visit www.bpspeedway.com.

SHOOTOUT SHORTS: On a beautiful spring day, 105 race cars filled the Bridgeport Speedway pit area. A large crowd migrated to the South Jersey track’s massive grandstands for the first-ever BD Motorsports Media LLC co-promotion at the track….

David Van Horn Jr. had a busy day running both the XCel 600 Modified event (finishing fifth) and the Modified 40-lapper (placing second). Van Horn expects to have a fresh chassis for the next STSS event at Pa.’s Big Diamond Speedway May 5….

With pulley and fan assembly issues, Jesse Hill scratched his No. 99H from the Modified feature and hopped into the Jordan Watson No. 1J for the main. He pulled off shortly after the start….

Anthony Perrego towed south to Bridgeport on the heels of his first Orange County (N.Y.) Fair Speedway big-block triumph on Saturday night. Perrego’s 10^th-place finish Sunday at Bridgeport was worth $1,103….

Rick Laubach righted his poor luck from the STSS Bob Hilbert Sportswear North Region opener at Orange County April 11, where he broke while running second….

A base payout of more than $25,000 was distributed to the Modified field. Due to the large car count, two additional, fully paid starters were added to the lineup by STSS officials and Hi-Tek Race Fuels for a total of 26 taking the green in the main event….

The XCel 600 Modifieds were making their first Bridgeport visit, with a full field of 24 cars taking on the inner quarter-mile oval….

The new Kressley’s Auto & Truck Sales (Orefield, Pa.) STSS pace truck made its debut for the season….

Keith Gerhart performed the National Anthem prior to the start of racing, and then sang ‘God Bless America’ while the Modified feature field was staged in behind the grandstands….

The Short Track Super Series is presented by Hi-Tek Race Fuel, American Racer/Lias Tire, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc., Scotty’s Speed & Diesel, East Coast Speed/ECS Auto, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Allstar Performance, ATL Fuel Cells, Bicknell Racing Products, COMP Performance Group (COMP Cams, Driven Racing Oil & Quarter Master), Crane Ignition, Dirt Track Digest, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Henry’s Stainless Steel Exhaust, Hig Fab Chassis, Hyperco, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Lineman Racing, Pilat Graphic Design, Race Pro Weekly, Racers Guide, S&D Bodyline, S&W Awards, Shiley Fabrication, Simplicity Design, Teo-Pro Car, Vahlco Wheels & VP Racing Fuel.

‘SOUTH JERSEY SHOOTOUT’ RACE SUMMARY – SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2015

Short Track Super Series Fueled By Hi-Tek Pioneer Pole Buildings Inc. South Region Presented By Scotty’s Speed & Diesel Event No. 1 Feature Finish (40 Laps): RICK LAUBACH ($5,400), David Van Horn Jr., Craig Von Dohren, Ryan Watt, Jack Swain, Ryan Godown, Billy Pauch Jr., Jamie Mills, Mike Franz, Anthony Perrego, Duane Howard, Wade Hendrickson, Billy Pauch Sr., Andy Bachetti, Dominic Buffalino, Brian Kressley, Eric Kormann, Mike Barone, Mike Iles, Richie Pratt Jr., Neal Williams, Tyler Dippel, Ryan Anderson, J.R. Heffner, Matt Jester, Jesse Hill.

Did Not Qualify: Corey Anderson, Shawn Ward, Bob Sarkisian, Sam Martz, Justin Grim, Scott Van Gorder, Kyle Merkel, Jordan Watson, Howard O’Neal, Ian Humphreys, Tommy Beamer, Sammy Piazza, Rob Roberts, Scott Ambruster, Brad Trice, David Hunt.

‘Lucky 7’ Lap Money Breakdown ($1,218 Total): Rick Laubach ($400); David Van Horn Jr. ($200); Jack Swain ($130); Richie Pratt Jr. ($110); Ryan Godown ($105); Duane Howard ($80); Craig Von Dohren ($60); Anthony Perrego ($53); Ryan Watt ($40); Jamie Mills ($20); Billy Pauch Jr. ($20).

Allstar Performance Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Craig Von Dohren (third) and Jamie Mills (eighth)
American Racer/Lias Tire Bonuses (FREE Tire): Jamie Mills (eighth) and Andy Bachetti (14^th)
ATL Fuel Cell Bonus ($100 Certificate): Jack Swain (fifth)
Bill Brown & Co. Fifth-Place Bonus ($100 Cash): Jack Swain (fifth)
Bob Hilbert Sportswear Bonuses ($100 Certificates): Craig Von Dohren (third), Billy Pauch Sr. (13^th) & Ryan Anderson (23^rd)

C&S Equipment Heat Winners ($50 Each): Wade Hendrickson, Mike Iles, Ryan Anderson, Anthony Perrego
‘Delmar Gang’ Halfway Leader ($200): Rick Laubach
Fast Axle Bonus ($50 Certificate): Billy Pauch Jr. (seventh)
Hi-Tek Race Fuel/VP Racing Fuel Bonuses ($50 Credit): Rick Laubach (winner), David Van Horn Jr. (second), Craig Von Dohren (third)
Lineman Racing Bonuses ($50 Certificates): Billy Pauch Jr. (seventh) & Brian Kressley (16^th)
Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck Award: Sam Martz
S&W Awards Winner’s Hardware: Rick Laubach
Vahlco Wheels Bonus (FREE Wheel): Jack Swain
WizFab ‘Lightning Lap Award’ Bonus (Bumpers & Rubrails): Rick Laubach (21.298 seconds)

Touch of Green Landscaping Hard Charger ($500): Craig Von Dohren (24^th to third)

Crate/Sportsman Feature Finish (20 Laps): BRETT KRESSLEY, Pat Wall, Steve Searock IV, Scott Hitchens, Steve Davis, Brett Ballard, Brad Roberts, C.J. Jones, Dave Damiano, Brandon Grosso, Jim Britt, John Micek, Mike Hendershot, Mike Mammana, Matthew Peck, Kevin Belmont, Richie Wilson, Brandon Watkins, Bobby Butler, Melissa Scarpati, John Kelly, Steve Kemery, Clay Butler, Jordn Justice.

XCel 600 Modified Feature Finish (20 Laps, Inner Oval): BRIAN CARBER ($1,000), Ryan Higgs, Josh Pepe, Richie Hitzler, David Van Horn Jr., Aaron Bowes, Jonathan Josko, Jason Dunkleberger, Jonathan Pepe, Nick Mady, Nathan Brinker, Will Eastman, Kyle Inglin, Bud Leizaer, Brian Blankenbiller, Dakota Barlet, Jason Mills, Vincent Varano, Kam Maby, Shawna Schibilia, Billy Koch, Brian Mady, Charles Bowers, Kory Inglin.

Outlaw Stock Feature Finish (20 Laps): JEREMY DOEER, Jack Beamont, Mick Search, Ken Moren, Mike Vanimen, Jim Neely, Jimmy Avery.