DUANE HOWARD MAY NEED TO USE HIS POKER FACE AS HE HOLDS A PAIR OF ACES IN THE 811 DIG SAFE POKER SERIES

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DUANE HOWARD MAY NEED TO USE HIS POKER FACE AS HE HOLDS A PAIR OF ACES IN THE 811 DIG SAFE POKER SERIES

Former track champion, Duane Howard drove the Atlas Trucking No. 66 to his second Bridgeport Speedway victory in the forty lap 811 Dig Safely 2016 Poker Series. It was Howard’s second Poker Series win, giving Howard a pair of Aces to lead the Poker competition through four hands.

It was the fourth hand in the 811 Dig Safely Poker Series for the Crate/Sportsman, as well, with young Matt Stangle earning the win and the Ace for his win in the twenty lap feature event. The Outlaw Stocks are one hand behind the other divisions as TJ Henry picked up his second Poker Series win this season to also hold a pair of Aces through the third hand of the competition.

The Poker Series was introduced to the Bridgeport Speedway by former track champion/promoter, Doug Hoffman when he brought the Big Block Modifieds back to the 5/8 mile speedway during the 2012 season. The Poker Series was a success and has been continued each season since Hoffman’s introduction.

This season, Colonial Pipeline came on board as the title sponsor of the 2016 Poker Series. Colonial PIpeline asks that you call 8-1-1 before you dig. Colonial’s pipelines are buried underground, usually with a minimum of three feet of cover. Over time, however, erosion and human activities can change that depth. That’s why is it’s important to always call 811 before you begin any digging project! Be safe – dial 8-1-1 first!

The Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds saw four different leaders in the feature event with pole sitter, Ryan Anderson leading the field for the first eleven laps. Anderson led the way but not without challenges. Ryan Watt raced to the outside of Anderson to slide ahead of the leader on lap six but the caution waved for last week’s feature winner, CJ Jones and Watt’s efforts were negated as he was back to second on the restart.

Watt fell back on the restart as Hendrickson moved up to second and Rick Laubach and Howard battled for the third spot.

With eleven laps on the books and another restart, Hendrickson powered by Anderson to take the lead and this time it was Anderson who slid backwards, out of the top five. Howard raced into second followed by Laubach, Joseph Watson in the Blue Hen No. 30 and Dominick Buffalino.

The names were the same but the order was shuffled as Hendrickson and then Howard took the crossed flags for half way. Laubach ran third with Buffalino and Joseph Watson trailing.

Two laps later, Sam Martz drew a caution when he slowed on the track. Hendrickson elected to start from the inside. The multi-grooved track surface changed throughout the race and now, Howard could use the outside to drive by Hendrickson as the drove into turn three on lap twenty-three.

With Howard out in front, both Laubach and Brett Kressley began to make great strides forward using the fast outside line. Laubach, who had dropped back to fourth, made his way by Buffalino before taking on Hendrickson for second. Kressley, who ran outside the top five on a lap twenty-five restart, raced by Buffalino and then Hendrickson to race in third behind Howard and Laubach with ten laps to go.

Watt had a second tire issue and drew a caution, setting up another side by side challenge for the lead. Howard raced on the outside of Laubach and pulled out in front as the leaders exited turn two on lap thirty-one. Hendrickson challenged Kressley for third.

Laubach slowed and headed to the pits on lap thirty-four as Hendrickson now ran second to Howard, followed by Kressley, Joseph Watson and Buffalino.

As the laps counted down, Kressley had a tire going down. With Howard and Hendrickson leading the way, Joseph Watson passed Kressley for third with five to go. Buffalino and the number one driver on Bridgeport’s Feature Win List, Jimmy Horton raced with Kressley for a spot in the top five. With two to go, Buffalino took over fourth. Horton and Kressley took it to the final lap with Horton grabbing the spot as the field raced to the checkered flag.

“My car was so tight early in the race that I thought I had a motor issue,” Howard explained. But the track came to Howard later in the race and there were no issues with the new Billy the Kid powerplant under the hood of the No. 66. “We really needed this,” Howard stated. “It’s been a month or so since we had a win. We’ve been struggling.”

Howard has won twice in 811 Dig 2016 Poker Series with Buffalino and Sam Martz also collecting one win a piece and an Ace for their Poker hands.

Seventeen year old, Matt Stangle held off the late race challenges of Jeff Bubori to win his second Bridgeport feature of the season and capture his first Poker Series win, collecting an Ace for his efforts in Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman competition.. Bubori had a strong outing, finishing second after challenging for the lead. Brian Papiez, the winner of the last Poker Series event for the Crate/Sportsman, finished third followed by Brandon Grosso and Stephen Kemery. Grosso, Pete Visconti, Papiez and Stangle all hold Aces for the Poker competition.

TJ Henry picked up his sixth win of the season and second 811 Dig Safely Poker Series win as he raced to the checkered flag ahead of Ron Frees, the winner of the first Poker Series hand for the PennCo Tech Outlaw Stocks. Henry now holds two Aces and Frees one in the three hands that have been completed for this division.

Tom Wills, Jr. finished third with Brian Ludwig and Scott Dugan following the leaders to the checkered flag.

Tripleheader action returns to the Bridgeport Speedway this Saturday night as the sprint cars from the Hilborn Tri-State Race Saver Sprints join the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modifieds and Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman. And for the kids – a Money Scramble! Racing gets underway at 7pm.

811 DIG SAFELY 2016 POKER SERIES (HAND #4 FOR MODS & C/S, HAND #3 FOR OUTLAWS)

SPIRIT AUTO CENTER BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS (40 laps): 1. Duane Howard, 2. Wade Hendrickson, 3. Joseph Watson, 4. Dominick Bufffalino, 5. Jimmy Horton, 6. Brett Kressley, 7. Ryan Anderson, 8. Ryan Watt, 9. Richie Pratt, Jr., 10. Jordan Watson, 11. Ryan Krachun, 12. Jim Britt, 13. Ron Roberts, 14. Mike Franz, 15. Rick Laubach, 16. Billy Pauch, Jr., 17. Sam Martz, 18. Brad Robert, 19. Danny Bouc, 20. Scott Ambruster, 21. Craig VonDohren, 22. C.J. Jones, 23. David Hunt, 24. Stan Frankenfield, DNS – Dave Shirk, Tommy Scheetz, Pete Visconti, Jeff Strunk, Tommy Beamer, Billy Pauch, Sr., Bob Sarkisian

STEWART STAINLESS SUPPLY CRATE/SPORTSMAN (20 laps): 1. Matt Stangle, 2. Jeff Bubori, 3. Brian Papiez, 4. Brandon Grosso, 5. Steve Kemery, 6. Steve Davis, 7. David Crossman, 8. Cylde Cox, 9. Bill Briggs, 10. John Micek, 11. Roger Manning, 12. Matt Smith, 13. Adam Cox, 14. Tom Sherby, 15. Tom Holding, 16. John Farissier, 17. Jeremy Harrington, 18. Jeramy Doerr, 19. Scott Hulmes, DNS – Melissa Scarpati, Bob Lilick, Kris Lilick, Eric Kormann

PENNCO TECH OUTLAW STOCKS (15 laps): 1. T.J. Henry, 2. Ron Frees, 3. Tom Wills, Jr., 4. Brian Ludwig, 5. Scott Dugan, 6. Billy Wroble, 7. Jeff Dirkes, 8. Ed Bischoff, 9. Jon Meyer, 10. Terry Griffin, 11. Doug DeBray, 12. Jimmy Avery, 13. Jack Beaumont, 14. Joe Meron, 15. Mark Campagna, 16. Art Avery, 17. John Parker, 18. Spider Ensinger, 19. Gary Klimeczak

Upcoming events

Saturday, July 9 – Kids Money Scramble – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman & Tri State Race Saver Sprint Cars, racing at 7pm

Saturday, July 16 – First Responders Night – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman & Twin 12s for Outlaw Stocks, racing at 7pm

Saturday, July 23 – BIKE NIGHT – Big Block Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman, Tri State Race Saver Sprints & GS Vintage Cars, racing at 7pm

Saturday, July 30 – JEEP JAMBOREE – Romp in the Swamp for Dystonia – Sponsored by Spirit Auto Center – Big Blocks, Twin 15s for Crate/Sportsman and Outlaw Stocks, racing at 7pm

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