LAUBACH, KEMERY & WELLER CLAIM VICTORY IN BRB CONTRACTORS SPONSORED EVENT AT BRIDGEPORT

LAUBACH, KEMERY & WELLER CLAIM VICTORY IN BRB CONTRACTORS SPONSORED EVENT AT BRIDGEPORT

Story By: Deb Smith/Bridgeport Speedway

Photos By: Richard Jester/RacersGuide.com

Rick Laubach claimed his 51st Big Block Modified victory in the BRB Contractors sponsored tripleheader at the Bridgeport Speedway while Steve Kemery picked up his second win of the season in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate/Sportman main event. Josh Weller did everything that he could to defend his title in the Capitol Renegade United Racing Club season opener, picking up the win – his first of the season.

It was a welcome relief for Laubach, to be standing in Victory Lane, after a winless 2018 season. “Everything just worked out right for us today,” Laubach related. “We definitely had an angel looking out for us,” Laubach stated, referring to Lori Herman, along with husband, Gary owned the No. 7 that Laubach pilots at Bridgeport. Lori lost her hard fought battle to cancer last year.

Laubach drew the pole for the start of the twenty-five lap main event for the Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modiifeds but he had Bridgeport’s All Time Feature Winner, Jimmy Horton, starting alongside. Laubach quickly moved in front at the wave of the green . Horton held down second for the first ten laps until Brandon Grosso made the pass for the runner-up spot on a lap eleven restart.

Grosso was able to close in on Laubach to offer a challenge but was never able to capitalize on the opportunity.

Laubach raced to the win, his first Bridgeport victory since July of 2017. Grosso took second over Horton. Jeff Strunk held off the advance of Ryan Watt to take fourth. Dave Hunt, Brian Papiez, Dave Shirk, Richie Pratt, Jr. and Ron Roberts rounded out the top ten.

The win paid Laubach $3,000 including the bonus offered by BRB Contractors for this event.

For the fourth time in the last five races, Steve Kemery raced to the win in the South Jersey Overhead Door 602 Crate/Sportsman, picking up the extra bonus paid by Precision Hydraulic.

For eighteen laps, it appeared as Joe Toth was on his way to his first Bridgeport victory. Toth led until a red flag was needed at the end of eighteen laps when Kevin Belmont and Ernie Miles III tangled in turn two with Miles getting upside down. Both drivers escaped injury.

When the filed lined up for a single file restart with two laps to go, Toth lost fuel pressure. Kemery was able to take the lead while Toth’s No. 9 flatered before slowing on the backstretch and then coming to a complete stop, bringing out another caution.

Kemery took the win over Jim Gallagher, Jr., Matt Peck, Wayne Weaver and John Micek. Rich Wenger, Chris Jenkins, John Cavallaro, Kevin Borden and Justin Lilick completed the top ten at the checkered flag.

Josh Weller put together twenty-five perfect laps in the first step in defending his title with the United Racing Club.

Steve Buckwalter, driving the Bob Lilick owned No. 7, was the only driver to offer a challenge to Weller but Buckwalter was forced to pit for a flat tire during the race’s final laps.

Chad Layton took over second but was never able to get close enough to Weller to mount a challenge.

Weller led Layton, Jason Shultz, Curt Michale and Lucas Wolfe to the finish line. Shultz ran in the top five during the entire event while Michael made a late race charge to take over fourth. Troy Betts finished sixth ahead of Austin Bishop and Tyler Ross. Steve Buckwalter rallied to ninth place finish after his tire change with Davie Franek finishing tenth.

The Bridgeport Speedway will remain idle until Saturday, May 4th for the first regular Saturday night event of the season and the start of the 2019 point season.

SPIRIT AUTO CENTER BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS (25 laps) – 1. Rick Laubach, 2. Brandon Grosso, 3. Jimmy Horton, 4. Jeff Strunk, 5. Ryan Watt, 6. David Hunt, 7. Brian Papiez, 8. Dave Shirk, 9. Richie Pratt, Jr., 10. Ron Roberts, 11. Bob Sarkisian, 12. Todd Neilheiser, 13. Bill Lasko, 14. Jack Swain, 15. Tommy Beamer, DNS – Mike Franz, Billy Pauch, Sr., Brett Ballard, Roger Manning

SOUTH JERSEY OVERHEAD DOORS 602 CRATE SPORTSMAN (20 laps) – 1. Steve Kemery, 2. Jim Gallagher, Jr., 3. Matthew Peck, 4. Wayne Weaver, 5. John Micek, 6. Rich Wegner, Jr., 7. Chris Jenkins, 8. John Cavallaro, 9. Kevin Borden, 10. Justin Lilick, 11. Joe Toth, 12. Kevin Belmont, 13. Ernie Miles, III, 14. Erne Miles, Jr., 15. Scott Hulmes, 16. Pete Serra, 17. Andrew Belmont.

CAPITAL RENEGADE URC 360 SPRINTS (25 laps) – 1. Josh Weller, 2. Chad Layton, 3. Jason Schultz, 4. Curt Michael, 5. Lucas Wolfe, 6. Troy Betts, 7. Austin Bishop, 8. Tyler Ross, 9. Steve Buckwalter, 10. Davie Franek, 11. Ryan Stillwaggon, 12. Larry McVay, 13. Bill Unglert, 14. Mark VonHorst, 15. Chris Allen, 16. Adam Carberry, 17. Ryan Watt, 18. Austin Morris, 19. Zack Burd, 20. Ryan Quakenbush.