New Bridgeport 3/8ths-Mile Debuts With Thrilling Last-Lap Pass, Short Track Super Series to Invade Sunday

New Bridgeport 3/8ths-Mile Debuts With Thrilling Last-Lap Pass, Short Track Super Series to Invade Sunday

Story By: Brett Deyo/SSTS

Photos By: Jim Brown & Ted Malinowski/RacersGuide.com

BRIDGEPORT, NJ – A last-lap pass drew the crowd to its feet and set the stage for Sunday’s ‘South Jersey Shootout’ on the ALL-NEW three-eighths-mile located at Bridgeport Speedway.

The recently completed Design for Vision/Sunglass Central Speedway at the South Jersey complex hosted its first event this past Sunday (April 22) as a tune-up for the upcoming visit by the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By Sunoco this Sunday, April 29.

The inaugural Modified event on the three-eighths-mile was an instant classic, with young Matt Stangle and veterans Jeff Strunk and Ryan Godown battling three-wide for the lead with two laps remaining.

Ultimately it was Boyertown, Pa.’s Strunk completing the final-lap-and-turn pass of Stangle to etch his name in the history books forever.

The “first-event” top-five finish consisted of Strunk, Stangle, Godown, Duane Howard and Rick Laubach. All are expected to return for STSS competition this weekend.

Ryan Simmons bested the companion Crate 602 Sportsman event, which also featured competitive racing.

Now, attention turns to a busy Sunday evening display of Short Track Super Series action.

Round No. 2 of the STSS Velocita-USA big-block/small-block Modified South Region competition will be headlined by a 40-lap main offering $5,000 to win, $1,000 for 10th and $400 just to take the green flag.

STSS South Region Crate 602 Sportsman serve as the companion event with $1,000 going to a 20-lap winner and $100 reserved to take the green flag. Outlaw Stocks complete the tripleheader program.

Both the STSS Modified and Sportsman programs have been idle since launching the 2018 season in mid-March at Delaware’s Georgetown Speedway.

Ryan Watt defeated Matt Sheppard in late-race lapped traffic to win the Modified STSS lid-lifter, while 13-year-old Alex Yankowski won the Crate 602 Sportsman portion of the program.

The STSS Modified ‘South Jersey Shootout’ is celebrating its fourth running on Sunday. Past winners on the five-eighths-mile track are Stewart Friesen (2017), Wade Hendrickson (2016) and Rick Laubach (2015). This year, it’s a new track and a brand-new game!

Pit gates will open for the April 29 program at 1 p.m., with grandstand gates unlocked at 2 p.m. Hot laps begin at 4 p.m., with racing at 5 p.m.

Grandstand admission is $25 (ages 16 and up), $10 for Students (ages 10-15) and Kids 9 and under are FREE.

Pit admission is $35, with no license required.

Complete race information has been posted on the Short Track Super Series website at: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/south-jersey-shootout-rules-prices-general-info-3/

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 new three-eighths-mile oval and 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.

To learn more about the 2018 Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, check out ‘Short Track Super Series’ on Facebook or @ShortTrackSS on Twitter or Instagram.

The Short Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Insinger Performance, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Halmar International, Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Beyea Custom Headers, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Henry’s Exhaust, Hig Fab, HyperCo, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, K&N, Land Hoe Maintenance, Precision Hydraulic & Oil, QA1, Race Pro Weekly, Racing Optics, Superior Remodeling, Teo-Pro Car, Vahlco, Velocita, Weld & Wilwood.

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By Sunoco 2018 Schedule

Velocita-USA South Region

Saturday, March 17 – Georgetown Speedway/Georgetown, Del. – Melvin L. Joseph Memorial – WINNER: RYAN WATT

Sunday, April 29 – Bridgeport Speedway/Bridgeport, N.J. – South Jersey Shootout

Thursday, May 24 – Delaware International Speedway/Delmar, Del. – Diamond State 50

Tuesday, June 5 – Big Diamond Speedway/Minersville, Pa. – Anthracite Assault – COMBO

Sunday, July 29 – BAPS Motor Speedway/Newberrytown, Pa. – York County Nationals $10,000 to win!

Tuesday, August 28 – Georgetown Speedway/Georgetown, Del. – Blast at the Beach

Friday, October 12 – Port Royal Speedway/Port Royal, Pa. – Speed Showcase

Friday-Saturday October 26-27 – Georgetown Speedway/Georgetown, Del. – Mid-Atlantic Championship Weekend