Bridgeport Speedway News

Wyers, Wagner, Sr., Ward and White take top honors at Little Bridgeport Friday May 25, 2001.

Bridgeport, NJ: Jim Wyers out of Marmora, NJ continued his streak of 7 straight top three finishes to win his third 250cc main of the year. John Wagner, Sr. captured his first career 600cc feature and Shawn Ward in his Nixon Uniform sponsored 125cc takes his initial victory of the year. Steve White preps for next week`s series by winning the Modified Lites headliner.

As threatening skies and a slight drizzle fell, George Idell jumped out to the early lead over Monroeville, NJ Bob DeVault as the 250cc Micros took to the track for their main event. Action was slowed on lap 3 as Mark Nestor stopped in turn four and Mike Keppler spun in turn two. When action was resumed it was Jim Wyers rocketing into the lead from third followed closely by Stockton, NJ Joe Fink. Lap 8 found England Trucking sponsored Mike King and Milton, DE Snookie Vent, Jr. move into the top five. The pace was slowed on the thirteenth circuit for a mix-up with John Blanda, Luke Fogg, and John Wagner, Sr. The race quickly resumed with Wyers back on top and Mike Keppler taking over the second, after working his way back from his earlier mishap. In the end Wyers was just too strong on this night to win his third of the year and also add to his point lead. Keppler held on for second, followed by Mike King, Snookie Vent, Jr., and Todd Elwell.

John Wagner, Sr. and Rick Steif lead the pack 600cc to Dennis Weirs` green flag. Wagner, Sr. jumped out to the early lead followed by Pennsville, NJ Derek Bartleson and Steif. Action stayed green through the first half of the event, lap traffic began to play into the mix at the lap 10 mark. As Wagner, Sr. treaded his way through the traffic. The torrid pace would be slowed on lap 13 as Robert Lewis and Gary Waegel would slow in turn two. When the action continued, Wagner, Sr. was determined to hold off all challenges and come home on top for his first ever 600cc victory. On the last lap going down the backstretch fifth running Bill Jackson had disaster strike as he lost power. Unfortunately Gary Waegel ran out of room and rode over Jackson into series end over end flips severely damaging both machines. Both drivers were OK; Rick Steif took over the runner up spot on lap 18 to finish a season best 2nd, followed by Derek Bartleson, Ken VanNest and P.J. Gargiulo.

The 125cc feature found Dan Wenzel and Dave Graziano lead the group to the green flag waved by Chris Burt. Third starting Jimmy Carpenter out of Howell, NJ jumped out to lead the first four circuits. Lap five saw fourth starting Shawn Ward out of Laurel, DE motor into the number one position. Carpenter, in his Kelly Racing Fuels mount would continue to follow every move of Ward as they encountered lap traffic. This fast paced non-stop event would continue to the end as the Nixon Uniform sponsored, Ward would prevail in taking his first win of the season. Carpenter followed in second, with Gary Waegel, Alan Durham, and Justin Jones rounding out the top five.

With next week the beginning of the $10,000 Summer Series for the Modified Lites, many invaders tried to gain track time this Friday night. Steve Pepe jumped out to lead the field for the start of the main event for the Modified Lites. The action was slowed on lap 2 as Dan Hageman and John Carabello brought out the yellow. When the race resumed a classic battle would develop with Eric McKinney taking over the top spot for the next two laps. A fast moving Steve White would jump into the lead as the field completed the fifth lap. White and McKinney would wage a battle lap after lap to the end in an exciting and competative event. White won out in the end over McKinney followed by Chad Barney, Steve Pepe, and Chris Reynolds.

Notes: Brian Buckwalter who was fresh off his 358 Sprint win at Selinsgrove, PA Speedway invaded Friday night in the 250cc only to have bad luck strike as flipped end over end in his heat race and was unable to start the main event. Doug Labant made his debut in the 600cc after purchasing the car from John Wyers. Wyers is expected to debut a Bridgeport Limited Sprint in the near future. Big thanks to all drivers and crews for the cooperation to help beat the weather and completing the entire show by 9:30PM.

250cc Micros –

Heat 1 - Shawn Ratchford, Mike King, Gary Hunter, George Idell, Snookie Vent, JR., Don Shipley.

Heat 2 – Jim Wyers, Mike Keppler, Joe Fink, Todd Elwell, John Blanda, Bob DeVault.

Feature 20 Laps – Jim Wyers, Mike Keppler, Mike King, Snookie Vent, Jr., Todd Elwell, Don Thornton, Joe Fink, Bob DeVault, George Idell, Adam Bubeck, Stan Applebaum, John Blanda, Don Shipley, Curtis Mason, Shawn Ratchford, Gary Hunter, Jim Tippin, John Wagner, Sr., Luke Fogg, Robert Norris, Mark Nestor, Ross Holler. DNS – Brian Buckwalter

600cc Micros –

Heat 1 – John Wagner, Sr., Sam Casella, Rick Steif, Gary Waegel, Scott Smith, Derek Bartleson.

Heat 2 – P.J. Gargiulo, Bill Jackson, Gary Linderman, Ken VanNest, Tim Iulg, Randy Reid.

Feature 20 Laps – John Wagner, Sr., Rick Steif, Derek Bartleson, Ken VanNest, P.J. Gargiulo, Tim Iulg, Sam Casella, Scott Smith, Randy Reid, Gary Linderman, Ray Gamble, Doug Labant, Bill Jackson, Gary Waegel, Joe Thuet, John Naz, Robert Lewis, Dave Damiano, Jeff Davis. DNS – Rick Durboraw

125cc Micros –

Heat 1 – Shawn Ward, Dave Graziano, Joe Sales, Alan Durham, Mike Andrews, Tom Landwher.

Heat 2 – Jimmy Carpenter, Gary Waegel, Dan Wenzel, Justin Jones, Scott Phillip, Ralph Cunningham.

Feature 15 Laps – Shawn Ward, Jimmy Carpenter, Gary Waegel, Alan Durham, Justin Jones, Joe Sales, Dan Wenzel, Ralph Cunningham, Paul Snyder, Tom Landwher, Eric Troutman, Dave Graziano, Scott Phillip. DNS – Steve Mercogliana, Mike Andrews.

Modified Lites –

Heat – Eric McKinney, Steve Pepe, Bobby Brown, Dan Hageman, John Carabello, Steve White.

Feature 12 Laps – Steve White, Eric McKinney, Chad Barney, Steve Pepe, Bobby Brown, Chris Reynolds, Gary Walls, John Carabello, Dan Hageman.

Next Event: Friday June 1, 2001 at 7:30 – 125, 250, and 600cc Micros plus Modified Lites and 4 Cylinder Stocks. Modified Lites to begin their 9- race $10,000 Series with $3,000 to Champion. For further information call the office during business hours at 856-467-4407 or log on to the Official Bridgeport Speedway website at Bridgeport Speedway

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Author: Hugh Snyderman Bridgeport Speedway