By Jay Dugan

BRIDGEPORT, NJ -November 20, 2005- It couldn't have been a more perfect weekend for Neshanic Station, NJ's Jimmy Horton - The all-time Modified Feature event winner took home both the Heath Hassler Memorial 25-lap Small Block Modified feature event, as well as, the 40 Lap Hoffman Bros. Speed and Performance Walt Chernokal Memorial Big Block Modified event collecting a $9,000 paycheck at the Bridgeport Speedway.

"This car is the same car we had down at Lowe's when we ran second there," Horton explained. "Ricky (Grosso) told me, if we ran well this would be the car we used next year."

Horton started off fourth on the 24-car grid in an eventful 40 lap Big Block Modified feature event. Running 3-wide through the middle with Rick Laubach on the inside and Frank Cozze rim riding around the top, Horton powered into the third position on the initial lap. As Sinking Spring, PA, JD3Graphics Young Gun, Kyle Strickler moved passed Tom Hager to lead the initial lap.

Kicking off lap #2 a 3-wide battle between Mike Iles and brothers, Bucky Kell and GR Smith, left the brothers worse for wear as a skirmish sent the #58jr. of Kell and the #19 of Smith straight towards the outside wall hitting hard. Neither driver suffered injuries and Smith's vehicle was able to return, but Kell was retired from the event after showing some post-incident frustration with the Active Environmental/Dirt Wheels #711 of Mike Iles.

With Strickler still leading the way on a lap 3 restart, Horton dove to the outside and powered around the 22-year-old veteran to overtake the lead. A violent wreck entering turn 1 saw the #28 Teo of Darren McCaughey head backwards into the inner wall, launching the machine straight into the air along with the #27 Supreme Manufacturing/Teo of Lehighton, PA's Steve Bottcher. Bottcher's flipping machine came to rest on top of McCaughey's. Luckily all drivers were uninjured.

Drivers scrambled on a lap 10 restart as the Mighty Big Block Modfieds were FIVE wide for the 10th position exiting turn #2. Horton, now overtaking Strickler for the lead battled "The Quaker Shaker" Rick Laubach with both drivers vying for one piece of real estate on the inside of the speedway.

Horton began to enter lapped traffic at the mid-way point, but no one would prove a challenge to the Big Block Veteran. Horton, who has won 8 championships and 112 feature wins at the Bridgeport Speedway, would lead the Grosso Trucking/Metal Fab Pro Race Shop/Bicknell #r24 to Victory Lane and a $6,000 paycheck. Rick Laubach came home second in the Lincoln Auto Body/Teo, Frank Cozze was third, Young Gun Billy Pauch Jr. came home in the fourth position with the J&J Shop/Teo of Danny Johnson rounding out the top five.

In one of the most impressive runs of the season, Neshanic Station, NJ's Jimmy Horton, the 358 Modified Points Champion, battled back from early mis-fortune and made a daring pass around the outside of Jimmy Horton IV to take the lead on the with 7 laps remaining to go on and take his second victory of the season.

Horton's day started out rough after his machine, the Metal Fab Pro Race Shop/Bicknell that Sportsman driver John Stangle piloted all season suffered mechanical problems in warm ups. Horton climbed into the Stephen Izzi Trucking/Teo of Mario Page and came from dead last in the 358 Modified Consolation event to a third place qualifying position.

Folsom, NJ's JD3Graphics Young Gun, Jimmy Horton IV led the field of Small Block Modifieds to the green flag after re-drawing a frozen turkey with "#1" on the inside of it. With modified veteran Jimmy Chester right on the tail of the younger Horton as Small Block hotshoe Darren McCaughey, Tommy Beamer and Frank Cozze putting on a great 3-wide battle for the third position. The elder Horton powered from 23rd starting position to show 12th at the half-way point, with the younger Horton leading the way.

A Lap 18 restart stacked and packed the field and Horton daringly shot from the fifth position to the outside of the speedway, just edging the younger Horton exiting turn 2. Drag racing down the backstretch the younger Horton closed in hoping to challenge but would be no match for the veteran. Horton III would pick up his 2nd Small Block Modified victory of the season. Jimmy Chester snuck past Horton IV to land in the second position, with Horton IV coming home in third. A pile up at the start finish line left 4th and 5th place runners Billy Pauch Jr. and Mike Iles scrambling for position, while Tommy Beamer and Rick Laubach crossed the line to grab those spots.

Erwinna, PA's Jason Hamilton picked up his first victory at the Bridgeport Speedway, after selecting the pole position for the Sportsman event Hamilton held off a strong charge from Young Gun, Drew Ricco to the victory.

"I guess he had brake problems," Hamilton explained after being questioned about Ricco's passing tactics.

"Drive-Thru Drew" would hold on for second position followed by Mike Lyons, Rick Beavers and John Stangle.

Laurel, De's Chad James dominated the GM Crate Sportsman feature event. After selecing the pole position James held off GM Crate Champion "The Master Crater" Eric Kormann to pick up his ninth victory of the season. Kormann would settle for second followed by John Micek, Lee Nardelli and Andy Hammond.

"I can't say enough about this crew," an elated James explained. "They put 100% into this race car - it was just about near perfect and a lot of fun to drive."

Frenchtown, NJ's Young Gun, Billy Pauch Jr. dominated the Big Block Modified Non-Winners race leading every lap after setting fast-time in a group time trial session. Pauch's only challenge came from fellow Young Gun Kyle Strickler. Mario Page's Small Block edged passed Strickler to overtake second position, followed by Brian Kressley and Darren McCaughey

Rick Beavers picked up the win in the Sportsman Non-Winners race followed by Ken Sowden, Brian Lilick, Sean Gunther and Ray Woodall Jr.

Despite late race controversy concerning the rules for the Super Stocks invasion of the Bridgeport Speedway, Mike Williams, crossed the finish line with a flat left rear tire to pick up his first victory on the 5/8th mile clay. Al Cheney (also with a destroyed left rear tire) came home in second followed by Ralph Garguilo, Nick Garguilo and Bill Liedtka.

Former Big Block and Small Block feature winner Gary Bruckler captured the victory in the 12 lap All-Star Truck series event. Bruckler was followed to the line by Chris Yeaton, Joe King, Rich Jackson and Jon Mannis.

Wayne Weaver rim rode the top side of the speedway putting on a fierce battle with Dave Spurlin to capture the exhibition event put on by the Garden State Vintage Stock Car Club.

For more information on the Bridgeport Speedway visit us on the web at www.thenewbridgeportspeedway.com.

Information concerning the 2006 rules packages for all divisions will be released in the upcoming weeks.

RESULTS

Big Block Modifieds
Heat 1 (8 Laps) - 1. Jimmy Horton 2. Tom Hager 3. GR Smith 4. Mike Iles 5. Bucky Kell 6. Danny Johnson
Heat 2 (8 Laps) - 1. Jimmy Chester 2. Steve Bottcher 3. Rick Laubach 4. Frank Cozze 5. Gary Hager 6. Tommy Beamer
Heat 3 (8 Laps) - 1. Billy Pauch 2. Kyle Strickler 3. Meme Desantis 4. Billy Pauch Jr. 5. Jeff Strunk 6. Darren McCaughey
Consi (8 Laps) - 1. Wade Hendrickson 2. Steve Durand 3. Bob Sarkisian 4. Carmine Infante 5. Jesse Hill 6. Sam Wescott Jr.
Feature (40 Laps) - 1. Jimmy Horton 2. Rick Laubach 3. Frank Cozze 4. Billy Pauch Jr. 5. Danny Johnson 6. Jeff Strunk 7. Jimmy Chester 8. Wade Hendrickson 9. Carmine Infante 10. Steve Durand 11. Jesse Hill 12. Mike Iles 13. Kyle Strickler 14. GR Smith 15. Bob Sarkisian 16. Tom Hager 17. Billy Pauch 18. Gary Hager 19. Meme Desantis 20. Darren McCaughey 21. Steve Bottcher 22. Sam Wescott Jr. 23. Tommy Beamer 24. Bucky Kell
DNQ: Craig Vondoren, Drew Ricco, Brett Hoffman, Art Adams, Bryant Brown, Chris Grbac, Shawn Reimert, Scott Vangorder, Scott Ambruster, Mark Schweibinz, Oscar Boria, Brian Kressley, Mario Page

Big Block Modified (Non-Winner)
Feature (20 Lap) - 1. Billy Pauch Jr. 2. Mario Page 3. Kyle Strickler 4. Brian Kressley 5. Darren McCaughey 6. Gary Hager 7. Mark Forte Sr. 8. Steve Durand 9. Bud Schweibinz 10. Art Adams 11. Doug Hendricks 12. Scott Ambruster 13. Anthony Moran 14. Troy Kay 15. Tom Sheetz 16. Shawn Reimert 17. Tom Hager 18. John Pratt 19. Bryant Brown

Small Block Modifieds
Heat 1 (8 Laps) - 1. Mike Iles 2. Eric Kormann 3. Shawn Reimert 4. George Hildebrant 5. Drew Ricco 6. Jesse Hill
Heat 2 (8 Laps) - 1. Darren McCaughey 2. Jimmy Chester 3. Rick Laubach 4. Jimmy Horton IV 5. Gene Stravinsky 6. Mike Lyons
Heat 3 (8 Laps) - 1. Frank Cozze 2. Brian Kressley 3. Tommy Beamer 4. GR Smith 5. Billy Pauch Jr. 6. Howard O'Neal
Consi (8 Laps)- 1. Gary Hager 2. Don Norris Jr. 3. Jimmy Horton 4. Scott Vangorder 5. Doug Hendricks 6. Mark Forte Jr.
Feature (25 Laps) - 1. Jimmy Horton 2. Jimmy Chester 3. Jimmy Horton IV 4. Tommy Beamer 5. Rick Laubach 6. GR Smith 7. Billy Pauch Jr. 8. Shawn Reimert 9. Mark Forte Jr. 10. Don Norris Jr. 11. Jesse Hill 12. Gene Stravinsky 13. Mike Iles 14. Doug Hendrickson 15. George Hildebrant 16. Drew Ricco 17. Scott Vangorder 18. Mike Lyons 19. Darren McCaughey 20. Frank Cozze 21. Brian Kressley 22. Eric Kormann 23. Gary Hager 24. Howard O'Neal
DNQ - John Pratt, Tom Miller, Tom Solderich, Tom Sheetz, Bryant Brown, Anthony Moran, Don Bogey, Ken Raivley, Paul McCloughan, Mario Page, Steve Lozorak, Don Bogey

Sportsman
Heat 1 (8 Laps) - 1. Bill Klingmeyer 2. Billy Tanner 3. Jimmy Horton IV 4. Drew Ricco 5. Don Bogey 6. Brian Lilick
Heat 2 (8 Laps) - 1. Mike Lyons 2. Rich Scagliotta 3. Eric Kormann 4. Rick Beavers 5. John Stangle 6. John Pratt
Heat 3 (8 Laps) - 1. Jason Hamilton 2. Sean Gunther 3. Mike Demedio 4. Mike Brannigan 5. Ray Woodall Jr. 6. Blaine Sadler
Consi (8 Laps) - 1. Eric Kormann 2. Tom Miller 3. Gene Stravinsky 4. Billy Briggs 5. Billy Harris 6. Paul McCloughan 7. Mark Herman 8. Jamie Yankowski
Feature (20 Laps) - 1. Jason Hamilton 2. Drew Ricco 3. Mike Lyons 4. Rick Beavers 5. John Stangle 6. Bill Klingmeyer 7. Eric Kormann 8. Billy Harris 9. Rich Scagliotta 10. Ray Woodall Jr. 11. Blaine Sadler 12. Brian Lilick 13. Sean Gunther 14. Mike Demedio 15. Mark Herman 16. Don Bogey 17. Billy Briggs 18. Jim McCallion 19. Jimmy Horton IV 20. Billy Tanner 21. Gene Stravinsky 22. Paul McCloughan 23. Jamie Yankowski 24. John Parker 25. John Pratt 26. Tom Miller
DNQ: John Parker, Steve Kassekort, Jared Hill, Joe Masiado, Steve Lozorak, Ken Davis, Glenn Knell, Phil McCloughan, Ryan Olsummer
Sportsman

Sportsman Non-Winner Feature (20 Laps) - 1. Rick Beavers 2. Ken Sowden 3. Brian Lilick 4. Sean Gunther 5. Ray Woodall Jr. 6. Billy Briggs 7. Tom Miller 8. Ryan Olsummer 9. Mark Herman 10. John Parker 11. Mike Lyons 12. Steve Lozorak 13. Blaine Sadler Sr. 14. Ken Davis 15. Phil McCloughan 16. Steve Kassekert 17. Don Bogey

GM Crate Sportsman
Feature (20 Laps) - 1. Chad James 2. Eric Kormann 3. John Micek 4. Lee Nardelli 5. Andy Hammond 6. Pat Hires 7. Richard White 8. Joseph Tracy 9. Kevin Labs 10. John Gray 11. Joe Langshaw 12. Tom Beaver 13. Chuck Buchman 14. Matt Jester

Super Stocks
Heat 1 (8 Laps) - 1. Bryan Reed 2. Ron Coverly 3. Al Cheney 4. George Marrero Jr. 5. Nick Gargiulo 6. Phil Retter
Heat 2 (8 Laps) - 1. Ralph Gargiulo 2. Bill Liedtka 3. Scott Dunn 4. Jim Hewitt 5. Mike Williams 6. Larry Reed
Feature (20 Laps) - 1. Mike Williams 2. Al Cheney 3. Ralph Gargiulo 4. Nick Gargiulo 5. Bill Liedtka 6. Ron Coverly 7. Bryan Reed 8. Jim Hewitt 9. George Marrero Jr. 10. Scott Dunn 11. Larry Reed DNS: Phil Retter

All-Star Trucks
Feature (12 Laps) -- 1. Gary Bruckler 2. Chris Yeaton 3. Joe King 4. Rich Jackson 5. Jon Mannis

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