Friesen Takes Doug Hoffman 60 Over Memorial At Bridgeport

Friesen, who set a new one-lap track record on Friday night in the open practice session, collected an automatic redraw spot for the feature event. After the “revenge draw” where drivers pull numbers and must assign said numbers to another driver, Friesen was award the 14th position which was the highest number in the batch.

The early stages of the feature would see Friesen stay toward the rear of the field aboard the Halmar International, DKM Chassis 44 machine, before turning up the wick due to some mid-race yellows.

The Sprakers, NY driver quickly found himself in the second spot behind race leader Jeff Strunk, but didn’t make up any ground on the leader until the final 10 laps when Strunk suffered a mechanical issue under the hood slowing his #126 machine.

Friesen would go on to pass Strunk in the final two laps, after a late race restart, to collect his first win of the season, and the $4,400 pay check to go along with it.

Strunk held on to the second position after suffering an engine issue. The veteran is back again for a second season aboard the Glenn Hyneman 126 machine and had a solid weekend, finishing in the top 10 in both feature events.

Duane Howard is back for another season behind the controls of the Norm Hansell 357 machine, looking to keep on the same pace that they had in the late races of 2016. Howard swept the weekend at the Georgetown Speedway in November, before winning the Poker Series finale at Bridgeport.

Howard was also able to walk away from the weekend with a pair of top 10’s on the weekend as well, as he also finished 6th on Friday night.

Billy Pauch Jr. was aboard his new ride this weekend in the Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz, Bayshore Ford, 51 machine. It was their third race of the year, and Pauch Jr. was a steady runner in features on both nights, collecting a 4th place finish in each.

One of the quickest cars in Friday’s open practice session was that of Neal Williams. Williams is preparing for his first full time season back aboard the Overhead Door #0 machine after the team was reformed during the late summer months of 2016.

“Neal The Wheel” would start the Saturday’s main from 17th and methodically work his way through the field with his Teo Pro Car, capturing a 5th place finish. Look for Williams to be one of the drivers contending for a championship at the Bridgeport Speedway this season.

Frank Cozze was one of the only drivers on Saturday night to utilize an open small block in the Renaldo’s Mechanical 401 machine after piloting the entry to a second place finish on Friday.

Cozze, would have to run the consolation event on Saturday and ended up finishing 10th against the Big Blocks when the checkers flew.

Saturday was not a good night for four of the drivers who are usually front runners at Bridgeport.

Ryan Godown was involved in an accident late in the feature event, ending his hopes for a victory. Former track champion Jamie Mills would have a mechanical failure on lap 13 while running in the 3rd position, leaving Mills severely damaged Blue Hen Racing #30 machine on the sidelines.

For Brett Kressley and Rick Laubach, the night was over before it started. Both suffered engine issues in their heat races, ending their nights early.

Big Block Feature results: 44 Stewart Friesen, 126 Jeff Strunk, 357 Duane Howard, 51 Billy Pauch jr, 0 Neal Williams, 27 David Hunt, 1j Jordan Watson, 43 Jimmy Horton, 323 David VanHorn, 401 Frank Cozze, 14w Ryan Watt, 19 Travis Hill, 27j Danny Johnson, 13 PJ Oliver, 3 Sammy Martz, 51m Dom Buffalino, z1 Wade Hendrickson, 66 Ryan Godown, 30 Jamie Mills, 31 Tommy Beamer, 47 Bob Sarkisian, 28 Richie Pratt, 1 Billy Pauch, 99h Jesse Hill. DNQ 27 Ryan Anderson, z14 Ron Roberts, 28 Mike Franz, 118 Jim Britt, 7 Rick Laubach, 19b Brett Kressley.

Rick Laubach was aboard the Ryan Kerr 1k machine on Friday night at Bridgeport. The team would struggle with ignition issues the majority of the evening before ironing them out for the feature event.

Laubach moved from his 19th starting spot to grab the feature win in the 25-lap feature, that saw only one caution.

Ryan Watt started on the pole of the feature and led the majority of the race before relinquishing the lead later on in the event. Watt would finish in the 3rd position, being one of only a handful of drivers running a spec-head 358 engine.

New Egypt regular Danny Bouc was another driver who had his car that was outfitted with a spec-engine on hand and came home with a 9th place finish. Look for Bouc to do more traveling in the 2017 season aboard the Team 88, Troyer Chassis entry.

Three sportsman modifieds ran with the open 358 modifieds on Friday, with the highest finishing spot going to Roger Manning. Manning was impressive against the higher horsepower Modifieds and would back up the solid effort from Friday with a 7th place finish in Saturday’s Sportsman feature.

Friday night Small Block results: 1k Rick Laubach, 401 Frank Cozze, 14w Ryan Watt, 51 Billy Pauch jr, 44 Stewart Friesen, 357 Duane Howard, 126 Jeff Strunk, 66 Ryan Godown, 32 Danny Bouc, 99h Jesse Hill, 47 Bob Sarkisian, 414 Roger Manning, 18 John Pakenham, 51m Dom Buffalino, 6 Wade Hendrickson, b4 Kyle Borror, 118 Jim Britt, 19k Brett Kressley, 14 Brad Roberts, 61 Justin Grim, 6 Matt Stangle, 55 Kevin Sockriter, 7 Clyde Cox, 17 Ryan Grim.