Ryan Watt Takes King Of The Big Blocks At Bridgeport

Story By: KOLBY RAMEY / BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY – SWEDESBORO, NJ – After a hard fought battle for the lead with Oley, PA driver, Craig VonDohren, 2017 Bridgeport Track Champion, Ryan Watt raced into the lead on lap thirty-six and led the final fifteen laps to capture the K&A Excavating sponsored King of the Big Block title and the $10,000 payday that went with it at the Bridgeport Speedway on Saturday night. A large crowd gathered to witness the second annual King of the Big Block event, won last year by Billy Pauch.

After handily winning his qualifying event, Pauch lined up eleventh on the starting grid of twenty-six cars that took the green flag. Unfortunately, Pauch was one of two cars that flipped on the homestretch during a lap two incident. When a car got out of shape on the restart in mid-pack, Pauch and Ryan Anderson had nowhere to go, climbing up and over cars in front of them. All drivers involved escaped injury but Pauch and Anderson’s mounts were heavily damaged. Several other cars were damaged but only Billy Pauch, Jr. was unable to continue immediately following the wreck.

Polesitter, Rick Laubach had the Ryan Kerr owned No. 1K out in front at the start despite pressure from VonDohren who quickly advanced from his fifth place start, Jojo Watson and Watt. Laubach led through lap two when Watt drove into the lead. VonDohren was in hot pursuit as he chased Watt through lap eight and then took the lead as he raced Dick Biever’s No. 14s down the backstretch.

Duane Howard raced by Watt to take over second following a lap fifteen restart but Watt battled back to take over the runner-up spot behind VonDohren. Von Dohren led the way through half way with Watt a few car lengths behind, followed by Howard, Laubach and Watson. Lapped traffic supplied another dimension as the leaders approached lap thirty and Watt closed in on VonDohren.

Jimmy Horton drew a caution on lap thirty-one when he headed pit side for a tire change. Watt challenged for the lead on the restart, first looking to the inside. Jeff Strunk, the winner of the Friday night Small Block event, raced into the top five on lap thirty-one but all eyes were on the two No. 14s at the front of the pack as Watt tried both inside and outside to regain the lead. VonDohren and Watt raced side by side to the stripe on lap thirty-five but it was Watt who had the lead the next time by.

Watt promptly pulled away from VonDohren and there was no further contest for the lead. Strunk continued to pick off positions in the top five, advancing to third in the race’s final laps.

Watt led the way to the checkered flag for his eighth Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modified win of the season Roberts Racing, over VonDohren, Strunk, Howard and Jordan Watson rounding out he top five. Laubach, Dominick Buffalino, Richie Pratt, Jr., followed with Frank Cozze finishing ninth after using a provisional to start the race in twenty-fifth. Travis Hill rounded out the top ten.

Brian Papiez raced into the lead on the final turn of the final lap to capture his sixth Bridgeport win of the season in the Stewart Stainless Crate/Sportsman over Kris Lilick who had led the way until that point. Craig Whitmoyer finished third followed by Roger Manning and Ryan Simmons.

Tom Wills, Jr. and Jeremy Doerr battled fender to fend in the Pennco Tech Outlaw Stock feature with Wills edging Doerr for the win at the checkered flag. Jeff Dirkes rebounded from an earlier incident to finish third followed by Gary Klimeczak and Jon Meyer.

This event was also the fifth hand of the Colonial Pipeline’s 811 Call Before You Dig Poker Series events for the Big Blocks and Crate/Sportsman and fourth hand for the Outlaw Stocks.

Ryan Watt added his third Ace to his Poker Series hand with his win while Dominck Buffalino works on a possible straight, adding an eight to his Queen, Jack and nine. Brian Papiez now has a pair of Aces to Matt Stangle’s three Aces but Roger Manning added another card to his possible straight – a Jack to go with his King, Queen, nine and eight. Tom Wills, Jr. now has two pair – Aces and Kings to lead the Outlaw Stock Poker Series competition.

Colonial’s pipelines are buried underground, usually with at least three feet of cover however, with the passage of time, erosion and human activities can alter that depth. That’s why Colonial encourages you to call before you dig! Any project – large or small – you are encouraged to dial 8-1-1 before you dig.

Action returns to the Bridgeport Speedway this Saturday the Dirty Jersey 5 – a Short Track Super Series Event that will feature the Modifieds, Crate/Sportsman and Outlaw Stocks. Racing gets underway at 6:30pm. Should it be needed, a rain date has been set for Sunday, October 1.

811 CALL BEFORE YOU DIG POKER SERIES

K&A EXCAVATING KING OF THE BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS (50 laps): 1. Ryan Watt, 2. Craig VonDohren, 3. Jeff Strunk, 4. Duane Howard, 5. Jordan Watson, 6. Rick Laubach, 7. Dominick Buffalino, 8. Richie Pratt, Jr., 9. Frank Cozze, 10. Travis Hill, 11. Jamie Mills, 12. Jimmy Horton, 13. Joseph Watson, 14. Jesse Hill, 15. Jim Britt, 16. Neal Williams, 17. David Hunt, 18. Wade Hendrickson, 19. Anthony Perrego, 20. Brandon Grosso, 21. Billy Pauch, Sr., 22. Ryan Anderson, 23. Billy Pauch, Jr., 24. Brett Kressley, 25. Ron Roberts, 26. Sam Martz, DNQ – Mike Iles, Ryan Godown, David VanHorn, Tim Buckwalter, Dave Shirk, Mike Franz, Jack Swain, Bob Sarkisian, Ricky DiEva, Ernie Miles, Jr., Brett Ballard

STEWART/STAINLESS CRATE/SPORTSMAN (20 laps): 1. Brian Papiez, 2. Kris Lilick, 3. Craig Whitmoyer, 4. Roger Manning, 5. Ryan Simmons, 6. Tom Sherby, 7. Matt Stangle, 8. Steve Kemery, 9. Andrew Belmont, 10. Tom Moore, 11. Clyde Cox, 12. Adam Cox, 13. Louden Reimert, 14. Kyle Lilick, 15. David Burns, 16. Chris Jenkins, 17. Brad Arnold, 18. Dave Damiano, 19. Matthew Peck, 20. Tom Errico, Sr., 21. Howard Huepfel, 22. Marty Resnick, 23. John Micek, 24. Brett Belmont, 25. Willie Osmun, DNQ – Tom Errico, Jr., Cale Ross, Jeff Bubori, B.J. Joley, Frank Dorry, Charles Stone, Pete Serra, Ray Cost, Jeremy Martino, Andrew Kreis, Scott Hulmes, Matt Luzi, Chris Breman, Tom Holding, David Banko, Chuck Sayres, David Crossman

PENNCO TECH OUTLAW STOCKS (15 laps): 1. Tom Wills, Jr., 2. Jeramy Doerr, 3. Jeff Dirkes, 4. Gary Klimeczak, 5. Jon Meyer, 6. Jack Beaumont, 7. Billy Wroble, 8. Gary Elliott, Jr., 9. Bill Liedtka, 10. Andrew Joslin, 11. Rob Lingo, 12. Mike Creamer, 13. Bill Connolly, 14. Spider Ensinger, 15. Paul Donahue, 16. Rich Stinson, 17. Brian Ludwig, 18. Ken Moren

 

STRUNK ROLLS TO VICTORY IN BRIDGEPORT SMALL BLOCK MODIFIEDS

Fresh off his big win in the Freedom 76er a week ago, Jeff Strunk drove Glenn and Bonita Hyneman’s No 126 to victory in Bridgeport’s Small Block Modified show on the night before the K&A Excavating King of the Big Block event. Forty Small Block Modifieds competed for starting positions in the feature event.

The Small Block Modifieds were joined on the doubleheader program by the 305 Sprint Cars of the Mid Atlantic Sprint Car Series for their final point race of the 2017 season. Eddie Wagner captured the first championship of the newly formed organization while driving to his first feature win of the 2017 season.

Strunk had one victory on the 5/8th mile Bridgeport Speedway in October 2006 but it was the 49th feature win for the Hyneman’s as car owners in Bridgeport competition. Polesitter, Anthony Perrego jumped into the lead at the start of the twenty-five lap event but felt the pressure from Strunk from the start. Bob Sarkisian, Rocco Infante and Frank Cozze were embroiled in a battle for fourth as they raced behind Perrego, Strunk and Jesse Hill during the early laps.

Strunk tried a move to the inside of Perrego on lap four but went to the outside of the Empire State competitor on the next lap, taking over the lead on lap five as Strunk led Perrego, Sarkisian, 2017 Big Block Champion, Ryan Watt and Hill. Cozze, who won this event last year, broke into the top five on lap six. Watt moved into third on lap nine.

Strunk set a blistering pace as he navigated his way through lapped traffic just before the half way mark. It was all Strunk in the non-stop event that was completed in just over nine minutes.

Strunk took the win over Perrego, Watt, Cozze and Sarkisian. Craig Von Dohren, Duane Howard, Dominick Buffalino, Billy Pauch, Jr, and Danny Bouc rounded out the top ten at the checkered flag

Wagner led from the green flag to the checkered to capture the MASS sprint car feature event to capture the win in their twenty lap main event over Austin Bishop. Bishop stayed with the leader throughout the race but was not able to challenge for the lead even when the caution waved just before the half way mark, setting up a double file restart for the field.

Brandon Poff had one of his best outings of the season as he raced in third after doing battle with Jeff Geiges in the early going and then holding off the advances of Rick Stief later in the event. Tim Tanner broke into the top five during the second half of the race, leaving Geiges and Steph Carberry to battle side by side for the sixth spot for the remaining laps.

Wagner took the win over Bishop, Poff, Steif and Tanner. Tom Carberry, Sr. was named as the MASS Rookie of the Year as the long time Modified driver, competed with MASS throughout the 2017 season.

Nearly thirty Big Blocks participated in two sessions of timed hot laps. Ryan Watt set fast time during the first session over Jojo Watson, Ryann Godown, Wade Hendrickson and Dominick Buffalino. Craig VonDohren was the fast timer in the second session of time hot laps over Wade Hendrickson, Anthony Perrego, Ryan Godown and Dominick Buffalino. Both Watt and VonDohren received redraw spots in Saturday night’s King of the Big Block event with $10,000 on the line for the winner.

SMALL BLOCK MODIFIED FEATURE (25 laps): 1. Jeff Strunk, 2. Anthony Perrego, 3. Ryan Watt, 4. Frank Cozze, 5. Bob Sarkisian, 6. Craig VonDohren, 7. Duane Howard, 8. Dominick Buffalino, 9. Billy Pauch, Jr., 10. Danny Bouc, 11. Jesse Hill, 12. Ryan Godown, 13. Brandon Grosso, 14. Mike Gular, 15. David VanHorn, 16. Ray Swinehart, 17. Dave Shirk, 18. John McClelland III, 19. Roger Manning, 20. Brett Kressley, 21. Jared Umbenhauer, 22. Rocco Infante, 23. P.J. Oliver, DNS – Ryan Krachun, DNQ – Ron Roberts, Mike Laise, Jack Swain, Ryan Grim, Matt Stangle, Scott Albert, Kevin Belmont, Tom Sherby, Steve Young, Tom Errico, Sr., Jeff Bubori, Matt Peck, Tom Errico, Jr., Chris Grbac, Eric Kormann, Kevin Vaclavicek

MASS 305 SPRINTS (20 laps): 1. Eddie Wagner, 2. Austin Bishop, 3. Brendon Poff, 4. Rick Stief, 5. Tim Tanner, Jr., 6. Jeff Geiges, 7. Stef Carberry, 8. Tom Carberry, Sr., 9. Scott Frack, 10. Bryant Davis, 11. Samantha Lieberman, 12. Larry McVay, 13. Tyler Reinhardt, 14. Dave Bonner, 15. Craig Pellegrini, 16. John Webster, 17. Tommy Carberry, 18. Larry McVay, Jr., DNS – Bobby Scherff, Mark Bitner