Hearn Joins Field For ‘South Jersey Shootout’ At Bridgeport

Story By: BRETT DEYO / SHORT TRACK SUPER SERIES – SWEDESBORO, NJ – It’s almost go time! On Sunday (April 23), Bridgeport Speedway comes to life with the third annual ‘South Jersey Shootout’ featuring the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS) Fueled By VP Modifieds. The race for a $10,000 STSS Velocita South Region championship hits the South Jersey facility for the first time in 2017.

The ‘South Jersey Shootout’ is the richest race of the spring at the five-eighths-mile offering a massive payout of more than $25,000 – $5,000 to win, $1,000 for 10th and $400 to take the green flag! Product awards and bonuses from many of the country’s top manufacturers are up for grabs, as well.

“The Jet” Brett Hearn of Sussex, N.J., is making a surprise STSS appearance at Bridgeport with the Madsen Motorsports No. 20. Hearn made a late decision to chase the ‘South Jersey Shootout’ big money!

Veteran Jimmy Horton of Neshanic Station, N.J., sits atop the STSS point standings after a March conquest at Delaware’s Georgetown Speedway in the series opener. Horton will have plenty of competition on Sunday.

Halmar International teammate Stewart Friesen of Sprakers, N.Y., is the defending STSS South champion and has already posted a Bridgeport victory when he topped the ’60 Over Special’ in March.

Fresh off a ‘Hard Clay Open’ victory at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, N.Y., April 9, Andy Bachetti plans to make the tow from Sheffield, Mass., to chase a ‘South Jersey Shootout’ triumph.

Ryan Godown of Ringoes, N.J., looks to right his rocky start to ’17 with a solid outing on Sunday. Godown’s New Egypt (N.J.) Speedway counterpart David Van Horn Jr. hopes to build off a top-five effort in the Georgetown opener with Fred Vahlsing’s No. 323ov. Another NES driver expected is Danny Bouc of Pipersville, Pa., in the Mike Bent No. 88.

The Pauch family will be well represented at Bridgeport. Billy Pauch Sr. started 2017 with a top-three effort in the Georgetown STSS opener and hopes to make a run at the series championship. His son, Billy Pauch Jr., will pilot the Daniel Sommeling-owned No. 51 at the Port after suffering a flat tire late in the going at Georgetown.

The Pennsylvania ‘Big Three’ will be out in force with recent Bridgeport winner Duane Howard of Oley, Pa., at the wheel of Norm Hansell’s No. 357, Craig Von Dohren also of Oley, Pa., in the Dick Biever No. 14s and Jeff Strunk of Boyertown, Pa., driving for Glenn Hyneman.

Tyler Dippel of Wallkill, N.Y., is scheduled to compete on Saturday at Bristol, Tenn., and fly home early Sunday morning to Newark, with plans to strap into his No. 1 for Sunday’s ‘South Jersey Shootout’ event.

From the “First State” of Delaware, two-time Delaware International Speedway champion “the Joker” Matt Jester makes a rare tow north to Bridgeport. Jester will be at the control of the Wilkins family No. 90W after sorting out early season issues.

Jordan Watson of Milford, Del., is chasing money this season, opting for higher-paying events versus weekly racing. Watson holds a top-10 point position in STSS South competition after rallying from deep in the field for seventh at the Georgetown opener.

Bridgeport’s tough weekly cast will look to defend home turf, led by former STSS South champion Ryan Watt of Boyertown, Pa., in the Ron Roberts Racing mount, Jamie Mills of Milford, Del., driving for the famed Blue Hen team, defending race winner Wade Hendrickson of Lawrenceville, N.J., Rick Laubach of Hellertown, Pa., a Bridgeport victor in ’17, Richie Pratt Jr. of Woodbury Heights, N.J., Sammy Martz of Somerville, N.J., Dom Buffalino of Morganville, N.J., in the famed Pat Michael No. 51M and many more!

Hendrickson (’16) and Laubach (’15) are the event’s prior two winners.

An added bonus for drivers is the event’s status as an American Racer Cup Challenge event, offering bonus points toward the Cup’s Insinger Performance regional battle (South).

The ‘South Jersey Shootout’ is topped by a 40-lap STSS Modified main. Joining the series on the card are Sportsman (under Bridgeport weekly rules) and Outlaw Stocks.

Pit gates will open at 1 p.m. Grandstand gates unlock at 2 p.m. The drivers’ meeting takes place at 3:15 p.m., with 4 p.m. hot laps and 5 p.m. racing.

Adult grandstand admission is $25. Students (ages 10-15) pay $10 and Kids 9 and under are FREE. Pit admission is $35, with no license required.

In the event of rain, the program will be run April 30.

Complete race info can be found at the following link: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/south-jersey-shootout-rules-prices-general-info/

The STSS Modified purse structure is as follows: http://bdmotorsportsmedia.com/south-jersey-shootout-stss-modified-pay-structure/

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 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 Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP or BD Motorsports Media LLC, visit www.shorttracksuperseries.com or www.bdmotorsportsmedia.com, call 845.728.2781 during business hours, e-mail bdmotorsportsmedia@gmail.com, “like” Short Track Super Series on Facebook or follow @ShortTrackSS on Twitter.

The 2017 Short Track Super Series is presented by American Racer/Lias Tire, VP Racing Fuel, Bob Hilbert Sportswear, Halmar International, Allstar Performance, ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Behrent’s Performance Warehouse, Bicknell Racing Products, Dirt Track Digest, Fast Axle, Fox Racing Shocks, Hig Fab, Henry’s Exhaust, HyperCo, Keizer Wheels, Kirkey Racing Fabrication, K&N, QA1, Race Pro Weekly, Racing Optics, Teo-Pro Car, Velocita & Wilwood.

Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series Fueled By VP Velocita South Region Schedule

Saturday, March 11 – Georgetown Speedway/Georgetown Del. – Melvin L. Joseph Memorial – WINNER: JIMMY HORTON

Sunday, April 23 – Bridgeport Speedway/Bridgeport, N.J. (Five-Eighths-Mile) – South Jersey Shootout (Rain Date: April 30) – AMERICAN RACER CUP CHALLENGE EVENT

Thursday, May 25 – Delaware International Speedway/Delmar, Del. – Diamond State 50 (Rain Date: TBA) – AMERICAN RACER CUP CHALLENGE EVENT

Tuesday, June 6 – Big Diamond Speedway/Minersville, Pa. – ‘Anthracite Assault’ – COMBO (Rain Date: TBA)

Sunday, July 30 – Susquehanna Speedway/Newberrytown, Pa. – York County Nationals $10,000 to win (Rain Date: TBA)

Tuesday, August 29 – Georgetown Speedway/Georgetown, Del. – Blast at the Beach 4 (Rain Date: August 30)

Saturday, September 30 – Bridgeport Speedway/Bridgeport, N.J. (Three-Eighths-Mile) – Dirty Jersey (Rain Date: October 1)

Friday-Saturday, October 27-28 – Georgetown Speedway/Georgetown, Del. – Mid-Atlantic Championship (Rain Date: Oct. 29) – CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS