Story By: BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK – SWEDESBORO, NJ – The Danny Serrano High Banks Classic Weekend sponsored by John Blewett Scrap & Recycling was two days of great racing – a tribute to a man that who gave so much to area racing. He was a huge fan and even when racing became his occupation, he never lost that sense of awe and excitement that made him such a great fan.
Danny would have been thrilled with the racing on his weekend.
The Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Modifieds always provide great racing for this event and they certainly didn’t disappoint this year.
At the wave of the green, multi-year Bridgeport Speedway Champion, Wade Hendrickson took the lead – a lead that he would not relinquish until lap thirty-two when Ryan Krachun put his Amwell Auto Body No. 29 out in front, moving to the inside of Hendrickson and Pat Michael’s No. 51m on the backstretch. Krachun was fast. The black No. 29 was awesome all day – from winning the third heat to his march through the field from his eighth place start and into the lead, looking for his first win on the High Banks in 2023.
Cale Ross, a two time feature winner this season, was racing hard. He passed Hendrickson on lap thirty-three and set his sights on Krachun. The leaders raced through traffic. Ross challenged for the lead on lap thirty five and held the advantage as he and Krachun raced across the stripe on lap thirty-six but Krachun was back out in front on lap thirty-seven.
With ten laps to go, Krachun led Ross, Jess Strunk in the Terry Fastnacht, Conestoga Kitchens, No. 2a, Danny Bouc and Brandon Grosso. Bouc raced in fourth after starting deep in the field as the winner of the consolation.
Jimmy Horton drew a caution on lap forty-three as he slowed with a flat on the Halimar No. 43. During this caution, Krachun headed to the pits with a flat tire and a lost shock, relinquishing the lead to Ross for the restart.
Ross chose the outside for the restart, leading Strunk, Hendrickson, Dillon Steuer and Bouc to the green flag.
There was plenty of action among the top five in the final laps. Strunk tried for the lead on the restarts but Ross raced ahead. “He drove a perfect race,” Strunk commented after the race. Bouc raced in third as Frank Cozze took over fourth in the final laps. With just two laps to go, Dominick Buffalino drove the Vclavicek No. 3v into fifth.
Ross led Strunk, Bouc, Cozze and Buffalino to the checkered. Grosso finished sixth with Hendrickson, Jojo Watson, Billy Pauch, Jr. and Davey Sammons completing the top ten.
“We’re all thinking about Danny today,” Ross stated in Champion Brands Victory Lane. Ross related how he had struggled for a little while. This week, he sent his shocks to Dale Planck at DIG Race Pro Shocks. Planck got them in the morning, performed the required work and had them on their way back to Ross on the same day. “We never unload quick here but his weekend we did,” Ross explained. “I really felt good about today.” First, third and fifth place cars all raced with Gary Bouc power under their hoods.
F&L Doors heat races were won by Krachun, Pauch and Stangle with Bouc winning the consolation.
The Precision Hydraulic & Oil 602 Sportsman were not to be outdone by the Modifieds. They had a thirty-five lap Bruce Ward Memorial Race presented by Prime Design Landscapting to run and they did not disappoint.
Ethan Bill turned a race that he wasn’t going to run into a win – the 7th of his career.
Ethan’s Dad, Johnny is the wrench turner on the No. 14 but was out West on a hunting trip so Ethan recruited some friends to help him – from getting the car to the track to pit help for the race.
Ryan Simmons was the early race leader when Bill took over second on a lap two restart. Simmons and Bill raced side-by-side on a lap six restart with Bill taking the lead. Bill led Simmons, 2023 Champion, Travis Hill, Jax Yohn and Brian Papiez through lap ten. Hill moved up to second by halfway.
It looked like the race would be a replay of the 2023 track championship until Hill headed to the pits with mechanical issues with twelve laps to go.
Papiez raced in second with ten laps to go but the car on the move in the final laps was Matt Ellery. Ellery worked his way through the top five until he took second from Papiez in the final five laps.
It was Bill for the win over Ellery, Papiez, Simmons and Howie Finch. Adam White finished sixth followed by Jax Yohn, Matt Peck, Stephen Yankowski and Thomas Prychka.
When Bill went to Champion Brands Victory Lane he was joined by Logan Watt who Bill credited with getting him “dialed in” for the win.
Hoffman Discount Parts heat races were won by Yohn, Bill, Brandon Shipley and Papiez with Joseph Brown and Craig Pellegrini picking up the wins in the two consolations.
Bailey Tolson picked up his first ever win at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park in the Izzy Trucking & Rigging Street Stock feature. Tolson raced Jeramy Doerr for the lead on a lap four restart. It was close racing as Doerr, Tolson, Klimeczak and Combs raced for position and Doerr rubbed the backstretch wall. Klimeczak and Combs raced for second through the remaining laps.
Tolson led Jimmy Combs to the finish with Gary Klimeczak, Jeramy Doerr and Nick Sandone chasing the leaders to the checkered.
Doerr was the winner of the DTM Powersports heat race.
Kyle Hurley raced to his first ever win in the Tipico Sportsbook 4 Cylinders. Hurley led 2023 4 Cyliner Champion, Tim Jones to the checkered followed by Dominic Antonelli, Joe Garey Sr. and John Parker.
MODIFIEDS DANNY SERRANO 50: 1. Cale Ross, 2. Jeff Strunk, 3. Danny Bouc, 4. Frank Cozze, 5. Dominick Buffalino, 6. Brandon Grosso, 7. Wade Hendrickson, 8. Joseph Watson, 9. Billy Pauch Jr., 10. Davey Sammons, 11. Jordan Watson, 12. Rick Laubach, 13. Sam Martz Jr., 14. Jimmy Horton, 15. Dillon Steuer, 16. Sam Martz Sr., 17. Ryan Krachun, 18. Mike Franz, 19. Johnny Bangs, 20. WB James, 21. Mark Kratz, 22. DJ Hunt, 23. Roger Manning, 24. Bobby Trapper Jr., 25. Ryan Grimm, 26. Jim Gallagher Jr., 27. HJ Bunting, 28. Stan Frankenfield, 29. Eric Kormann, 30. Matt Stangle
602 SPORTSMAN BRUCE WARD MEMORIAL: 1. Ethan Bill, 2. Matt Ellery, 3. Brian Papiez, 4. Ryan Simmons, 5. Howie Finch, 6. Adam White, 7. Jax Yohn, 8. Matt Peck, 9. Stephen Yankowski, 10. Thomas Prychka, 11. Nick Van Wickle, 12. Jon Meyer, 13. Brian Rogers, 14. Joe Brown, 15. Bob Lineman Jr., 16. Billy Chester, 17. Craig Pellegrini, 18. Brandon Shipley, 19. Travis Hill, 20. Brandon Edgar, 21. Andrew Bohn, 22. Ryan Higgs, 23. George Gareis, 24. Michael White, 25. Steve Kemery
DNS: Luke Bunting, Paul Mancini
4 CYLINDERS: 1. Kyle Hurley, 2. Tim Jones, 3. Dominic Antonelli, 4. Joe Garey, 5. John Parker, 6. Ed Ford, 7. Todd Francis, 8. Joe Garey Jr., 9. Lee Allen, 10. Eric Degler, 11. Justin Benz, 12. Bobby Johnson
STREET STOCKS: 1. Bailey Tolson, 2. Jimmy Combs, 3. Gary Klimeczak, 4. Jeramy Doerr, 5. Nick Sandone III, 6. Ken Moren, 7. Gary Bozowski, 8. Jeff Dirkes, 9. Al Suhr
KYLE REINHARDT PLEASES THE JERSEY CROWD WITH OCTOBERFEST WIN
The third time was the charm!
It was for Kyle Reinhardt anyway! In his third 410 Sprint Car race of the 2023 season at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park, Reinhardt wheeled the Capitol Custom Trailers & Coaches No. 91 to victory and a $15,000 payday in front of a large crowd that was only too pleased to see the “hometown” guy pick up the win in his home state.
In just his second race back behind the wheel, Alex Bright raced to the win in the Rapid Tire/Capitol Renegade USAC East Coast Wingless Sprint Car feature event over 2023 USAC East Coast Champion, Briggs Danner.
Neal Williams became the first three-time winner in the Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Modifieds as he raced to the win over Joseph Watson.
Bridgeport’s Octoberfest, sponsored by Professional Design Services, was a huge hit! There was something for every race fan’s interest on the two-day program. All divisions were well represented in car count as well as talent. The weather was fantastic – shirt sleeves at the end of October! Trick or Treat for the kids! It was great weekend of racing. Bridgeport’s Doug Rose was more than satisfied with the outcome. “This race was not a successful event for us last year,” Rose related. “We made some changes to the program, had great weather and cheered for the Diamondbacks,” Rose said with a chuckle. Last year’s event ran against the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series.
Kyle Reinhardt finished second behind Tyler Courtney in the All Star Circuit of Champions race in spring and then picked up a top five during the High Limit event earlier this month. On Saturday night, Reinhardt was the class of the field.
Anthony Macri, Reinhardt and Tyler Ross set fast time during the three timed sessions on Friday night, earning transfer spots for Saturday night’s main event. F&L Door heat races were won by Justin Peck, Tyler Ross and Pauli Colagiovanni. Peck raced to the win in the three lap dash to earn the pole for the feature event. Reinhardt’s runner-up finish put on the outside of the front row.
Peck and Reinhardt battled for the lead on the start of the thirty-five lap main event with Reinhardt pulling ahead of Peck as the two drivers headed down the backstretch. Macri, Colagiovanni and Dietrich chased the leader through the first few laps.
Macri’s race came to an end after contact on lap nine for the first caution of the race. On the restart, Reinhardt led the way over Peck and Colagiovanni and Devon Borden who battled for third while Dietrich ran in fifth.
Justin Whittall raced into the top five just before halfway but then needed the caution on lap nineteen when he got turned around between turns three and four. The yellow went to an open red to allow the field to take on fuel.
When the field went back to green flag racing, Reinhardt led the way as Dietrich took over second followed by Peck, Freddie Rahmer and Tyler Ross who started from the rear of the field after having trouble getting the No. 5 to fire for the start of the race.
Reinhardt was able to stretch his lead in the remaining laps, taking the win over Dietrich, Peck, Ross and Rahmer. Cameron Smith finished sixth followed by Dylan Norris, Devon Borden, Kyle Spence and Ricky DiEva.
“I love racing here,” Reinhardt exclaimed following his win. “I love racing in New Jersey. This track is realy bad-ass fast!” Reinhardt had a lot of friends and family in attendance. Some of Reinhardt’s biggest challenges came from the lapped cars in the late stages of the race. “I hit two of them,” Reinhardt explained. “They were everywhere!”
When racing in traffic, both Dietrich and Peck were able to close in on the leader. “Traffic really makes for better racing,” Dietrich explained. “Clean air is such an advantage.”
Alex Bright returned to competition for the final two races on the USAC East Coast schedule after recovering from injuried sustained in a racing accident in Indiana earlier this year. With a titanium plate and a number of screws, doctors were able to put his shattered wrist together and Bright is clearly not hampered by the injury.
Bright led every lap of the twenty-five lap main event for the wingless sprints. Kenny Miller III raced in second from lap two until lap sixteen when Briggs Danner arrived on the scene, racing from his ninth place start. Bright was long gone, well out of Danner’s vision with just nine laps to go but by the time the checkered flag waved, Danner had closed the gap and was racing just a handful of car lengths behind the feature winner.
Miller regained third in the final laps over Joey Amantea who finished fourth. Tim Buckwalter in the Rodota Trucking/Lotier No. 20 rounded out the top five. Three time USAC EC Champion, Steven Drevicki finished sixth followed by Mike Thompson, J.T. Ferry, Bobby Butler and Preston Lattomus.
Danner’s second place finish was more than enough to earn the Allentown, PA driver his second USAC EC Wingless Sprint Championship as well as the owner’s title for Hogue Racing.
F&L USAC EC heats were won by Joe Amantea and Alex Bright.
Neal Williams raced to his third win of the season in the New Jersey Overhead Door No. 0. Not only did the win make Williams the winningest Bridgeport competitor this season, but his third win came on his first we. dding anniversary with his wife, Sarah.
Davey Sammons and Joseph Watson led the field to the start of the twenty-five lap Modified feature. On the original start, the caution was needed quickly as Billy Osmun III, Jim Gallagher and David Crossman were involved in a tangle. On the complete restart, Watson took the lead and led Williams, Rick Laubach, Sammons and Dominick Buffalino through lap five.
The caution waved again on lap six when Clay Butler got out of shape in turn three. Watson held off Williams’ challenge on the restart as Sammons raced in third over Laubach and Cale Ross.
Williams stayed right with Watson has they continued to race around the High Banks. The field was slowed on lap eighteen when Osmun came to a stop in turn two. Watson elected the outside on the restart and got out ahead of the field. The cars of Williams, Laubach, Sammons and HJ Bunting were racing hard coming out of turn four on the restart. Everyone made it down the homestretch but damage on the Hermann No. 7 caused Laubach to come to a stop in turn two. Laubach headed to the pits as did Sammons under the caution.
On this restart, Williams raced Watson down the homestretch and into the turn. As the field headed down the backstretch, Williams moved out in front to take the lead. Williams led the rest of the way to the checkered flag to collect the win over Watson, Bunting, Dillon Steuer and Buffalino. Ross finished sixth followed by Wade Hendrickson, Sammy Martz, Jr., Sam Martz, Sr., Jimmy Gallagher and 2023 Track Champion, Jordan Watson.
Williams expressed to thanks to the many people who made up the No. 0 and made this season successful. It was Williams’ final race of the 2023 season as he and Sarah head out on vacation this week.
F& L Door Modified heats were won by Sammy Martz, Jr., Rick Laubach and Cale Ross.
410 SPRINT FEATURE (35 LAPS)
1. Kyle Reinhardt, 2. Danny Dietrich, 3. Justin Peck, 4. Tyler Ross, 5. Freddie Rahmer, 6. Cameron Smith, 7. Dylan Norris, 8. Devon Borden, 9. Kyle Spence, 10. Ricky Dieva, 11. Dave Brown, 12. Lucas Wolfe, 13. Dallas Schott, 14. Tyler Esh, 15. Bryce Norris, 16. Jordan Poirier, 17. Dominic Melair, 18. Stephen Dows, 19. Justin Whittall, 20. Timmy Buckwalter, 21. Paulie Colagiovanni, 22. Anthony Macri, 23. Mark Bitner, 24. Dirk Rimrott, DNS – Joey Amantea
USAC EAST COAST WINGLESS SPRINT FEATURE (25 LAPS)
1. Alex Bright, 2. Briggs Danner, 3. Kenny Miller, III, 4. Joey Amantea, 5. Timmy Buckwalter, 6. Steve Drevicki, 7. Mike Thompson, 8. J.T. Ferry, 9. Bobby Butler, 10. Preston Lattomus, 11. Austin Graby, 12. Ed Aikin, 13. Mick D’Agostino,14. Scott Frack,
15. Jason Cherry, 16. Richard Carnathan, 17. Jonathan Swanson, 18. Gary Huston, 19. Aidan Borden, DNS – Patrick Chilmonik
MODIFIED FEATURE (25 LAPS)
1. Neal Williams, 2. Joseph Watson, 3. H.J. Bunting, 4. Dillon Steuer, 5. Dominic Buffalino, 6. Cale Ross, 7. Wade Hendrickson, 8. Sammy Martz, Jr., 9. Sam Martz, Sr. 10. Jim Gallagher, 11. Jordan Watson, 12. W.B. James, 13. Ryan Grim, 14. J.R. Fulper,
15. Chris Grbac, 16. Mark Kratz, 17. Clay Butler, 18. Rick Laubach, 19. Davey Sammons, 20. Billy Osmun, III, 21. D.J. Hunt, 22. David Crossman, 23. Roger Manning,
24. Mike Franz, 25. Dirk Rimrott, 26. Dallas Briedenbach