Jim Gallagher Wins Non-Stop Modified Thriller Saturday At Bridgeport Motorsports Park

Story By: BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK – SWEDESBORO, NJ – Jim Gallagher, Jr. raced to his first ever win in the Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Modifeds on Saturday night, fulfilling the goal that he and his father had since they first came racing.

Matt Peck became the first repeat winner in the Ice Less LLC 602 Sportsman ranks by picking up the win over Ethan Bill. Lee Allen raced to his second win of the season in the Blue Hen Speed & Performance Street Stocks while Michael Beckett continued his winning ways in the DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookies. Bobby Butler raced to the $1,000 win in the Tim VanHorn, Sr. Memorial race for the Xcel 600 Modifieds with David Burns taking the win in the non-winner’s race at the end of the night. Saturday night’s racing program was sponsored by Blue Hen Speed & Performance.

In 2017, Jim Gallagher, Senior and Junior, came to the Bridgeport Speedway to compete in the Rookie division. Jim Sr. had raced in years past but this was the first experience of any kind of racing for Jim Jr. By mid-season, Jim Gallagher, Jr. had been crowned as the 2017 Rookie Champion and was already a viable competitor in the weekly Sportsman competition on the old 5/8th mile track.

The father and son team made the move into the Modifieds on the High Banks but when Jim, Sr. lost his battle with cancer last year, his son soldiered on. On Saturday night, he accomplished what he and his father had set out to do.

“This was the best car that I’ve ever had,” Gallagher stated after his win. “I’m the kind of guy who is never satisfied. Now I want to do it more!”

Gallagher has led quite a few laps this season – in both heats and features. Saturday night he was able to seal the deal.

Kevin Golden waved the green flag and Gallagher took off, leaving Roger Manning and Cole Stangle to battle it out for second. Manning exited with mechanical issues just before lap ten as Stangle battled with HJ Bunting for position. Gallagher caught the back of the field just past halfway. Cole Stangle was able to break away from Bunting who was in a heated battle with Billy Pauch, Jr. and Dillon Steuer. Billy Osmun joined that battle a few laps later.

Steuer bested Pauch for position in the final laps. Gallagher led the way to the checkered over Cole Stangle and Dillon Steuer – all three with season best finishes. Bunting finished fourth followed by Pauch. Osmun finished sixth followed by defending track champion, Jordan Watson, Matt Stangle, Neal Williams and Ryan Krachun – all of whom started mid-pack or deeper.

Rob Tete led the first three laps of the Ice Less 602 Sportsman feature as Matt Peck quickly moved up to second. Peck took the lead on lap four. With Peck and Tete out in front, things were heating up for third place Billy Chester as Brian Papiez and Travis Hill raced into the top five.

The leader was catching the back of the field when the caution waved for Anthony Cisco just before halfway. Peck had a clear track but now had Papiez and Hill racing in second and third. Peck proved he was up to the challenge. Ethan Bill took over third with ten to go as Steve Kemery moved into fourth.

Papiez stayed close but Peck led the way to the checkered. Bill made a last lap move to take second over Papiez, Kemery and Hill. Brian Rogers finished sixth followed by Tete, Chester, Jax Yohn and Michael Beckett.

Lee Allen finally had things go his way – well, mostly. Allen had trouble getting the No. 98 started at feature time but Mike Hughes, Sr. came to the rescue. Allen took the lead at the start and led every one of the fifteen laps with Mike Hughes, Jr. finishing second. Nick Sandone, III finished third followed by Gary Klimeczak and Kevin Heckman.

Michael Beckett maintained his perfect record in the DA’s Auto Body & Repair Rookie feature to take the win over Ashley Therien, Kenny Ott and Dan Adair.

Bobby Butler captured the $1,000 to win Tim VanHorn, Sr. Memorial race over Tyler Bartik, Kenny Harris, Richie Hitzler and Korey Inglin. David Burns was the winner of the final race of the night – the $500 to win Non-winners race. Tyler Fronina finished second followed by Ray Gradwell, Olivia Schmeltzer and Brandon Kulp.

The Monster Trucks are coming to the Kingdom of Speed this Saturday. The High Banks will then race on Sunday featuring the Mid Atlantic Sprint Series, 602 Sportsman, the Victory Fuel Wingless Sprints, Street Stocks, Four Cylinders and Vintage Cars. The Modifieds return on Wednesday night, June 12 with the USAC National Sprints for the 2024 Eastern Storm.

Modifieds 1. Jim Gallagher Jr 2. Cole Stangle 3. Dillon Steuer 4. HJ Bunting 5. Billy Pauch Jr 6. Billy Osmun 7. Jordan Watson 8. Matt Stangle 9. Neal Williams 10. Ryan Krachun 11. JR Fulper 12. Mike Franz 13. Sam Martz Sr. 14. Sam Martz Jr. 15. Cale Ross 16. Stan Frankenfield 17. Brad Roberts 18. Rick Laubach 19. WB James 20. Mike Barone 21. Roger Manning 22. Tommy Scheetz

Sportsman 1. Matt Peck 2. Ethan Bill 3. Brian Papiez 4. Steve Kemery 5. Travis Hill 6. Brian Rogers 7. Robert Tete 8. Billy Chester 9. Jax Yohn 10. Michael Beckett 11. Brandon Shipley 12. Ethan Young 13. Ashley Theiren 14. Brian Lillick 15. Nick Stephens 16. Dave Hartman 17. Kenny Ott 18. Anthony Sisco 19. Dan Adair 20. Craig Pellegrini 21. Monte Pool

Street Stocks 1. Lee Allen 2. Mike Hughes 3. Nick Sandone III 4. Gary Kilmeczak 5. Terry Cheney 6. Kevin Heckman 7. Gary Bozowski

XCEL Modifieds – Feature #1 1. Bobby Butler 2. Tyler Bartik 3. Kenny Harris 4. Ritchie Hitzler 5. Korey Inglin 6. John Hall 7. Shjon Dove 8. Tyler Fronina 9. 3 10. Tiffany Hitzler 11. 122 12. Doug Newbigging 13. Chad Kreiser 14. David Burns 15. Chris Smith 16. Gerry Bressler 17. Daisey Dove 18. Brandon Graner 19. Ray Gradwell

XCEL Modifieds – Feature #2 1. David Burns 2. Tyler Fronina 3. Ray Gradwell 4. Olivia Schmeltzer 5. Brandon Kulp 6. Chris Smith 7. Chad Kreiser 8. John Hall 9. Shjon Dove 10. Korey Inglin 11. Doug Newbigging 12. Tyler Bartik 13. Bobby Butler 14. Daisey Dove 15. Kenny Harris