Danner slides way to victory in Bridgeport USAC East Coast Opener
Column By: Kurt Better – USAC MEDIA – SWEDESBORO, NJ – Allentown, Pennsylvania’s Briggs Danner rolled into New Jersey’s Bridgeport Motorsports Park with one goal – win.
He got it, but not without a full-throttle fight from start to finish.
Jonathan Swanson led the field to green in the 2026 USAC East Coast opener presented by Baer Den Farms, pacing the first seven circuits of the 25-lapper. But the early spotlight didn’t stay there long. The “Thriller” Kenny Miller III wasted no time slicing forward from fourth to grab the lead on lap eight.
Behind him, the pressure was building. Danner was on the move from eighth, while defending series champ Steven Drevicki charged from sixth – two heavy hitters zeroing in fast.
A lap 12 caution for Jason Cherry reset the field, but by lap 16, traffic turned the race into a chess match at full speed. Danner and Miller went to war, threading through lapped cars with precision and aggression as Danner rose to the lead on lap 16.
Drevicki stayed glued to the fight, keeping the leaders honest and ready to capitalize. Further back, Olivia Thayer turned heads with a charge from 22nd after transferring through the semi, and Bruce Buckwalter Jr. stayed steady inside the top 10 despite a tough redraw.
But up front, it was Danner’s moment.
Through traffic, with Miller throwing everything he had at him, Danner made the decisive moves when it mattered most, sliding, gripping, and powering his way to victory lane in the Hogue Enterprises No. 39 backed by E. Schneider & Sons and Aw Shucks Roasted Corn.
Miller crossed in second, strong but hungry for more. Drevicki showed championship form in third, keeping the pressure on throughout. Brendan Hires finished fourth, marking his best career run with USAC, and Christian Bruno impressed in his new 3BC ride, charging to fifth.
USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CARS PRESENTED BY BAER DEN FARMS RACE RESULTS:
April 18, 2026 – Bridgeport Motorsports Park – Swedesboro, New Jersey
BAER DEN FARMS FEATURE: (25 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Briggs Danner (8), 2. Kenny Miller III (4), 3. Steven Drevicki (6), 4. Brendan Hires (2), 5. Christian Bruno (7), 6. Jonathan Swanson (1), 7. Joe Kata (9), 8. Tommy Kunsman (13), 9. Bruce Buckwalter Jr. (5), 10. Kyle Spence (16), 11. Stan Ploski III (12), 12. J.R. Fulper (19), 13. Olivia Thayer (22), 14. Jared Kreider (14), 15. Jake Galloway (24), 16. Matthew Swift (15), 17. Dan Malley (18), 18. Richy Carnathan (3), 19. Jason Cherry (21), 20. Ed Aikin (17), 21. Shane Braxton (23), 22. Ronald Helmick (11), 23. David Swanson (10), 24. Anthony Foscone Jr. (20). NT
