Monday January 05, 2009 BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAYS ANNUAL BANQUET WRAPS UP THE 2008 RACE SEASON
By Michael Wisniewski BRIDGEPORT, NJ (January 4, 2009) - The 2008 racing season at Bridgeport
Speedway came to an official end at the annual awards banquet held at
the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino on Saturday, January 3, 2009. Speedway
officials honored the top finishers in each class and handed out
numerous other awards during the evenings activities.
Mike Iles from Medford, NJ was honored as the 2008 Big Block Modified
Champion. For Iles, it was his first ever Modified crown. Veteran driver
Steve Bottcher finished second in the final point chase while Richie
Pratt Jr. wound up in third place. Wade Hendrickson and Ryan Watt filled
out the top five. Chic Cossaboone, Bob Sarkisian, Chad James, Jimmy
Chester, and Gary Hager rounded out the top ten in points.
358 Sportsman top honors went to 2008 champion Jesse Hill from
Barnsboro, NJ. Jimmy Horton IV grabbed the second spot in the final
point standings and 358 Sportsman rookie Brett Ballard took third place.
The 2007 champion Kevin Collins grabbed the fourth spot with Eric
Kormann taking fifth in the final standings. Completing the top ten in
points in 2008 were Ron Roberts, Jarrad Miller, Chuck Hopkins, Dan
Cogdill, and Guy Germano.
Travis Hill, younger brother of Jesse, took the 2008 crown for the GM
Sportsman. Finishing two points behind Hill in second place was John
Micek. Mike Barone, Jason Rivers, and Bob Burgess rounded out the top
five. Chuck Buchman, David Bell, Neal Williams, Pat Hires and Michael
Cogdill completed the top ten.
The 358 Small Block championship was claimed by Richie Pratt Jr. of
Woodbury Heights, NJ. John Stangle, Rob Roberts, Eric Kormann, and Brett
Ballard filled out the top five.
After a dominating fourteen feature win season, Rich Reider was awarded
the Outlaw Stock championship. Jeff Dirkes finished in second place with
Bill Miller taking third place honors.
Sponsor awards were handed out to General Floor, Hampton Inn, Hoffman
Brothers Speed & Performance, MSP Equipment Rental, RMP Powertrain
Solutions, Stewart Stainless Supply, and Sysco for their support and
involvement during the 2008 season.
Also, Bridgeport Speedway management announced that opening night for
the 5/8th dirt oval will be on Saturday, April 11th, 2009. Practice day
for the 5/8th mile speedway will be on Saturday, March 28th.
Micro-Sprints and 4-Cylinder Stock Cars will have practice on the 1/4
mile speedway on Friday, April 3rd with Friday, April 10th set as the
season opener for competitors on the inner oval. Georgetown Speedway
will host its first show on Saturday, April 4th, 2009.
Bridgeport Speedway provides a safe and secure family atmosphere, free
parking, giveaways and fan participation games. Billed The Fastest Dirt
Track in the East, Bridgeport Speedway is a banked 5/8th mile dirt
oval, featuring a dirt 1/4 mile oval embedded in the center, and is
located in Southern New Jersey -- just minutes from Pennsylvania and
Delaware at exit 14 off of I-295.
SPECIALTY AWARDS
Hard Charger
Fri - 358 Small Blocks Richie Pratt Jr.
GM Sportsman Mike Barone
358 Sportsman Kevin Collins
Big Block Modified Chad James
Hard Luck
Fri - 358 Small Blocks Tom Solderich
GM Sportsman Tom Moore Jr.
358 Sportsman Sean Gunther
Big Block Modified Jimmy Horton
Most Improved
Fri - 358 Small Blocks Brett Ballard
GM Sportsman Jason Rivers
358 Sportsman Jarrad Miller
Big Block Modified Bob Sarkisian
Mechanic of the Year
GM Sportsman Bill Hill (Mechanic for Travis Hill)
358 Sportsman Eric McFetridge (Mechanic for Jesse Hill)
Big Block Modified Ryan Clifford (Mechanic for Mike Iles)
Rookie of the Year
GM Sportsman Bob Burgess
358 Sportsman Brett Ballard
Big Block Modified Matt Harrell
Sportsmanship Award
Fri - 358 Small Blocks Frank Dorry Jr.
GM Sportsman John Micek
358 Sportsman Dan Cogdill
Big Block Modified Ryan Watt
George Wingate Memorial Award Joe Ruchlewicz
Walt Chernokal Memorial Award Mike Wisniewski
Bridgeport Appreciation Awards Wade Perdue, Denard Griffith, Careys
Inc Bob Carey, Tuckahoe Turf Farm
Bridgeport Family Appreciation Award Hendrickson Family |
