Story By: BRIDGEPORT MOTORSPORTS PARK – SWEDESBORO, NJ – With more than a hundred cars signed in to compete in Friday night’s competition, the first night of the Danny Serrano Memorial weekend was ready for the green flag.
The Underdog 20, a race for the season’s non-winners for the Ice Less 602 Sportsman was just one of the Danny’s ideas that became reality at Bridgeport and was won by Ryan Anderson whose last Bridgeport win came during the 2020 season. Johns Manville Street Stocks had a healthy field on cars on hand with Jason Geesaman racing to the win. The Victory Fuel Wingless Sprints saw Brian Spencer extend his win count to five. The Johns Manville Four Cylinder field had several new faces but it was Scott Degler who came up with his second win in a row.
There were three sessions of timed hot laps for the Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Modifieds with the fastest car in each group transferring directly into the redraw for Saturday’s Danny Serrano Memorial sixty lap race. Brian Papiez had the fastest lap in the first group followed by Neal Williams in Group two. David Hunt grabbed the final transfer spot in the third group.
Twenty-eight cars took the green flag in the Underdog 20 for the 602 Sportsman. The field was a cross-section of Bridgeport regulars as well as invaders. With the $10,000 to win Sportsman Super National just one week away, a number of teams used this weekend to prepare their cars for the big race.
Ryan Anderson jumped behind the wheel of the Borrer No. B4 for this weekend. A former track champion (on the 5/8th mile track), Anderson had one win on the new track configuration in 2020 before he stepped out from behind the wheel. It didn’t take him long to blow off the rust. After earning a redraw spot in his qualifier, Anderson drew the pole for the start of the feature.
Anderson won the race for the lead on the start over John Scarpati and never looked back. Billy Chester raced into second and chased Anderson until the final laps of the race. Addie Delliponti, Luke Bunting and Nick VanWickle completed the top five for the twenty lap race.
With Anderson out in front, Bunting made a late race challenge for second on lap nineteen.
It was Anderson for the win over Bunting, Chester, Delliponti and VanWickle at the checkered. Jim Wyers, Trent Willey, Ronnie Solomon, TJ Mayberry and Jesse Hirthler completed the top ten.
Jason Geesaman raced to the win in the Johns Manville Street Stock feature after leading every lap of the twenty lap event. Former track champion, Tom Wills, Sr. was behind the wheel of the No. 856 and raced in second until Mike Hughes took the spot in the final laps. Wills, Sr. finished third followed by Duncan Molesworth and Gary Klimeczak.
Brian Spencer raced to his fifth win in the Victory Fuel Wingless Sprints. Spencer was challenged by Eric Jennings on the first lap but quickly regained the lead and never looked back. Jennings finished second in what was his first start of the season. Shea Wills and Dan Leaper both used a mid-race restart to advance to third and fourth in the final standings. Jonathan Swanson finished fifth after racing in third for may laps.
Eric Degler was the winner in the Johns Manville Four Cylinder feature after apparent winner, Ron Falken failed post race technical inspection. It was Degler’s second win in a row and his second win in a car that he recently purchased. Dan Stein, Jr. finished second to Degler with Jeff Merriman, Lee Allen and Kyle Hurley completing the top five at the checkered.
Night one of the Danny Serrano weekend was completed and the stage was set for Saturday’s five division show.
DANNY’S PIZZA PIZZAZZ MODIFIED FAST TIMERS
Session #1 – Brian Papiez
Session #2 – Neal Williams
Session #3 – David Hunt
ICE LESS LLC 602 SPORTSMAN UNDERDOG 20 (20 LAPS)
1. Ryan Anderson, 2. Luke Bunting, 3. Billy Chester, 4. Andrianna Delliponti, 5. Nick VanWickle, 6. Jim Wyers, 7. Trent Willey, 8. Ronnie Solomon, 9. T.J. Mayberry, 10. Jesse Hirthler, 11. Sean Metz, 12. Ryan Maher, 13. Craig Pellegrini, 14. Michael Beckett, 15. Justin Zook, 16. Kris Thompson, 17. Thomas Prytchka, 18. Kenny Ott, 19. John Cameron, 20. Robert Tete, 21. Aaron Weaver, 22. John Scarpati, 23. Bryan Brobst, 24. Dave Hartman, 25. Dallas Dallenbach, 26. George Gareis, 27. Mark Mohr, 28. Brian Rogers, DNS – Anthony Sisco, Howie Finch, Lexi Wilson
VICTORY FUEL WINGLESS SPRINT FEATURE (20 LAPS)
1. Brian Spencer, 2. Eric Jennings, 3. Shea Wills, 4. Dan Leaper,5. Jonathon Swanson, 6. Matt Peck, 7. David Swanson, 8. Thomas Radivoy, 9. Stan Ploski, III, 10. Tim Hannen, 11. Heidi Hedin, 12. Christopher Allen, Jr., 13. Brendan Hires, 14. Joey Crilly
STREET STOCK FEATURE (20 LAPS)
1. Jason Geesaman, 2. Mike Hughes, Jr., 3. Tom Wills, Sr., 4. Duncan Molesworth, 5. Gary Klimeczak, 6. Spider Ensinger, Jr., 7. Mike Baldwin, 8. Jeff Dirkes, 9. Spider Ensinger, Sr., 10. Jerry Blouch, 11. Spider Ensinger, III, 12. Scott Freed
FOUR CYLINDER FEATURE (20 LAPS)
1. Eric Degler, 2. Dan Stein, Jr., 3. Jeff Merriman, 4. Lee Allen, 5. Kyle Hurley, 6. Joe Garey, Sr., 7. Lindsay Rummel, 8. Dominick Antonelli, 9. Kelly Fleming, 10. Roger Kumnerer, 11. Mark Stein, Sr., 12. John Parker, 13. Rob Weil, 14. Phil Crucilla, 15. Brayden Morrison, 16. Doug Ensinger, 17. Colin Gale, DQ – Ron Falken