Eastern Storm Hits Bridgeport Wednesday
Eastern Storm Hits Bridgeport Wednesday
Kevin Thomas Jr. was triumphant in USAC's first visit to Bridgeport a year ago. He and the series are back in the east for Eastern Storm June 11-16.
You won’t need a weather map for this storm!
The Eastern Storm is headed to the Design for Vision/Sunglass Central 3/8th mile track at the Bridgeport Speedway on Wednesday, June 12th.
Last year’s event was a huge success. The drivers found the track “racey”. The fans came in droves for the only appearance of the stars of USAC in the state of New Jersey and they did not go home disappointed. In the words of USAC’s Levi Jones, “There was a good crowd who got to see the greatest names in USAC. You can’t ask for it to be much better than that!”
At the end of the night, Kevin Thomas Jr. was the first to the checkered flag after laps of wheel to wheel racing with Chris Windom and Tyler Courtney. Windom and Courtney had swapped the lead back and forth. When the two made contact, Thomas saw his chance and raced into the lead. It was just the opportunity that he was looking for.
So far this season, Chris Windom is the only driver to have repeated in the win column, but it is CJ Leary who sits on top of the point standings , currently 29 points ahead of Kevin Thomas, Jr. and 38 points ahead of Windom. Justin Grant, Leary, Brady Bacon, Tyler Courtney and Chase Stockon have one win a piece coming into the Eastern Storm races.
In addition to the regulars on the USAC tour, race fans will be able to see several local drivers competing in these events.
Joey Biasi recently picked up the win in the USAC East Coast Wingless Sprint Car event on the Design for Vision/Sunglass Central 3/8th mile. Biasi has made it no secret that he really likes this track and his record shows it. In two events, Biasi has a win and a second-place finish.
Biasi is no stranger to Eastern Storm competition. He has competed in these event for several years because, as the driver explains, “You don’t have to have a million dollar engine to compete. Wingless competition is more about the driver driving the car.” Biasi’s sponsors are on board for the Eastern Storm, including B&F General Machine, Burns & Yost Engines, GME Steering, Calaman Radiator, Frank’s Truck Lettering, HG Block Lightning and Dyno, Larry’s Hot Rod & Harleys, Blinders restaurant, Shaup Brothers and Tito Juice. These sponsors are very important to Biasi for monetary as well as product support.
USAC East Coast Wingless Sprint Car Champion, Steve Drevicki will also be in this year’s line-up.
Drevicki is receiving support from Gene Franckowiak, who is supplying the engine. Drevicki will also be receiving some technical support from Clauson & Marshall in what will be his first endeavor in Eastern Storm competition. Drevicki will be using the same car that he uses in wingless competition. He and his team have already done all of the prep work to allow them to change engines with relative ease.
A former two-time ARDC midget competitor, Drevicki believes that the car with the 410-power plant will react more like the midget than the 360-sprint car so he isn’t expecting the change to be a big adjustment.
With the exception of the last event scheduled at Weedsport, the local talent has considerable experience in the tracks that will run during the Eastern Storm.
Grandstand admission for this event is $30, $10 for students 10-15 years old with children 9 and under admitted for Free. Racing will get underway at 7:30pm.
2019 Eastern Storm Schedule
Tuesday, June 11: Grandview Speedway (Bechtelsville, Pa.)
Wednesday, June 12: Bridgeport Speedway (Swedesboro, N.J.)
Thursday, June 13: BAPS Motor Speedway (York Haven, Pa.)
Friday, June 14: Williams Grove Speedway (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) **Silver Crown**
Saturday, June 15: Port Royal Speedway (Port Royal, Pa.)
Sunday, June 16: Weedsport Speedway (Weedsport, N.Y.)
Tuesday at Grandview, pits open at 2pm (Eastern), front gates open at 5pm and racing at 7:30pm. NASCAR 358 Modifieds will join the USAC Sprint Cars. Adult general admission tickets are $30, kids 6-11 are $10. Children 6 and under are free. Advance tickets may be ordered by calling (443) 513-4456.
Wednesday at Bridgeport, racing starts at 7:30pm (Eastern). Adult general admission tickets are $30, students 10-15 are $10, children 9 and under are free.
Thursday at BAPS, Adult general admission tickets are $25, seniors are $15, students 13-17 are $15, kids 12 and under are free. Pit passes are $35 apiece.
Friday at Williams Grove for the Silver Crown race, pits open at 5pm (Eastern), hot laps begin at 7pm with qualifying and racing immediately following. The 410 wing sprints are also on the event card. Adult general admission tickets are $28, age 13-20 are $10, kids 12 and under are free. Pit passes are $35 apiece.
Saturday at Port Royal, it’s a sprint car doubleheader with 410 wing sprints also on hand. Adult general admission tickets are $25, students are $10 and pit passes are $35 apiece.
Sunday at Weedsport, pits open at 4pm (Eastern), front gates open at 5pm and hot laps begin at 7pm with qualifying and racing immediately following. Champion Oil Modifieds and NY6A Micro Sprints are also on the docket. Reserved seating is $32, adult general admission tickets are $28, age 11-17 are $12 and age 10 and under are free. Pit passes are $32 apiece for members and $36 for non-members. Reserve camping is $30 and general camping is $24.
Watch each and every “Eastern Storm” race live and on-demand at http://www.FloRacing.com/. Listen live on the USAC app. Follow along with live updates on https://www.facebook.com/usacracing/ and https://twitter.com/USACNation, plus live timing and scoring on the Race Monitor app.