Bridgeport, NJ – Connor Gross came on strong during the 2021 season and raced his way to a 600 Micro Sprint title at the Spirit Auto Center Speedway. On Friday night, he picked up his first Spirit win of the 2023 season but he has already won twice at the Championship Energy Action Track USA. Gross had plenty of pressure from Steven Snyder, Jr. and Bubba Hughes throughout the 25 lap main event but pulled away from the competition in the final laps to capture the checkered flag on AC Racing Products Night on the Spirit quarter mile.
After an early exit during last week’s 270 feature, defending track champion, Alex Swift left nothing on the table as he raced to his third win of the season – the only driver to win more than one event. Swift’s win came during an event that included the Mason Dixon 270 Racing Series. Nick Bilello drew the pole and then led from the green to the checkered to capture his first Speedway Entertainment All Star Slingshot feature win. Delana Messick drove a team car to Carter Mullins for her first night of competition at Spirit and then led Mullins to the finish line to capture her first Junior Slingshot victory.
Ethan Simpson and Bubba Hughes led the field of Hyper Racing-EVO Injection 600s to the green flag. Simpson grabbed the lead on the initial start with Gross quickly taking over second but the caution waved for a multi-car incident in turn four on lap two so the field lined up to try it again. Simpson again grabbed the lead as Gross battled with Hughes for second but Hughes wanted it all and grabbed the lead on lap two as the field ended out of turn four.
Hughes led until a lap eleven. Hughes and Gross battled side-by-side for a pair of laps before Gross took control. Hughes fell back to fourth but was able to make the outside work as he battled back to race Snyder for second.
With five laps to go, Gross led Snyder who was under heavy pressure from Hughes. Chris Fenimore and Simpson completed the top five with five laps to go.
Gross explained that, “around lap ten, I got to thinking about what I was doing with the shocks.” His choices were the right ones.
Hughes best run to date ended in turn two on lap twenty-one. Hughes had been running the outside, continuing challenge Snyder for second when he found himself facing traffic in turn two. The yellow came out and Hughes rejoined at the back of the field.
Snyder had a few opportunities to challenge Gross in the final laps but wasn’t able to capitalize on the situation. Gross took the win over Snyder, Fenimore, Simpson and Geordon Marrero who raced from the last starting spot to fifth. It was a season best for Simpson who has been showing steady improvement week after week.
Sam Lamothe finished sixth followed by Lavar Scott, Jon Keller in the Barber No. 99, Gary Bozowski and Matt Smith.
Polesitter, Stevie Daron, grabbed the lead on the start of the Mason Dixon 270 Series and led through the first five laps as Alex Swift made his way up to second from his fourth place start. Joe Dopke, Billy Gray and Lee Reinhardt raced in the top five through the first five laps.
Swift closed in on the leader and took a look to the inside the leader on lap seven. Daron and Swift were side by side as they came to the start/finish line to complete lap seven. Swift moved out in front on lap eight and never looked back.
Reinhardt moved up to third just past halfway and began to work on Daron for second. Dopke and Lee Nardelli raced for fourth.
The first caution waved on lap sixteen when Jimmy Wagner came to a stop on the backstretch. The field reformed for a single file restart for lap seventeen. Reinhardt took over second. Nardelli and Dopke were also able to advance their positions.
It was Swift for the win over Reinhardt, Nardelli, Dopke and Daron. Billy Gray, Tommy Rinck, Nick Skias, Nick Walton and Tyler Grau completed the top ten in the running order at the end of twenty laps.
Nick Bilello became the third first time winner in a row in the All Star Slingshot feature event. “Picking the pole helped but we’ve been really working on the car,” Bilello said from Champion Victory Lane.
Brayden Morrison raced in second and was able to hold off the challenges of 2022 All Star Slingshot Champion, Michael Beckett to finish second and third. PJ Bozowski finished fourth with Kristoffer Surran taking fifth for his best finish to date.
Delana Messick became a team mate to Carter Mullins, drew the pole and then went on to win her first Junior Slingshot feature at Spirit. Mullins threw everything but the kitchen sink at Messick but she prevailed for the win over Mullins. Last week’s winner, Jack Jarvis finished third followed by Austin Wall and Cody Williamson.
The four division show of Fast and Furious Fridays returns to the Bridgeport quarter mile next Friday night.
HYPER RACING EVO FUEL INJECTION 600cc MICRO SPRINT FEATURE (25 laps):
1. Ryan Boyd, 2. Anthony Tramontana, 3. P.J. Williams, 4. Zack Bealer, 5. Lavar Scott, 6. Connor Gross, 7. Chris Fenimore, 8. Bubba Hughes, 9. Gary Bozowski, 10. Prestyn Brown, 11. Ethan Simpson, 12. Jon Keller, 13. Robert Pierce, 14. Olivia Haworth, 15. Maddie Boyd. 16. Steve Fleetwood, 17. Chris Turner, 18. Matt Smith, 19. Billy Calvert, 20. Billy Murphy, 21. Rebecca Lamothe, 22. Sam LaMothe, 23. Julian Rexrode, 24. Brett Conklin, 25. Richie Keller, DNS – Steven Bracall, DNQ – Erik Lobacher, Jayson Conover, Jared Kreider, Wayne Scott
270cc MICRO SPRINT FEATURE (20 laps):
1. Lee Nardelli, 2. Billy Gray, 3. Pat Bealer, 4. John Wagner, 5. Nick Skias, 6. Marshall Labuda, 7. Tyler Reinhardt. 8. Jimmy Wagner, 9. Jonathan John, 10. Trevor Waegel, 11. Kyra Pierce, 12. Dustin Dash, 13. James Miller, 14. Alex Lester, 15. George Nardelli, 16. Tommy Rinck, 17. Tyler Grau, 18. Charles Cobourn, 19. Danny Wright, 20. Joe Dopke, 21. Alex Swift, DNS – Nick Walton
ALL STAR SLINGSHOT FEATURE (20 laps):
1. Brandon Oakley, 2. P.J. Bozowski, 3. Alonzo Morales, 4. Nick Bilello, 5. Brayden Morrison, 6. Kristoffer Surran, 7. Dave Morrell, 8. Robert Davey, 9. Chris Laureigh, 10. Jonathan Laureigh, 11. Scott Philipp
JUNIOR SLINGSHOT FEATURE (15 laps):
1. Jack Jarvis, 2. Carter Mullins, 3. Christopher Buffalino, 4. David Morrison, 5. Austin Walls, 6. Cody Williamson, 7. Alli Mullins
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