Hand 1 of the Spirit Auto Center Poker Series
Bridgeport, NJ – This coming Sunday will mark the first 2016‘Poker Series’ event at the ¼ mile Spirit Auto Center Speedway. The ‘Fast & Furious’ Friday program will take a back seat this weekend to Round #1 of the popular Poker Series. The wingless 600 and winged 270 micro sprints will be joined by the Tobias Slingshots, Xcel 600 mods, and the Stage-1 modifieds. The action-packed show will see heat races starting at 5:30pm on Sunday.
The wingless 600 micro sprints will compete in 25-lap events paying $1,000 to win throughout the six-race series. On top of the high-dollar paying event, the 2016 Poker Point fund has been released. The driver holding the best hand after the six races will also earn $1,000 for their efforts! The second-best hand will take home $500, while the third-best hand will win $300.
The Poker Series is not your traditional ‘point system’. The finishes will earn playing cards rather than points. The winner of each event receives an ‘Ace’, while second takes home a ‘King’ all the way down to 13th position where that driver will earn a ‘2’. In 2014 Jermain Godshall won the series with three ‘Dueces’. Meanwhile, last year’s champion James Morris took matters into his own hands racing to ‘two high pair’ (2-Aces & 2-Kings). “That’s the beauty of the Poker Series. It’s not favorable to anyone,” explained track manager Danny Serrano. “Two years ago Jermain kind of got lucky and take home the top dollars by finishing 13th three times! Last year, Morris had great consistency finishing up front and won that way. A traditional point system would eliminate a bunch of guys should they have bad or mediocre finishes. This series keeps EVERYONE alive until the final race,” Serrano pointed out. Drivers who have finished in the $$$ the past two seasons include Robbie Hocker, Sam Lamothe, Lee Nardelli, and Grady Johnston. Morris, Nardelli, Luke Thomas, and Tim Buckwalter were all victorious in last year’s Poker Series races. Sunday’s field should remain strong as many drivers have expressed their early interest in running the full Poker Series in 2016.
The 270 micro sprints have continued to show growth in counts dating back to last year with this year’s opening day presenting a full field in the division. Last year’s champion Jacob Hendershot was a force to be reckoned with as he took home FOUR Aces on his way home to the ’16 title. Track regulars Roland Saxton (’14 Poker champion) and Billy Gray finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. The 270 class will race for a minimum of $300 to win with $500 going to the winner if 24 cars sign in. If 31 cars enter the event the 270 winner will receive $650 and if the car count should reach 40 cars the first place finisher will not only take home the ‘Ace’ but $1,000 as well! It should be noted at well that second place and start $$$ have been raised this season as well for both divisions during the Poker events.
Jacob Hendershot will have his hands full in trying to repeat as champion. Competitors such as teammate Pat Bealer, three-time defending track champion Tyler Reinhardt, new track regulars like Nick Walton and Alex Swift, young sensations like Brandon Pavel, Colin Bustard, and Sean Heusser, long-time Spirit Auto Center Speedway drivers like Luke Fogg, John Blanda, Richie Keller, and Pennsy hot shoes like Kyle Spence, Kyle Weiss, Robbie Watson, Glenn Macomber, Logan Diehl, Brandon Edgar, and Jeanna Schostkowitz will all be looking to dethrone Hendershot’s red rocket 28.
There will be not one but two point funds on the line for the Slingshots starting on Sunday. Slinger Warehouse has signed on to be the title sponsor for the traditional ‘Track Points’ for the (7) Sunday events. The top 5 in points after October 23 will place in the money. The Sunday Series champion will earn $500 for their winning efforts. Second through fifth will see $250, $200, $150, and $100 respectively. “Steve and his group are not only great supporters of slingshot racing but of Spirit Auto Center Speedway as well,” Serrano pointed out.
The Slingshots will have their own “Poker Series” point fund as well. For the third consecutive season, the Jeffery Houge Action Track USA in Kutztown, Pa will provide headline sponsorship for the ’16 point fund. The driver with the best hand will earn a cool $500 while second willearn $200 and third receive $100. “Richie and his people enjoy being a part of this poker deal, and we’re glad to have them aboard once again this year,” Serrano added. Last year’s Poker Champion and season long champion was young Andrew Kreis. Slingers Travis Beiber and Louden Reimert also shared in the winnings. Dave McCollough was the 2014 champion, while young Dillon Steuer won last year’s ‘King of the Sling’ event held in October.
Doug Borger’s Xcel 600 modifieds have joined the 2016 Poker theme as well for this season. “We love it over there at Bridgeport (Spririt Auto Center Speedway) and I’m very glad that they wanted us to be part of t
heir Poker events,” Borger offered. The three best hands at the end of the 6 races will receive $$$ for their efforts. Brian Carber has been the man to beat each and every time they Xcels roll into the Gloucester County facility winning 3 of the 5 events held in the past 13 months. Meanwhile, Aaron Bowes was victorious in their other two outings.
Richie Smith’s Stage-1 Mod creations return to South Jersey for the Sunder Poker races. The quickly growing division based out of Hamlin Speedway will round out the five-division racing card throughout the summer.
You can find all the latest information regarding Spirit Auto Center Speedway on www.spiritspeedway.com or check us out on the official Spirit Auto Center Speedway Facebook page. For any questions you can call the track hotline at 856-467-4408, Danny Serrano at 609-433-4487 or email the track at bridgeportspeedway@hotmail.com.
*Important Reminders
1-Poke Series Schedule-May 15, June 5, July 10, July 24, Aug 14, and Sept 11
2-In the 270 and 600 micros if there are 30-39 entrants-Two random drawings for non-qualified cars will be done for FREE driver car registration at next Poker race. If there are 40 plus cars, then 4 FREE driver registrations will be given out to drivers that failed to qualify.
3-Pit Gates open at 2pm. Please arrive early to have your car NJSP inspected and approved if you haven’t been to Spirit Auto Center Speedway yet in 2016.
4-You CAN be as young as 14 years of age to compete in NJ in the 270, Slingshot, and Stage-1 Mod divisions. Please bring a copy of the minor’s birth certificate. A parent must also sign the waiver at the speedway.
5-You must be at least 16 years of age to compete in the 600 micros and 600 xcel mods, unless you have already received consent from the NJSP and the track has the proper p
aperwork filed. A copy of the driver’s b.c. and parent signature on the waiver are also required for 16 and 17 year olds.
6-The Head & Neck restraint referring to the Hans/Necksgen/Hutchins is NOT mandatory in for the Poker Series events…A neck collar at the minimum must be worn. However, it is mandatory for all Friday night racing. In 2017 there will be NO questions asked as EVERYONE will be required to have the SFI 38.1 rated proper head and neck apparatus. However, Bridgeport Speedway does strongly encourage allcompetitors to obtain this equipment for a safer race.
