Bridgeport, NJ – The final night of points for the 2023 season provided some exciting racing on the Spirit Auto Center Speedway on Cassidy Painting Night!
Olivia Haworth raced to her first Spirit victory in the Hyper Racing EVO Injection 600 Micro Sprints. A ninth place finish was all that Matt Smith needed to capture his fourth 600 Micro Sprint championship on the Bridgeport quarter mile. Billy Gray earned his fourth win of the season – a career best for Gray! Alex Swift finished second and was crowned as the JC Fabrication 270 Micro Sprint Champion of 2023. Michael Beckett led flag to flag to earn his seventh Speedway Entertainment All Star Slingshot victory of the season, on his way to his second division title. Carter Mullins raced to his third Junior Slingshot win of the season but it was Jack Jarvis and his ten wins that was crowned as the 2023 Junior Slingshot Champion.
Olivia Haworth made Spirit Auto Center Speedway history with her win in the final race of the 2023 season.
While several 270 Micro Sprint features have been won by female drivers, Haworth is the first to win in the 600 Micro Sprint ranks! On the track that has seen nearly a dozen different winners plus Tommy Kunsman who has recorded seven wins during the regular season, Haworth’s victory becomes even more significant. As a matter of fact, Haworth was leading a recent feature event only to be passed by Kunsman in the final laps.
Congratulations to Olivia Haworth on her achievement!
Haworth has had a strong 2023 season with consistent top ten and top five finishes. She’s led some laps and came close to that first Spirit victory before but on Friday night, Haworth sealed the deal with a green flag to checkered non-stop twenty-five lap main event for the Hyper Racing EVO Injection 600 Micro Sprints.i
Haworth set a rapid pace, immediately pulling away from her competition. Sam LaMothe raced by Anthony Tramontana on lap three to take over second and then spent the remaining laps, chasing down the leader. In the final laps, LaMothe challenged for the lead but Haworth took the checkered about a half of a car length ahead.
It was Haworth for the win over Sam LaMothe, Anthony Tramontana, Tommy Kunsman and Connor Gross. Kunsman battled with Tramontana for most of the second half of the race but Tramontana was able to hold off the seven time feature winner. Connor Gross raced from deep in the field to finish in the top five.
Pat Bealer finished sixth. The battle for the 2023 Championship was raced in positions seventh through ninth. Matt Smith raced in fifth during the early going but after losing the power steering on the Courtland Manor No. 33, Smith had his work cut out for him. He was able to keep both Chris Fenimore and PJ Williams within his sight, insuring his fourth title. Fenimore finished seventh followed by Williams, Smith and Ethan Simpson.
Billy Gray drew the pole for the final JC Fabrication 270 Micro Sprint feature of the season and then led all twenty laps to capture his fourth win of the 2023 season. After mechanical issues sidelined Alex Swift from his qualifier, Swift was able to race his way into second but wasn’t able to challenge Gray for the win.
Gray did lose the lead briefly to Joe Dopke who powered into the lead and then caught the rough in turn two, causing him to spin. Dopke has been close to a win on several occasions.
Coming into the 2023 season, Gray had recorded four wins on the Spirit quarter mile. He was able to double that number during the season.
It was Gray for the win over Swift, Nick Walton, Lee Nardelli who was behind the wheel of his brother, George’s No. 85 and Dominck Pomponi. Jonathan John, who honored his father with a pair of parade laps before the feature, finished sixth followed by Joe Dopke who battled back to finish seventh. Blake Esham, Danny Wright and Corey Waegel completed the top ten at the checkered.
Michael Beckett raced to the twenty lap feature win in the Speedway Entertainment All Star Slingshot feature event for his seventh win of the season and the 2023 Championship. Beckett drew the pole and led every lap in spite of some pressure from four time winner, PJ Bozowski. Brandon Oakley closed in on the leaders to make it a three car race for the win in the final laps. Kristoffer Surran finished fourth with Nick Bilello finishing fifth.
Alonzo Morales, Brayden Morrison, Joe Stone, Dave Morrell and Frank Yoder.
Beckett is looking to move into the 602 Crate ranks of the High Banks next season.
Carter Mullins picked up the win in the Junior Slingshot feature after holding off the challenges of ten time winner, Jack Jarvis. It was Mullins third win of the season.
Jarvis was crowned as the 2023 Junior Slingshot Champion after his impressive ten victories.
The Spirit Auto Center Speedway has concluded its 2023 season with the Danny Serrano Skyscraper event coming up on September 29 – October 1st. Entry information is available on the Spirit web site.
HYPER RACING EVO FUEL INJECTION 600cc MICRO SPRINT FEATURE (25 LAPS): 1. Olivia Haworth, 2. Sam LaMothe, 3. Anthony Tramontana, 4. Tommy Kunsman, 5. Connor Gross, 6. Pat Bealer, 7. Chris Fenimore, 8. P.J. Williams, 9. Matt Smith, 10. Ethan Simpson, 11. Gary Bozowski, 12. Dan Leaper, 13. Connor Sheffield, 14. Geordan Morrero, 15. Connor Mirabelli, 16. Billy Calvert, 17. Colin White, 18. Corey Waegel, 19. Brett Conkling, 20. Ryan Murray, DNS – Corey Anderson
J C FABRICATION 270cc MICRO SPRINTS FEATURE (20 LAPS):
1. Billy Gray, 2. Alex Swift, 3. Nick Walton, 4. Lee Nardelli, 5. Dominic Pomponi, 6. Jonathan John, 7. Joe Dopke, 8. Blake Esham, 9. Danny Wright, 10. Corey Waegel, 11. Alex Lester, 12. Charles Chance, III, 13. James Miller, 14. Dustin Dash
SPEEDWAY ENTERTAINMENT ALL-STAR SLINGSHOT FEATURE (20 LAPS):
1. Michael Beckett, 2. P.J. Bozowski, 3. Brandon Oakley, 4. Kristoffer Surran, 5. Nick Bilello, 6. Alonzo Morales, 7. Brayden Morrison, 8. Joe Stone, 9. Dave Morrell, 10. Frank Yoder
SPEEDWAY ENTERTAINMENT JUNIOR SLINGSHOT FEATURE (15 LAPS):
1. Carter Mullins, 2. Jack Jarvis, 3. Austin Walls, 4. Cody Williamson.
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