SCOTT & SKIAS RACE TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH SKYSCRAPER VICTORIES

Bridgeport, NJ – The Danny Serrano Skyscraper Micro Sprint Spectacular sponsored by Cassidy Painting overcame challenges from the weather to produce fantastic racing, adding two new winners to the history of this event.  Danny Serrano introduced this event on the Spirit Auto Center quarter mile at the Bridgeport Speedway at the end of the 2017 season, wanting to offer a prestigious event for the 270 and 600 Micro Sprints.  Two new winners have added their names to Skyscraper history as Wayne Scott and Nick Skias raced to victories in thier respective divisions.

A three day event structure had to be altered when rain forced the cancellation of Friday night‘s events.  On Saturday, timed hot laps were completed for both the Hyper Racing 600 and AC Racing Products 270 Micro Sprints before the decision was made to move the remaining qualifying events to Sunday when the weather promised to improve and allow some drying of the saturated track.

Two drivers in each division were transferred directly to the redraw for Sunday’s events based upon the two fastest times turned during time hot laps.  Josh Conover and Kyle Spence were the top two timers in the 600s while Nick Skias and previous Skyscraper winner, Ross Perchak were the two fastest competitors in the 270 ranks.

The Speedway Entertainment All Star Slingshots and Junior Slingshots completed their portion of the Skyscraper program on Saturday.  Jared Silfee, a former Poker Series Champion in Spirit Slingshot competition, made his return to competition following a several year absence to steal the win and the $1000 prize in the twenty-five lap All Star feature event.  Silfee’s S&S Speedway team mate, Danny Buccafusca led the first six laps until he was sidelined with mechanical issues.  Brandon Oakley became the new race leader and led all the way to the checkered flag when Silfee raced out of turn four and won the drag race to the finish line to claim the win and the Ed Weeks sponsored bonus prize money.

Oakley, who has one win to his credit this season on the Spirit quarter mile, finished a very close second followed by Hunter Hanelong who finished a close third in his first ever appearance on the Bridgeport quarter mile.  Dave Carraghan and five time Spirit winner, PJ Bozowski completed the top five at the checkered.

In Junior Slingshot action, it was Jack Jarvis who raced to his eleventh win of the season in the twenty lap feature event over Austin Walls, Christopher Buffalino, Jocelynn Darinsig and Gage Marrerro.

On Sunday, passing points were used to determine the top fourteen drivers in both the 600 and 270 micro sprints after the running of two sets of heat races.  Those fourteen drivers plus the two fast timers from Saturday transferred to the redraw for Sunday’s main events.  The remaining drivers competed in B Mains to complete the starting line-ups.

The top five finishers in each 600 heat race received cash prizes courtesy of heat sponsors Rodota Trucking & Excavating, JPA Masonry, Think Fiberglass, Connor Sheffield Racing, Project BIG, Cobbs Mill, Dale Gross of CPG Motorsports, Washington Collision, KL Vincent Welding, Protek Roofing/Beacon, Nolf’s  – Randy’s Custom Automotive and Ace Overhead Door.  Sponsors of the 270 heat races were In Memory of Danny by Scott Philipp, Keith Gerhart, Jeff  Ahlum, Viper Chassis, Belfore, 600 CC Performance and Dawson Hess.  Dave Orange Racing Engines sponsored the B Mains for the 600s while Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz sponsored the B Mains for the 270 B Mains.  A fifty dollar Hard Charger was offered by Dyno Bar and one hundred dollars from Andreas Built Motors and Carburetors.

In the $4,000 to win Hyper Racing 600 forty lap event, it was polesitter, Briggs Danner who led the first two circuits before 2021 Spirit Champion, Connor Gross raced into the lead from his outside pole start.

Gross led the way as Wayne Scott raced into second.  Zack Bealer took over third on lap fourteen.

A mid-race caution closed up the ranks and Scott dogged Gross for many laps after the restart.

Bealer, Danner and Anthony Tramontana and then Kyle Spence battled for the third spot for most of the second half of the race.

With just two laps remaining, Gross slowed with a left rear flat.  Scott battled with Bealer for the win as the two drivers traded slide jobs and the lead back and forth before Scott locked down the lead on the final lap.

It was Scott for the win over Bealer, Danner, Spence and Luke Thomas.  Christian Bruno, Colin White, Anthony Tramontana, Bubba Hughes and PJ Williams completed the top ten at the checkered.

The win was Scott’s third career win at Spirit and the biggest victory of his career to date.  “I wanted to do this for Danny (Serrano),” Scott declared following his win.  Serrano was instrumental in bringing many of these competitors to Spirit to race.  Scott also gave accolades to his Dave Orange powerplant for the speed that it took to win this race.

In the thirty lap, $3,000 to win AC Racing Products 270 main event, it was polesitter, Alex Swift who led the way over Nick Skias and Lee Reinhardt in the early going.

The leaders came into heavy traffic after ten laps were scored.  Swift had pressure from both Reinhardt and Skias with Reinhardt taking the lead on lap twelve.  Reinhardt led the way through lap nineteen but it was Skias who raced into the lead on lap twenty.  Skias then pulled away from the field and raced through lapped traffic to take his first Skyscraper victory.

Reinhardt finished second followed by Swift, Lee Nardelli and Tommy Kunsman who has a pair of 270 Skyscraper wins to his credit.  Pat Bealer, Ross Perchak who is another previous winner, Nick Walton, Joe Dopke and Richie Hartman rounded out the top ten.

“This is super, super cool,” Skias exclaimed after the win.  “This is definitely a race that I had on my Bucket List!”

When Danny Serrano presented the first Skyscraper, he wanted to make sure that no one went home empty handed even the non-qualifiers.  These prizes were offered by Hyper Racing-EVO Injection, American Racer, Hoosier Tire, DMI Machine, RTS Chassis and TSL Shocks.