For many years Dave Adams has enjoyed being a professional race driver. And for most of those years the Oakford resident raced a modified stock car at Bridgeport, NJ Speedway. And on many of those race nights he was one of the many grumbling about how things were being done and how the events were being promoted.
Over the years there have been many, at least 18 different promoters, who have tried to make a success of the South Jersey dirt racing facility. And for the last few years Adams has wanted to have the chance to show he could make Bridgeport Speedway a success. Now he has the opportunity. Dave Adams is the general manager and the promoter.
"It has been a real challenge. I am looking forward to the racing but I wish I was still racing," said the owner of DA Auto Repairs. "I wish I could have been here last September rather than just taking over in January. We have made a lot of improvements. Fans and racers will be surprised and pleased to see the changes when they show up for the opener on April 10th." Because of construction delays they have had to cancel a planned free-to-the-public practice day scheduled for tomorrow.
Being the promoter has meant the Adams has had to give up his racing. However he will continue to be a race car owner and will field a Sportsman stock car for Trevose resident Dave Matz. The youngster was Adams' crew chief for the last couple seasons. He will race in a new division created by Adams called Rookie Sportsman.
"New Egypt Speedway is the class of the field when it comes to area race tracks," said the former small block modified champion. "They have a first class facility and we are working to put Bridgeport in the same class. There are sky boxes, a new press room, improved grandstands, much needed new restrooms and there has been a major clean-up and fix-up effort."
Track owner Jay James is dedicated to making the facility a success. The Delaware resident is working seven days a week, morning to night, getting the track in the kind of condition that will make even the casual fan want to come out and enjoy a night of racing.
"Local auto racing can't survive on the current fan base. We need to be creating new fans and that is not going to happen unless you have the amenities they have at other sports facilities," said Dave. "We are in the entertainment business and we are in competition with minor league baseball and minor league hockey. We have a five year plan to make Bridgeport Speedway a place where everyone enjoys themselves and spreads the word about the great night of entertainment they enjoyed."
Many of the top names in local dirt track stock car racing will be regulars on Saturday night at the South Jersey oval including multi time champion Doug Hoffman, Wade Hendrickson, Ricky Elliott and Duane Howard along with a host of other crowd pleasers. Adams claims there will be at least 16 racers who can win the Modified feature on any given Saturday night.
When asked about many time champion Jimmy Horton leaving to race at New Egypt, NJ Speedway, Adams responded with: "We hate losing Jimmy but he has to do what is best for him and his career. We wish him the best."
Horton, winner of well over 100 features at Bridgeport Speedway, will be plying his trade on Saturday nights at New Egypt, NJ Speedway mainly because it gives him "track time" as he prepares for the 11 Wednesday Super Stars Modified shows being planned at the Central Jersey oval. The mid-week specials will pay $10,000 to win and that has caught the attention of many of the top talents in dirt track racing.
Adams pointed out that Bridgeport Speedway will be known not just for auto racing. "We want to turn this into an entertainment center. We will be talking with the local township officials; there has not been a good relationship with previous promoters, seeking permission for fans to bring alcohol on the grounds. And we want to do some promotions that center on the township and the residents. In addition we are looking at being able to run some concerts."
Track management will also be seeking permission to run more than twice a week.
At present the huge dirt racing complex will present Friday night shows that consist of Outlaw stocks, 4 cylinder stocks and micro sprints. On Saturday nights it will be Big Block Modifieds, Sportsman and Sprints. The season opener, April 10th, will feature the United Racing Club sprint cars.
The energetic Adams, he reminds you of the Energizer Bunny, wants to have people thinking of going to the auto races at Bridgeport Speedway on weekends rather than the movies. "We will be running the shows off in three hours, maybe a little more, and that will help bring in new fans. We want to put Bridgeport Speedway on the entertainment map in the Philadelphia area," was his final comment.
Knowing Dave Adams I think he will do just that. But don't be surprised if he sneaks in a race or two, as a driver, sometime during the season.
D.J.MYERS won the 25-lap Late Model feature, his first, at Hagerstown Speedway on Saturday night while Scott Palmer was tops in the Late Model sportsman feature and it was Ronnie Dennis topping the action in the 15-lap Pure Stock feature.
The Hagerstown Speedway will swing back into action with a big, exciting, fan pleasing four feature program on Saturday night, April 10th. Grandstand admission for the adults is only $9.00 with kids under 12 FREE.
The always exciting 30-car 30-lap enduro dash for amateur drivers will join the late models, Hoosier Tires Mid-Atlantic late model sportsman and the Ernie's Salvage Yard pure stocks in a special four feature program. It will be the second point race for the three divisions as the drivers start the long battle for the track championships.
Early season winners Frankie Plessinger and Paul Crowl will lead a large field of late model drivers anxious to be the next track champion. Defending track champion Gary Stuhler already has a win and will be tough again this season as he approaches the all-time career win record. Other drivers who will be in action include Kirk Ryan, who scored his first career win last month, Mark Elksnis, Tim Wilson and others.
The late model sportsman division will be plenty tough as driver's battle for the lucrative point fund money. Defending champion Richard Walls of St. Thomas, PA is anxious to repeat, but it won't be easy with drivers like Tim Fedder, Daryl Kendall, Tyler Armstrong, Larry Baer, Wesley Workman, Travis Beaver and more.