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It was qualifying night for the Sportsman Grand Nationals at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park sponsored by Harry’s U- Pull-It. Time trials were run to determine the starting line-ups for the three twenty lap qualifying races for the Ice Less 602 Sportsman for the $10,000 Not To Win 100 Lap feature event on Saturday.
Ronnie Solomon III and Ethan Bill led the first twenty lap qualifier sponsored by Cannonball Storage. Bill won the race for the lead with Solomon racing in second ahead of Ryan Anderson, the winner of last week’s Underdog 20.
The race was caution free for fourteen laps until Anderson slowed to bring out the caution. Zane Roth also headed pitside under the caution.
Bill went back to work on the lap fifteen restart as Steve Davis raced into second. Bill led the way to the checkered followed by Davis, Solomon, Luke Bunting, Jesse Hirthler and Tom Sherby – the six drivers to transfer from the first qualifier.
The second twenty lap qualifier was sponsored by Lilick Enterprises with Matt Ellery and James Hill leading the way to Kevin Golden’s green flag. Ellery grabbed the lead on the start but the caution waved quickly as Ryan Simmons and Matt Martino came together with Simmons spinning in turn two. Simmons rejoined the rear of the field but exited to the pits a few laps later.
Ellery again took the lead on the complete restart with Hill and Jax Yohn in pursuit.
Four time feature winner, Matt Peck, broke into the top six just before the halfway mark after battling Brian Rogers for several laps.
Ellery took the win over James Hill, Jax Yohn, Charlie Cossaboone, Matt Martino and Matt Peck.
The Demers Heating & Cooling third twenty lap qualifier had Jordan Henn and Joe Toth set to lead the field to the start. Toth teamed up with Jesse Hirthler for the weekend and was behind the wheel of a second No. 117.
Toth took the lead on the start as Travis Hill and the Ice Less No. 4 raced into second with Steve Kemery moving up to third.
The caution waved on lap eight when Jimmy Leiby spun in turn four. The resulting restart saw the final transfer spots juggled up as TJ Mayberry moved into fourth over Henn and Trent Willey.
Toth led the way to the checkered flag over Travis Hill, Kemery, Henn and Willey.
The remaining qualifying spots would be determined in Saturday’s B Main.
The DCB’s Plumbing & Heating Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series were featured in a non-winners twenty-five lap feature event. Fast time was set by Tim Iulg in timed hot laps as Iulg returned to competition after missing several races following an injury. The roll of the dice then determined the invert for the starting line-up which put Iulg starting eighth with Jeff Paulson to his inside.
Tyler Grau sat on the pole, behind the wheel of the DeVault No. 4 with Josh Bricker starting from the outside of the front row. Bricker took the lead on the start. Grau drew a caution when he slowed on lap three as the field came down the homestretch.
Grau has been instrumental in Dylan DeVault’s Micro Sprint racing this season and as a result, Bob DeVault has given Grau the opportunity to try out the sprint car on several occasions. Unfortunately, mechanical issues sidelined Grau early in the race.
Bricker went back to work on the restart with Victory Fuel Wingless Sprint Champion, Thomas Radivoy in second. Bricker led the way through lap five over Radivoy, Robbie Stillwaggon, Tim Iulg and Dan Leaper.
On lap nine, race leader Bricker slowed with mechanical issues. Radivoy led the field back to the green as Iulg raced into second over Stillwaggon, Leaper and Jeff Paulson.
Robbie Stillwaggon slowed on lap nineteen while running in the top five.
With a clear track ahead, Radivoy was able to pull away from the field, leading all the way to the checkered flag for his first ever winged sprint car feature win. Iulg finished a strong second, closing the gap on the leader in the final laps. Leaper finished third followed by Jeff Paulson and Bob Lilick who picked up a top five finish after very few starts in a sprint car. Rick Stief finished sixth followed by Andrew Turpin, Tyler Brehm, Justin Knowlen and Mark Connelly.
Joe Garey, Sr. led the way to victory in the Insta Signs Plus Four Cylinder fifteen lap feature event. Jon Parker chased Garey to the finish with Roger Kummerer racing hard in third.
Lee Allen was crowned as the 2025 Insta Signs Plus Four Cylinder Champion on the 4/10th mile track with Joe Garey, Sr. taking the championship honors on the Spirit Auto Center quarter mile.
Next up – the Ron Faison 305 Sprint Car Nationals this Friday and Saturday in addition to Underdog 20 lap feature for the 602 Sportsman non-winners, Topless Sportsman feature, fifty lap Street Stock feature and Victory Fuel Wingless Sprints on both Friday and Saturday.
HARRY’S U-PULL-IT $10,000 NOT TO WIN FOR ICE LESS LLC 602 SPORTSMAN
Cannonball Storage Qualifier #1 (20 LAPS)
1. Ethan Bill, 2. Steve Davis, 3. Ronnie Solomon, III, 4. Luke Bunting, 5. Jesse Hirthler, 6. Tom Sherby, 7. Duncan Molesworth, 8. Ryan Anderson, 9. Zane Roth, 10. JD Darling
Lilick Enterprises Qualifier #2 (20 LAPS)
1. Matt Ellery,2. James Hill, 3. Jax Yohn, 4. Charley Cossaboone, 5. Matt Martino, 6. Matt Peck, 7. Brian Rogers, 8. Brian Lilick, 9. Jason Musser, 10. Ryan Simmons
Demers Heating & Cooling Qualifier #3 (20 LAPS)
1. Joe Toth,2. Travis Hill, 3. Steve Kemery, 4. T.J. Mayberry, 5. Jordan Henn, 6. Trent Willey, 7. Colin Cox, 8. Tom Moore, 9. Jimmy Leiby
DCB’S PLUMBING & HEATING MID-ATLANTIC SPRINT SERIES NON-WINNERS FEATURE (25 LAPS)
1. Thomas Radivoy, 2. Tim Iulg, 3. Dan Leaper, 4. Jeff Paulson, 5. Bob Lilick, Jr., 6. Rick Stief, 7. Andrew Turpin, 8. Tyler Brehm, 9. Justin Nowlen, 10. Mark Connely, 11. Kurt Rainey, 12. Robbie Stillwaggon, 13. Josh Bricker, 14. Keith Anderson, 15. Tyler Grau, DNS – Jon Brennfleck
INSTA SIGNS PLUS FOUR CYLINDER A-MAIN (15 LAPS)
1. Joe Garey, Sr., 2. John Parker, 3. Roger Kummerer, 4. Rob Weil, 5. Colin Gale
