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SWEDESBORO, NJ — The atmosphere was rock’in in the Kingdom Saturday night as the past and present came together in spectacular fashion at Bridgeport Motorsports Park with a tremendous crowd filling the facility for Jim Gallagher Sr Tribute & Flemington Speedway Night, and when the racing was complete, Cale Ross stood atop the Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Modified field with his first High Banks victory of the season.
It was a special night celebrating the history of one of the Northeast’s most legendary racing facilities along with a wonderful competitor Jim Gallagher Sr.. An outstanding turnout of former Flemington Speedway drivers and vintage race cars transformed the Bridgeport midway into a walk through racing history.
Prior to the night’s racing action, fans packed the midway for an autograph session featuring racers from yesteryear, while numerous cars that once competed at the famed Flemington Fairgrounds were on display. Stories were shared, memories were rekindled and generations of race fans came together to celebrate the unforgettable history of “The Square.”
Then it was time for the stars of today to take over the High Banks. Cale Ross dominated the Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz Modified feature, scoring his first Bridgeport victory of the season and collecting the Jim Gallagher Sr $3131 prize money presented by Elite Welder Training & Testing. Current Demers Heating & Cooling Sportsman point leader Jesse Hirthler charged through the field for his third victory of the season, while Ronnie Solomon III captured the Sportsman second feature event.
Wayne Scott went wire-to-wire in the Victory Fuel Wingless Sprint A-Main, Dan Mull collected his third Four Cylinder victory of the season, and Scott Schaeffer and Myron Haydt were winners in the Vintage Stock exhibitions.
Ross leaves no doubt in Modified, Jim Gallagher Sr. Tribute victory. At the drop of the green, Ross shot into the lead and immediately began separating himself from the field. Anthony Tramontana held second during the opening circuits before Coleby Frye completed the pass for the runner-up position.
By halfway, Ross was in complete control, continuing to stretch his advantage over Frye, Davey Sammons, Luke Bunting and Danny Bouc who came from the twelfth starting position.
There would be no catching Ross as he navigated through lapped traffic. The top five remained unchanged to the checkered flag as Ross powered to a convincing victory over Frye, Sammons, Bunting and Bouc. Dillon Steuer, Ryan Krachun from 18th, Dominick Buffalino from 12th, Ryan Godown and Tramontana completed the top ten.
The finish marked season-best performances for both Ross and Sammons. A multiple-feature winner and Modified championship contender one year ago, Ross has repeatedly found himself battling circumstances outside of his control this season. The loss of both a motor and frame early in the year created major setbacks, but Ross and his team continued to fight.
“We’ve got the speed, we had the fastest times of the night in the feature and heat race last week,” Ross explained. “Then we got tangled up last week racing for the lead. We made it back to finish 10th, but we were low on points for handicapping.”
This time, Ross was able to take full advantage of the opportunity. “Starting on the pole definitely helped,” Ross added. “Clean air is so important here, and we were able to keep up with the changes in the track.”
After having to fight his way from the rear of the field one week earlier, Ross knew just how valuable track position could be on the High Banks. On Flemington Speedway Night, he had the position, the speed and the race car to capitalize and nobody had anything for him.
Hirthler charges through the field from 10th starting spot for win number three collecting the $1000 payday presented by Elite Welder Training & Testing. Walter MacIntyre and Pete Serra brought the Demers Heating & Cooling Sportsman field to the green, with Serra taking command on the opening lap. Wayne Weaver moved into second ahead of MacIntyre while Duncan Molesworth and Matt Peck battled inside the top five.
Meanwhile, championship leader Jesse Hirthler was coming through the field. By lap ten, Hirthler had worked his way into the top five and continued methodically picking off positions. He passed Peck, Molesworth and Weaver to move into second before setting his sights on Serra.
As the race reached halfway, Hirthler completed the pass for the lead and never looked back. The final caution came on lap 23, giving the field one last opportunity. Weaver moved past Serra for second on the restart, but Hirthler remained out front to secure his third victory of the season and continue his impressive championship campaign.
Weaver finished second followed by Serra, Ryan Simmons (from 12th) and an impressive P.J. Bozowski, who charged all the way from 22nd starting position to finish fifth. Molesworth, Peck, Steve Kemery, Matt Ellery and Christopher Buffalino rounded out the top ten.
For Hirthler, patience has become one of the biggest weapons in his arsenal. “That’s something I’ve learned from my dad and uncle,” Hirthler explained. “You want to run all the laps and finish every week. If you bend the car, then you have to spend your time during the week making repairs instead of looking for speed or trying to make the car better.”
That patience was on full display as Hirthler methodically carved his way through the field and once again found himself in Victory Lane.
There was no catching Ronnie Solomon III in the 15-lap Sportsman second feature event.
Solomon grabbed the lead and never surrendered it, leading all 15 circuits on his way to victory. Ryan Higgs finished second followed by Bryan Rhoads, Melissa Scarpati and Dylan Morris.
Wayne Scott was equally dominant in the 20-lap Victory Fuel Wingless Sprint A-Main, leading every circuit of the non-stop feature event.
Behind Scott, Nathan Smith made a late-race move around David Swanson to claim second. Swanson finished third followed by Jonathan Swanson and Stan Ploski III.
Lee Allen jumped to the early lead in Four Cylinder competition and paced the opening two laps before Dan Mull made his move to the front.
Allen began struggling with a tight race car as Mull took command and drove on to collect his third Four Cylinder victory of the season.
Allen’s night became even more eventful when his car developed a misfire and forced him to the pits. After shutting the car off and restarting it, the problem appeared to correct itself. Allen returned to competition and battled back to an impressive second-place finish.
Joe Garey Sr. crossed the line third, with Logan Mull and Kyle Hurley completing the top five.
Pauch returns to the track as Flemington memories come alive. The Vintage Stocks provided the perfect finishing touch to a memorable Flemington Speedway Night.
Scott Schaeffer and Myron Haydt captured victories in the 12-lap Vintage Stock exhibitions, but one of the biggest moments of the evening came when legendary racer Billy Pauch Sr. returned to the Bridgeport High Banks.
Pauch took part in hot laps before joining the Vintage Exhibition from the rear of the field, giving longtime race fans another opportunity to watch one of the Northeast’s most recognizable racing legends back behind the wheel.
From a packed midway filled with vintage machinery and legendary drivers to an action-filled night of competition on the High Banks, Flemington Speedway Night brought racing’s past and present together for a memorable night at Bridgeport Motorsports Park.
And when the final chapter was written, Cale Ross had delivered a statement of his own — the speed was there, the adversity had been overcome, and Ross was finally back in Victory Lane.
This weekend (Friday Sept 4 & Sat. Sept 5) we return to Thy Kingdom for the Sprint Car Nationals, Ron Faison Memorial with Sprint Cars going 50 laps & Modifieds going 30 laps. The excitement will continue, be there!
RESULTS – SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2026
DANNY’S PIZZA PIZZAZZ MODIFIED A-MAIN (30 LAPS)
1. Cale Ross, 2. Coleby Frye, 3. Davey Sammons, 4. Luke Bunting, 5. Danny Bouc, 6. Dillon Steuer, 7. Ryan Krachun, 8. Dominick Buffalino, 9. Ryan Godown, 10. Anthony Tramontana, 11. Sammy Martz, Jr., 12. Billy Osmun, III, 13. Mike Franz, 14. Neal Williams, 15. Stan Frankfield, Jr., 16. Richie Pratt, Jr., 17. Johnny Bangs, 18. Brian Papiez, DNS – H.J. Bunting
DEMERS HEATING & COOLING SPORTSMAN A-MAIN (25 LAPS)
1. Jesse Hirthler, 2. Wayne Weaver, 3. Pete Serra, 4. Ryan Simmons, 5. P.J. Bozowski,
6. Duncan Molesworth, 7. Matt Peck, 8. Steve Kemery, 9. Matt Ellery, 10. Chistopher Buffalino, 11. Jim Wyers, 12. Brayden Morrison, 13. Dave Damiano, 14. Tyler Lilick, 15. John Scarpati, 16. Drew Zeigler, 17. Justin Lilick, 18. Kris Lilick, 19. Walter MacIntyer, 20. Billy Chester, 21. Ethan Young, 22. Corey Andersen, 23. Mike Hughes, Jr., 24. Randy Rommel
DEMERS HEATING & COOLING SPORTSMAN NON-QUALIFIERS (15 LAPS)
1. Ronnie Solomon, III, 2. Ryan Higgs, 3. Bryan Rhoads, 4. Melissa Scarpati, 5. Dylan Morris, 6. Ethan Young, 7. Matt Blakeslee, DNS – Chris Grbac, Tim Borror, John Norcia, Charley Cossaboone
VICTORY FUEL WINGLESS SPRINT A-MAIN (20 LAPS)
1. Wayne Scott, 2. Nate Smith, 3. David Swanson, 4. Jonathan Swanson, 5. Stan Ploski, III, 6. Shea Wills, 7. Greg Shepsis, 8. Sean Case, 9. Craig Cuneo, DNS – Thomas Radivoy, Ronnie Pavia
STRAIGHT UP CONSTRUCTION FOUR CYLINDER A-MAIN (15 LAPS)
1. Dale Mull, 2. Lee Allen, 3. Joe Garey, Sr., 4. Logan Mull, 5. Kyle Hurley, 6. Joe Garey, Jr., DNS – Bri Stein
Thank you to everyone that makes the Kingdom of Speed Possible…..
VP Fuels
American Racer (Lias Tire)
Liberty Kenworth
Church’s Auto Parts
Premio Sausage
Precision Hydraulic & Oil
Millville Glass & Door
Design For Vision
Rodota Trucking & Excavating
Scrappy’s Auto Service
Hyper Racing
Izzi Trucking & Rigging
Danny’s Pizza Pizzazz
Ellery’s Pub & Grill
Ice Less llc.
Hoffman Discount Parts
Weaknecht Archery
Hisko Lowboy
Lineman Racing
Cenco Oil
Bob Hilbert Sportswear
Cassidy Painting
TW Metals
Hessert Chevrolet
Triple R Truck Parts
John Blewett Scrap & Waste Recycling
Pioneer Pole Buildings
F&L Doors – FLDoors.com
EZ Work Trucks
J&S Electrical
Melton Industries
Pro Tek Roofing
Johns Manville
Beacon Building Products
@Victory Fuel
DTM Kawasaki
Amwell Auto Body
Williams Napa
Prime Design Landscaping
Bett’s Garage
Insta Signs Plus
Fogg Chiropractic
Sublmtd Apparel
All State Auto Glass
Marvel’s Welding
A Service Company
Brewer Home Improvements, llc
Pete Clark & Sons Auto Body
Demers Heating and Cooling
Straight Up Construction
