---

Danner is King at The Kingdom of Speed

Briggs Danner once again proved why he’s among the best, driving the Boulevard Truck Repair No. 39 to victory at Bridgeport Motorsports Park. It’s been a banner 2025 season for Danner, with wins at Kokomo, Eldora, Big Diamond, and now Bridgeport — the perfect capstone to a dominant year.

A cool, breezy, sunny afternoon reminded fans that the season’s end — and winter’s doorstep — had arrived in the Northeast. Twenty Innovative Machining Technology Wingless Sprints made the haul for the season finale.

Heat race victories went to Briggs Danner and Ronald Helmick.

The 25-lap feature saw Jason Cherry and Helmick on the front row. Helmick came out swinging, holding off fierce challenges from fourth-starting Danner and sixth-starting Kenny Miller III. The trio went three-wide at the end of lap three before the red flag waved for Christian Bruno, who caught the fence in turn three and took a wild ride. The 17B was heavily damaged, but Bruno walked away uninjured — though the crash prematurely ended a strong season for the Deptford, NJ driver.

On the restart, Danner rocketed around the top off turn two to take command, with Miller quickly sliding past Helmick for second. While Danner opened up a lead, Miller refused to let him get far ahead.

Meanwhile, Goshen, NY’s Joe Kata was putting on a show — storming from 20th after a flat tire in his heat to break into the top 10. Ed Aikin also charged forward from 14th into the mix.

As the laps wound down, lapped traffic brought Miller back into striking distance of Danner. Series champion Steven Drevicki found late-race speed, muscling past Helmick for third.

When the checkers fell, it was Danner taking his second East Coast Series win of the season, followed by a determined Kenny Miller III. Drevicki — the season-long Strange Oval Torsion Bars Passing Master — rounded out the podium. Helmick capped a career night with his first heat win and a fourth-place finish, earning him Rookie of the Year honors, while Chase Moran impressed with a top-five in his first start of the season.

Bridgeport hosted three IMT USAC East Coast events in 2025 — all won by current or former USAC National Sprint Car drivers: Amantea, Bright, and Danner — proving once again that the cream rises to the top on Doug Rose’s thrilling 4/10-mile oval.

B&D Graphics Heat !: 1. Briggs Danner (Hogue 39) 2. Kenny Miller III (Miller 23m) 3. Christian Bruno (Bruno 17b) 4. Steven Drevicki (Drevicki 19) 5. JR Fulper (Fulper 67) 6. Greg Shepsis (Shepsis 75) 7. Dale Schweikart ( Auto Barn 78) 8. Heidi Hedin (Hedin 3h) 9. Dirk Rimrott (Rimrott 27) 10. Olivia Thayer (Thayer 39t) (2:11.611)

E Schneider and Sons Heat 2: Ronald Helmick (Helmick 22r) 2. Patrick Chilmonik (Chilmonik 1) 3. Chase Moran (Moran 4p) 4. Jason Cherry (Cherry 67) 5. David Swanson (Swanson 117) 6. Ed Aikin (Aikin 7) 7. Mike Haggenbottom (Kelly 51) 8. Lee Kauffman (Kauffman 96) 9. Rich Carnathan (Carnathan 64) 10. Joe Kata (Kata 10) No Time

Boulevard Truck Repair A-Main

1. BRIGGS DANNER (4) 2. Kenny Miller III (6) 3. Steven Drevicki (5) 4. Ronald Helmick (2) 5. Chase Moran (7) 6. Ed Aikin 13) 7. David Swanson (10) 8. Joe Kata (20) 9. JR Fulper (9) 10. Patrick Chilmonik (3) 11. Mike Haggenbottom (14) 12. Heidi Hedin (15) 13. Jason Cherry (1) 14. Greg Shepsis (11) 15. Lee Kauffman (16) 16. Dale Schweikart (13) 17. Dirk Rimrott (17) 18. Christian Bruno (8) 19. Rich Carnathan (18) 20. Olivia Thayer (19) No Time
   (Helmick 1-4) Danner 4-25)

Joe Kata earned the C&C Landscape Hard Charger Award, gaining 12 positions to finish eighth.

Rich Carnathan was the Hoosier Tire Poker Chip Winner

Christian Bruno was the JPA Hard Luck Award

JR Fulper earned the J&W Homes Best 305 or Crate with a 9th place

Briggs Danner took the Bitner Automotive Fast Time Award

Olivia Thayer snagged the right chip to get 2 torsion bars from Strange Oval Track

Ronald Helmick is the Rookie of the Year

Steven Drevicki is the 2025 Champion

---

Back to News