Steve Davis Wins 2nd Precision Hydraulic Oil Invitational at Bridgeport

Bone chilling cold conditions slightly above freezing did not discourage 28 Crate competitors from taking their shot at the second annual Precision Hydraulic Invitational and the $4,000 first place check.   

Steve Davis emerged from a mid-race barrage of cautions to take the lead on lap 21 and hold off strong challenges from Cole Stangle, Brian Krummel and Sammy Martz to win the Hydraulic Oil Invitational for the second year in a row.

The cash dash set the top 6 starting grid and the 6 lap dash saw Sammy Martz pass pole sitter Paul Mancini to take the pole position in the 40 lap feature and the cash dash $500 bonus check.

Pole sitter Sammy Martz led the first 20 laps of the race but after a series of mid-race cautions Steve Davis took the lead over on lap 21 after the 8^th restart of the race.  After 9 cautions in the first 23 laps the race settled out for 17 green flag laps.  Steve Davis led the next 10 laps until relentless efforts from Cole Stangle put him into the lead on lap 32.  Davis and Stangle made contact on lap 33 and the veteran Davis resumed the lead and from there he was able to cruise to his second Invitational victory lane in the past 2 years.

In victory lane Steve Davis noted “It was a tough race because you didn’t know what would happen on the restarts.  Cole was there when I threw the slider and I figured he would turn down and once you are that far past then you can’t see where they are at and you are committed.  Hats off to Cole he ran a good race but I wanted to be here.”

In victory lane 2^nd place Cole Stangle commented “We had a good run.  Every time we come to Bridgeport we struggle so we are getting better and better each time we come here.  I knew that race was mine and I had it.  I race everyone clean and there wasn’t a scratch on my car.  Can you get along side?  No, a guy has a reputation like that and the left side of my car is destroyed.  I know how I got to race him next time.  It is what it is.”

In victory lane 3^rd place Brian Krummel “Track is awesome and provides for a lot of great racing.  I raced a lot of different shapes and sizes of tracks but this one has a very special feel about it that allows for some great racing.  Great run tonight and our Teo performed well and no complaints there.  Everyone was mixing it up front and it could have gotten ugly but everyone keep it straight.”

The heats were won Paul Mancini, Sammy Martz Jr and Steve Davis.  The consolation was won by Joe Brown.  After the consolation; promoter Joe Infante decided to open the starting grid for the 40 lap feature to all 28 cars.

Precision Hydraulic Invitational 602 Sportsman 40 lap feature:

 1. Steve Davis, 2. Cole Stangle, 3. Brian Krummel, 4. Sammy Martz Jr., 5. Ryan Simmons, 6. Matt Ellery, 7. Justin Grosso, 8. Brandon Edgar, 9. Ethan Bill, 10. Tom Sherby, 11. Daniel Morgiewicz, 12. Doug Snyder, 13. Johnny Bangs, 14. Joe Brown, 15. Will Protinick, 16. Pete Serra, 17. Sarah Napora, 18. Marc Nappi, 19. Paul Mancini, 20. Howie Finch, 21. Bobby Bracall , 22. Ryan Stangle, 23. Pat Wall, 24. George Gareis, 25. Payton Talbot, 26. Lee Nardelli, 27. Steve Kemery

602 Sportsman Cash Dash:

1. Sammy Martz Jr., 2. Paul Mancini, 3. Steve Davis, 4. Doug Snyder, 5. Pat Wall, 6. Brian Krummel

Quick Pit Notes – Precision Hydraulic Oil Invitational

Ryan Simmons was collected in the heat race and had extensive damage to the right side of his car.  Simmons noted “We had the rear axle break; RR shock; torsion arm came out of the birdcage; right rear wheel and tire where destroyed; and a lot of body damage.  We fixed it all before the consolation with help from Joe Toth and Anthony Tramontana.”  In the consolation Simmons moved from 9^th to 4^th in the first lap to start the feature in 21^st starting position.  Simmons was the hard charger in the feature with a 5^th place finish from a 21^st starting position.  Simmons recalled “Late in the feature our right side muffler fell off and was killing the power on long runs because it was hanging off the car. We were lucky to be able to hang onto 5th.”

Steve Kemery finished 2^nd to Steve Davis in last year’s event but this year lost a motor before lap 1.  The new crate motor kicked rods out of both sides of the motor and ended the night early for Kemery.  With a guaranteed redraw for the Sunday feature from Friday night’s qualifying; Kemery knew he had a lot of work ahead during the night to get the backup motor in for Sunday’s race.  Kemery noted “We going to change motors tonight and be back for the feature tomorrow and use our guaranteed redraw.”