10/6/2024
Birch Run Speedway
Richardson scores four as Birch Run's season closes with a bang, literally!
The 2024 racing and destruction season concluded at the Birch Run Speedway and Event Center on Saturday with the final Monster X Metals and Gold Eve of Destruction. A packed house witnessed 42 drivers compete for glory amongst all the carnage during the season-ender.
Anthony Richardson and his partner Paul Rigda III picked up the first win of the day when they took the win in the Pull race. Justin Pepitone led early until he and teammate Gerry Persails spun out of the lead. Shane Fogarty got by to take second place while Pepitone recovered to finish third.
Pepitone and Richardson got redemption in the Pull race. The duo stayed glued together, for the most part, for the duration of the event and held off a hard-charging Richardson and teammate Paul Rigda III. Maverick Morrow came in third in the event.
A new event to the Monster X Metals and Gold destruction was added in the form of the Hot Pursuit race. The vehicular version of tag played host to 31 drivers attempting to complete 15 laps without being "tagged" by the pursuit cars of Justin Pepitone and Anthony Richardson. The pursuit drivers were able to go on any part of the racing surface while the racers were forced to stay on the third mile. One by one the competitors were eliminated by tags from Pepitone and Richardson until there were two left on the last lap. Jason Grissom and Paul Rigda III came to a near stop in turn four with the pursuit cars lying in wait in front of them. Rigda drove to the inside as Richardson swerved to tag him, but Rigda used the burnout pad to his advantage to dodge the tag and claim the win. Grissom was second ahead of William Grubbs Jr, Gerry Persails Jr, and Darby Christensen.
An impressive field of 39 drivers attempted to tame the 40-lap Double O Enduro. Andrew Burton survived a bumper cover getting stuck under his vehicle and a tire rub to claim the checkered flag! Anthony Richardson finished second with the drive of the race going to Shane Fogarty for coming from last to third! Rigda and Christensen completed the top five.
The Bootlegger races were another new event added to the schedule. Four heat races utilizing a lap on the four-tenths mile, then the third mile, back to the four-tenths and around a flagpole on the backstretch, before going back to the third mile and crisscrossing through the intersection of the figure 8 was what the drivers had to face in order for one to advance to the Bootlegger feature. Devon Moll picked up the first heat ahead of Kevin Ryle and Justin Pepitone. Heat two went to Doug Hennessy over Andrew Burton and Jason Grissom. Anthony Richardson was the victor in heat three ahead of Shane Fogarty and Paul Rigda III. And Cody Luark took heat four, beating out William Grubbs Jr and Maverick Morrow. In the Bootlegger feature, Richardson took the checkers ahead of Hennessy.
The Top Speed Motorsports Spectator Drags saw Glenn Kern repeat and win the $250 prize, beating Darby Christensen in the final.
Trailers, pop-up campers, boats, and more were sacrificed to the delight of the crowd as the trailer Figure 8 closed out the afternoon's events. Decorations from the trailers, including Power Wheels and pumpkins were all thrown about the racing surface as the field battled for position. At one point, the entire intersection was nearly blocked by the remnants of one of the trailers. A hard hit in the intersection involving Gary Drexler and Haven Hall with one lap to go nearly brought the race to a stop, but Anthony Richardson dodged the debris and stood victorious at the end! Gerry Persails Jr and Jason Grissom survived to finish second and third.
While the racing action is complete, the facility will have Gas Alley Bar & Grille open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with Happy Hour prices all day for the month of October. There are karaoke nights on 10/9, 10/16, and 10/23 with the semi-finals on 10/30 and the finals on 11/06 with weekly prizes and $250 to the winner at the end. Follow Gas Alley Bar & Grille on Facebook for more events.
On Saturday, October 26th from 1 to 4 p.m. Birch Run Speedway will host the Birch Run Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce Trucks, Trunks & Treats. Emergency vehicles, heavy-duty equipment, race cars, hot rods, and more are all welcome to join the festivities for the day. Please call or email if you are interested! (989) 624-9193 or Caseybrbpcoc@gmail.com
The Championship Banquet for the Birch Run Speedway will officially wrap up the 2024 season on Saturday, November 23rd at 2 p.m.. The event will be held at the Birch Run Knights of Columbus Hall just down the road from Birch Run Speedway. Admission is $30 per person and tickets are available at the track office or Gas Alley Bar & Grille.
Article Credit: Chuck Darling
Submitted By: Charles Darling
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