Bridgeport Speedway

Since January of 20013 current owner, Brian Ramey has made a constant effort to provide race fans with a state-of-the-art racing atmosphere. Renovation and expansion continues to this day and the speedway is the only thing that has remained the same since Ramey has gained control. The New Bridgeport Speedway boasts of high comfort amenities to provide fans, drivers and sponsors with the ultimate racing experience.

Twenty skybox suites, including a 30×15 VIP Suite, provide a more luxurious racing environment. All suites offer excellent site lines of the entire track, as well as, state-of-the-art adjustable sound and air conditioning in a fully enclosed area. Food and beverage are available at additional costs.

For a more “Down and Dirty” approach to short track racing, Bridgeport Speedway can provide hardcore racing enthusiasts with excellent grandstand seating. Built double-wide for added leg room and utmost safety, the Bridgeport Speedway grandstands offer a spectacular view, with the sounds and smells of the racing action.

Our newly developed 30’x100′ Covered Pavilion provides ample space and an appropriate atmosphere for parties, barbecues or just enjoying one of our family-style weekly dinners. With a roof, to shield you from the sun or wet weather, the Pavilion can be a place to rest, eat and enjoy.

Other facility upgrades include a BRAND NEW 3/8 mile racetrack, new bathrooms-complete with concrete walkways, added sponsor signage, a new flagger stand and even a new Victory Lane! Facility renovations are on-going and updates and upgrades are made every week.

Bridgeport Speedway was constructed by South Jersey auto racer and businessman Leon Manchester along with Robert Paz and his brothers, who had various business interests in the area. The demise of the famous Langhorne (Pa.) Speedway in 1971 had meant the birth of Bridgeport as the Horne’s grandstands were even relocated to the new Garden State site in anticipation of the grand-opening. When Bridgeport did open for its initial race on October 22, 1972, it was the first auto race staged in South Jersey since the closing of Vineland Speedway in 1966 and the first dirt race in the region since the closing of Alcyon Speedway in 1960. The track featured big-block Modified and Sportsman racing —which it continues to host to this day— and Kenny Brightbill won the first Modified race and ended the season winning the final two features. Brightbill and Eddie Mumford (Sportsman) were the first track champions named in 1973.

A number of different groups and management teams owned and operated the speedway during the past 33 years. The track ran sporadically in 1974 before regaining its weekly racing status with the purchase of the track. Statewide Hiway Safety Company proprietor George Smith rescued the oval from financial ruin in ’75 and even renamed the track to Statewide Speedway at one time. Homestate hero and all-time Bridgeport feature winner Jimmy Horton arrived that same year and captured his first of eight point championships. After serving as chief tech inspector and pit steward since Bridgeport began, George Wingate replaced Lindy Vicari (1976) and Ken Brenn, Sr. (1977) as track promoter from 1978-82. Smith leased the speedway to Steve Shivers for the next three years and carried promotional duties himself for a half-dozen shows before returning the responsibilities to Wingate in 1987. Former Flemington (NJ) Speedway owner Paul Kuhl purchased Bridgeport in 1989 and both Jersey tracks secured DIRT sanctions through 1992; Flemington was a member and Bridgeport maintained associate status. Ed Kelly and Dave DeVault made a settlement with Kuhl and emerged as the owners in the Spring of ’93, leaving Wingate in charge of track operations. Bridgeport once again flew the DIRT banner —for the first time as a full member— from 1994-97 and again in 1999 with Bob VanSkiver picking up the promotional reigns.

In 2000, Bill Lincoln, a suburban Philadelphia businessman took over the reins. Over the course of his four year of leasing the facility, Lincoln made considerable headway in restoring integrity to Bridgeport but two consecutive years of abnormally bad weather (2002 and 2003) coupled with the chronic need to address the facility’s declining infrastructure forced him to throw in the towel.

Taking over the helm in 2004, Jay James and Brian Ramey set even higher standards. They succeeded by making remarkable improvements to the physical plant. With Jay and Brian bringing Bridgeport Speedway to the 21st century, they turned the promotional tasks over to Doug Hoffman at the start of the 2012 season. Following Doug’s untimely death in late 2012, Brian Ramey took control of the speedway in early 2013. Ramey added Keith Hoffman as track operator, Dave Adams as promoter and Danny Serrano as track manager.

Bridgeport Speedway provides the ultimate environment for fans and drivers alike. Games, contests, trivia, prizes, give-a-ways and an invitation to Victory Lane supplement the on-track action and in a unique bonus, meet the top-5 finishers behind the grandstands, after their event, to sign autographs and take photos.

For the younger fans, Bridgeport Speedway offers a small playground with a big monster truck, a moon bounce, and LIVE music weekly!