[admin]

12/23/21 12:53 PM SEASON REVIEW: BRIGHT LIGHTS THE WAY TO 2021 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT TITLE

http://usacracing.com/news/sprint-ca...t-sprint-title



SEASON REVIEW: BRIGHT LIGHTS THE WAY TO 2021 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT TITLE

By: Richie Murray – USAC Media

Speedway, Indiana (December 23, 2021)………The 2021 USAC Rapid Tire East Coast Sprint Cars Presented by Capitol Custom Trailers season featured one of the greatest new rivalries in the entire sprint car racing landscape.

Alex Bright versus Briggs Danner.

The two Pennsylvanians repeatedly reset the measuring stick as they traded win after win, punch after punch, exchanging the lead at the top of the standings repeatedly throughout the summer.

In fact, on 10 separate occasions this season, when one driver won, the other followed up with a victory of his own in the very next race.* In nine instances, Bright and Danner occupied the top-two positions in the feature finishing order!

In the end, Collegeville, Pennsylvania’s Bright prevailed with a whopping 11 victories and 22 top-five finishes in 23 starts aboard his Hummer Motorsports/Rodota Trucking & Excavating – Western Flyer Express/Maxim/Rider Chevy.

After collecting the USAC / ARDC Eastern Midget title in 2018, Bright put his name in the record books once more in 2021 as the USAC East Coast Sprint Car champion.

During Bright’s mega 2021 year, he more than doubled the previous series record of five single season wins, set by Steven Drevicki in 2019 and 2020.* Bright scored early and often, winning the second race out of the box at Port Royal, Pa. in April, then again at Selinsgrove, Pa. in May, at Lincoln (Pa.) in June, at Big Diamond (Pa.) and Bridgeport (N.J.) in July, at Selinsgrove in August and at Bedford, Pa. in August.

Starting in September, Bright went on a tear, winning a series record four consecutive feature events at Delaware International, Winchester, Va., Bridgeport and Georgetown, Dela. to solidify his position atop of the championship bout.

Danner (Allentown, Pa.), in his first full season of sprint car competition, was an instant hit on the scene, capturing the opener at Bridgeport in April and on consecutive evenings in May at Bedford and Grandview (Pa.).* He dialed up a total of nine victories with summer scores at Selinsgrove in June, and to start the month of July at Action Track USA (Pa.).

It was the following night after his victory at Action Track USA when tragedy struck Danner’s team with the passing of car owner Bill Gallagher.* The team carried on with heavy hearts but retained their winning ways with crew chief Curt Michael just two weeks later at Georgetown in late July, then carried into August with a pair of triumphs at Bloomsburg, Pa. and Port Royal before closing out the campaign in November the same manner they started, with a win at Bridgeport, en route to a runner-up finish in the standings and 2021 series Rookie of the Year honors.

Series newcomer Damon Paul (Stony Point, N.Y.) took third in the series points and collected his first career series victory on the banks of Virginia’s Winchester Speedway in late July for car owner Lou Cicconi Jr.

Three-time series champion Steven Drevicki (Reading, Pa.) notched a single win in June at Williams Grove (Pa.) for the DeGre Engineering team and finished seventh in the standings.

East Coast modified shoe, Billy VanInwegen (Port Jervis, N.Y.), likewise, collected his first career victory with the series in October for Van Dusen Racing at New York’s Orange County Fair Speedway, which came in a race that was shortened from 25 laps to 14 due to rain.

*

==========================

*

2021 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR STAT LEADERS

Driver Champion: Alex Bright

Rookie of the Year: Briggs Danner

Most Wins: 11-Alex Bright

Most Laps Led: 237-Briggs Danner

Most Top-Fives: 22-Alex Bright

Most Top-Tens: 22-Alex Bright

Most Heat Race Wins:

Most Feature Starts: 23-Alex Bright & Briggs Danner

*

2021 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR DRIVER POINT STANDINGS:

POS.***** PTS.****** DRIVER, HOMETOWN

1************ 1689***** Alex Bright, Collegeville, Pa.

2************ 1549***** Briggs Danner, Allentown, Pa.

3************ 1255***** Damon Paul, Stony Point, N.Y.

4************ 1151***** Nash Ely, Wernersville, Pa.

5************ 1051***** Bruce Buckwalter Jr., Mechanicsburg, Pa.

6************ 981******* Kenny Miller III, Morgantown, Pa.

7************ 954******* Steven Drevicki, Reading, Pa.

8************ 880******* Joey Amantea, Mt. Pocono, Pa.

9************ 870******* Ed Aikin, Lincoln University, Pa.

10********** 832******* Tommy Kunsman, Bethlehem, Pa.

11********** 790******* Mike Thompson, Holland, Pa.

12********** 783******* Chris Allen Jr., Wrightstown, N.J.

13********** 704******* Christian Bruno, Deptford, N.J.

14********** 674******* Jonathan Swanson, Yardville, N.J.

15********** 669******* Jason Cherry, Blandon, Pa.

16********** 585******* Colin White, Scranton, Pa.

17********** 559******* Billy Ney, Laureldale, Pa.

18********** 492******* David Swanson, Yardville, N.J.

19********** 456******* Carmen Perigo, Stoystown, Pa.

20********** 444******* Eric Jennings, Bloomingburg, N.Y.

21********** 360******* Aidan Borden, Jackson, N.J.

22********** 323******* Troy Fraker, Newville, Pa.

23********** 286******* Blaine Emery, Oley, Pa.

24********** 286******* Mike Meyers, Zionsville, Pa.

25********** 183******* Lee Kauffman, Hellam, Pa.

26********** 177******* Mark Bitner, Trenton, N.J.

27********** 170******* Brian Spencer, Old Bridge, N.J.

28********** 163******* Tom Savage, Red Lion, Pa.

29********** 152******* Richy Carnathan, Northampton, Pa.

30********** 146******* Craig Pellegrini, Buena, N.J.

31********** 139******* Heidi Hedin, Pipersville, Pa.

32********** 93********** Jermain Godshall, Telford, Pa.

33********** 71********** Zack Burd, Maple Shade, N.J.

34********** 69********** Shane Cottle, Kansas, Ill.

35********** 66********** Joey Biasi, Mary D, Pa.

36********** 40********** Preston Lattomus, Landenberg, Pa.

37********** 39********** Justin Grant, Ione, Calif.

38********** 38********** Kevin Darling, Wyoming, Dela.

39********** 31********** John Stehman, Halifax, Pa.

*

2021 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINNERS:

Apr 3: Bridgeport Motorsports Park - Swedesboro, NJ

WINNER: Briggs Danner (Bill Gallagher #5G)

Apr 10: Port Royal Speedway - Port Royal, PA

WINNER: Alex Bright (Hummer Motorsports #20)

May 14: Bedford Speedway - Bedford, PA

WINNER: Briggs Danner (Bill Gallagher #5G)

May 15: Grandview Speedway - Bechtelsville, PA

WINNER: Briggs Danner (Bill Gallagher #5G)

May 22: Selinsgrove Speedway - Selinsgrove, PA

WINNER: Alex Bright (Hummer Motorsports #20)

Jun 4: Williams Grove Speedway - Mechanicsburg, PA

WINNER: Steven Drevicki (DeGre Motorsports #19)

Jun 5: Lincoln Speedway - Abbottstown, PA

WINNER: Alex Bright (Hummer Motorsports #20)

Jun 17: Selinsgrove Speedway - Selinsgrove, PA

WINNER: Briggs Danner (Bill Gallagher #5G)

Jul 2: Big Diamond Speedway - Pottsville, PA

WINNER: Alex Bright (Hummer Motorsports #20)

Jul 7: Action Track USA - Kutztown, PA

WINNER: Briggs Danner (Bill Gallagher #5G)

Jul 23: Georgetown Speedway - Georgetown, DE

WINNER: Briggs Danner (Bill Gallagher #5G)

Jul 24: Bridgeport Motorsports Park - Swedesboro, NJ

WINNER: Alex Bright (Hummer Motorsports #20)

Jul 31: Winchester Speedway - Winchester, VA

WINNER: Damon Paul (Lou Cicconi Jr. #57)

Aug 6: Bloomsburg Fair Raceway - Bloomsburg, PA

WINNER: Briggs Danner (Bill Gallagher #5G)

Aug 8: Selinsgrove Speedway - Selinsgrove, PA

WINNER: Alex Bright (Hummer Motorsports #20)

Aug 20: Bedford Speedway - Bedford, PA

WINNER: Alex Bright (Hummer Motorsports #20)

Aug 21: Port Royal Speedway - Port Royal, PA

WINNER: Briggs Danner (Bill Gallagher #5G)

Sep 4: Delaware International Speedway - Delmar, DE

WINNER: Alex Bright (Hummer Motorsports #20)

Sep 11: Winchester Speedway - Winchester, VA

WINNER: Alex Bright (Hummer Motorsports #20)

Sep 25: Bridgeport Motorsports Park - Swedesboro, NJ

WINNER: Alex Bright (Hummer Motorsports #20)

Oct 1: Georgetown Speedway - Georgetown, DE

WINNER: Alex Bright (Hummer Motorsports #20)

Oct 23: Orange County Fair Speedway - Middletown, NY

WINNER: Billy VanInwegen (Van Dusen Racing #56)

Nov 5: Bridgeport Motorsports Park - Swedesboro, NJ

WINNER: Briggs Danner (Bill Gallagher #5G)

*

2021 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS:

11-Alex Bright (Apr 10 at Port Royal Speedway, May 22 at Selinsgrove Speedway, Jun 5 at Lincoln Speedway, Jul 2 at Big Diamond Speedway, Jul 24 at Bridgeport Motorsports Park, Aug 8 at Selinsgrove Speedway, Aug 20 at Bedford Speedway, Sep 4 at Delaware International Speedway, Sep 11 at Winchester Speedway, Sep 25 at Bridgeport Motorsports Park & Oct 1 at Georgetown Speedway

9-Briggs Danner (Apr 3 at Bridgeport Motorsports Park, May 14 at Bedford Speedway, May 15 at Grandview Speedway, Jun 17 at Selinsgrove Speedway, Jul 7 at Action Track USA, Jul 23 at Georgetown Speedway, Aug 6 at Bloomsburg Fair Raceway, Aug 21 at Port Royal Speedway & Nov 5 at Bridgeport Motorsports Park)

1-Steven Drevicki (Jun 4 at Williams Grove Speedway)

1-Damon Paul (Jul 31 at Winchester Speedway)

1-Billy VanInwegen (Oct 23 at Orange County Fair Speedway)

*

2021 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR FEATURE LAPS LED:

237-Briggs Danner

142-Alex Bright

52-Carmen Perigo

33-Chris Allen Jr.

32-Steven Drevicki

17-Damon Paul

13-Tommy Kunsman

12-Billy VanInwegen

8-Ed Aikin

5-Justin Grant

4-Joey Amantea

3-Kenny Miller III

1-Davie Franek

*

2021 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR TOP-5 FEATURE FINISHES:

22-Alex Bright

16-Briggs Danner

9-Steven Drevicki & Damon Paul

7-Tommy Kunsman & Kenny Miller III

6-Nash Ely

5-Chris Allen Jr. & Carmen Perigo

4-Christian Bruno & Bruce Buckwalter Jr.

3-Ed Aikin, Joey Amantea & Colin White

2-Mark Smith

1-Joey Biasi, Mark Bitner, Shane Cottle, Davie Franek, Eric Jennings, Billy Ney, Billy Pauch Jr., Matt Tanner, Mike Thompson & Billy VanInwegen

*

2021 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR TOP-10 FEATURE FINISHES:

22-Alex Bright

20-Briggs Danner

15-Bruce Buckwalter Jr. & Damon Paul

14-Kenny Miller III

13-Nash Ely

12-Ed Aikin, Tommy Kunsman & Mike Thompson

11-Chris Allen Jr. & Steven Drevicki

9-Joey Amantea & Christian Bruno

7-Eric Jennings

6-Carmen Perigo

4-Jonathan Swanson & Colin White

3-Troy Betts, Blaine Emery & Mark Smith

2-Mark Bitner, Jason Cherry, Mike Meyers & Billy Ney

1-Joey Biasi, Aidan Borden, Brenden Bright, Steve Buckwalter, Lou Cicconi Jr., Shane Cottle, Larry Drake, Troy Fraker, Davie Franek, Justin Mills, Billy Pauch Jr., Thomas Radivoy, David Swanson, Matt Tanner, Billy VanInwegen, Michael Walter & Steve Wilbur

*

2021 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR HEAT RACE WINS:

13-Alex Bright

12-Briggs Danner

6-Steven Drevicki

5-Chris Allen Jr. & Carmen Perigo

4-Tommy Kunsman

3-Christian Bruno

2-Nash Ely & Kenny Miller III

1-Ed Aikin, Troy Betts, Mark Bitner, Bruce Buckwalter Jr., Steve Buckwalter, Mark Smith, Jonathan Swanson & Colin White

*

2021 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR FEATURE STARTS:

23-Alex Bright & Briggs Danner

22-Nash Ely & Damon Paul

20-Bruce Buckwalter Jr.

19-Joey Amantea & Jason Cherry

17-Ed Aikin, Kenny Miller III & Mike Thompson

16-Steven Drevicki & Jonathan Swanson

14-Chris Allen Jr., Tommy Kunsman, Billy Ney & David Swanson

13-Christian Bruno & Colin White

10-Aidan Borden & Troy Fraker

9-Eric Jennings

7-Blaine Emery, Mike Meyers & Carmen Perigo

6-Troy Betts

5-Lee Kauffman & Tom Savage

4-Richy Carnathan, Heidi Hedin, Craig Pellegrini, Mark Smith & Brian Spencer

3-Brody Adamsky, Mark Bitner, Jermain Godshall & Ricky Rutt

2-Jacob Balliet, Steve Buckwalter, Zack Burd, Al Cheney, Lou Cicconi Jr., Thomas Radivoy, Michael Walter, Steve Wilbur & Colby Womer

1-Chris Allen Sr., J.R. Berry, Joey Biasi, Brenden Bright, Shane Cottle, Mick D'Agostino, Kevin Darling, Larry Drake, Davie Franek, Justin Grant, Joe Kata, Brian Krummel, Steve Kyser, Preston Lattomus, Kyle Lick, Dan Malley, Justin Mills, Billy Pauch Jr., Brett Perigo, Kyle Smith, John Stehman, Matt Tanner, Billy VanInwegen & Shea Wills

*

2021 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR SEMI-FEATURE WINS:

1-Aidan Borden, Brenden Bright, Kenny Miller III, Craig Pellegrini & Colin White

*

ALL-TIME USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS:

13-Alex Bright & Steven Drevicki

10-Briggs Danner

3-Eddie Strada

2-Joey Biasi, Mark Bitner, Timmy Buckwalter & Kenny Miller III

1-Chris Allen Jr., Brady Bacon, Ryan Godown, Coleman Gulick, Damon Paul, Billy VanInwegen & Ryan Watt

*

USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR DRIVER CHAMPIONS:

2018: Steven Drevicki (Reading, Pa.)

2019: Steven Drevicki (Reading, Pa.)

2020: Steven Drevicki (Reading, Pa.)

2021: Alex Bright (Collegeville, Pa.)

*

USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR ROOKIES OF THE YEAR:

2018: None

2019: Connor Leoffler (Galivants Ferry, S.C.)

2020: Alex Bright (Collegeville, Pa.)

2021: Briggs Danner (Allentown, Pa.)