August 6, 2018 – Billy Pauch raced to his third win of the season and sixty-second career victory at the Bridgeport Speedway by leading reigning Spirit Auto Center Big Block Modified Champion, Ryan Watt, to the checkered flag at the end of twenty-five laps on Bridgeport’s Bike Night.
After a wild homestretch wreck a week ago that saw Pauch’s No. 1 return to the pits on the back of a wrecker, the seasoned veteran admitted to taking the first lap this week in a more conservative manner. “I know that I’ve got to get to the front first to beat Ryan Watt but after last week, I just kind of followed the car in front of me at the start,” Pauch explained. But in spite of that conservative outlook, Pauch raced into the lead as he and Dave Shirk crossed the start/finish line to complete lap number four. Brett Ballard, making his first appearance of the season in his own No. 5B led laps one and two before Shirk took the lead on lap three.
Pauch started outside the sixth row, just one spot aheadof Watt on the initial start. Watt tried to go to the outside early but lost several positions as he struggled with a car that was ” too tight for the track.”
Ten consecutive green flag laps saw Pauch well out in front of the field before Butch Tittle drew a caution just before half way. That restart closed up the field as Jim Britt, Wade Hendrickson, Watt and Tommy Beamer trailed Pauch, the race leader. Pauch drove away on the restart as Watt took on Hendrickson and then Britt to race into second on lap fourteen. Watt searched for the fastest way around the 5/8th mile track as he began to gain on Pauch before the caution was needed for Sam Martz with seventeen laps scored.
That restart put Pauch and Watt side by side – Pauch’s lead erased – but Pauch was on his game as he raced away at the wave of the green. Watt tried everything he could to challenge the leader in those final laps but at the end of twenty-five trips around the Bridgeport Speedway, it was Pauch with the win over Watt, Hendrickson, Britt and Beamer.
Everyone at Pioneer Pole Buildings would like to congratulate Billy Pauch on his third victory of the season at Bridgeport Speedway!