By kyohnson 
SWEDESBORO, NJ – For the fifth consecutive year, D.A.’s Auto Body & Repair is set to sponsor the Crate/Sportsman division at the Bridgeport Speedway.
“The rookie division holds significant importance not only for the racers but also for the track itself,” elucidated Dave Adams, the owner of D.A.’s. “The greater the influx of fresh blood into the sport, the more promising it becomes in the long term,” Adams further added.
The top three point finishers will be honored at the year-end banquet for the Bridgeport Speedway drivers. Alongside the point fund money, the champion will be bestowed with a championship trophy and plaque, as well as champion jackets courtesy of American Racer and Insinger Performance/Sunoco Fuels. The 11-race series is slated to commence on Friday night, March 24, as part of the 60over Special ‘Doug Hoffman Memorial’ Weekend. A champion will be crowned as the class graduates on Saturday, June 24, before officially ascending to the Crate/Sportsman division.
Past champions encompass Ian Humphreys (’13), Matt Peck (’14), Steve Kemery (’15), and Chuck Sayres (’16). The first driver aspiring to join this illustrious group is Oliva Ingersoll. As of now, Olivia appears to be the sole female entrant in this year’s rookie field (Shannon Marshall placed third in last year’s rookie points). Ingersoll was introduced to racing merely three years ago by assisting her fellow friend and Big Block racer Mike Franz. “Once I started frequenting the race track, I simply fell head over heels for everything and earnestly desired to race,” Ingersoll expressed. Oliva ventured into a couple of ‘Powder Puff’ races on the 1/4 mile, and all that did was intensify her longing even more to give it a ‘genuine’ try. Thus, she went ahead and purchased an ’06 Teo car that will bear No. 95, along with a 602 crate engine. Ingersoll managed to secure two late practice sessions last season during the final two events at Bridgeport. The 21-year-old resident of Gibbstown, NJ, works on the car single-handedly. “I don’t truly have a crew aside from Mike’s crew to offer assistance at the track, and if I have a query, I typically seek advice from Mike.” Despite the odds seemingly stacked against this young lady, one can never discount hard work and determination.
The second driver to officially pronounce themselves eligible for the 2017 D.A.’s rookie class is Keith McKinley. Although a rookie driver, Keith is no stranger to Bridgeport as he has been competing in the 4-cylinder class over the past few seasons on the Spirit Auto Center 1/4 mile on Friday nights. “I simply had an urge to progress. The 4-cylinders were enjoyable but I was primed for a change,” McKinley stated. The 40-year-old driver from Deptford, NJ, procured an ’08 Dirt Wheels chassis during this off-season to enable his participation in the ’17 rookie series. McKinley is currently endeavoring to secure some sponsorship for his No. 9 Sportsman to facilitate his rookie endeavor. His girlfriend Jennifer Hardy and his uncle Terry constitute his pit crew for his rookie campaign this season.
The third driver to register for the D.A.’s Auto Body Rookie Series in 2017 is the young Tommy Errico Jr.
If you recognize the Errico name, you’re not imagining things. Tom Errico Sr raced in the late 80s and early 90s at both Bridgeport and East Windsor Speedways. The elder Errico did notch up a win in the Sportsman category at Bridgeport and a couple at Windsor over 25 years ago. Now, it’s the turn of his son to carry the ‘racing’ torch within the family.
The second-generation driver was able to test the car a few times towards the end of last season while Sr. also hopped behind the wheel to assist with the setup. Tommy Jr will be steering an ’04 Troyer powered by a 602 crate motor. The 19-year-old driver from Feasterville, Pa, will display the ‘X-Rated’ number on the sides of his Crate/Sportsman hot rod. Some of the sponsors facilitating this for the Errico Team are K&M Trucking, R. Miller & Sons Automotive, and Sunglass Central. If you were to pay a visit to the pit area, you would likely encounter Billy Culver, Colin Barber, and of course Tom Sr. twisting the wrenches every weekend. You can count on Errico Jr to exert every effort to uphold the family tradition by making it to Bridgeport Speedway’s victory lane at some point this season.