DANNER & A SHOW: BRIGGS BAGS 2022 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT TITLE
By: Richie Murray – USAC Media
Speedway, Indiana (December 15, 2022)………Briggs Danner put together a record season en route to the 2022 USAC Rapid Tire East Coast Sprint Car championship Presented by Capitol Custom Trailers.
The Allentown, Pa. native posted 12 feature victories in just 21 starts, setting a new single season win record in the process aboard the Heffner Racing Enterprises South/Pioneer Pole Buildings – E. Schneider & Sons/Triple X/Rider Chevy.
Avenging his runner-up points finish from a year ago, Danner laid down the law right from the season opener all the way through to the end, starting and finishing the year in the same manner by notching victories at New Jersey’s Bridgeport Motorsports Park in April and November, respectively.
In fact, Danner has now won the series’ opening and closing races for the second consecutive season, also bookending the 2021 season with multiple scores at Bridgeport.
Danner’s four-race winning streak to close out the 2022 season put the title hopes in his clutch for good with subsequent triumphs at Delaware International Speedway, Winchester (Va.) Speedway, Bedford (Pa.) Speedway and Bridgeport. The four-in-a-row run tied the all-time series mark established by Alex Bright in 2021.
Along the way, Danner captured wins at nine different venues in four different states: three times at New Jersey’s Bridgeport Motorsports Park, twice at Bloomsburg (Pa.) Fair Raceway, and one each at Pennsylvania’s Williams Grove Speedway, Port Royal Speedway, Selinsgrove Speedway, Action Track USA and Bedford Speedway; plus, Delaware International Speedway and Virginia’s Winchester Speedway.
Danner prevailed in his quest with 20 top-five finishes and 21 top-tens in 21 starts, recording a worst finish of sixth and topped all but one major statistical category, leading in feature wins (12), top-fives (20) and top-tens (21) while eqauling Alex Bright in heat race wins (10) and feature starts (21).
A versatile wheelman, Danner has conquered most anything with four tires and a steering wheel, including big block modifieds and winged sprint cars. In all, his 2022 USAC East Coast Sprint Car crown represents his fifth career USAC driving title between .25 Midgets (2013 Senior Honda Dirt and Light World Formula Dirt & 2014 Light 160 Dirt) as well as Action Track USA SpeedSTRs (2021).
The beat continued on throughout the season between rivals Danner and 2021 champion Alex Bright. Bright (Collegeville, Pa.) came home second in the standings while collecting six victories at Bloomsburg, Delaware, Williams Grove Speedway twice, the series’ debut at Pennsylvania’s Clinton County Speedway and at Port Royal. Bright led the most laps in the series with 130, holding a one-lap edge over Danner in the category.
Chris Allen Jr. (Wrightstown, N.J.) earned his first series victory since 2019 when he took the first end of an August doubleheader at Action Track USA.
Two first-time winners emerged during year. Joey Amantea (Mount Pocono, Pa.) notched his first series win in August on the big half-mile at Selinsgrove (Pa.) Speedway and came home a career-best fourth in the standings.
Meanwhile, 15-year-old Preston Lattomus (Lewes, Dela.) hurried to a June win at Pennsylvania’s Lincoln Speedway. His sixth place finish in the standings earned him Rookie of the Year honors.
Steven Drevicki (Reading, Pa.) completed his fifth consecutive year on the series trail with a third-place points finish. The three-time champ tallied 14 top-fives and 18 top-tens while starting 20 of the 21 events.
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2022 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR STAT LEADERS:
Driver Champion: Briggs Danner
Rookie of the Year: Preston Lattomus
Most Wins: 12-Briggs Danner
Most Laps Led: 130-Alex Bright
Most Top-Fives: 21-Briggs Danner
Most Top-Tens: 20-Briggs Danner
Most Heat Race Wins: 10-Alex Bright & Briggs Danner
Most Feature Starts: 21-Alex Bright & Briggs Danner
2022 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR DRIVER POINT STANDINGS:
POS. PTS. DRIVER, HOMETOWN
1. 1496 Briggs Danner, Allentown, Pa.
2. 1365 Alex Bright, Collegeville, Pa.
3. 1200 Steven Drevicki, Reading, Pa.
4. 1035 Joey Amantea, Mount Pocono, Pa.
5. 927 Kenny Miller III, Morgantown, Pa.
6. 764 Preston Lattomus, Lewes, Dela.
7. 733 Mike Thompson, Holland, Pa.
8. 688 Bruce Buckwalter Jr., Mechanicsburg, Pa.
9. 672 Christian Bruno, Deptford, N.J.
10. 670 Jason Cherry, Blandon, Pa.
11. 503 Aidan Borden, Jackson, N.J.
12. 465 Carmen Perigo, Stoystown, Pa.
13. 448 Colin White, Scranton, Pa.
14. 411 Kyle Spence, Bridgeton, N.J.
15. 408 Billy Ney, Laureldale, Pa.
16. 351 Chris Allen Jr., Wrightstown, N.J.
17. 333 Jonathan Swanson, Yardville, N.J.
18. 332 Austin Graby, Lebanon, Pa.
19. 253 Lee Kauffman, Hellam, Pa.
20. 246 David Swanson, Yardville, N.J.
21. 182 Brian Spencer, Old Bridge, N.J.
22. 84 Jermain Godshall, Telford, Pa.
23. 72 Richy Carnathan, Northampton, Pa.
24. 42 Mark Bitner, Columbus, N.J.
25. 35 Dylan Hoch, Mertztown, Pa.
26. 34 Mick D'Agostino, Taunton, Mass.
27. 28 Michael Nolf, Wind Gap, Pa.
28. 25 Craig Pellegrini, Buena, N.J.
2022 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINNERS:
Apr 2: Bridgeport Motorsports Park - Swedesboro, NJ
WINNER: Briggs Danner (Heffner Racing Enterprises South #5G)
Apr 14: Bloomsburg Fair Raceway - Bloomsburg, PA
WINNER: Alex Bright (Hummer Motorsports #20)
Apr 14: Bloomsburg Fair Raceway - Bloomsburg, PA
WINNER: Briggs Danner (Heffner Racing Enterprises South #5G)
Apr 15: Williams Grove Speedway - Mechanicsburg, PA
WINNER: Briggs Danner (Heffner Racing Enterprises South #5G)
Apr 23: Port Royal Speedway - Port Royal, PA
WINNER: Briggs Danner (Heffner Racing Enterprises South #5G)
Apr 29: Delaware International Speedway - Delmar, DE
WINNER: Alex Bright (Hummer Motorsports #20)
Apr 30: Bridgeport Motorsports Park - Swedesboro, NJ
WINNER: Briggs Danner (Heffner Racing Enterprises South #5G)
May 21: Selinsgrove Speedway - Selinsgrove, PA
WINNER: Briggs Danner (Heffner Racing Enterprises South #5G)
Jun 3: Williams Grove Speedway - Mechanicsburg, PA
WINNER: Alex Bright (Hummer Motorsports #20)
Jun 4: Lincoln Speedway - Abbottstown, PA
WINNER: Preston Lattomus (Lattomus Racing #23B)
Jul 8: Williams Grove Speedway - Mechanicsburg, PA
WINNER: Alex Bright (Hummer Motorsports #20)
Aug 3: Action Track USA - Kutztown, PA
WINNER: Chris Allen Jr. (Chris Allen Jr. #71)
Aug 3: Action Track USA - Kutztown, PA
WINNER: Briggs Danner (Heffner Racing Enterprises South #5G)
Aug 6: Selinsgrove Speedway - Selinsgrove, PA
WINNER: Joey Amantea (Joe Amantea #88J)
Aug 18: Bloomsburg Fair Raceway - Bloomsburg, PA
WINNER: Briggs Danner (Heffner Racing Enterprises South #5G)
Aug 19: Clinton County Speedway - Mill Hall, PA
WINNER: Alex Bright (Hummer Motorsports #20)
Aug 20: Port Royal Speedway - Port Royal, PA
WINNER: Alex Bright (Hummer Motorsports #20)
Sep 2: Delaware International Speedway - Delmar, DE
WINNER: Briggs Danner (Heffner Racing Enterprises South #5G)
Sep 17: Winchester Speedway - Winchester, VA
WINNER: Briggs Danner (Heffner Racing Enterprises South #5G)
Oct 15: Bedford Speedway - Bedford, PA
WINNER: Briggs Danner (Heffner Racing Enterprises South #5G)
Oct 30: Bridgeport Motorsports Park - Swedesboro, NJ
WINNER: Briggs Danner (Heffner Racing Enterprises South #5G)
2022 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS:
12-Briggs Danner (Apr 2 at Bridgeport Motorsports Park, Apr 14 at Bloomsburg Fair Raceway, Apr 15 at Williams Grove Speedway, Apr 23 at Port Royal Speedway, Apr 30 at Bridgeport Motorsports Park, May 21 at Selinsgrove Speedway, Aug 3 at Action Track USA, Aug 18 at Bloomsburg Fair Raceway, Sep 2 at Delaware International Speedway, Sep 17 at Winchester Speedway, Oct 15 at Bedford Speedway & Oct 30 at Bridgeport Motorsports Park).
6-Alex Bright (Apr 14 at Bloomsburg Fair Raceway, Apr 29 at Delaware International Raceway, Jun 3 at Williams Grove Speedway, Jul 8 at Williams Grove Speedway, Aug 19 at Clinton County Speedway & Aug 20 at Port Royal Speedway)
1-Chris Allen Jr. (Aug 3 at Action Track USA)
1-Joey Amantea (Aug 6 at Selinsgrove Speedway)
1-Preston Lattomus (Jun 4 at Lincoln Speedway)
2022 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR FEATURE LAPS LED:
130-Alex Bright
129-Briggs Danner
42-Carmen Perigo
39-Mark Smith
38-Bobby Butler
25-Kyle Spence
19-Chris Allen Jr. & Colin White
17-Aidan Borden & Mike Thompson
16-Steven Drevicki
13-Joey Amantea
10-Kenny Miller III
8-Preston Lattomus
2-Nash Ely, Billy Pauch Jr. & David Swanson
1-Ed Aikin & Tommy Kunsman
2022 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR TOP-5 FEATURE FINISHES:
20-Briggs Danner
16-Alex Bright
14-Steven Drevicki
10-Joey Amantea
7-Kenny Miller III
6-Mike Thompson
5-Mark Smith
4-Carmen Perigo & Kyle Spence
3-Ed Aikin, Christian Bruno & Billy Pauch Jr.
2-Preston Lattomus & Colin White
1-Chris Allen Jr., Aidan Borden, Tylor Cochran, Nash Ely, Tommy Kunsman & Kody Swanson
2022 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR TOP-10 FEATURE FINISHES:
21-Briggs Danner
19-Alex Bright
18-Steven Drevicki
14-Ed Aikin, Joey Amantea & Kenny Miller III
12-Mike Thompson
11-Christian Bruno & Preston Lattomus
6-Aidan Borden, Bruce Buckwalter Jr., Jason Cherry, Carmen Perigo & Mark Smith
5-Austin Graby, Billy Pauch Jr., Kyle Spence & Colin White
4-Chris Allen Jr.
3-J.T. Ferry & Tommy Kunsman
2-Nash Ely & Jonathan Swanson
1-Josh Beamer, Bobby Butler, Tylor Cochran, Troy Fraker, Eric Jennings, Billy Ney, Mike Smith, Brian Spencer & Kody Swanson
2022 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR HEAT RACE WINS:
10-Alex Bright & Briggs Danner
6-Steven Drevicki
4-Kyle Spence
3-Tommy Kunsman & Mike Thompson
2-Joey Amantea & Kenny Miller III
1-Ed Aikin, Bruce Buckwalter Jr., Bobby Butler, Jason Cherry, Austin Graby, Billy Pauch Jr., Mark Smith, Kody Swanson & Colin White
2022 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR FEATURE STARTS:
21-Alex Bright & Briggs Danner
20-Steven Drevicki
19-Joey Amantea
18-Ed Aikin
16-Bruce Buckwalter Jr., Jason Cherry & Preston Lattomus
15-Kenny Miller III
14-Christian Bruno
13-Billy Ney & Mike Thompson
12-Aidan Borden & Tommy Kunsman
9-Troy Fraker & Colin White
8-Carmen Perigo & Jonathan Swanson
7-Chris Allen Jr., John Fraker, Austin Graby, Lee Kauffman, Kyle Spence & David Swanson
6-Bobby Butler & Billy Pauch Jr.
5-J.T. Ferry, Eric Jennings & Brian Spencer
4-Nash Ely
3-Steve Wilbur
2-Richy Carnathan, Tylor Cochran, Jermain Godshall, Brett Rose, Mike Smith & Kody Swanson
1-Josh Beamer, Mark Bitner, Gary Bozowski, Levi Brungard, Mick D'Agostino, Brendan Hires, Dylan Hoch, Shawn Jackson, Aaron Jacobus, George Loux, Lee Nardelli, Michael Nolf, Craig Pellegrini, Dale Schweikert, Brent Shearer, Joe Toth & Jason Wagner
2022 USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR SEMI-FEATURE WINS:
1-Christian Bruno, Bobby Butler, Nash Ely, Tommy Kunsman, Preston Lattomus & Billy Pauch Jr.
ALL-TIME USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CAR FEATURE WINS:
22-Briggs Danner
19-Alex Bright
13-Steven Drevicki
3-Eddie Strada
2-Chris Allen Jr., Joey Biasi, Mark Bitner, Timmy Buckwalter & Kenny Miller III
1-Joey Amantea, Brady Bacon, Ryan Godown, Coleman Gulick, Preston Lattomus, 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.
2022: Briggs Danner, Allentown, 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.
2022: Preston Lattomus, Lewes, Dela.
