Ocean View, DE. October 31st, 2023. Nick Fillman, USAC ECSC
For the second time in as many seasons, Briggs Danner was crowned the Rapid Tire Services, USAC East Coast Sprint Car Series, presented by Capitol Renegade champion, this time, at the helm of the Hogue Racing 39 car maintained by Tim and Fran Hogue.
The team came out of the gate firing on all cylinders, racking up top five finishes night in and night out in the new pairings infancy. With Danner’s recent years winning as many as eleven feature events in a season, coupled with the veteran presence of the Hogue family, who were USAC East Coast feature winners themselves with modified driver Ryan Watt; It was only a matter of time until the team broke into victory lane.
The first win of the season for the pairing came at the Bedford Speedway in early June, just before the series break in action for the annual USAC National Eastern Storm events. The team performed very well against the nations best wingless 410 drivers, made event more difficult in 2023 with the addition of many USAC East Coast regulars.
Following the Eastern Storm events, the team picked up where they left off in USAC East Coast action, heading straight to victory lane in a photo finish over Alex Bright at the Delaware International Speedway. From there the team continued their consistency with more podium and top ten runs with the series, before the teams one and only finish outside the top ten which occurred at Action Track USA in August, where the team was battling for the win.
A lengthy break in USAC East Coast action for the weather man, allowed the team to do some more traveling to the midwest on the heels of their half week of Indiana Sprint week which saw Danner record a runner up finish to Emerson Axsom at the Bloomington Speedway. Trips to the Eldora Speedway, and Lawrenceburg Speedway, both in similar size and shape to the Bridgeport Speedway where Danner is more than comfortable, resulted in top ten efforts for the combo of Danner and Hogue.
The most difficult challenge of the season for the team came in the series biggest event at the Williams Grove Speedway in the second annual Bill Gallagher Memorial. Danner picked up a convincing heat race win, but showed heavy smoke as the laps concluded. A blown engine left the team and driver with no option to the feature, until Ed Aikin stepped in an offered the seat of his number 7 entry. Danner stormed from the rear of the field to finish third, and keep his driver points championship hunt alive, but suffered a hit in owner points to Steven Drevicki.
Tied in points on the owners champion side of things, Drevicki and Danner squared off for no less than 15 laps at the Delaware International Speedway, with Danner finishing one spot ahead of Drevicki in the feature, and taking a four point owners championship lead.
An impressive ninth to second run in a green to checkered finish at the Bridgeport Motorsports Park on Saturday night, coupled with a sixth place effort from Steven Drevicki, secured the Drivers Championship for Danner by 68 points, while despite only a one point lead heading into the feature, Hogue Racing Enterprises was able to secure their first Owners Championship over Drevikci by just 13 points.
Back to back titles, two USAC East Coast Wins, multiple top ten finishes with the USAC National Series, and thirteen of fourteen feature events inside the top ten or better capped off another impressive season for the blossoming driver from Allentown, PA. What does the future hold for the pairing of Danner and Hogue? Only time will tell, but the speed and results are more than present as the team heads to their sophomore season!