World premiere of racing film set for July 18 at Bridgeport Speedway, where it was filmed over a full season
The thunder of modified engines has long defined summer nights in South Jersey. Now, that sound is making its way from the dirt to the big screen. PONY, a new feature film built around the intense world of Northeast dirt modified racing, will hold its world premiere on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Bridgeport Speedway — the very track where the movie was shot.
The film tells the story of sisters Amanda and Pony Marchetti, both champions on the dirt. After a championship race ends in a devastating crash that leaves Amanda in a coma, Pony discovers the wreck was no accident. What follows is a story of family, betrayal, and one woman’s fight to protect her sister’s legacy in a sport where loyalty runs as deep as the tire marks on the track.
What sets PONY apart is how it was made. Rather than relying on staged scenes or CGI, the production filmed over an entire real racing season at Bridgeport Speedway. Movie cars competed in actual wheel-to-wheel races. Professional drivers Billy Pauch Jr., Sammy Martz Jr., and Ryan Krachun handled the stunt work, while the lead actresses climbed behind the wheel for real racing sequences. The result is a film that captures the danger, speed, and emotion of dirt track racing without Hollywood gloss.
For the team behind the film, bringing the story back to Bridgeport Speedway for the premiere felt like the only right choice. “This isn’t just a movie about racing,” said one of the producers. “It’s a story born from the community that lives and breathes this sport every weekend. We wanted to share it with the people who made it possible.”
PONY is a production of Garden State Media Pro in Medford and Cinemaddict Films in Cherry Hill, in partnership with Executive Producers Doug Rose of Bridgeport Speedway and David Izzi of Izzi Trucking and Rigging. The project was developed to shine a light on the often-overlooked world of Northeast dirt modified racing and the tight-knit culture that surrounds it.
The July 18 premiere will be an outdoor celebration at the speedway, complete with a red carpet, live music, cast and crew appearances, and the first public screening of the film. A rain date is scheduled for July 19. After the live event, the film will be available for a nationwide online premiere through Vimeo PPV.
For racing fans and moviegoers alike, the premiere offers a rare chance to see a story that was truly made on the dirt — and is now returning home to the track.
Tickets and updates are available at
https://www.tixr.com/groups/bridgeportmotorsportspark/events/pony-movie-release-194249