The 59th opening night at the Ridge is officially in the record books after two weeks.
Todd Buckwold wins in the Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds, and Keith Mansur holds on to win in the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks.
It took two weeks to get it in, and mother nature almost won them both, but after a half time rebound on week two the home team charged hard and came home the winner. The afternoon rains made for a fast track and plenty of racing excitement for the die-hard fans who ventured out in the cold to be a part of the opening day of our 59th consecutive season of racing sponsored by FMS Auto Parts NAPA of Bradford.
The first feature winners of the 58th consecutive season sponsored by F.M.S. NAPA Auto Parts of Bradford VT were Todd Buckwold in the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds; Jason Gray in the Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes; Bryan King in the Dad’s 4 By Tool & Supply Sportsman Modifieds Limited; Kelly Miller Sr in the High Country Dispensary Late Models; Keith Mansur in the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks; and Doug Boucher in the Woodsville Power Equipment Bobcat Ridge Runners. For the visiting R.E. Hinkley Granite State Mini Sprints Josh Ball is your winner in the 600cc and David Greenslit in the 500cc.
The goal of everyone in the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds in addition to winning a race is to dethrone the six-time champ once and for all, and the opening night action showed quickly who was ready to make it happen. Kyle Huntington and Brian Chaffee brought the field to the green with Huntington taking the point for the first handful of laps before Chaffee got by him and dominated the field. Chaffee would survive a couple of cautions looking poised to drive home for the win. In the meantime, Todd Buckwold and Max Dolliver were steadily making their way to the front, and on the ST Jay CDJR white flag lap would get by Chaffee dropping him to third when the checkers waved. Jason Gray made his way up to fourth with Robert Tucker holding on for fifth.
Jason Gray driving for Bill Josler put his 111 to the outside and sailed to grab the first checkers of the season in the Wells River Chevrolet-part of the Auto Saver Group DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes. Gray got by Ricky Sanville with under ten laps to go bringing Michael Danforth Jr. and Todd Buckwold along for the ride. When the checkers waved that would be the three in that order with Sanville holding on for fourth and AJ Pushee claiming the fifth-place spot.
The Dad’s 4 By Tool & Supply Sportsman Modified Limited class is now eligible for rookie contenders and on opening night had several ready to try their luck in a limited mighty mod. These young guns will have an excellent opportunity to watch and learn from one of the long-time veterans and last year’s champ in this new division. Bryan King took no time to get to the front and to claim his first win of the season over Keegan Tabor coming home second and Kaylin Pierson, one of two females competing this year in the class, coming home in third. Michael Kinne and Jordan Robinson rounded out the top five.
Kelly Miller took no time to put himself on top of the heap in the High-Country Dispensaries Late Models winning both his heat and the main event. Miller beat out Chad McAlpine who will be a strong contender in 2026 and Tim Higgins. Ryan Christian and Jeff Reynolds completed the top five.
In the LaValley Building Supply it was all Keith Mansur and then it wasn’t and then it was. Mansur dominated his heat race, worked his way to the front in the feature quickly to take the point and led the field until lap traffic played a factor on lap thirteen giving John Fields the break he was looking for. Fields got the advantage with the traffic and would lead the next four circuits. Mansur not to be denied was able to get back by Fields on the ST Jay CDJR white flag lap and go on for the win sweeping opening night. Fields crossed in second with Matt Pike in third. Mike Mann, back in action, came home second with last year’s track champion Tyler Fellows rounding out the top five.
In the Woodsville Power Equipment Bobcat Ridge Runners an old name returns and quickly shows the fans that he still remembers how to get around the Ridge. Doug Boucher beat out Riley Chaffee and Kevin LaForest for the win with Kyle Morris and Katie Burroughs rounding out the top five.
The R.E. Hinkley Granite State Mini Sprints were in the house for the first of five events. In the 500cc David Greenslit beat out Jake Wolf for the win with Bentley Robbins joining the pair in victory lane crossing third. Morgan Macintyre and Wyatt Coutermarsh completed the top five. In the 600cc Josh Ball is your winner with Luke Hinkley coming home in third. Cody Willette and Destin St. Clair rounded out the top five.
Coming up this Saturday May 16th is a regular general admission full card of racing with the R.E. Hinkley Granite State Mini Sprints. On hand will be the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds, the Wells River Chevrolet-part of the Auto Saver Group DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes, the Dad’s 4 By Tool & Supply Sportsman Modifieds Limited, Xtreme DIRTcar DMA Midgets, High Country Dispensary Late Models, LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks, and the Woodsville Power Equipment Bobcat Ridge Runners.
To be eligible for the Bear Ridge Speedway points fund, and recognized at the annual awards banquet, drivers must hold a 2026 Bear Ridge Speedway or DIRTcar license, compete in the required number of events, and run on track designated tires as indicated in the rule book.
The price of a regular show general admission (front gate) ticket for adults (ages 16 to 61) is $15.00 a person and children 11 and under $2.00. Teens (12 to 15) and seniors 62 and older are $13.00. Military Discounts are available at $5.00 off for those with a valid ID.
The back gate (pit gate) ticket price for Bear Ridge Speedway and DIRTcar 2026 license holders is $30.00. Non-license holders are $40.00 (both prices include the front gate ticket.)
Bear Ridge Speedway is an alcohol-free family friendly entertainment spot, with our goal to make each experience at the Ridge better than the last. We continue to offer the best source of good, inexpensive high-quality entertainment for families. Visa and MasterCard are accepted. Racing begins at the famous “6:00-ish” start time every Saturday starting in May through September.
Bear Ridge Speedway is located on Kidder Road in Bradford, VT, just off Exit 16 on Interstate 91. For more information, call (802) 222-4052 or visit www.bearridgespeedway.com. Questions can be sent to [email protected] Visa and Master card accepted.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – 59th Season of Racing sponsored by FMS NAPA Auto Parts of Bradford VT night.
99ROCK Weekly Racing Series
Bear Ridge Speedway — Bradford, VT
*Sabil & Sons* DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds (35 laps)
1st 631 Todd Buckwold
2nd 29 Max Dolliver
3rd 16 Brian Chaffee
4th 00 Jason Gray
5th 42T Robert Tucker
6th 24p Ashton Pierson
7th 26 Jeremy Huntoon
8th 47 Owen Brown
9th 39 Jason Horniak ®
10th 22 Thomas Placey
11th 86 Mike Ryan
12th 3h Kyle Huntington
13th 12 Cody Gregoropoulos ®
14th 33 Melvin Pierson
15th 343 Richie Simmons
HEAT one: Robert Tucker
HEAT two: Kyle Huntington
*Wells River Chevrolet* DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes (30 Laps)
1st 111 Jason Gray
2nd 44 Michael Danforth Jr
3rd 631 Todd Buckwold
4th 93 Ricky Sanville
5th 66 AJ Pushee
6th 8 Chris Roberts ®
7th 1 Adam Osgood
8th 17 Cooper Hodge
9th 69x Ali Pushee
10th 28 Bob Shepard
11th 89 Lucas Wheeler
12th 9 Alexis Pushee
13th 3k Travis King ®
14th 27 Logan Martin
15th 56 Chris LaForest
16th 43 Earl Maxham
17th 45 Damon Cote ®
18th 96 Rob Williams
19th 2 Deven Stearns ®
HEAT one: Rob Williams
HEAT two: Michael Danforth Jr.
*Dad’s 4 By Tool & Supply *Sportsman Modifieds Limited (15 laps)
1st X Bryan King
2nd 74 Keegan Tabor
3rd 15k Kaylin Pierson ®
4th 73 Michael Kinne
5th 2 Jordan Robinson ®
6th 4 Shawn King
7th 33 Lucas Balch ® DNS
8th 04 Kelly Miller DNS
HEAT one: Keegan Tabor
*X*treme DIRTcar DMA Midgets Feature (25 laps)
OFF
HEAT one: n/a
HEAT two: n/a
*High Country Dispensary* Late Model Feature (15 Laps)
1st 04 Kelly Miller Sr
2nd 2b Chad McAlpine
3rd 61 Tim Higgins
4th 10 Ryan Christian
5th 443 Jeff Reynolds ®
6th 60 Kevin Smith ®
7th 1 Bradley Shanks ®
HEAT one: Kelly Miller
*LaValley’s Building Supply* Dirt Stockers (15 Laps)
1st 44 Keith Mansur
2nd 46 John Fields
3rd 27 Matt Pike
4th 22m Mike Mann
5th 7 Tyler Fellows
6th 11 Michael Larocque
7th 25 Timothy Blake
75 Tyler Stark DNS
08 David Hunt DNS
HEAT one: Keith Mansur
HEAT two: n/a
*Woodsville Power Equipment* Ridge Runners (20 laps)
1st 91 Doug Boucher
2nd 96 Riley Chaffee
3rd 49 Kevin LaForest
4th 66 Kyle Morris
5th 54 Katie Burroughs
6th 9 Zach Audet
7th 94 Ryan Sayers
8th 52 Leonard Sanborn ®
9th 71 Nathen Sargent
10th 29 Anne Tetreault ®
11th 6 Ty Heywood ®
12th 1F Dakota Glidden ®
13th 3 William Moses Jr ®
14th 7d Jacob Davis
15th 18 Parker Perry ®
16th 88 Robert Audet
17th 64 Matthew Durphey
51 Terry Flint Jr. DNS
7 Patrick Jones DNS
14 Landon McDonald DNS
5 Tim Davis DNS
09 Raven Streeter DNS
41 Jade Cote DNS
HEAT one: Robert Audet
HEAT two: Dakota Glidden
R.E. Hinkley Granite State Mini Sprints 500cc (15 laps)
1st 20 David Greenslit
2nd 38NH Jake Wolf
3rd 4r Bentley Robbins
4th 76 Morgan MacIntyre
5th 17 Wyatt Coutermarsh
6th 36 Ainsley Davis
7th 17k Kate Donnelly
R.E. Hinkley Granite State Mini Sprints 600cc (20 laps)
1st 08 Josh Ball
2nd 17 did not sign in
3rd 55 Luke Hinkley
4th 6c Cody Willette
5th 25d Destin St. Clair
6th 13 Josh Wright
7th 11 Domenico Daigle
8th 34 Todd Davis
9th 28 Donny Sharp
10th 49 did not sign in
11th 4 Nic Tosi
12th 27 Kosta makris
13th 32 Keith Newbegin
14th 29 Mark Wiggett
15th 47m Mark Giusto
16th 21m Brandon Martin
17th 12 David Morgan
18th 44 Mike Catino
19th 51 Teagan Daignault
