Car counts growing for Vermont’s only dirt track
BRADFORD, VT — The 99ROCK Weekly Racing Series roster is filling up in a hurry as stock car drivers from many backgrounds plan to call Bradford, VT’s Bear Ridge Speedway their summer home for 21 action-filled events. New additions have been made across the board in all divisions.
The top-tier Bond Auto Parts DIRTcar Sportsman Modified division will see a strong freshman class as six-time Limited Late Model Robert Tucker of Topsham, VT moves up along with fellow Late Model standouts Richie Simmons of Bradford, VT and “Rapid” Troy Comeau of Rumney, NH. Second-generation drivers and twin brothers Jacob and Joey Scarborough of Brandon, VT have also entered the division; their father Don Scarborough was the 1997 Bear Ridge Speedway track champion. Former asphalt standout “Fast Eddie” Patterson of Websterville, VT will also make his Modified debut. Veteran Bob Shepard of West Topsham, VT also returns to the Modifieds in 2012.
The “Home of the Coupes” will continue the recent upward trend in the division that made it famous as newcomers Rusty Bean, Jesse Smith, Josh Constantine, and “Awesome” Thomas Placey have entered the Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe class. Smith and Constantine each dabbled in the Coupe class in 2011, and Placey is a former two-time Hornet champion at Bear Ridge Speedway.
The USAC Dirt Midget Association, running an expanded schedule of 11 races, will see added Vermont influence as veteran Frank Manafort of Weathersfield makes a full go of it, along with Waitsfield’s Adam Whitney and Matt Covey of Fairlee. Young racers Kevin Tefft and Jeff Champagne have also shown interest.
The A Notch Above Automotive Limited Late Models enjoy big growth with young racers Richie Veilleux, Travis King, and Val Lund. King, of Corinth, VT, was the inaugural Hornet Stinger youth division champion last year, and Veilleux tested the water with a handful of Hornet starts. Lund is a racing rookie, but is no stranger to Bear Ridge Speedway — she has been a concession stand worker in recent years. Other newcomers include Matt Ellsworth and Canaan (NH) Dirt Speedway star Ryan Christian.
The Weglarz Property Service Fast Four division will see long-time Bear Ridge supporters Chuck and Billy Simmons of Bradford, VT return to the track along with veteran Tim Martin, and Ryan Farnham of Fairlee, VT will make a full-time attempt at racing in the KDD NAPA Auto Parts Hornet class.
The 2012 Bear Ridge Speedway season opens on the morning of May 5 with a car show at Jiffy Mart in downtown Bradford. Racing begins with KDD NAPA Auto Parts Night at the famous “6:00-ish” start time. Season passes are available at only $150 for adults (18-61) and just $130 for teens (12-17) and seniors (62+); Visa and MasterCard are accepted. For more information, call (802) 222-4052
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