Sunn dominates Modifieds, McGinley wins Coupes
Will Hull returned to his home track at Bear Ridge Speedway to post the first victory of his career in the WYKR Sprint Cars of New England (SCoNE) series on Saturday. Hull, of East Montpelier, VT and a former Limited Late Model track champion, made a dramatic late-race pass in heavy lapped traffic to steal the lead from Tyler Rich and earn the win on Dad’s 4 By Tool & Supply Night.
Polesitter Lacey Hanson of Orwell, VT led the first seven laps of the 25-lap race, but Lyme, NH sophomore Rich sailed through the field from his tenth starting position to pass Hanson up front on lap 8. Rich held a comfortable lead but slowed in lapped traffic, allowing Hull and Chris Donnelly to close quickly. Hull squeezed by coming to the final lap, bringing Donnelly with him, and held on for his first victory in the open-wheel, winged touring division. Donnelly finished second with Rich third, followed by Clay Dow and defending SCoNE champion Dan Douville. Matt Robie, rookie Chris Downs, Tunk Berry, Andy Seuss, and Hanson completed the unofficial top ten.
Josh Sunn of White River Junction, VT posted his first win of the year in the 35-lap Bond Auto Parts DIRTcar Sportsman Modified feature. Sunn dominated the race, leading from lap 5 by as much as full straightaway at times. Sunn had a brief scare at lap 11 when he deliberately spun his car to avoid a crash, but was given his position back during the caution period.
As Sunn soldiered on at the front, Justin Comes and Gary Siemons put on a show in traffic. Comes made three three-wide passes on the far outside lane as he moved to the front, and Siemons ran strong on a slick inside lane. Siemons got by Comes late for second place, followed by Bob Shepard and Jeff Elliott. Jason Gray, Kevin Chaffee, Adam Pierson, Robert Tucker, and Evan Kingsbury were next in line.
East Barre, VT driver Mike McGinley ran to his first Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe win of the year in that division’s 25-lap main event. Jeremy Beckley of Woodsville, NH matched his career-best effort with a runner-up finish, and rookie Tom Placey of Bradford, VT finished a career-best third. Jeff Robbins and Jason Horniak completed the unofficial top five.
Fifteen year-old Jordan Fornwalt of Bradford, VT posted his second win of the season in the A Notch Above Automotive Limited Late Model 20-lap feature, fending off Mike Greene. Jeremy Hodge was third in his first start of the year, ahead of Brian Chaffee and rookie Sam Comeau.
Rob Gioia of East Thetford, VT posted his second 20-lap Weglarz Property Service Fast Four victory of the year after a duel with Danny Doyle. Doyle crossed the finish line second with Kevin Harran third, Bobby Bell fourth, and Chuck Simmons fifth.
Defending champion Eric Lang of Groton, VT won the 20-lap KDD NAPA Auto Parts Hornet feature, besting rookie Brandon Gray, Brent Warren, Mike Stender, and Rob Isham. The 12-lap Hornet Queen race was won by Alicia Taylor of Moultonboro, NH, who held off Dawn King and Connie Gioia.
Bear Ridge Speedway’s 45th season of stock car racing continues with Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Night on Saturday, June 2. A full card of the 99ROCK Weekly Racing Series Modifieds, Coupes, Late Models, Fast Fours, and Hornets is on tap, along with the USAC Dirt Midget Association and the Hornet Stinger youth class. General admission is $10 for adults (age 18-61), $18 for teens (12-17) and seniors (62+), and $2 for children; Visa and MasterCard are accepted. Racing begins at the famous “6:00-ish” start time.
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.
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UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Dad’s 4 By Tool & Supply Night
Bear Ridge Speedway — Bradford, VT
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Pos.-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
WYKR Sprint Cars of New England (25 laps)
1. Will Hull, East Montpelier, VT
2. Chris Donnelly, Piermont, NH
3. Tyler Rich, Lyme, NH
4. Clay Dow, Barnstead, NH
5. Dan Douville, Bridgewater, NH
6. Matt Robie, Hill, NH
7. # Chris Downs, Moultonboro, NH
8. Tunk Berry, Center Ossipee, NH
9. Andy Seuss, Hampstead, NH
10. Lacey Hanson, Orwell, VT
11. Jim Lowrey, Jr., Tilton, NH
12. Bruce Kimball, Lebanon, NH
13. Shawn Lawler, Mason, NH
14. Randy Wimert, Falmouth, ME
15. Shawn Berry, Center Ossipee, NH
16. Brandon Valley, Center Ossipee, NH
17. Anthony Cain, Fairfax, VT
18. Jake Williams, Center Tuftonboro, NH
Did Not Qualify: Bob Giuliani, Middleton, NH; # Jeff Horn, Ashland, MA
Bond Auto DIRTcar Sportsman Modified (35 laps)
1. Josh Sunn, White River Junction, VT
2. Gary Siemons, Orford, NH
3. Justin Comes, Middlebury, VT
4. Bob Shepard, West Topsham, VT
5. Jeff Elliott, Benton, NH
6. Jason Gray, East Thetford, VT
7. Kevin Chaffee, Fairlee, VT
8. Adam Pierson, Fairlee, VT
9. Robert Tucker, East Topsham, VT
10. Evan Kingsbury, Bradford, VT
11. Dan Eastman, Thetford Center, VT
12. # Eddie Patterson, Websterville, VT
13. Richie Simmons, Bradford, VT
14. Blake Shepard, Newton, NH
15. # Troy Comeau, Rumney, NH
16. Derek Graham, Woodsville, NH
17. Jack Cook, Moultonboro, NH
18. # Josh Currier, Newport, NH
19. Mike Dunn, North Haverhill, NH
20. Bryan King, Corinth, VT
Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe (25 laps)
1. Mike McGinley, East Barre, VT
2. Jeremy Beckley, Woodsville, NH
3. # Tom Placey, Bradford, VT
4. Jeff Robbins, Woodsville, NH
5. Jason Horniak, Bradford, VT
6. Tim Hodge, Vershire, VT
7. Terry Williams, Wells River, VT
8. Jason Colbeth, Newbury, VT
9. Buster Kathan, Ludlow, VT
10. Teddy Salomaa, Bradford, VT
11. # Jesse Smith, Topsham, VT
12. Martin Mastic, Bradford, VT
13. Steve Ellsworth, Corinth, VT
14. Gene Pierson, Jr., East Corinth, VT
15. # Rusty Bean, Barre, VT
16. Rick Fletcher, East Corinth, VT
17. # Dylan Hayward, Bradford, VT
18. Josh Harrington, Topsham, VT
19. # Josh Constantine, East Corinth, VT
Did Not Start: # Jerry Catterall, Piermont, NH
A Notch Above Automotive Limited Late Model (20 laps)
1. Jordan Fornwalt, Bradford, VT
2. Mike Greene, Jr., Pike, NH
3. Jeremy Hodge, Newbury, VT
4. Brian Chaffee, West Topsham, VT
5. # Sam Comeau, Hebron, NH
6. # Travis King, Corinth, VT
7. Matt Ellsworth, Corinth, VT
8. Jason Giguere, Enfield, NH
9. # Val Lund, Vershire, VT
Weglarz Property Service Fast Four (20 laps)
1. Rob Gioia, East Thetford, VT
2. Danny Doyle, Barre, VT
3. Kevin Harran, St. Johnsbury, VT
4. Bobby Bell, St. Johnsbury, VT
5. Chuck Simmons, Bradford, VT
6. Andy Johnson, Wilder, VT
7. Derrick Durkee, Sharon, VT
8. Steve Bell, St. Johnsbury, VT
9. Jim Durkee, Sharon, VT
10. Tim Martin, White River Junction, VT
11. Dave Durkee, Sr., White River Junction, VT
KDD NAPA Auto Parts Hornet (20 laps)
1. Eric Lang, Groton, VT
2. # Brandon Gray, East Thetford, VT
3. Brent Warren, Salisbury, VT
4. Mike Stender, South Strafford, VT
5. Rob Isham, St. Johnsbury, VT
6. Don Reynolds, Springfield, VT
7. Charlie Lakin, Groton, VT
8. Mike Ryan, Chelsea, VT
9. # James Fadden, North Haverhill, NH
10. Joe Kemp, Leicester, VT
11. Andy Mooney, Danville, VT
12. Mike Lique, West Lebanon, NH
13. # Jacob Blake, Waterbury, VT
14. # Ryan Farnham, Fairlee, VT
15. # Travis Tattersall, Bradford, VT
Hornet Queen (12 laps)
1. Alicia Taylor, Moultonboro, NH
2. Dawn King, Springfield, VT
3. Connie Gioia, East Thetford, VT
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