Rich, Beckley Highlight Bear Ridge Speedway Winners
Donnelly wins against record-tying 25-car Modified field
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BRADFORD, VT – Tyler Rich and Jeremy Beckley highlighted a jam-packed list of dirt track stock car winners on Swenson Insurance Night in the 99ROCK Weekly Racing Series at Bear Ridge Speedway on Saturday. Rich won the 25-lap WYKR Sprint Cars of New England (SCoNE) feature for his first win of 2012, and Beckley’s long-awaited Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe win was the first of his career. More than 120 race teams filled the pit area.
Rich started sixth on the 17-car SCoNE and wasted little time in getting to the front. The Pike, NH racer, who was the series’ Rookie of the Year last season, moved past former series champion Mark Cole into the lead on lap 8, then survived a restart with eight laps remaining for his second career win. Clay Dow of Barnstead, NH – the 2011 SCoNE Triple Crown series champion – finished second, with defending SCoNE overall champion Dan Douville of Bridgewater, NH third. Chris Donnelly, pulling double duty in Sprint Cars and Modifieds, drove from 15th starting position to finish fourth, and Jake Williams fifth.
Eight-time American-Canadian Tour pavement Late Model champion Brian Hoar of Williston, VT finished 15th in his Sprint Car debut. Center Ossipee, NH racers Tunk and Shawn Berry each took hard flips in qualifying. Neither driver was injured; Tunk Berry’s car was unable to continue, but Shawn Berry, his son, ran the main event and finished 14th. The SCoNE Triple Crown comes to Bear Ridge Speedway on Saturday, September 1, the middle round of the three-track, three-night Labor Day weekend mini-series championship.
Donnelly, of Piermont, NH, had a successful night by winning his third Bond Auto Parts DIRTcar Sportsman Modified feature of the year against a record-tying field of 25 cars. Donnelly led a 1-2 sweep for Teo Pro Car chassis fielded by the Covey Logging race team, with Kevin Chaffee second. Donnelly took to the top groove from his 14th starting position to grab the lead from Bob Shepard on lap 29 of the 40-lap race. Chaffee, of Fairlee, VT, ran to second in a close finish with championship rival Adam Pierson. Shepard held on for fourth, and Jason Gray was fifth.
Woodsville, NH driver Beckley found his way to the winner’s circle for the first time in his career in the 30-lap Coupe race. The third-year driver outlasted relentless challenges from Tim Hodge and defending champion Josh Harrington en route to the win. Harrington, of Topsham, VT, finished second, and Hodge was third ahead of Steve Ellsworth and Terry Williams.
Brian Chaffee of West Topsham, VT ran to his second win of the year in the 20-lap A Notch Above Automotive Limited Late Model feature. Chaffee had constant pressure from nine-time winner Jordan Fornwalt in the second half of the race, but made his way through lapped traffic better than anyone else to take the win. Mike Greene finished third, Sam Comeau fourth, and Travis King fifth.
Tim Martin of White River Junction, VT finally carried his first checkered flag of the year in the 20-lap Weglarz Property Service Fast Four race. Martin finished second six times previously, including the last three events. Danny Doyle finished second with Steve Bell third. Defending KDD NAPA Auto Parts Hornet champion Eric Lang of Groton, VT posted his eighth win of the year in an interesting race, with Don Reynolds second and rookie Brandon Gray third. Alicia Taylor of Moultonboro, NH won her second race of the year in the Hornet Queen feature. Dawn King was second and Ashley Racine was third.
Jake Williams of Center Tuftonboro, NH won his second Granite State Mini Sprint 600cc feature of the year ahead of Rich Crooker and Spencer Allen. Josh Boissoneau of Bedford, NH won his third GSMS 500cc race with Doug Boisvert second and Peter Belliveau third. Lauren Boisvert and Laury Clark were uninjured in a tandem flip during the 500cc event.
Bear Ridge Speedway’s 45th season of stock car racing continues on Saturday, August 25 as Sabil & Sons presents Old Timers’ Night and the 99ROCK Weekly Racing Series Modified, Coupe, Late Model, Fast Four, and Hornet divisions, along with the USAC Dirt Midget Association, the Hornet Stinger youth division, and classic race cars. Regular general admission is $10 for adults (age 18-61), $8 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.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Swenson Insurance Night
99ROCK Weekly Racing Series
Bear Ridge Speedway — Bradford, VT
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Pos.-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
WYKR Sprint Cars of New England (25 laps)
1. Tyler Rich, Lyme, NH
2. Clay Dow, Barnstead, NH
3. Dan Douville, Bridgewater, NH
4. Chris Donnelly, Piermont, NH
5. Jake Williams, Center Tuftonboro, NH
6. Kevin Chaffee, Fairlee, VT
7. Mark Cole, Lebanon, NH
8. Will Hull, East Montpelier, VT
9. Lacey Hanson, Orwell, VT
10. Shawn Lawler, Mason, NH
11. Matt Robie, Hill, NH
12. # Chris Downs, Moultonboro, NH
13. Bob Giuliani, Middleton, NH
14. Shawn Berry, Center Ossipee, NH
15. Brian Hoar, Williston, VT
16. Bruce Kimball, Lebanon, NH
17. Robby Bodwell, Sanford, ME
Did Not Start: Randy Wimert, Falmouth, ME; Tunk Berry, Center Ossipee, NH
Heat Winners: Clay Dow, Tyler Rich
Bond Auto DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Feature (40 laps)
1. Chris Donnelly, Piermont, NH
2. Kevin Chaffee, Fairlee, VT
3. Adam Pierson, Fairlee, VT
4. Bob Shepard, West Topsham, VT
5. Jason Gray, East Thetford, VT
6. Justin Comes, Middlebury, VT
7. # Troy Comeau, Rumney, NH
8. Jeff Elliott, Benton, NH
9. Josh Sunn, White River Junction, VT
10. Gary Siemons, Orford, NH
11. Blake Shepard, Newton, NH
12. # Eddie Patterson, Websterville, VT
13. Jim Morgan, Woodstock, VT
14. Robert Tucker, East Topsham, VT
15. # Josh Currier, Newport, NH
16. Evan Kingsbury, Bradford, VT
17. # Travis Barker, Thetford, VT
18. Derek Graham, Woodsville, NH
19. Mike Dunn, North Haverhill, NH
20. Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, VT
21. Tim Tucker, Northfield, VT
22. Jack Cook, Moultonboro, NH
23. Bryan King, Corinth, VT
24. Richie Simmons, Bradford, VT
25. Jordan Fornwalt, Bradford, VT
Heat Winners: Bob Shepard, Josh Sunn, Bryan King
Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe Feature (30 laps)
1. Jeremy Beckley, Woodsville, NH
2. Josh Harrington, Topsham, VT
3. Tim Hodge, Vershire, VT
4. Steve Ellsworth, Corinth, VT
5. Terry Williams, Wells River, VT
6. # Josh Constantine, East Corinth, VT
7. # Tom Placey, Bradford, VT
8. # Jesse Smith, Topsham, VT
9. # Dylan Hayward, East Corinth, VT
10. # Jerry Catterall, Piermont, NH
11. Jason Horniak, Bradford, VT
12. Gene Pierson, Jr., East Corinth, VT
13. Bert Gallison, Washington, VT
14. # Rick Fletcher, East Corinth, VT
15. Teddy Salomaa, Bradford, VT
16. Buster Kathan, Ludlow, VT
17. Jason Colbeth, Newbury, VT
Heat Winners: Tim Hodge, Steve Ellsworth
A Notch Above Automotive Limited Late Model Feature (20 laps)
1. Brian Chaffee, West Topsham, VT
2. Jordan Fornwalt, Bradford, VT
3. Mike Greene, Jr., Pike, NH
4. # Sam Comeau, Hebron, NH
5. # Travis King, Corinth, VT
6. Matt Ellsworth, Corinth, VT
Heat Winner: Jordan Fornwalt
Weglarz Property Service Fast Four Feature (20 laps)
1. Tim Martin, White River Junction, VT
2. Danny Doyle, Roxbury, VT
3. Steve Bell, St. Johnsbury, VT
4. Chuck Simmons, Bradford, VT
5. Kevin Harran, St. Johnsbury, VT
6. Billy Simmons, Bradford, VT
7. Rob Gioia, Theftord, VT
8. Devon Stearns, Vershire, VT
9. Bobby Bell, St. Johnsbury, VT
Did Not Start: Steve Sheldon, St. Johnsbury, VT
Heat Winner: Chuck Simmons
KDD NAPA Auto Parts Hornet Feature (20 laps)
1. Eric Lang, Groton, VT
2. Don Reynolds, Springfield, VT
3. # Brandon Gray, East Thetford, VT
4. Charlie Lakin, Groton, VT
5. # Ethan Byrd, Barre, VT
6. Karl Sheldon, St. Johnsbury, VT
7. Andy Mooney, Danville, VT
8. Mike Lique, West Lebanon, NH
9. # Eric Post, Royalton, VT
10. # Allan Birch, St. Johnsbury, VT
11. Chris Mooney, Danville, VT
12. # Ryan Farnham, Fairlee, VT
13. # James Fadden, Plainfield, NH
Did Not Start: # Jessica Florio, Passumpsic, VT
Heat Winners: Eric Lang, Brandon Gray
Hornet Queen Feature (10 laps)
1. Alicia Taylor, Moultonboro, NH
2. Dawn King, Springfield, VT
3. Ashley Racine, St. Johnsbury, VT
4. Laurie Royston, Danville, VT
5. Laura Laundry, South Ryegate, VT
Granite State Mini Sprint 600cc Feature (20 laps)
1. Jake Williams, Center Tuftonboro, NH
2. Rich Crooker, Hudson, NH
3. Spencer Allen, Plainfield, NH
4. # Lacey Hanson, Orwell, VT
5. Dave Morgan, Woburn, MA
6. Troy Boissoneau, Bedford, NH
7. Josh Boisonneau, Bedford, NH
8. # Lyman Bryden
Did Not Start: T-Mike Eaton, East Falmouth, MA
Heat Winners: Dave Morgan
Granite State Mini Sprint 500cc Feature (20 laps)
1. Josh Boissoneau, Bedford, NH
2. Doug Boisvert, East Andover, NH
3. Peter Belliveau, Hopkinton, NH
4. # Dylan Rock, Enfield, NH
5. Patrick Smith, East Andover, NH
6. # Tyler Farnham, Fairlee, VT
7. Troy Boissoneau, Bedford, NH
8. # Jordan LaCroix, Enfield, NH
9. # Brandon Berry, Center Ossipee, NH
10. # Lauren Boisvert, East Andover, NH
11. Laury Clark, Salisbury, NH
12. # Keisha Boissoneau, Bedford, NH
13. Kyle Belliveau, Hopkinton, NH
14. Lacey Hanson, Orwell, VT
15. # Eva LeClair, Woodsville, NH
16. # Shenia Covey, Fairlee, VT
Heat Winners: Lacey Hanson, Peter Belliveau