Sunn nips Pierson in Modifieds, Colbeth dominates Coupes; Fornwalt in Late Model photo finish
[nggallery id=36]
The youth movement continued its ascent to the top of the 99ROCK Weekly Racing Series stock car program at Bear Ridge Speedway on Interstate Batteries of New-Mont/JTB Towing & Recovery Night on Saturday. New stars Josh Sunn, Jason Colbeth, and Jordan Fornwalt took center stage in three electrifying finishes to light up the night.
Sophomore campaigner Sunn, of White River Junction, VT, posted his third Bond Auto Parts DIRTcar Sportsman Modified win of the year in a narrow finish with defending champion Adam Pierson. After rookie Josh Currier of Newport, NH lead the opening 12 circuits of the 40-lap event, fellow first-year driver Robert Tucker of Topsham, VT took command. Tucker was under fire from Sunn, who raced from ninth place at the start, just as the second and final caution flag flew with only six laps remaining.
Sunn slipped past Tucker at the restart to lead lap 35, bringing Fairlee, VT’s Pierson – who started 13th on the 22-car grid – along with him. Pierson stuck his nose under Sunn’s Audsley Plumbing & Heating-sponsored No. 11 Teo with two laps to go, but fell just a few feet shy at the finish line. Tucker slipped back as far as fifth after the restart before battling back to take third place on the outside. Kevin Chaffee of Fairlee, VT came from 21st to steal fourth from East Thetford, VT’s Jason Gray at the finish line. Richie Simmons was a season-best sixth, followed by Chris Donnelly, Dan Eastman, Mike Dunn, and Derek Graham.
Newbury, VT’s Jason Colbeth dominated the 30-lap Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe feature for the first win of his two-year career. Colbeth stepped out to lead the first lap, then withstood four restarts after the halfway mark – including a green-white-checker restart with two laps left – to complete his drive.
Third-year racer Jeremy Beckley of Woodsville, NH tied his career-best finish as the runner-up, and rookies Jesse Smith of Topsham, VT and Josh Constantine of East Corinth, VT were third and fourth, respectively. Terry Williams of Wells River, VT recovered from a pair of mid-race crashes to finish fifth, followed by Jason Horniak, Jeff Robbins, Josh Harrington, Gene Pierson, and Steve Ellsworth.
Fifteen year-old Jordan Fornwalt of Bradford, VT kept his streak alive in the 20-lap feature for the A Notch Above Automotive Limited Late Models. Defending champion Tyler Stygles of Bradford, VT was on a path for the win in his first start of the season, but Fornwalt came from the back of the field late in the race and snookered Stygles in a photo finish by less than six inches at the finish line. The win was Fornwalt’s sixth in a row and ninth overall in 12 races. Rookies Sam Comeau and Travis King had a close finish for third place as well, with Comeau getting the nod. Mike Greene was fifth.
Chuck Simmons of Bradford, VT clawed his way to victory lane in the 20-lap Weglarz Property Service Fast Four race. Simmons was nearly spun from behind on a late restart, but drove back through the field to his second win of the year. Tim Martin was the runner-up and Danny Doyle was third. Eric Lang of Groton, VT posted his seventh win of the year in the 20-lap KDD NAPA Auto Parts Hornet race, defeating rookie Brandon Gray and Don Reynolds. Dawn King of Springfield, VT won her third straight Hornet Queen race ahead of Alicia Taylor and Ashley Racine.
Dave Morgan of Woburn, MA rallied from behind to surprise the Granite State Mini Sprint 600cc division for the win. Perennial champion Rich Crooker gave up the lead to Morgan with just two laps left; Jake Williams was third. Lacey Hanson of Orwell, VT took a step toward her fifth consecutive 500cc division championship with her second Bear Ridge win of the year, followed by Josh Boissoneau and rookie Tyler Farnham.
Nearly 40 youngsters ages 3-12 competed in the annual kids’ bicycle races, with awards for the top three finishers in four age groups. Coupe driver Jason Horniak won a special match race between himself and fellow racers Josh Harrington and Teddy Salomaa.
Bear Ridge Speedway’s 45th season of stock car racing continues on Saturday, August 11 as walker Motor Sales of Woodsville, NH presents the annual John Poor Memorial event, including the “Madness” segment race for the Sportsman Coupe division. The 99ROCK Weekly Racing Series Modified, Late Model, Fast Four, and Hornet divisions will also be on the card, along with the USAC Dirt Midget Association and the Hornet Stinger youth division. 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 – Interstate Batteries of New-Mont/JTB Towing & Recovery Night
99ROCK Weekly Racing Series
Bear Ridge Speedway — Bradford, VT
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Pos.-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
Bond Auto DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Feature (40 laps)
1. Josh Sunn, White River Junction, VT
2. Adam Pierson, Fairlee, VT
3. Robert Tucker, East Topsham, VT
4. Kevin Chaffee, Fairlee, VT
5. Jason Gray, East Thetford, VT
6. Richie Simmons, Bradford, VT
7. Chris Donnelly, Piermont, NH
8. Dan Eastman, Thetford Center, VT
9. Mike Dunn, North Haverhill, NH
10. Derek Graham, Woodsville, NH
11. Bob Shepard, West Topsham, VT
12. # Troy Comeau, Rumney, NH
13. Evan Kingsbury, Bradford, VT
14. # Josh Currier, Newport, NH
15. Bryan King, Corinth, VT
16. Tim Tucker, Northfield, VT
17. # Eddie Patterson, Websterville, VT
18. Ryan Avery, Campton, NH
19. Justin Comes, Middlebury, VT
20. Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, VT
21. Gary Siemons, Orford, NH
22. Jeff Elliott, Benton, NH
Did Not Start: Jason Blake, Waterbury, VT
Heat Winners: Adam Pierson, Robert Tucker, Jeff Elliott
Blackmount Equipment Semi-Feature Winner: Jason Gray
Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe Feature (30 laps)
1. Jason Colbeth, Newbury, VT
2. Jeremy Beckley, Woodsville, NH
3. # Jesse Smith, Topsham, VT
4. # Josh Constantine, East Corinth, VT
5. Terry Williams, Wells River, VT
6. Jason Horniak, Bradford, VT
7. Jeff Robbins, Jr., Woodsville, NH
8. Josh Harrington, Topsham, VT
9. Gene Pierson, Jr., East Corinth, VT
10. Steve Ellsworth, Corinth, VT
11. Martin Mastic, Bradford, VT
12. # Rick Fletcher, East Corinth, VT
13. # Tom Placey, Bradford, VT
14. Tim Hodge, Vershire, VT
15. Bert Gallison, Washington, VT
16. # Jerry Catterall, Piermont, NH
17. Teddy Salomaa, Bradford, VT
18. Buster Kathan, Ludlow, VT
Heat Winners: Gene Pierson, Jr., Jason Colbeth
A Notch Above Automotive Limited Late Model Feature (20 laps)
1. Jordan Fornwalt, Bradford, VT
2. Tyler Stygles, Bradford, VT
3. # Sam Comeau, Hebron, NH
4. # Travis King, Corinth, VT
5. Mike Greene, Jr., Pike, NH
6. Matt Ellsworth, Corinth, VT
7. Brian Chaffee, West Topsham, VT
Heat Winner: Matt Ellsworth
Weglarz Property Service Fast Four Feature (20 laps)
1. Chuck Simmons, Bradford, VT
2. Tim Martin, White River Junction, VT
3. Danny Doyle, Roxbury, VT
4. Steve Bell, St. Johnsbury, VT
5. Kevin Harran, St. Johnsbury, VT
6. Billy Simmons, Bradford, VT
7. Steve Sheldon, St. Johnsbury, VT
8. Bobby Bell, St. Johnsbury, VT
Heat Winner: Bobby Bell
KDD NAPA Auto Parts Hornet Feature (20 laps)
1. Eric Lang, Groton, VT
2. # Brandon Gray, East Thetford, VT
3. Don Reynolds, Springfield, VT
4. Andy Mooney, Danville, VT
5. Chris Armstrong, Webster, MA
6. Dan Allard, Lyndonville, VT
7. # Ethan Byrd, Barre, VT
8. Mike Lique, West Lebanon, NH
9. # Geoff Durphey, Springfield, VT
10. Charlie Lakin, Groton, VT
11. Donna Racine, St. Johnsbury, VT
12. # Allan Birch, St. Johnsbury, VT
13. # Ryan Farnham, Fairlee, VT
14. # Jessica Florio, Passumpsic, VT
15. Mike Ryan, Chelsea, VT
Heat Winners: Allan Birch, Brandon Gray
Granite State Mini Sprint 600cc Feature (20 laps)
1. Dave Morgan, Woburn, MA
2. Rich Crooker, Hudson, NH
3. Jake Williams, Center Tuftonboro, NH
4. Greg Smith, Westfield, MA
5. Brian Gray, Meredith, NH
6. Troy Boissoneau, Bedford, NH
7. Jim DeCambra, North Dartmouth, MA
8. Ben Martel, Cumberland, RI
9. Josh Boisonneau, Bedford, NH
10. # Lacey Hanson, Orwell, VT
11. T-Mike Eaton, East Falmouth, MA
12. # Lyman Bryden
Heat Winners: Brian Gray, Rich Crooker
Granite State Mini Sprint 500cc Feature (20 laps)
1. Lacey Hanson, Orwell, VT
2. Josh Boissoneau, Bedford, NH
3. # Tyler Farnham, Fairlee, VT
4. Kyle Belliveau, Hopkinton, NH
5. Chris Lussier, Fair Haven, VT
6. # Dylan Rock, Enfield, NH
7. Doug Boisvert, East Andover, NH
8. Patrick Smith, East Andover, NH
9. # Keisha Boissoneau, Bedford, NH
10. # Lauren Boisvert, East Andover, NH
11. # Brandon Berry, Center Ossipee, NH
12. Laury Clark, Salisbury, NH
13. Robyn Boisvert, East Andover, NH
14. # Jordan LaCroix, Enfield, NH
15. # Eva LeClair, Woodsville, NH
16. Peter Belliveau, Hopkinton, NH
17. # Shenia Covey, Fairlee, VT
18. Stephen Hutchinson, Manchester, NH