Pierson Seals Bear Ridge Title With New England Dirt Track Championships Win
Birthday boy Chaffee sweeps Modified and Midget races for second time in 2012
BRADFORD, VT – Modified stock car driver Adam Pierson saved his best for last at Bear Ridge Speedway, winning the third annual New England Dirt Track Championships and clinching the track’s 99ROCK Weekly Racing Series title in the process. Pierson, of Fairlee, VT, made it back-to-back wins in the track’s biggest event of the year to wrap up his third consecutive Bond Auto Parts DIRTcar Sportsman Modified track championship and eighth overall.
The make-up events for the New England Dirt Track Championships presented by Perry Oil Service and 99ROCK – previously postponed by rain on September 22 – opened the card, with Pierson running from 14th starting position to his second victory of the season in the 50-lap special. Bryan King of Corinth, VT survived a torrid battle with Devil’s Bowl Speedway regular and former Bear Ridge champion Vince Quenneville, Jr., of Brandon, VT, with King taking the runner-up spot by a bumper.
Quenneville, from 20th at the start, was third, with Gary Siemons of Orford, NH fourth and Bob Shepard of West Topsham, VT fifth. The unofficial top ten was completed by Jason Gray, Jack Cook, Justin Comes, Dan Eastman, and Robert Tucker. A solidly consistent year clinched the championship for Pierson over crosstown Fairlee, VT rival Kevin Chaffee.
Chaffee, who was celebrating his 31st birthday, pulled his second two-division sweep of the season later in the night, running to the win in the regularly scheduled event presented by Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank for the Modifieds and also taking the 25-lap USAC Dirt Midget Association finale. The Midget feature was arguably the most exciting event in the two-year history of the USAC-sanctioned class at Bear Ridge, with Chaffee, Bristol, CT’s Joe Krawiec, Modified regular Josh Sunn of White River Junction, VT, and 15 year-old rookie Jeff Champagne of Westfield, MA fighting in extremely close quarters during the final 10 laps. The quartet crossed the finish line in that order with Jamie Spalding of Chaplin, CT fifth.
Chaffee ran to his second win of the night in the 60-lap Vermont Crate Motor Nationals Modified main event, running in a class all his own at the front of the pack. Chris Donnelly of Piermont, NH made a late run through traffic but settled for second place, followed by Quenneville’s second third-place effort of the night. Pierson finished fourth with Comes, of Middlebury, VT, fifth. King, Sunn, Ryan Avery, Siemons, and Tim Tucker completed the unofficial top ten.
Tim Hodge of Verhsire, VT scored a big 50-lap win in the Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe feature. The win was the sophomore racer’s second of the season and of his career in the track’s iconic Coupe division. Hodge outran top driver Jason Horniak of Bradford, VT for the win, and Josh Harrington of Topsham, VT finished third to wrap up his third championship in four years. Early leader Terry Williams of Wells River, VT came within a half-car length of going a lap down after pitting near the halfway mark of the race, but made an outstanding drive through traffic to rebound for fourth. Gene Pierson, Jr., was fifth.
Sam Comeau of Hebron, NH scored a popular career-first win in the postponed New England Dirt Track Championships event for the A Notch Above Automotive Limited Late Models. Brian Chaffee of West Topsham, VT was the runner-up ahead of Corinth, VT’s Matt Ellsworth, Mike Greene, III, of North Haverhill, NH, and rookie Travis King of Corinth, VT.
Limited Late Model track champion Jordan Fornwalt of Bradford, VT drove to the win in the regular Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank race; the 15 year-old racer posted a memorable 13-win season en route to the title. Comeau capped a great night as the runner-up in the second feature, with Houston Thorson of Croydon, NH third, Chaffee fourth, and King fifth.
Chuck Simmons of Bradford, VT recovered from a mid-race spin to capture the New England Dirt Track Championships win for the Weglarz Property Service Fast Four division. Steve Bell of St. Johnsbury, VT was the runner-up with Rob Gioia of Thetford, VT third, St. Johnsbury, VT’s Kevin Harran fourth, and Billy Simmons of Bradford, VT fifth.
In the regular Fast Four event, Danny Doyle of Barre, VT used a green-white-checker restart with two laps remaining to steal his sixth victory of the season away from Chuck Simmons, and wrapped up the division championship in the process. Tim Martin of White River Junction, VT followed Simmons across the line for third, followed by Bell and Billy Simmons.
Eric Lang of Groton, VT led wire-to-wire for his sixth consecutive and 13th overall KDD NAPA Auto Parts Hornet victory, easily winning the division championship. Andy Mooney of Danville, VT finished a career-best second in the final race, with rookie James Fadden of Plainfield, NH third, Danville, VT’s Chris Mooney fourth, and Don Reynolds of Springfield, VT fifth.
Jake Williams of Center Tuftonboro, NH won the final Granite State Mini Sprint 600cc division feature of the year with a late pass of Zach Herbert; Jamie Glidden was third. Doug Boisvert of East Andover, NH won his first 500cc race of the year in the main event, followed by Lacey Hanson and Patrick Smith. Smith, of East Andover, NH, later won a special race for drivers who had not previously won a feature.
Bear Ridge Speedway’s 45th season of stock car racing will officially conclude on Saturday, December 1 with the annual Banquet of Champions at the Lake Morey Inn & Resort in Fairlee, VT. All champions and top drivers from the 99ROCK Weekly Racing Series will be honored. Tickets purchased before October 20 will be $45, all others will be $55; information and order forms are available online at www.bearridgespeedway.com.
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 – Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Night/3rd Annual New England Dirt Track Championships presented by Perry Oil Service and 99ROCK
99ROCK Weekly Racing Series
Bear Ridge Speedway — Bradford, VT
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Pos.-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
Bond Auto DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Feature (50 laps)
New England Dirt Track Championships presented by Perry Oil Service & 99ROCK
1. Adam Pierson, Fairlee, VT
2. Bryan King, Corinth, VT
3. Vince Quenneville, Jr., Brandon, VT
4. Gary Siemons, Orford, NH
5. Bob Shepard, West Topsham, VT
6. Jason Gray, East Thetford, VT
7. Jack Cook, Moultonboro, NH
8. Justin Comes, Middlebury, VT
9. Dan Eastman, Thetford Center, VT
10. Robert Tucker, East Topsham, VT
11. Chris Donnelly, Piermont, NH
12. Josh Sunn, White River Junction, VT
13. Derek Graham, Woodsville, NH
14. Kevin Chaffee, Fairlee, VT
15. Ryan Avery, Thornton, NH
16. Richie Simmons, Bradford, VT
17. Tim Tucker, Northfield, VT
18. Mike Dunn, North Haverhill, NH
19. # Troy Comeau, Rumney, NH
20. Adam Gage, Plainfield, NH
21. Todd Petschke, Windsor, VT
22. # Eddie Patterson, Websterville, VT
23. # Josh Currier, Newport, NH
Did Not Start: Jay Hall, Jr., Great Barrington, MA; Blake Shepard, Newton, NH; Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, VT
Bond Auto DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Feature (60 laps)
Vermont Crate Motor Nationals presented by Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank
1. Kevin Chaffee, Fairlee, VT
2. Chris Donnelly, Piermont, NH
3. Vince Quenneville, Jr., Brandon, VT
4. Adam Pierson, Fairlee, VT
5. Justin Comes, Middlebury, VT
6. Bryan King, Corinth, VT
7. Josh Sunn, White River Junction, VT
8. Ryan Avery, Thornton, NH
9. Gary Siemons, Orford, NH
10. Tim Tucker, Northfield, VT
11. Jason Gray, East Thetford, VT
12. Mike Dunn, North Haverhill, NH
13. Derek Graham, Woodsville, NH
14. Bob Shepard, West Topsham, VT
15. Robert Tucker, East Topsham, VT
16. Evan Kingsbury, Bradford, VT
17. Jack Cook, Moultonboro, NH
18. Richie Simmons, Bradford, VT
19. Dan Eastman, Thetford Center, VT
20. # Josh Currier, Newport, NH
21. # Troy Comeau, Rumney, NH
22. # Travis Barker, Thetford, VT
23. Adam Gage, Plainfield, NH
Did Not Start: # Eddie Patterson, Websterville, VT
Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe Feature (50 laps)
1. Tim Hodge, Vershire, VT
2. Jason Horniak, Bradford, VT
3. Josh Harrington, Topsham, VT
4. Terry Williams, Wells River, VT
5. Gene Pierson, Jr., East Corinth, VT
6. Jeff Robbins, Jr., Woodsville, NH
7. Jeremy Beckley, Woodsville, NH
8. Steve Ellsworth, Corinth, VT
9. Jason Colbeth, Newbury, VT
10. # Tom Placey, Bradford, VT
11. # Jesse Smith, Topsham, VT
12. # Josh Constantine, East Corinth, VT
13. Buster Kathan, Ludlow, VT
14. # Rick Fletcher, East Corinth, VT
15. # Jerry Catterall, Piermont, NH
16. Teddy Salomaa, Bradford, VT
17. Bert Gallison, Washington, VT
18. # Dylan Hayward, East Corinth, VT
19. Martin Mastic, Bradford, VT
USAC Dirt Midget Association powered by Ignite Racing Fuel Feature (25 laps)
1. Kevin Chaffee, Fairlee, VT
2. Joe Krawiec, Bristol, CT
3. Josh Sunn, White River Junction, VT
4. # Jeff Champagne, Westfield, MA
5. Jamie Spalding, Chaplin, CT
6. Scott Holcomb, Granby, CT
7. # Matt Covey, Corinth, VT
8. Ray Miller, East Granby, CT
9. Adam Whitney, Warren, VT
10. Dean Christensen, Granby, CT
11. # Dave Hotchkiss, East Granby, CT
12. Tim Gallant, Wales, MA
13. Connor Leighton, Castleton, NY
14. Denny Zimmerman, Glastonbury, CT
A Notch Above Automotive Limited Late Model Feature (40 laps)
New England Dirt Track Championships presented by Perry Oil Service & 99ROCK
1. # Sam Comeau, Hebron, NH
2. Brian Chaffee, West Topsham, VT
3. Matt Ellsworth, Corinth, VT
4. Mike Greene, III, North Haverhill, NH
5. # Travis King, Corinth, VT
6. Houston Thorson, Croydon, NH
7. Mike Greene, Jr., North Haverhill, NH
8. Jordan Fornwalt, Bradford, VT
9. Wade Prentice, Campton, NH
10. Nick O’Haire, Thornton, NH
11. Chad Wyman, North Haverhill, NH
A Notch Above Automotive Limited Late Model Feature (25 laps)
Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Night
1. Jordan Fornwalt, Bradford, VT
2. # Sam Comeau, Hebron, NH
3. Houston Thorson, Croydon, NH
4. Brian Chaffee, West Topsham, VT
5. # Travis King, Corinth, VT
6. Wade Prentice, Campton, NH
7. Bob Langevin, Conway, MA
8. Mike Greene, Jr., North Haverhill, NH
9. Matt Ellsworth, Corinth, VT
10. Ryan Christian, Canaan, NH
11. Mike Greene, III, North Haverhill, NH
12. Chad Wyman, North Haverhill, NH
Weglarz Property Service Fast Four Feature
New England Dirt Track Championships presented by Perry Oil Service & 99ROCK
1. Chuck Simmons, Bradford, VT
2. Steve Bell, St. Johnsbury, VT
3. Rob Gioia, Thetford, VT
4. Kevin Harran, St. Johnsbury, VT
5. Billy Simmons, Bradford, VT
6. Danny Doyle, Roxbury, VT
7. Tim Martin, White River Junction, VT
8. Bobby Bell, St. Johnsbury, VT
9. Steve Sheldon, St. Johnsbury, VT
10. Deven Stearns, Vershire, VT
Weglarz Property Service Fast Four Feature
Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Night
1. Danny Doyle, Roxbury, VT
2. Chuck Simmons, Bradford, VT
3. Tim Martin, White River Junction, VT
4. Steve Bell, St. Johnsbury, VT
5. Billy Simmons, Bradford, VT
6. Rob Gioia, Thetford, VT
7. Kevin Harran, St. Johnsbury, VT
8. Dave Durkee, Tunbridge, VT
9. Bobby Bell, St. Johnsbury, VT
10. Steve Sheldon, St. Johnsbury, VT
11. Geoff Pickering, Rumney, NH
KDD NAPA Auto Parts Hornet Feature
1. Eric Lang, Groton, VT
2. Andy Mooney, Danville, VT
3. # James Fadden, Plainfield, NH
4. Chris Mooney, Danville, VT
5. Don Reynolds, Springfield, VT
6. Mike Ryan, Chelsea, VT
7. Charlie Lakin, Groton, VT
8. Karl Sheldon, St. Johnsbury, VT
9. Mike Lique, West Lebanon, NH
10. Mike Stender, South Strafford, VT
11. # Ryan Farnham, Fairlee, VT
12. Allan Birch, St. Johnsbury, VT
13. # Brandon Gray, East Thetford, VT
14. Mike Chapin, Chelsea, VT
Granite State Mini Sprint 600cc Feature
1. Jake Williams, Center Tuftonboro, NH
2. Zach Herbert
3. Jamie Glidden
4. Troy Boissoneau, Bedford, NH
5. T-Mike Eaton, East Falmouth, MA
Granite State Mini Sprint 500cc Feature
1. Doug Boisvert, East Andover, NH
2. Lacey Hanson, Orwell, VT
3. Patrick Smith, East Andover, NH
4. Kyle Belliveau, Hopkinton, NH
5. Peter Belliveau, Hopkinton, NH
6. # Brandon Berry, Center Ossipee, NH
7. Lauren Boisvert, East Andover, NH
8. Don Collins, Laconia, NH
9. # Jordan LaCroix, Enfield, NH
10. # Keisha Boissoneau, Bedford, NH
11. # Eva LeClair, Woodsville, NH
12. # Shenia Covey, Fairlee, VT
13. Josh Boissoneau, Bedford, NH
Granite State Mini Sprint 500cc Feature – Non-Winners Race
1. Patrick Smith, East Andover, NH
2. # Keisha Boissoneau, Bedford, NH
3. Peter Belliveau, Hopkinton, NH
4. Lauren Boisvert, East Andover, NH
5. # Brandon Berry, Center Ossipee, NH
6. # Jordan LaCroix, Enfield, NH
7.