Pierson Steals First Bear Ridge Speedway Modified Win

by | May 22, 2012 | Bear Ridge, Modified, New England, Vermont

Harrington wins wild Coupe race, Krawiec in USAC Midgets

Defending Bond Auto Parts DIRTcar Sportsman Modified stock car champion Adam Pierson returned to victory lane in the 30-lap R&M Automotive main event at Bear Ridge Speedway on Saturday night. The Fairlee, VT driver passed Justin Comes late in the race to score his first win of the season.

Comes, 18, of Middlebury, VT grabbed the lead from Josh Sunn on lap 19 and looked like a certain first-time winner, but Pierson was able to reel Comes in and take the lead late in the going. A final restart with just a handful of laps remaining gave Pierson the jump and solidified him in the top spot. Kevin Chaffee of Fairlee, VT snuck past Comes as the runner-up. Comes, Sunn, and Derek Graham completed the top five.

Troy Comeau of Rumney, NH scored his first-ever Bear Ridge victory in the Sportsman Modified Rookie feature, beating Eddie Patterson and Josh Currier.

Josh Harrington of Topsham, VT was the surprise winner in the Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe feature. Much like Comes in the Modifieds, sophomore driver Teddy Salomaa of Bradford, VT was out front and headed to an apparent first career win, but the driveline broke on his car in the final corner, stacking the field up behind him.

Harrington, who was running in second place, was the first driver to mash the gas pedal and crossed the line as the winner. Jason Horniak of Bradford, VT slipped past for second place, and Gene Pierson limped his badly damaged car home in third. Salomaa coasted across the line in fourth place – still a career-best effort – with Terry Williams fifth.

“Flat Foot” Joe Krawiec of Bristol, CT earned his first USAC Dirt Midget Association win of the season in convincing fashion. Double-duty racer Chaffee drove from deep in the field to finish second, with Tim Gallant of Wales, MA a career-best third. Scott Holcomb and Chase Dowling ran fourth and fifth, respectively.

Mike Greene of Pike, NH squeaked out his first A Notch Above Automotive Limited Late Model win in a thrilling, razor-close battle with youngster Jordan Fornwalt of Bradford, VT. Greene nipped his 15 year-old rival by less than three feet for the victory. Rookie Sam Comeau was third ahead of Brian Chaffee and Travis King.

Chuck Simmons of Bradford, VT scored an emotional win in the Weglarz Property Service Fast Four feature, avenging a loss from the previous week after suffering a flat tire while leading. Tim Martin of White River Junction, VT was second with Rochester, VT’s Danny Doyle third.

Charlie Lakin of Groton, VT took down his first KDD NAPA of Bradford Hornet win in several years, leading every step of the way. Rookie driver Brandon Gray of East Thetford, VT was second with Andy Mooney of Danville, VT third; each scored the best finishes of their Bear Ridge careers.

In Granite State Mini Sprint action, Rich Crooker of Nashua, NH ran to his first Bear Ridge win of the year in the 600cc division after early leader Dave Morgan had a mechanical failure. Troy Boissoneau and Jake Williams completed the podium. Josh Boissoneau of Bedford, NH won the crash-marred 500cc feature ahead of Mike Bubnis and Kyle Belliveau.

Bear Ridge Speedway’s 45th season of stock car racing continues with the Remembrance of Lost Friends event presented by Dad’s 4 By Tool & Supply. A full card of the 99ROCK Weekly Racing Series Modifieds, Coupes, Late Models, Fast Fours, and Hornets is on tap, along with the WYKR Sprint Cars of New England and the Hornet Queens. Special general admission is $13 for adults (age 18-61), $10 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 – R&M Automotive Night
Bear Ridge Speedway — Bradford, VT
Saturday, May 19, 2012

Pos.-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)

Bond Auto DIRTcar Sportsman Modified
1. Adam Pierson, Fairlee, VT
2. Kevin Chaffee, Fairlee, VT
3. Justin Comes, Middlebury, VT
4. Josh Sunn, White River Junction, VT
5. Derek Graham, Woodsville, NH
6. Jeff Elliott, Benton, NH
7. Bryan King, Corinth, VT
8. Gary Siemons, Orford, NH
9. Dan Eastman, Thetford Center, VT
10. Robert Tucker, East Topsham, VT
11. Richie Simmons, Bradford, VT
12. Jack Cook, Moultonboro, NH
13. # Eddie Patterson, Websterville, VT
14. # Troy Comeau, Rumney, NH
15. Bob Shepard, West Topsham, VT
16. Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, VT
17. Mike Dunn, North Haverhill, NH
18. # Josh Currier, Newport, NH
19. Evan Kingsbury, Bradford, VT
Did Not Start: Jason Gray, East Thetford, VT

Bond Auto DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Rookie Feature
1. Troy Comeau, Rumney, NH
2. Eddie Patterson, Websterville, VT
3. Josh Currier, Newport, NH

Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe
1. Josh Harrington, Topsham, VT
2. Jason Horniak, Bradford, VT
3. Gene Pierson, Jr., East Corinth, VT
4. Teddy Salomaa, Bradford, VT
5. Terry Williams, Wells River, VT
6. Jason Colbeth, Newbury, VT
7. Mike McGinley, East Barre, VT
8. # Josh Constantine, East Corinth, VT
9. Tim Hodge, Vershire, VT
10. Jeremy Beckley, Woodsville, NH
11. Buster Kathan, Ludlow, VT
12. Steve Ellsworth, Corinth, VT
13. # Jesse Smith, Topsham, VT
14. Rick Fletcher
15. # Jerry Catterall, Piermont, NH
16. Martin Mastic, Bradford, VT
17. # Tom Placey, Bradford, VT
18. Jeff Robbins, Woodsville, NH

USAC Dirt Midget Association
1. Joe Krawiec, Bristol, CT
2. Kevin Chaffee, Fairlee, VT
3. Tim Gallant, Wales, MA
4. Scott Holcomb, Granby, CT
5. # Chase Dowling, Roxbury, CT
6. Ray Miller, East Granby, CT
7. Denny Zimmerman, Glastonbury, CT
8. # Matt Covey, Corinth, VT
9. Dean Christenson, Granby, CT
10. Adam Whitney, Warren, VT
11. Greg Olson, East Providence, RI
12. Kevin Tefft, Wakefield, RI
13. Jamie Spalding, Chaplin, CT
14. Dave Hotchkiss, East Granby, CT
15. # Jeff Champagne, Westfield, MA
16. David Rose, Jr., Keene, NH
17. Jim Close, Ellington, CT
18. Dana Shaw, Plainfield, CT

A Notch Above Automotive Limited Late Model
1. Mike Greene, Jr., Pike, NH
2. Jordan Fornwalt, Bradford, VT
3. # Sam Comeau, Rumney, NH
4. Brian Chaffee, West Topsham, VT
5. # Travis King, Corinth, VT
6. # Val Lund, Vershire, VT
7. Matt Ellsworth, Corinth, VT

Weglarz Property Service Fast Four
1. Chuck Simmons, Bradford, VT
2. Tim Martin, White River Junction, VT
3. Danny Doyle, Barre, VT
4. Steve Bell, St. Johnsbury, VT
5. Kevin Harran, St. Johnsbury, VT
6. Dave Durkee, Sr., White River Junction, VT
7. Bobby Bell, St. Johnsbury, VT
8. Jim Durkee, Sharon, VT
9. Rob Gioia, East Thetford, VT
10. Derrick Durkee, Sharon, VT

KDD NAPA Auto Parts Hornet
1. Charlie Lakin, Groton, VT
2. # Brandon Gray, East Thetford, VT
3. Andy Mooney, Danville, VT
4. Brent Warren, Salisbury, VT
5. Joe Kemp, Leicester, VT
6. Mike Ryan, Chelsea, VT
7. Mike Lique, West Lebanon, NH
8. Mike Stender, South Strafford, VT
9. Don Reynolds, Springfield, VT
10. # Ryan Farnham, Fairlee, VT
11. Eric Lang, Groton, VT
12. # Donna Racine, Danville, VT
13. # Jacob Blake, Waterbury, VT
14. Rob Isham, St. Johnsbury, VT
15. # James Fadden, North Haverhill, NH
16. # Travis Tattersall, Bradford, VT
17. Lisa Austin

Granite State Mini Sprint 600cc
1. Rich Crooker, Nashua, NH
2. Troy Boissoneau, Bedford, NH
3. Jake Williams, Center Tuftonboro, NH
4. Tim Beard
5. Spencer Allen, Plainfield, NH
6. Josh Boissoneau, Bedford, NH
7. Jim DeCombra
8. Jackie Nocella, Woburn, MA
9. # Frankie Sweeney
10. # Lyman Bryden
11. Greg Smith
12. Lacey Hanson, Orwell, VT
13. Dave Morgan, Woburn, MA
14. Brian Gray
15. Scott Preston, Monkton, VT

Granite State Mini Sprint 500cc
1. Josh Boissoneauu, Bedford, NH
2. Mike Bubnis, Walpole, NH
3. Kyle Belliveau, Hopkinton, NH
4. Peter Belliveau
5. Patrick Smith, East Andover, NH
6. Robyn Boisvert, East Andover, NH
7. # Eva LeClair
8. Kevin Ellis, Fair Haven, VT
9. # Shena Covey
10. # Lauren Boisvert, East Andover, NH
11. Don Collins, Laconia, NH
12. Stephen Hutchinson, Manchester, NH
13. Lacey Hanson, Orwell, VT
14. Dylan Rock, Enfield, NH
15. # Brandon Berry, Center Ossipee, NH
16. # Derrick Barker
17. Chad Southworth, Fairlee, VT

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Teenager Jessey Mueller Scores Modified Triple Crown at Devil’s Bowl Speedway

by | May 21, 2012 | Devils Bowl, New England, Vermont

Crate engines sweep top three; Bushey grabs first career Late Model win

Teenage stock car driver Jessey Mueller scored a Triple Crown victory in the Central Vermont Motorcycles Trophy Dash at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Sunday afternoon. The 17 year-old from Olmstedville, NY swept his qualifying heat, the bonus-points semi-feature, and the 35-lap main event for the Bond Auto Parts Modified division in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action.

Mueller started eighth in the 18-car field and quickly moved into the top three. He dogged leader Hunter Bates for several laps before poking his No. 19 Mueller & Sons Heavy Duty Towing-sponsored Bicknell out front at laps 10 and 11. Sixteen year-old Bates, of Middlebury, VT, regained the lead at lap 12 and held it until Mueller drove around him again on the outside at lap 27.
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Joe Krawiec Romps to USAC DMA Midget Win at Bear Ridge Speedway

by | May 20, 2012 | Bear Ridge, Dirt Track, New England, Vermont

BY MARK McKEON

After a heat race in which he finished first by only leading the final 15 feet, defending USAC DMA champion “Flatfoot Joe” Krawiec of Bristol, CT turned in a dominating performance to win the 25 lap feature at Bear Ridge Speedway on Saturday night.

Starting sixth, Krawiec took the lead on lap six from David Rose, Jr. of Keene, NH, who had also won a heat, but suffered a mechanical failure in the feature.

Krawiec’s teammate and season opener winner Kevin Chaffee of Fairlee, VT raced his way from 13th to finish second, but was unable to mount a serious assault for the lead. Young Tim Gallant of Wales, MA showed both speed and car control to come from eighth and finish third, while former Sprint Car chauffer Scott Holcomb of Granby, CT charged from 14th to earn the fourth place finish. In only his second start in a Midget, Chase Dowling of Roxbury finished an impressive fifth after starting 12th.
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Thunder Road Prepares for 50th Mekkelsen RV Memorial Classic

by | May 18, 2012 | New England, Thunder Road, Vermont

Thunder RoadAs the month of May winds down, the race teams of Barre’s Thunder Road prepare for the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic, the first race of the Vermont State Late Model Championship Series. After a three-week break, the event is the second point-counting race for the Bond Auto Tigers and Allen Lumber Street Stocks, but for the Late Model Sportsmen it serves as their first. It represents the beginning of a grueling summer-long battle for track championships, but in 2012 the Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic has a special number attached.

This year marks the 50th Annual Memorial Day Classic at Thunder Road. The legendary Roy “Pappy” Forsythe, who now is forever commemorated by Thunder Road’s “Forsythe Hill” in turn three, won the first event in 1961. The race has been won by, and created, legends of Northeast Late Model racing with names like Jean-Paul Cabana, Bobby Dragon, Robbie Crouch, and Dave Dion, who have all notched victories in the prestigious race. The Memorial Day Classic continues to be legendary today.
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Vermont Foodbank benefit at Bear Ridge Speedway on Saturday

by | May 17, 2012 | Bear Ridge, New England, Vermont

Vermont Foodbank benefit at Bear Ridge Speedway on Saturday
USAC Midgets, Granite State Mini Sprints highlight R&M Automotive event

It’s more than just stock car racing at Bear Ridge Speedway on Saturday night. R&M Automotive hosts the Bradford race track’s annual benefit drive for the Vermont Foodbank, and with an incentive: Race fans who donate three or more non-perishable food items will save $2.00 on their general admission tickets at the event.

There is a healthy dose of action on track as well, though. All six divisions from the 99ROCK Weekly Racing Series will try to tame the Bear Ridge quarter-mile including the Bond Auto Parts DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds, the Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes, the USAC Dirt Midget Association, the Weglarz Property Service Fast Fours, and the KDD NAPA Auto Parts of Bradford Hornets. The Granite State Mini Sprint club will also be on hand for its first appearance of the season, as will the Hornet Stinger youth division.
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Gray Runs to Bear Ridge Speedway Modified Checkers

by | May 14, 2012 | Bear Ridge, Modified, New England, Vermont

Pierson takes Coupes; Reynolds and King have memorable night

Jason Gray led a parade of stock car winners through victory lane at Bear Ridge Speedway on Wells River Chevrolet Night on Saturday. Gray was joined in the winner’s circle by Gene Pierson, Jordan Fornwalt, Rob Gioia, Don Reynolds, and Julie Stender.

Gray, of East Thetford, VT, dominated the 35-lap Bond Auto Parts DIRTcar Sportsman Modified feature for his fourth career win. He took the lead from former track champion Gary Siemons on lap 12 and cruised to the win. Dan Eastman of Thetford Center, VT flew up the outside lane from his ninth starting position to finish second, with Orford, NH driver Siemons third at the finish. Bryan King finished fourth. Josh Sunn crossed the finish line fifth but was disqualified in post-race inspection when his car failed to meet minimum weight; Jeff Elliott inherited the position.
Pierson ran to his first win of the year in the 30-lap Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe race. The East Corinth, VT driver held on despite constant pressure from sophomore driver Jason Colbeth of Newbury, VT. Colbeth matched his best career finish with Jason Horniak third. Tim Hodge and Mike McGinley completed the unofficial top five.
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