Bear Ridge Speedway

5/8/2016

Bear Ridge Speedway

FMS Auto Parts NAPA of Bradford Press 5/7/16

Record field of DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modifieds hit the track opening night

For Immediate Release BRS-050616-1

BRADFORD, VT – With several new faces to the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds 2016 is looking to offer some of the best modified racing in New England. A record thirty two machines showed up to take the green for the main event. This meant a B-Main was set to happen with eleven cars projected to compete. Five cars unfortunately would scratch and be unable to compete for the night. With the top four in the b-main moving up to the main the field was set with twenty five machines for the first race of the 2016 season on opening night sponsored by FMS Auto Parts NAPA of Bradford. Adam Pierson doing double duty again in 2016 was the man on the move coming from the thirteenth place spot to the front of the field taking the lead from Alan Hammond on lap twenty two. Pierson would go on to win the feature with Midget team mate Josh Sunn coming home in second. Tom Forward would claim the final spot in victory lane grabbing third place his best finish since his return to racing at the Ridge. Returning to action in 2016 are Wayne Stearns and Arnold Stygles. Stearns came across the line fourth with Jordan Fornwalt coming home fifth.
Melvin Pierson wasn’t really planning on racing in 2016 in the Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes, as he was trying to sell his 33 machine. Unfortunately for Pierson he was unable to sell, and fortunately for Pierson he was unable to sell. No sense in letting a race car sit in the garage, so Pierson brought it out for the opening night of racing and on lap ten took over the lead from Jason Colbeth after a crash filled green flag lap. Pierson held on the lead to take home the checkers with Colbeth holding on for second with Tim Hodge taking home third. Brian Chaffee and Michael Danforth rounded out the top five. Last years champion Bob Shepard had a rough night getting caught up in the lap one mayhem.
The Laquerre Sports USAC DMA Midgets were first to take to the track for the 2016 season. A long winters name led to some highly exciting racing, as the drivers figured out how to get around the new clay surface at the Ridge. After a couple of wild rides by Make Cole, Robert Tucker and Anthony Nocella the field settled down to some great racing. Adam Whitney who led the first six laps of the race found himself restarting from the rear on lap eight, after surviving a spin. He worked his way from the back of the pack and was able to set a challenge on the top guns Pierson and Sunn for the win. Whitney would have to settle for the third place spot, his best finish of his career. Sunn taking over the lead on Lap ten was able to hold of Adam Pierson for the win. Dean Christiansen and Jeff Champagne completed the top five.
Tim Martin quickly showed the field that he will once again be one of the top dogs in the Mike Rivers Automotive Limited Late Models. Coming from the last place starting spot he quickly took over the lead on lap nine and went on to grab the win over JP Vallencourt and TJ Morris. Wayland Childs and Don Reynolds finished out the top five.
Jesse Durkee grabbed the win in the Weglarz Property Service Four Cylinder Feature coming from the 9th starting spot on the grid. Charlie Lakin followed him go take second with the thirteen coming home in third. Kevin LaForest and Rodney Davis completed the top five.
Bear Ridge Speedway’s 49th season of stock car racing continues on Saturday, May 14th sponsored by Alarmco Inc. with the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds, Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes, Mike Rivers Automotive Limited Late Models, Weglarz Property Service Four Cylinders and the visiting Granite State Mini Sprints. The Laquerre’s Sports USC DMA Midgets will return on May 21st. Regular general admission for the 99Rock Weekly Racing Series 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 – FMS Auto Parts NAPA of Bradford NIGHT
99ROCK Weekly Racing Series
Bear Ridge Speedway -- Bradford, VT
Saturday, May 7, 2016

Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Feature (35 laps)
1 Adam Pierson
2 Josh Sunn
3 Tom Forward
4 Wayne Stearns
5 Jordan Fornwalt
6 Kevin Chaffee
7 Arnold Stygles
8 Louie Cadwell
9 Todd Buckwald
10 Ryan Christian
11 Ryan Ovitt
12 Terry Williams
13 James Fadden
14 DJ Robinson
15 Matt Lashua
16 Lenny Pillsbury
17 Josh Currier
18 TC Forward
19 Alan Hammond
20 Thomas Kimball
21 Steven Flint
22 Tim Tucker
23 Michael Dunn
24 Stevie Bell
25 Tim Williams
B-Main (10 laps)

DJ Robinson moved to main
Todd Buckwald moved to main
Michael Dunn moved to main
Lenny Pillsbury moved to main
Kevin Dickinson
Trevor Rocke
DNS: Gary Siemons; Rob Thurston; Robert Tucker; Jamie Ferland; Martin Mastic

Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe Feature (25 laps)