7/31/2019
Jason Gray Tops in the Sportsman Modifieds, Jason Horniak Rolls to Victory in the Sportsman Coupes
With lots of extra events on tap for the evening no time was wasted once the first green flag of the evening flew. Winners in the Weekly Rock99 Racing Series were Jason Gray in the Sportsman Modifieds, Jason Horniak in the Sportsman Coupes; Mike Chaffee was a first time winner in the USAC Dirt Midgets with Ryan Christian topping the Limited Late Models and Owen Carbee best in the 4-Cylinders. Also on hand for the evening were the Sprint Cars of New England Where Will Hull claimed the win. A 75-lap Enduro saw Eric Lindbled Victorious and all the kids had a great time as it was also Kid’s Bike Race night.
Just like last week, the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modified Main event saw Jeremy Huntoon break to the lead on the initial start, leading the first three laps before Todd Buckwold took the top spot. A lap eight restart saw Buckwold once again break into the top spot with Robert Tucker moving to second. Meanwhile Jason Gray, who started 12th on the field had advanced to the third and started to gain on the front duo. With ten laps to go Gray slipped inside Tucker to take second and just a lap later the caution flew for Richie Simmons, who hit the backstretch wall after breaking his steering. On the restart Buckwold and Gray fought for the top spot for a couple of laps before Jason Gray took the lead for good to take the impressive win. Todd Buckwold was second with Jordan Fornwalt making a late race pass to claim third. Robert Tucker and Kevin Chaffee completed the top five.
The Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes saw Jason Horniak annex his second win of the season. Rookie Cody Gregoropoulos broke into the lead on the initial green, leading the first eight laps before Jason Horniak took the top spot. While Horniak repelled all challengers the battle for the rest of the top five was intense with positions changing nearly every lap. When the checkers flew it was Jason Horniak with his second win of the season. Todd Hayward was second after starting deep in the field with Bob Kilburn third. Tanner Siemons was fourth with Brian Chaffee fifth, good runs for both drivers after they were involved in separate incidents and had to come from the rear.
Mike Chaffee was the show in the USAC DMA Midgets, leading every lap to take win in a race punctuated by a single caution that involved five cars. Mike Netishen ran second most of the race, holding off the perpetual challenges for the spot by Justin Phillips, who was finally successful in his quest for second on the last lap to take the position at the checkers. Justin Phillips was third across the line with Adam Whitney fourth and Justin Sheridan completing the top five. The top point contenders didn’t fare so well as Seth Carlson pitted with mechanical issues and Will Hull was involved the five car incident in turn two ending his night.
The WYKR Sprint Cars of New England ran a fast caution free feature. Kurt Conklin took the lead early with Mark Cole running second. As the laps clicked off Will Hull began to close ground on the duo, arriving in third on lap nine and finally passing Cole for second on lap fifteen. From there it only took Hull three more laps to blast by Conklin for the lead and pull away for the win. In the closing laps the field behind Hull shuffled spots so at the checkers it was Will Hull with the win, Chris Donnelly was second with Mark Cole third, Kurt Conklin was fourth with Clay Dow rounding out the top five.
The C.A. Miller Limited Late Models saw Nicholas Longley lead the first five laps before Ryan Christian took the lead, it was all over from there as Christian rolled to an easy win in spite of a caution just before the halfway point. John Neddo was second at the checkers with points’ leader Tyler Tremblay third, Nicholas Longley fourth and Carey Moulton fifth.
In the Peanuts Auto 4-Cylinder Feature it looked like Zach Audet would get his first win as he led the first fourteen laps as the big guns worked their way to the front, running two and three wide most of the time. A scramble off turn four as the lead pack approached lapped traffic found Garrett Brown take the lead for a lap while Audet got shuffled out of the top five. As the flagman gave five to go Owen Carbee shot to the lead and held back all challengers to take the win. Buddy Welch was second with Jason Porter third. Kevin Laforest was fourth with Garrett Brown fifth.
The night concluded with a 75-lap Enduro where Eric Lindbled held off all challengers to take the win with Taylor Sayers second and Frank Putney third.
Bear Ridge Speedway’s 52nd season of dirt car racing continues Saturday, August 3, 2019 with the John Poor Memorial night sponsored by Walker Motor Sales, featuring a full card of racing for the 99Rock weekly racing series, with the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds, Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes with their MADNESS night, C.A. Miller Inc Limited Late Models, and the Peanuts Auto Four Cylinders. Plus the WYKR BRS Sprint Cars of New England. The USAC DMA Midgets are off and will return to action on August 10th.
Special admission pricing for the 99Rock Weekly Racing Series is $13 for adults (age 18-61), $10 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 as an alcohol-free family friendly entertainment spot, with our goal to make each experience at the Ridge better than the last. Remember “Dirt where every lap is the last lap” we continue to offer the best source of good inexpensive high quality entertainment for families.
Bear Ridge Speedway is located off exit 16 of I91 on to Rte 25 west 1 mile to South Road up the hill to Kidder Rd. The green will wave every Saturday at 6:00 pm(ish). Be sure to check the web www.bearridgespeedway.com Questions can be sent to brsdirt@charter.net
Article Credit: Bear Ridge Speedway