---

Bear Ridge Speedway Honors 56th Season Champions Jason Gray crowned the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds 2023 4-Peet Champion. Andrew Fitzger

Bear Ridge Speedway Honors 56th Season Champions

Jason Gray crowned the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds 2023 4-Peet Champion.
Andrew Fitzgerald crowned the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks Champion.

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                      BRS-11132023-1

 

Fairlee VT – Bear Ridge Speedway honored the champions from its 56th season of dirt track stock car racing on Friday night and Saturday night November 10th & 11th. The two-night format featuring ‘Fendered Wheels’ on Friday night and ‘Open Wheels’ on Saturday night recognized over seventy-five drivers, with over 400 crew members, sponsors, fans, and officials in attendance for a sold-out banquet hall each night at the Lake Morey Resort Fairlee VT for the gala. More than $30,000 in prizes, awards and point fund purses was awarded.

 

Jason Gray of E Thetford VT was one of three drivers who headlined the Saturday night festivities with his fourth consecutive championship in the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modified Champion (3rd place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series).  Gray beat out runner up Max Dolliver of Londonderry VT (10th place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series), Josh Sunn of White River Jct VT came home in third (18th place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series), James Fadden of Corinth VT scored fourth (25th place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series) and Robert Tucker of East Corinth completed the top five (26th place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series). Richie Simmons (20th place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series), Mike Ryan (8th place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series), Brian Chaffee, Todd Buckwold (7th place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series), and Jeremy Huntoon Ryan Christian (10th place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series) were your 6th through 10th place finishers.

 

Tim Hodge of Vershire was the second of the three drivers who headlined the Saturday night festivities with his first championship in the DIRTcar Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes. Hodge beat out Matt “Hoss” Ellsworth of East Corinth VT who came home in second, and the Legendary Bob Shepard of West Topsham VT who came home in third. Ryan Christian of Canaan NH and Josh Harrington of East Corinth VT completed the top five.  with Cody Gregoropoulos, Cooper Hodge, Jason Horniak, Alie Pushee, and Rookie Michael Danforth were your 6th through 10th place finishers.

 

Chirs Murray of Fair Haven VT was the third of the three drivers who headlined the Saturday night festivities with his first championship and Rookie of the Year in the XTREME DIRTCAR DMA Midgets.  Murray beat out Will Hull of E Montpelier VT, Justin Sheridan from Suffield CT, Manny Dias of Danielson CT, and Nicki Ouellette of East Granby CT, your 2nd through fifth place finishers. Brandon Piastka, Daniel Piastka, Keith Brown, Wayne Koehler, and Seth Carlson were your 6th through 10th place finishers.

 

Matt Lashua of Canaan NH made it to the top for the second year in a row and is crowned the 2023 champion in the High-Country Dispensary Late Models. Kelly Miller Sr of Duxbury VT gets the bridesmaid position with Rookie Soctt Heath of Warren NH third. Rob Rugg and Dana Carter completed the top five.

 

Andrew Fitgerald of West Rutland VT in only his second year in the in the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks is crowned your champion beating out the runner up Garrett Brwon of E Concord VT.  John Fields of Orford NH comes home third, with Bryan King from Corinth VT scored in fourth. Aren Keene of E Hardwick VT completes the top five. Tim Blake, Mike McClay, Dawn Rumrill, Dustin Towle, and Pat Wheeler were your 6th through 10th place finishers.

 

Spencer Brailey of North Hartland VT beats out Travis King from Corinth VT for the championship in Woodsville Power Equipment Ridge Runners, Logan Martin of So Royalton VT, last year’s track champion is scored in third with Tom Brown of E Concord VT scored in third, and Katie Burroughs of Groton VT completing the top five. Hayden Bishop, Shane Stygles, Cary Hunter, Matt Lucas and Westley Blake were your 6th through 10th place finishers.

 

The Joe Mama’s Sporting Goods Four/Six Cylinder Enduro top five were recognized for their achievements. Jason Porter of Freeport Me was crowned the Champion beating out Kevin LaForest who comes home in second. Jacob Hall-Larson of Northfield VT is recorded in third with Trevor Mears, and Tiellar Mitchell rounding out the five.

 

A Triple crown award were presented to Todd Hayward in the DIRTcar Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes for his achievement of ‘flying’ to the front three times in one night to win the heat race, Sting Vintage Race Cars Dash for Cash Semi Feature, and the main event.

 

Special awards were given in several categories, headlined by the prestigious John Poor Memorial Award, given annually to one driver and or crew from DIRTcar Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes and DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modified divisions.  John Poor was an important official at Bear Ridge Speedway for many years and the award bearing his name is given to drivers. John loved racing, wanting to see a good race with guys racing hard with each other in a pack for position. He rooted for the guy and or crew who worked hard every week did their homework and despite adversity was able to shake it off and show up at the track ready to put on a good show for the fans, be respectful of his fellow competitors and who had fun racing no matter what the outcome. In the DIRTcar Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes division Jason Horniak took home the honors and Todd Buckwold in the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modifieds.

 

The Bob Shepard “Drive, Desire, Determination and Dedication” award, was awarded to Norman Roulx. This year we are recognizing a person who has been a part of Bear Ridge since the very early days. This individual is one of the most dedicated supporters of racing and Bear Ridge that I know. Always trying to make things better, you never know where you might find him on his weekly quest to do just that for the fans. Getting on in age as we all are, he stills exhibits the drive to be at the Ridge every week and is often at the track mid-week in his determination to get things the way they should be no matter how long it takes, even with the addition of an extra flight of stairs, or who he has to bring in to help.  He has an unparalleled desire to help the Ridge provide the best racing excitement in New England which is often heard in his voice.

The Rookie of the year based on points was awarded to Chris Huntington in the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modified division, with Michael Danforth Jr in the DIRTcar Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes. Chris Murray in the XTREME DIRTCAR DMA Midgets, Scott Heath in the High-Country Dispensary Late Models, AJ Pushee in the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks, and Cory Collins in the Woodsville Power Equipment Ridge Runners.

 

The Most Popular Driver award is given to the driver with the most fan votes collected over the summer.

Mike Ryan wins in the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modified division, with Matt Ellsworth earning the honors in the DIRTcar Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes.  Manny Dias won the award in the XTREME DIRTCAR DMA Midgets. Dana Carter in the High-Country Dispensary Late Models. Dawn Rumrill in the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks, and Cary Hunter in the Woodsville Power Equipment Ridge Runners took home plaques.

 

The Big Al’s Photos “What A Picture” Awards were given to Jason Gray in the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modified division, with Bob Shepard earning the award in the DIRTcar Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes.  Justin Sheridan won the award in the XTREME DIRTCAR DMA Midgets. Rob Rugg  in the High Country Dispensary Late Models, Tim Blake in the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks, and Westley Blake in the Woodsville Power Equipment Ridge Runners took home plaques.

 

Most Improved and Sportsman of the Year were once again determined by competitor votes in their respective positions. Most Improved in the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modified division is Max Dolliver, Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes Cooper Hodge, XTREME DIRTCAR DMA Midgets Wayne Koehler, High Country Dispensary Late Models Rob Rugg. LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks Aren Keene, and the Woodsville Power Equipment Ridge Runners Matt Lucas.

 

Sportsman of the Year the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modified division is Max Dolliver, Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes Matt Ellsworth, XTREME DIRTCAR DMA Midgets Nicki Ouelette, High Country Dispensary Late Models Kelly Miller Sr, LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks Michael McClay, and the Woodsville Power Equipment Ridge Runners Hayden Bishop.

 

The Bear Ridge Speedway Hall Fame inducted the fifth group of five members. Gone but not forgotten members were “Happy” Harold Derosia, Jack Cook, and Craig Wyman. Racing legends Gene Pierson Jr and Paul Parker were also inducted.

 

More than 70 prizes were given to racers by random draw. The nights were capped with two sessions of the deal or no deal event for seven lucky drivers, with seven prizes each night from a hat to a $500.00 gift certificate handed out.

 

Bear Ridge Speedway’s 57th season of stock car racing is now officially complete.  The 2024 season begins on Saturday, May 4, 2024.  Season Passes for 2024 are now available; information and order forms are online at www.bearridgespeedway.com.

 

-30-

 

Contact: April May Preston-Elms                     Email: brsdirt@gmail.com                Phone: (802) 222-4052

Back to News