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The 58th opening night at the Ridge is officially in the record books after long weather delay

The 58th opening night at the Ridge is officially in the record books after long weather delay
Ricky Sanville wins in the Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes
Mike McClay is your winner in the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks
For Immediate Release BRS-05032025-1
Despite mother nature’s attempt to cut the show short after a long rain delay, the opening green flag on the 58th consecutive season of racing sponsored by FMS Auto Parts NAPA of Bradford provided the great fans plenty of racing excitement. The full day of activities started the annual Bear Ridge car show this year at Gray’s Field Fairlee VT. The heavy clouds in the air didn’t deter the cars and stars, with over 70 beautiful machines on hand for the fans to see. The rain held off until almost the end of the show affording everyone the opportunity to get to chat with their favorite drivers and check out the new 2025 machines. Persistent rain settled in for the next several hours, eliminating the early practice for the car show attendees. As everyone knows the MO of track owner/promoter C.V. Butch Elms is he will do whatever it takes to get in the show. The track prep was finally able to begin at 5:30 with the cars and stars getting their first spin around 7:30. It was determined by management that it would be best for the drivers and fans to do a modified line up for the evening as there was the potential for rain to come back in later in the evening. A feature-only format was run with a special points structure was presented to the drivers and unanimously approved. We can’t thank the fans, the competitors, crews, and families enough for sticking it out to making our opening night of the 58th consecutive season always owned or operated by the Elms family a success!! THANK YOU.
The first feature winners of the 58th consecutive season sponsored by F.M.S. NAPA Auto Parts of Bradford VT were Jason Gray in the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds; Ricky Sanville in the Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes; Shawn King in the Dad’s 4 By Tool & Supply Sportsman Modifieds Limited; in the Xtreme DIRTcar DMA Midgets Will Hull; High Country Dispensary Late Models Tim Higgins; LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks Mike McClay; and Zach Audet in the Woodsville Power Equipment Bobcat Ridge Runners.
Jason Gray the past five seasons reigning champion of the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds working from deep in the pack was able to bide his time and work his way to the front of the field taking the lead from Jeff Huntington on lap eighteen and sail on for the win. Veteran Todd Buckwold and up and coming legend Aiden Hervey would stick close to Gray but were unable to set a challenge for the lead as the laps wound down, settling for second and third respectfully. Chris Huntington had an impressive run coming home fourth with Melvin Pierson back at the Ridge taking home fifth.
Ricky Sanville is the first to win for 2025 in the Wells River Chevrolet-part of the Auto Saver Group DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes leading every lap of the 25-lap event. Last year’s rookie of the year Lucas Wheeler would make him work for it, but in the end was not able to set a true challenge against Sanville. Last year they would each win one feature with Sanville doing it the week before Wheeler would. Will it happen again this year? We will all find out this Saturday May 10th. Ali Pushee fell back early but was able to make his way forward to the final victory lane spot and finish third. Jason Horniak and Bob Shepard two favored veterans of the field, would round out the top five in that order.
The Dad’s 4 By Tool & Supply Sportsman Modified Limited proves to be an exciting division with some retired drivers coming back to the fold, drivers moving up from other divisions, and rookies to the track competing for the first ever track championship. Shawn King formally in the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks talked his dad Bryan King (formally in about every division in the Ridge) into racing with him for the season. The two would bring the field to the green with Shawn getting the lead over dad and hold off Travis Shinn a name not heard at the Ridge in a long time and Michael Danforth your 2024 Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupe track champion for the win. Dad King would have some mechanical problems sending him to the back of the pack where he would finish in the fifth-place spot. Your rookie in the division finishing in fourth was Damon Jillson.
In the Xtreme DIRTcar DMA Midgets Keith Brown took the lead only to be overtaken by Will Hull on lap five who went on to win the event and hopefully shaking the proverbial monkey off his back after his struggles in 2024. Ethan Durocher crossed the line in second with Daniel Piastka taking home the final victory lane spot. John Forlano and Brandon Piastka completed the top five. The Xtreme DIRTcar DMA Midgets will return to action on Saturday May 17th.
Last year’s Rookie of the year in the High Country Dispensaries Late Models wasted no time in making his mark on the 2025 season with his first win of his career. He beat out the legendary Mark Cole and last year’s track champion Kelly Miller with Josh Bussino taking home fourth and Cameron Grant finishing out the top five.
In the LaValley Building Supply Mike McClay would be the one to capitalize on Dana Carters misfortune taking over the point on lap six when mechanical problems stuck the Carter machine. Carter would end up pit side before half way watching the rest of the race track side. McClay back in the family station wagon, wasn’t out for a Sunday drive and was able to hold John Fields in his in new memorial paint and number scheme for his late father Jim Fields who finished strong in second, and former champion Lucas Wheeler deciding to go home and dig his car out of the cobwebs during the rain delay coming home in third. Matt Pike and Keith Mansur rounded out the top five.
In the Woodsville Power Equipment Bobcat Ridge Runners Katie Burroughs would fall 4 laps short of her first win in over two years. With the 2024 Rookie Kyle Morris tight on her back bumper, the two looked poised to have the top two podium finishing spots. A caution on lap eleven would bunch up the field and give Zach Audet what he needed to get by her for the win. Burroughs and Morris would finish second and third for the night. Michael Paton and Tim Davis completed your top five.
Coming up this Saturday May 10th is a regular general admission full card of racing with the first appearance of the season for the R.E. Hinkley Granite State Mini Sprints. On hand will be the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds, the Wells River Chevrolet-part of the Auto Saver Group DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes, the Dad’s 4 By Tool & Supply Sportsman Modifieds Limited, High Country Dispensary Late Models, LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks, and the Woodsville Power Equipment Bobcat Ridge Runners. The Extreme DIRTcar DMA Midgets are off.
2025 driver and crew membership applications are now available on the website. Be sure to get yours sent in early to beat the lines on opening day. Get your application today, to ensure your car number for 2025. Enduro numbers will be assigned at the first event. To be eligible for the Bear Ridge Speedway points fund, and recognized at the annual awards banquet, drivers must hold a 2025 Bear Ridge Speedway or DIRTcar license, compete in the required number of events, and run on track designated tires as indicated in the rule book.
The price of a regular show general admission (front gate) ticket for adults (ages 16 to 61) is $15.00 a person and children 11 and under $2.00. Teens (12 to 15) and seniors 62 and older are $13.00. Military Discounts are available at $5.00 off for those with a valid ID.
The back gate (pit gate) ticket price for Bear Ridge Speedway and DIRTcar 2025 license holders is $30.00.
Non-license holders are $35.00 (both prices include the front gate ticket.)

Bear Ridge Speedway is an alcohol-free family friendly entertainment spot, with our goal to make each experience at the Ridge better than the last. We continue to offer the best source of good, inexpensive high-quality entertainment for families. Visa and MasterCard are accepted. Racing begins at the famous “6:00-ish” start time every Saturday starting in May through September.
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. Questions can be sent to brsdirt@gmail.com Visa and Master card accepted

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – 58th Season of Racing sponsored by FMS NAPA Auto Parts of Bradford VT night.
99ROCK Weekly Racing Series
Bear Ridge Speedway -- Bradford, VT
Saturday May 3, 2025

Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds (25 laps)

1st 00 Jason Gray
2nd 631 Todd Buckwold
3rd 13 Aiden Hervey
4th 9h Chris Huntington
5th 33 Melvin Pierson
6th 47 Owen Brown ®
7th 02 Wayland Childs
8th 26 Jeremy Huntoon
9th 21e Matt Ellsworth ®
10th 86 Mike Ryan
11th 22 Thomas Placey ®
12th 3 Jeff Huntington
13th 42T Robert Tucker
14th 29 Max Dolliver
15th 24p Ashton Pierson
16th 3H Kyle Huntington
17th 4 DJ Robinson
16 Brian Chaffee

HEAT one: n/a
HEAT two: n/a
Sting Vintage Race Cars n/a

Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes (25 Laps)

1st 93 Ricky Sanville
2nd 89 Lucas Wheeler
3rd 66 Alexander Pushee
4th 3 Jason Horniak
5th 28 Bob Shepard
6th 96 Rob Williams ®
7th 17 Cooper Hodge
8th 21e Earl Maxham
9th 16 Terry Williams
10th 11 Josh Harrington
11th 111 Jason Gray
12th 12 Cody Gregoropoulos
13th 27 Logan Martin ®
14th 44 Michael Danforth Jr
15th 9 Alexis Pushee
16th 13 Hunter Garduno ®

HEAT one: n/a
HEAT two: n/a

Dad’s 4 By Tool & Supply Sportsman Modifieds Limited

1st 4 Shawn King
2nd 117 Travis Shinn
3rd 44 Michael Danforth
4th 74 Damon Jillson
5th X Bryan King

HEAT one: n/a

Xtreme DIRTcar DMA Midgets Feature (15 laps)

1st 3 Will Hull
2nd 9 Ethan Durocher
3rd 1B Daniel Piastka
4th 01 John Forlano
5th 7 Brandon Piastka
6th 0 Keith Brown
7th 1-E John Egan
8th 19 Wayne Koehler
9th 76 Chris Murray
10th 14 Nicki Ouellete
52k Todd Mable DNS

HEAT one: n/a
HEAT two: n/a

High Country Dispensary Late Model Feature (15 Laps)

1st 61 Tim Higgins
2nd 6x Mark Cole
3rd 04 Kelly Miller Sr
4th 2x Josh Bussino
5th 24g Cameron Grant
6th 2b Chad McAlpine
7th 94 Cary Moulton
8th 16 Scott Heath
HEAT one: n/a

LaValley’s Building Supply Dirt Stockers (15 Laps)

1st 82 Mike McClay
2nd 46 John Fields
3rd 21 Lucas Wheeler
4th 27 Matt Pike
5th 44 Keith Mansur
6th 23 Deven Stearns
7th 3 Travis King ®
8th 7 Tyler Fellows
9th 6x Chris Cole
10th 2 Jordan Robinson
11th 35 Aren Keene
12th 25 Timothy Blake
13th 81 Dana Carter
HEAT one: n/a
HEAT two: n/a

Woodsville Power Equipment Ridge Runners (15 laps)

1st 9 Zach Audet
2nd 54 Katie Burroughs
3rd 66 Kyle Morris
4th 1 Michael Paton
5th 5 Tim Davis
6th 71 Nathan Sargent ®
7th 22 Jacob Joslin ®
8th 67 Patrick Hart ®
9th 33 Lucas Balch ®
10th 41 Jade Cote ®
11th 7 Patrick Jones ®
12th 50 Matt Lucas
13th 49 Kevin LaForest
14th 14 Landon McDonald ®
15th 08 David Hunt Jr.
16th 43 Spencer Braley

HEAT one: n/a
HEAT two: n/a

Joe Mama’s Sporting Goods 4/6 Cylinder Enduro
First Event 5/24/25
-30-
Contact: April May Preston-Elms Email: brsdirt@gmail.com
Phone: (802) 222-4052

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