Fans who came to see the best short track dirt racing in New England Saturday night at Bear Ridge Speedway did not leave disappointed, as they were afforded the opportunity to see winners made in each of the five 99ROCK weekly racing series divisions not once but twice before the final checkers waved on the action packed night.
Up first were the makeup races from opening nights KDD NAPA sponsored events, in each of the five divisions and the P&C Hornet Queens, along with two make up features for the Bond Auto Sportsman Modifieds.
In the KDD NAPA Ridge Runner Hornets segment two picked right up from where segment one left off with a full field of cars, and edge of your seat racing excitement for the fans. The second segments, for all divisions, took the green with an inverted field from the finish of the first segment, which meant you knew you would be seeing drivers out of the gate wasting no time to “get r dun” on their quest for checkers number one. Tom Placey #22 Bradford VT took home the checkers for both segments making him the overall winner of opening night thunder in this division with Carl Sweet #85 East Corinth VT coming home in second, and third to Bobby Bell #24 St Johnsbury VT.
In the Journal Opinion Fast Fours it would be all Andy Johnson #12 Wilder VT as he too would claim the checkers in both of the segments. Following Johnson to victory lane would be Kevin Harran #57 ST Johnsbury VT and Ryan Dutton #21 Bradford VT.
For the A Notch Above Limited Late Models Danny Eastman #8 Thetford Center VT was not about to let the little guys take home all the glory with double wins, as he too would claim both the segment checkers for this division. The fans would see TC Forward #14 coming home in second with Frank Thurston #16 claiming the final victory lane spot.
In the Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes Josh Harrington #71 Topsham VT was heard telling his crew that he had never won opening night or the Memorial day weekend events, and with his win of segment one last week, he knew he was sitting in the spot where he could break that record. Segment two would not be his, but his second place finish would give him the overall points lead to claim the checkers for the combined events. Doug Titus #1 Bradford VT another veteran returning to the Ridge used his memory of the track to get him to second for the overall, with Billy Simmons #16 Bradford VT in his rookie year in the coupes coming home in third.
The BOND Auto Parts Sportsman Modifieds had a full plate on their hands for the night with both make up segments needing to be completed, plus the regular night’s events to be run. The big boys would not be daunted by this feat and quickly set the stage for edge of your seat racing that keeps going and going and going. Chris Donnelly #17 Orford NH came home the victor for this overall event with Mike Capra #19 Alstead VT in second and Dan Douville #6 Bridgewater NH making a special trip to the Ridge taking home the third place spot.
The P&C Hornet Queens would be the final division to run for the KDD NAPA of Bradford opening night Thunder and when the checkers waved your top three across the line would be Misty Bell#19 St Johnsbury VT crowned your first winner, with Eileen Hemway #32 Piermont NH in second and Brenda Atherton #77 Fairlee VT in third.
Up next Elvis (impersonated by Barry Seaver) entertained the fans and then it was Fireworks in the sky courtesy of NOISE “R” US Fireworks Newport NH. Car show winners were also recognized in victory lane with plaques presented to the top three in each division. Then it was on to the regular scheduled racing for the night sponsored by Wicked Racing Products and Snap-on Tools, Evan Kingsbury Franchisee.
In the KDD NAPA Ridge Runner Hornets the championship contenders are quickly making their mark as the cars to beat in 2009 with two of the opening night top three finishers making their way back to victory lane. Bobby Lee Bell #24 St Johnsbury VT would be the big victor going from 3rd for week one to feature winner Wicked Racing Snap-on Tools night. Following him in second was Tom Placey #22 Bradford VT, third would be filled by a different driver,Karl Sheldon #19 St Johnsbury VT claiming the honors.
It is beginning to look like the four cylinder divisions are in competition with each other as here too in the Journal Opinion Fast Fours your opening night winner would make it back to victory lane in the same spot, but with two new faces to accompany him. Josh Sunn #11 White River VT made the trek up to play in the dirt and made it all the way to first claiming the checkers, with Andy Johnson #12 Wilder VT coming home in second and Mitch Durkee #4 Sharon VT claiming the third and final victory lane spot.
The A Notch Above Limited Late Models also had a moment of déjà vou as Danny Eastman #8 Thetford Center VT continues to set the bar high for this division claiming his second win of the season. TC Forward #14 will surely be setting his quest as that of concurring not only the Ridge but Eastman as well, as he once again came home the bridesmaid for this event. Taking the final victory lane spot would be Jeremy Hodge #17.
In the Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes Josh Harrington #71 Topsham VT will not be able to say he has never won opening night or the Memorial Day weekend events ever again, as tonight he claimed both of those victories with his win in the Wicked Racing Snap-on Tools feature. Billy Simmons #16 Bradford VT continues to impress with his second place finish and third would go to the car Harrington owns driven by another rookie Jason Horniak #3 Bradford VT.
The BOND Auto Parts Sportsman Modifieds saw a bit more scrambling for the top spots with only one of the three drivers claiming a place twice in one night. Wayne Stearns #1d Thetford Center VT had the car to beat and would survive several cautions to come home the victor. Following him in second was last year’s track champion Gary Siemons #5 Orford NH and third would go to Chris Donnelly #17 Orford NH the night’s sponsor and make up features overall winner.
99ROCK Weekly Racing Series RESULTS:
Opening night Thunder sponsored by KDD NAPA of Bradford
KDD NAPA Ridge Runner Hornets Top Five: #22 Thomas Placey; #85 Carl Sweet; #24 Bobby Lee Bell; #00 Amanda Gray; #3 Charlie Lakin.
Journal Opinion Fast Fours Top Five: #12 Andy Johnson;#57 Kevin Harran; #21 Ryan Dutton; #10 Steve Bell; #77 Dennis Perry.
A Notch Above Limited Late Models: #8 Dan Eastman; #14 TC Forward; #16 Frank Thurston; #97 Dan Cook; #17 Jeremy Hodge.
Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes: #71 Josh Harrington; #1 Doug Titus; #16 Billy Simmons; #3 Jason Horniak; #33 Melvin Pierson
BOND Auto Parts Sportsman Modifieds: #17 Chris Donnelly; #19 Mike Capra; #6 Dan Douville; #5 Gary Siemons; #1d Wayne Stearns.
Sponsored by Wicked Racing ~ Snap-on Tools:
KDD NAPA Ridge Runner Hornets Top Five: #24 Bobby Lee Bell; #22 Thomas Placey; #19 Karl Sheldon; #10 JT Descoteaux; #4 Mark Harran.
Journal Opinion Fast Fours Top Five: #11 Josh Sunn; #12 Andy Johnson; #5 Mitch Durkee; #57 Kevin Harran; #10 Steve Bell.
A Notch Above Limited Late Models: #8 Dan Eastman; #14 TC Forward; #17 Jeremy Hodge; #16 Frank Thurston; #22 Shane Race.
Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes: #71 Josh Harrington; #16 Billy Simmons; #3 Jason Horniak; #X Bryan King; #1 Doug Titus
BOND Auto Parts Sportsman Modifieds: #1d Wayne Stearns; #5 Gary Siemons; #17 Chris Donnelly; #19 Mike Capra; #00 Jason Gray.
Coming up May 30th it is Boy Scout night (all scouts in uniform and one of their parents get in FREE!) with a full card of racing and the P&C Hornet Queens, sponsored by Dad’s 4 By Tool and Supply with KIDS RIDES. PLUS a historic event planned with Brent, Beaver, and Bobby Dragon taking to the dirt for completion in the sportsman modifieds, with announcing of this historic event by the “God Father of Racing” MRN’s turn two guy Dave Moody.
Admission is: adults (ages 17 to 61) $10.00 a person, $8.00 for teens 12 to 16 and seniors 62 and older, children 11 and under $2.00. Kids who have signed up for the Bear Ridge Speedway Kids Club get in FREE with their ID.
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