Dad's 4 By Tool & Supply Night

Bear Ridge Speedway continues to offer the best short track dirt racing in New England to its fans, with some new faces making it to the top in victory lane this past Saturday night for 99ROCK weekly racing series sponsored by Dad’s 4 By Tool & Supply of St Johnsbury and Wells River VT.
In the KDD NAPA Ridge Runner Hornets one man has made it clear that he is on a mission to be crowned the king in this division when the final checkers wave at the end of the season, and he is wasting no time setting the bar for the rest of the contenders. Tom Placey #22 Bradford VT will have to do it the hard way from the back each week. Three week averages are now in play, and the better your average finish for the past three weeks, the further back you get to start. Placey came home the winner once again tonight. Following him for his second trip to the lane was Bobby Bell #24 St Johnsbury VT, with third going to Amanda Gray #00 East Thetford VT.
In the Journal Opinion Fast Fours Kevin Harran #57 ST Johnsbury VT has hit the track strong in 2009 and it can go without saying that he is has set his goals high for the season. Harran would lead most of the race and looked to be poised to claim his first victory of the season, but a late race bobble found Mitch Durkee #5 Sharon VT ready in his wake to take the spot. Durkee would cruise on for his first win of the season, with Harran maintaining second, and Andy Johnson #12 Wilder VT coming home in third.
The A Notch Above Limited Late Models have seen car counts grow each week and Danny Eastman #8 Thetford Center VT is ready for the challenge. He too finds himself having to start from the back, and wastes little time moving to the front. The outside groove will get you there faster sometimes, and those brave enough to tempt that ridge will surely capitalize. Eastman would do just that and looked ready to claim his third victory of the season, but others had their own agenda. Will Hull #61 East Montpelier VT would be one of those, and lapped traffic would play into his hands. Hull would manage to get by Eastman late in the race, and hold on for his first win of the season. Eastman crossed the line in second with TC Forward #14 Lyme NH in third.
In the Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes the Rookie battle is shaping up to be a fierce one for 2009 with Jason Horniak #3 Bradford VT and Billy Simmons #16. Horniak appears to be learning well from his car owner and mentor Josh Harrington #71 Topsham VT. Harrington driving for Adam Florentine in last year’s champion car is showing the fans that this driver and car combination are just as lethal. Harrington worked his way to the front and would cross the line once again in the top spot making it three for three over Melvin Pierson #33 E Corinth VT and Horniak in third.
The BOND Auto Parts Sportsman Modifieds are showing the fans great edge of your seat excitement each week. After only three weeks of competition Mike Capra #19 Alstead VT finds himself in a position, while not a bad one, one where he doesn’t want to be. Capra is a winner, but as yet has been unable to be that on the final lap, and while early in the season, is already prepared to say that the “bridesmaid” spot is not where he really wants to be to Chris Donnelly #17 Orford NH. Donnelly likes the Ridge in whatever machine he is in, and is especially enjoying it this year, coming home your winner once again. Capra was seen crossing the line in second with Wayne Stearns #1d Thetford Ctr VT taking home the third place spot. Special top ten listing: fourth and fifth: Gary Siemons #5 and Ryan Avery #01. Sixth thru tenth: Bobby Shepard #44, Jack Cook #1, Bryan King #X, Jason Gray #00, and Brent Dragon #6.
In addition to the regular feature for the Bond Auto Sportsman Modifieds, three machines would take to the track for a special competition. Brent Dragon behind the wheel of the #6 CV Elms machine tried to get an unfair advantage over the family running the whole night in the #6, but when the green waved and the pedals hit the metal dad and uncle were more than up to the challenge. The Dragons, Brent, Beaver and Bobby, would run a two segment feature, with the veteran Dragons quickly showing the “Boy” that they still knew how to drive, even if it was something none of them had ever set in before. Harmon “Beaver” Dragon in the #26 driven by Mike Dunn for the night took a bit longer to get used to letting the back end go, but by the end of segment two was seen pushing son Brent out of the way on his quest to claim the checkers. Younger Brother Bobby driving the #5 of Gary Siemons found himself in the right position for segment two, in front, and that was where he would stay for the event. Combined points showed a three way tie, and in segment racing, at the Ridge the final segment finish determines the overall finish. This would mean that all that extra seat time for the “youngin” Dragon would do him no good, as uncle, Bobby Dragon claimed the checkers, with dad Beaver in second, and Brent coming home in the final victory lane spot. Announcing for this historic event was provided by the MRN Turn Two Guy, God Father of Racing Dave Moody, and from the smiles seen on all the faces in victory lane, it is hard to say which of the four had a better time!
The P&C Hornet Queens would be the final division to run and when the checkers waved your top three across the line would be Brenda Atherton #77 Fairlee VT, Misty Bell#19 St Johnsbury VT and Dawn Woodward #85 East Corinth VT.
99ROCK Weekly Racing Series RESULTS:
Sponsored by Dad’s 4 By Tool and Supply St Johnsbury and Wells River VT
KDD NAPA Ridge Runner Hornets Top Five: #22 Thomas Placey; #24 Bobby Lee Bell; #00 Amanda Gray; #86 Mike Ryan; #19x Steve Sheldon.
Journal Opinion Fast Fours Top Five: #5 Mitch Durkee; #57 Kevin Harran; #12 Andy Johnson; #10 Steve Bell; #88 Jesse Durkee.
A Notch Above Limited Late Models: #61 Will Hull; #8 Dan Eastman; #14 TC Forward; #16 Frank Thurston; #22 Shane Race; #27 Sean Greene.
Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes: #71 Josh Harrington; #33 Melvin Pierson; #3 Jason Horniak; #7m Mike McGinley; #16 Billy Simmons
BOND Auto Parts Sportsman Modifieds: #17 Chris Donnelly; #19 Mike Capra; #1d Wayne Stearns; #5 Gary Siemons; #01 Ryan Avery; #44 Bobby Shepard; #1 Jack Cook; #X Bryan King; #00 Jason Gray; #6 Brent Dragon.