The full moon in the sky led to some wild racing excitement at Bear Ridge Speedway on Dads' 4 By Tool and Supply night despite the two rain delays.

For Immediate Release contact brsdirt@charter.net
Bradford, Vt. May 31, 2010
The full moon in the sky led to some wild racing excitement at Bear Ridge Speedway on Dads' 4 By Tool and Supply night despite the two rain delays.
The night's agenda was jam packed on this "Scout night" with a full card of racing for the 99ROCK weekly racing series divisions, kids rides, the ever popular and anticipated event, the queens, and the first appearance in 2010 of SCoNE.
The first event of the night was caution laden, as the drivers in the Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes experienced the "full moon syndrome" resulting in one red flag for a three car pileup between turns one and two. On top of the pile literally resting precariously on the machines of Jason Horniak and Chris Carbee was the X of Bryan King. All three would drive away from the wreck and proceed with the race, which offered despite the yellow slowdowns plenty of great racing excitement for the packed stands. The coupes are recording a record 5 rookies in this year's lineup, and the return of some veteran drivers is proving to reinvigorate this historic division. This week the veterans were able to float to the top with Josh Harrington #71 Topsham VT claiming the checkers followed by Gene Pierson #44 E Corinth VT and brother Melvin Pierson #33 E Corinth VT in second and third. Dwight Burgegue and Mike McGinley completed the top five.
The full moon syndrome continued for the Bond Auto Sportsman Modifieds with six cautions and one red flag slowing the pace for this event, but again the racing excitement was not diminished in the least due to the repeated slowdowns. Several cars found themselves tangled together on the back stretch, which led to the red flag for a blocked track, and all of the machines were able to drive away. This division is always heavily laden with a record seven rookies this season, and with the return of some favored drivers the mix is providing five wide racing into turn three, with all coming out the other end, and lap after lap edge of your seat excitement. Tonight the glory was claimed by returning favorite Adam Pierson #15 Fairlee VT with Brian Whittemore #36 Florence VT in second and Travis Shinn #11 Groton NH returning to victory lane for the second week in a row in third. Jack Cook and Clay Dow were fourth and fifth.
The KDD NAPA Ridge Runner Hornets were third on the grid, scheduled for driver introductions, but the rain delays forced promoters to tell the drivers to strap in for racing in the interest of time. The full field of cars took to the track, and were able to show the big guns that it can be done with less cautions, which means making your way to the front sometimes a bit more challenging. But a challenge is what Thomas Placey #22 Bradford VT is ready for, and after a bit of a slow start this season is getting his groove back, as he sliced his way to the front to claim his first win of the season on his quest for a repeat championship crown. A surprise second place finisher was David West #29 Wilder VT with his first ever visit to victory lane and Steve Sheldon #19x of St Johnsbury VT. Brother Karl Sheldon was fourth with Bobby Lee Bell fifth.
For the Journal Opinion Fast Fours competitors it is clear that the man to beat in 2010 will be Josh Sunn #11 White River Jct VT, Sunn who will obviously be working his way from the back of the pack each week, once again made it to the front to claim his third win of the season, how long will it take for one of these contenders to knock him off the top? Make sure you make the weekly trip to the Ridge to find out! Following Sunn in second was Mark Harran #57 St Johnsbury VT with and Andy Johnson #25 Wilder VT in third.
The A Notch Above Limited Late Models were the last of the 99ROCK weekly racing series divisions to hit the track and Jeremy Hodge #17 Newbury VT is making up for all of those bridesmaids visits from 2009 with his second in a row win scored in the record books. Hodge was followed to victory lane by Will Hull #61 E. Montpelier VT and TC Forward #14 Lyme NH. With the moving of Danny Eastman to the modified division this championship crown has opened up to any of these three guys, plus the rest of the field, and it will be fun to watch this drama unfold throughout the season!
The Ridge Runner Hornet Queens were the last to hit the fastest oval in Vermont, and doing so with a strong car count. When the checkers waved Melissa King was able to beat out Dawn Woodward, last week's feature winner coming home in first. Misty Bell last year's Queen was second with Dawn Woodward able to hold on to third. The Queens next regular scheduled event is set for June 12th Bond Auto night.
The Sprint Cars of New England (SCoNE) made their first of six visits to the Ridge, and some very familiar faces made their way to victory lane for the first time in this series. Bringing home the checkers was a former regular runner in the modifieds #7X Dan Douville, with #9 Robbie Bodwell coming home in second. The third place spot was claimed by #20 Chris Donnelly, who has made the move from the modifieds to the Sprint cars. SCoNE will once again hit the dirt at the Ridge on June 26th Wells River Savings Bank night.
Results:
KDD NAPA of Bradford Ridge Runner Hornets:
Heat winner(s): #19x Steve Sheldon, #22 Thomas Placey
Semi Feature winner: #19 Karl Sheldon
Finish top ten: #22 Thomas Placey, #29 David West, #19x Steve Sheldon, #19 Karl Sheldon, #24 Bobby Lee Bell, #37 Mike Chapin, #32 Mark Nickles, #99 Michael Pittman, #8 Jesse Smith, #86 Mike Ryan
Journal Opinion Fast Fours:
Heat winner(s): #2 Tim Hodge
Finish top five: #11 Josh Sunn, #57 Mark Harran, #25 Andy Johnson, #28 Ricky Moore, #51 Danny Doyle
A Notch Above Limited Late Models:
Heat winner(s): #14 TC Forward
Finish top Five: #17 Jeremy Hodge, #61 Will Hull, #14 TC Forward, #22 Anthony Perkins, #07 Jason Blake
A Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes:
Heat winner(s): #44 Gene Pierson, #21 Steve Ellsworth
Finish top ten: #71 Josh Harrington, #44 Gene Pierson, #33 Melvin Pierson, #03 Dwight Burgegue(R), #7 Mike McGinley, #5 Chris Carbee, #3 Jason Horniak, #13 Buster Kathan, #10 Steve Bell(R), #24 Jeremy Beckley(R)
Bond Auto Sportsman Modifieds:
Heat winner(s): #9 Mike Dunn, #36 Brian Whittemore
Finish top ten: #15 Adam Pierson, #36 Brian Whittemore, #11 Travis Shinn, #1 Jack Cook, #8 Clay Dow, #X Bryan King, #9 Mike Dunn, #181 Blake Shepard, #73 Kevin Chaffee, #5 Gary Siemons
Coming up June 6th is a full card for the 99ROCK weekly racing series PLUS the much anticipated return of Brent, Beaver, and Bobby with Scott Dragon taking to the dirt for completion in the sportsman modifieds!
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 Kids Club ID.
Bear Ridge Speedway continues to offer the best source of GREAT inexpensive high quality entertainment for families. Any and all one race passes and/or season passes are good for the grandstand gate only. Pit gate fees will be $20.00 for members and $30.00 for non members (cannot be combined with free one race or season passes.) Master card and Visa will be accepted at both ticket gates in 2009!!
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”.
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 starting May 16th at 6:00 pm. Be sure to check the web www.bearridgespeedway.com. Questions can be sent to brsdirt@charter.net