Tucker with First DIRTcar Win in Bear Ridge Nailbiter; Smith in John Poor Memorial; Champagne wins USAC Dirt Midgets, Giguere again in Limited Late Models
BRADFORD, VT – Northfield, VT stock car driver Tim Tucker negotiated a slicker than normal track to etch his name in the record books as a 99ROCK Weekly Racing Series Bond Auto Parts DIRTcar Sportsman Modified winner for the first time at Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford, VT on Saturday night, winning the 40-lap Walker Motor Sales feature event in a thrilling finish.
Tucker jumped into the lead at the green after passing rookie Derek Barker on the initial green. Tucker ran to a large lead in the mid stages of the event while Chris Donnelly was working his way to the front from his 18th starting spot. Donnelly arrived on Tucker’s bumper with a handful of laps remaining and used the topside to pull even with Tucker but could not complete the pass. Tucker took the victory by .115 seconds with Donnelly second and rookie Jordan Fornwalt third. Adam Pierson and current point’s leader Kevin Chaffee completed the top five.
Jesse Smith of Bradford, VT posted the win in the three-segment “Madness” event for the Sportsman Coupes, running in memory of late Bear Ridge Speedway official John Poor. Terry Williams won the first 40 lap segment, but slumped to 8th in the middle round. Jason Horniak won the second segment with Danny Doyle picking up the win in the final 42 lap segment in what may have been the race of the year as he ran side-by-side with Jason Colbeth for the entire 42 laps, swapping the lead officially seven times.
Smith used consistent finishes of 2nd, 7th and 3rd to garner 12 points and take the win. It was a tie for second as both Terry Williams and Josh Harrington amassed a total of14 points with Williams getting the nod for second by finishing ahead of Harrington in the final segment. Teddy Salomaa and Jason Colbeth rounded out the top five.
Jeff Champagne ran to his first win of the year in the 25-lap feature for the USAC Dirt Midget Association presented by Ignite Racing Fuels. Champagne held off the late race challenges of multi time winner Adam Pierson for the win. Pierson, who was involved in the races’ first caution, charged from the rear for second. Reigning Champion Scott Holcomb was third with Joe Krawiec fourth and Josh Sunn fifth.
West Lebanon, NH’s Jason Giguere found himself in victory lane yet again in the Laquerre’s Sports Limited Late Models after taking the lead on lap eight and running to another win. Jeremy Hodge continued his mid season surge with another second place finish. Rookie Eric Lang completed the podium positions with a career best third.
White River Jct. VT’s Tim Martin mirrored Giguere by dominating the 20-lap Weglarz Property Service Fast Four feature. Martin beat Kevin Harran for the win with Charlie Pickering finishing third.
Point leader Stan Otterman posted another win in the KDD NAPA Auto Parts Hornets. Eric Post was second with Chris LaForest rebounding from a bad week to finish third.
Bear Ridge Speedway’s 46th season of stock car racing continues on Saturday, August 17 as Swenson Insurance presents the 99ROCK Weekly Racing Series Modified, Coupe, Late Model, Fast Four, and Hornet divisions, along with the WYKR Sprint Cars of New England, the Granite State Mini Sprints and kids’ racecar rides. Special general admission is $13 for adults (age 18-61), $10 for teens (12-17) and seniors (62+), and $2 for children; Visa and MasterCard are accepted. Racing begins at the famous “6:00-ish” start time. 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.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – John Poor Memorial Night presented by Walker Motor Sales
99ROCK Weekly Racing Series
Bear Ridge Speedway — Bradford, VT
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Pos.-Driver-
Bond Auto DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Feature (40 laps)
1. Tim Tucker
2. Chris Donnelly
3. Jordan Fornwalt
4. Adam Pierson
5. Kevin Chaffee
6. Jason Gray
7. Robert Tucker
8. Gary Seimons
9. Michael Dunn
10. Bryan King
11. Josh Currier
12. Evan Kingsbury
13. Josh Sunn
14. Derek Barker
15. Tim Hodge
16. Troy Comeau
17. Adam Gage
18. T.C. Forward
19. Dan Eastman
20. Eddie Patterson
21. Justin Comes
22. Mike Gendron
DNS: Tyler Austin, Bob Shepard
Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe “Madness” Feature – John Poor Memorial (40 laps x 2, 42 laps x 1)
1. Jesse Smith (12pts)
2. Terry Williams (14pts)
3. Josh Harrington (14pts)
4. Teddy Salomaa (16pts)
5. Jason Colbeth (20pts)
6. Danny Doyle (21 pts)
7. Jason Horniak (21pts)
8. Jeff Robbins (21pts)
9. Billy Simmons (27pts)
10. Kane Pike (29pts)
11. Rick Fletcher (31pts)
12. Tom Placey (32pts)
13. Jeremy Beckley (32pts)
14. Melvin Pierson (39pts)
15. Buster Kathan (40pts)
16. Louie Cadwell (40pts)
17. Jerry Catterall (51pts)
18. Josh Constantine (53pts)
19. Steve Ellsworth (57pts)
Blackmount Equipment Semi-Feature Winner: Jesse Smith
USAC Dirt Midget Association powered by Ignite Racing Fuel Feature (25 laps)
1. Jeff Champagne
2. Adam Pierson
3. Scott Holcomb
4. Joe Krawiec
5. Josh Sunn
6. Kevin Chaffee
7. Dylan Duhaime
8. Jeff Horn
9. Dean Christiansen
10. Adam Whitney
11. Ray Miller
12. Tim Gallant
13. Scott Viets
14. Jamie Spaulding
15. Mike Chaffee
16. Tyler Rivard
17. Jim Close
18. Denny Zimmerman
19. Dylan Rock
Laquerre’s Sports Limited Late Model Feature (20 laps)
1. Jason Giguere
2. Jeremy Hodge
3. Eric Lang
4. Matt Ellsworth
5. Brian Chaffee
6. Jack Whynot
7. Tina Catterall
8. Travis King
DNS: James Fadden
Weglarz Property Service Fast Four Feature (20 laps)
1. Tim Martin
2. Kevin Harran
3. Charlie Pickering
4. Don Reynolds
5. Jacob Roy
6. Taylor Morse
KDD NAPA Auto Parts Hornet Feature (20 laps)
1. Stan Otterman
2. Eric Post
3. Chris LaForest
4. Traci Nelson
5. Michael Phelps
6. Bobby Bell
7. Mike Lique
8. Cary Moulton
9. Leah McGinley
10. Derek Stearns
11. Alicia Taylor
12. Karl Sheldon
13. Charlie Lakin
Sources: April May Preston/Bear Ridge Speedway PR