Krawiec Beats Chaffee in Dramatic USAC Dirt Midget Association Inaugural at Bear Ridge Speedway
Bradford, VT — The inaugural race of the USAC Dirt Midget Association at Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford, VT couldn’t have been any more dramatic if it had been scripted in advance. In his first time racing a Midget, home state hero and former Bear Ridge Coupe Champion Kevin Chaffee of Fairlee came within three laps of pulling off the upset of his career, only to see his hopes dashed by his teammate for the night, 2010 Whip City Speedway Midget Champion Joe Krawiec of Bristol. CT.
“I tried going to the inside because Kevin was running the high groove where the track was tackier,” said Krawiec. “I could get along side him, but I couldn’t get by him. I knew I was running out of laps, so I went into turn one as far as I could and as hard as I could, just hoping it would stick. It did, and I was able to carry enough momentum to pass him on the outside going in to turn three.”
“I could hear Joe alongside me for a few laps and I saw the nose of his car once or twice,” said Chaffee. “I moved down the race track a little so he wouldn’t have any room to get by and I shouldn’t have. The top was faster and once he got by me he was gone.”
Chaffee picked up the ride because the regular driver, 1971 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year Denny Zimmerman was in Indianapolis as an honored guest during the 100th running of the Brickyard Classic. Both Chaffee’s car and Krawiec’s car are owned by New England Auto Racers Hall of Famer Skip Matzak. After a brief orientation by Krawiec, Chaffee won the first Midget race he entered by picking up a win in his heat, Krawiec won his heat as well.
“I can’t believe the Dirt Midget people treated me the way they did,” said Chaffee. “They don’t know me from a guy on the street, but they gave me a great car to drive and made me feel like part of the family.”
All 15 USAC DMA Midgets on hand made it through the heats and started the 20 lap feature. Pole sitter and Midget rookie Dean Christenson led the first three laps and Midget sophomore Jim Mossman led the next two. Chaffee, who started sixth, took the lead on lap six and held it until Krawiec got by him on lap 18.
With only half a season of Midget experience, third place finisher Dana Shaw was delighted with the outcome. “I never thought I would finish that well,” he said. “I just didn’t make too many mistakes and tried to be consistent. I’m tired though, we haven’t put in our power steering yet and I really want it in for the next race.
Fourth place finisher Jim Close ran the best race of his Midget career and he did it the hard way – with no brakes. “The brakes went away late in the race, I was just happy I didn’t hit anybody. I did run into my trailer when I got back to the pits,” Close grinned.
Hall of Famer and pavement Modified star Ray Miller finished fifth.
USAC Dirt Midget Association Feature: (20 laps) 1. Joe Krawiec, 2. Kevin Chaffee, 3. Dana Shaw, 4. Jim Close, 5. Ray Miller, 6. Dean Christenson, 7. Greg Olson, 8. Thom Ring, 9. Jim Mossman, 10. Doug Meyer, 11. David Rose Jr., 12. Jeff Horn, 13. Scott Holcomb, 14. Jamie Spalding, 15. Tim Gallant.
Sources: Mark McKeon/USAC Dirt Midget Association PR