Action heats up at Bear Ridge
by April May Preston
BRADFORD, Vt. -- Saturday night was Walker Motor Sales night with a full card of racing plus a Twin State Modified event. In addition to Walker Motor Sales, it was the make up of last week's rained out show with Interstate Battery of New-Mont on hand for their features plus a Twin State Coupe event. Double features provided the packed house of fans with plenty of racing action as ten drivers claimed the checkers.
You could tell by the second half of the night that the drivers had been playing conservatively the first half as the feature races were exciting, fast and virtually caution free, with drivers courteous and aware that there was still a long night ahead of them. As the second half of the evening progressed, it became apparent that all holds were off as the best show put on for the evening was the enduros, with the V-8’s going green to checkers.
In the first round of features Interstate Battery of New-Mont would award trophies to Shawn Pallas, Dan Eastman and Ryan Avery in the H.O. Taylor Chevrolet Pro Streets. Sixteen cars would take the green with Eastman, Avery, and King quickly making their way through traffic to the front of the field. Only a couple of cautions would slow the pace as Shawn Pallas was able to fend off the woolly beasts in his dominance of the field and his first win of the season. Following Pallas to the line would be Eastman, Avery, Pierson, and King.
Feature finish: Shawn Pallas, Dan Eastman, Ryan Avery, Ryan Pierson, Brian King, Joe Perreault, Richard Simmons, Anthony Perkins, Dave Stearns, Will Hull, Todd Dunham, Mark White, Brian Piper, Richard Ryan, Rick Fadden, Bill Barrett.
In the second round Walker Motor Sales would award trophies to Richard Simmons, Ryan Pierson, and Ryan Avery. As the battles heated, Shawn Pallas would see his stay in the Pent House quickly go away as he some how found himself in the Out House by the end of the second feature with a last place finish. Richard Simmons would be the man on the point and the man to stay there as he held off challenges from Pierson and Avery. King and Eastman would battle it out for fourth with King victorious this go round. Your top five to the line would be Richard Simmons with his second win of the season followed by Pierson, Avery, King and Eastman. A post race tech inspection would find Avery illegal and disqualified for the event, moving everyone up a position.
Feature finish: Richard Simmons, Ryan Pierson, Brian King, Dan Eastman, Richard Ryan, Joe Perreault, Will Hull, Brian Piper, Todd Dunham, Dave Stearns, Rick Fadden, Rick Stygles, Bill Barrett, Shawn Pallas. Ryan Avery DQ
The Gilmour Ford Chrysler Sportsman Coupes event number one was a Twin State event with double the trouble on the line as points are awarded for the twin state series and the regular show, plus the need to finish to make it to the second feature. Adam Pierson in hopes of retiring the “Bear Ridge Sportsman Coupe Cup” with his third in a row championship is still willing to put everything on the line, as he continues to dominate in this ever popular division. When the dust settled it would be Pierson for the checkers followed by Cadwell and Titus. Completing the top five was Bob Shepard and Josh Harrington.
Feature winners: Adam Pierson, Louis Cadwell, Doug Titus, Bob Shepard, Josh Harrington, Steve Ellsworth, Kevin Menard, Tyler Rich, Kevin Chaffee, Paul Towle, Rick Marsha, James Hanson, Mike McGinley, Ryan Dutton, and Dean Stockwell.
In the second round it was once again a flip flop. But this time it would be Mike McGinley going from the Out House to the Pent House as he was able to grab the lead and stay there through several cautions and restarts. This division would also see the second feature event run not quite as smoothly as the first as cautions plagued the event. When the checkers finally waved it would be McGinley with his first win of the season followed by Tyler Rich and Adam Pierson.
Feature winners: Mike McGinley, Tyler Rich, Adam Pierson, Doug Titus, Steve Ellsworth, Louis Cadwell, James Hanson, Kevin Menard, Kevin Chaffee, Adam Florentine, Rick Marsha, Dean Stockwell, Bob Shepard, Paul Towle, and Ryan Dutton.
The Mekkelsen RV 358 Modifieds saw Gene Pierson and Carl Murray bringing the field to their first green of the night. Pierson jumped to an early lead and proceeded to put some distance between himself and the pack. Murray quickly regained his footing and began to work on Pierson first high then low but with no avail. As the two fought for position the rest of the pack quickly caught up with the duo and when the opportunity presented itself worked their way by. Troy Gray now clear of traffic took flight checking out on the field. With him were Jim Ryan and Dan Douville for the top three.
Feature finish: Troy Gray, Jim Ryan, Dan Douville, Chris Donnelly, Rick Martel, Carl Murray, Gene Pierson Jr., John Landry, Jack Cook, Terry Hayes, Richie Gilpatric, and Brian Whittemore.
In the second go-round it was the 358 Modifieds boys who were competing in a Twin State event Plus a Lebanon Valley Race of Kings Qualifying position. The man on a mission this time was Dan Douville as he took the lead at the start and pretty much led the whole show quickly distancing himself from the pack and any serious threats from his competitors. Jim Ryan prepared to defend his Twin State position of king of the hill had to get out his back up car for the second event and worked his way from the back to finish second; following them for third was Troy Gray.
Feature finish: Dan Douville, Jim Ryan, Troy Gray, Chris Donnelly, Carl Murray, John Landry, Rick Martel, Brian Whittemore, Gene Pierson Jr., Jack Cook, Terry Hayes, and Richie Gilpatric.
In the Journal Opinion Fast Fours it would be Lenny Garduno, Chris McKinstry and Andy Johnson claiming the Interstate Battery of New-Mont trophies. Going into this first event McKinstry and Johnson were tied in the points standings, and starting from deep in the pack, stuck together like glue as they worked their way to the front. With some great four wide racing they would quickly make their through traffic, running out of time to challenge Garduno. Following the top three to the line for fourth and fifth was Jeff Perry and Wayland Childs.
Feature finish: Lenny Garduno, Chris McKinstry, Andy Johnson, Jeff Perry, Wayland Childs, Steve Bell, Dan Johnson, Dean Switser Jr., Kelly Miller, Robert Bell, Tim Martin, Bill Simmons, Bobby Bell Jr., Keith Yarrick, Tim Murphy, Chandra Ryan, Dave Stearns, and Matt Piper.
The second round was like an episode out of the twilight zone as this group of drivers seemed to forget how to drive, with cautions plaguing the first half of the event. After too many cautions to count and numerous visits to the track to speak to one driver or another, the checkers finally waved with Andy Johnson, Chris McKinstry and Dean Switser Jr. the victory lane visitors. Completing the top five was Matt Piper and Jeff Perry.
Feature finish: Andy Johnson, Chris McKinstry, Dean Switser Jr., Jeff Perry, Lenny Garduno, Wayland Childs, Steve Bell, Dan Johnson, Kelly Miller, Robert Bell, Tim Martin, Bill Simmons, Bobby Bell Jr., Keith Yarrick, Tim Murphy, Chandra Ryan, Dave Stearns, and Matt Piper.
In the 4 cylinder enduros it was Troy Randall for the win followed by Vincent D’Auria, Chris King, Mike Mooney, Dave Donlon, Jeremy Stygles, Ernest Conkin, Eric Ware, Melissa King, Mark Parker.
In the V-8 Enduros it was Frank Thurston, Shane Race, Jeremy Huntoon, matt Ellsworth, Joe Roubel, Patrick Burnett, Chris Spear, Baxter Doty, James Rhodes and Roland Bigelow completing the top ten.
This Saturday August 23rd it is Swenson Insurance night with a full card of racing including the Mekkelsen RV 358 Modifieds, Gilmour Ford-Chrysler Sportsman Coupes, H.O. Taylor Chevrolet Pro Streets and the Journal Opinion Fast Fours plus a Tri Track 4 Cylinder Enduro and the Sprint Cars.
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. For more information including the 2003 schedules you can log on to: www.bearridgespeedway.com. Sister track Canaan Fair Speedway is located on Orange Rd in Canaan NH just 12 short miles from I-89. www.canaanfairspeedway.com any questions can be sent to aprilmay@earthlink.net.