BRADFORD — It’s usually a tall order to jump into a racecar and be successful immediately, especially a dirt Modified. Apparently no one told Mike Dunn.

The North Haverhill, N.H., driver finished third in championship points at Bear Ridge Speedway in 2009, handily winning Rookie of the Year honors. Saturday night he took his career one step further by dominating a 30-lap feature at the track, earning his first main event win.

Dunn’s focus has been on going to the track simply to have fun, but winning may have changed his drive.

“I have the same amount of fun every week no matter how I finish, and I didn’t think it could get any better,” Dunn said, “but this is something I want to do every week now.”

Dunn started from the pole position and led every lap en route to his victory. He pulled away from the pack early and did the same after a mid-race restart bunched the field. Jason Gray of East Thetford finished a season-best second, in front of an exciting battle for third between rookie Dan Eastman and former track champion Adam Pierson; Eastman would get the spot, with Jack Cook fifth.

Milton’s Scott Dragon won the second annual Dragon family special event, beating his uncle, New England Auto Racing Hall of Famer Harmon “Beaver”
Dragon in a 20-lap, two-segment race that saw multiple lead changes between all four competitors including American-Canadian Tour star Brent Dragon and Bobby Dragon, another Hall of Famer.

Scott Dragon, a three-time American-Canadian Tour winner now competing with the Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models, was in his first race on dirt.

“I’d come back again, absolutely. What a blast,” he said. “It took all I had to keep the car under control, but it was fun.”

Gene Pierson, Jr., of East Corinth took his first Sportsman Coupe win of the season in a hard-fought event, battling with Corinth’s Bryan King for most of the race. King slipped back to third as Bradford’s Jason Horniak came through for the runner-up spot in the final laps. Melvin Pierson and Mike McGinley completed the top-five.

Will Hull of East Montpelier held off a late charge from Jeremy Hodge to win the Limited Late Model feature, while White River Junction driver Josh Sunn extended his undefeated streak to four races in the Fast Four division. Bobby Bell of St. Johnsbury took advantage of a wheel failure by Tom Placey to win the Hornet feature.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS — Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Night
Bear Ridge Speedway, Bradford, Vt.
Saturday, June 5, 2010

(Pos.-Driver-Hometown)
# – denotes rookie

Bond Auto Sportsman Modified
1. Mike Dunn, North Haverhill, N.H.
2. Jason Gray, East Thetford
3. #Dan Eastman, Thetford Center
4. Adam Pierson, Fairlee
5. Jack Cook, Moultonboro, N.H.
6. Bryan King, Corinth
7. Gary Siemons, Orford, N.H.
8. #Justin Comes, Middlebury
9. Brian Whittemore, Florence
10. #Derek Graham, Woodsville, N.H.

Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe
1. Gene Pierson, Jr., East Corinth
2. Jason Horniak, Bradford
3. Bryan King, Corinth
4. Melvin Pierson, East Corinth
5. Mike McGinley, East Barre
6. Josh Harrington, Topsham
7. Chris Carbee, South Ryegate
8. #Jeremy Beckley, Woodsville, N.H.
9. Buster Kathan, Ludlow
10. Robert Tucker, Topsham

A Notch Above Auto Limited Late Model
1. Will Hull, East Montpelier
2. Jeremy Hodge, Newbury
3. Tyler Stygles, Bradford
4. T.C. Forward, Lyme, N.H.
5. Jason Blake, Moretown

Journal Opinion Fast Four
1. Josh Sunn, White River Junction
2. Kevin Harran, St. Johnsbury
3. Andy Johnson, Wilder
4. Josh Connor
5. Robert Tilden, East Thetford

KDD NAPA Hornet
1. Bobby Bell, St. Johnsbury
2. Mark Nichols, Piermont, N.H.
3. David West, Jr., Wilder
4. Karl Sheldon, St. Johnsbury
5. #Jesse Smith, Topsham