Danforth grabs third Sportsman Coupe win
–by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
VMM Editor
BRADFORD – Todd Buckwold picked a good night to celebrate his first career Bear Ridge Speedway win.
The Orange, N.H. driver claimed the win in the 40-lap Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modified feature on the Spencer Rocke Memorial event, the late father of close friend and fellow competitor Trevor Rocke.
Buckwold took the lead on lap 28 from Rocke and pulled away. A lap 32 caution flag put Rocke and Matt Lashua on his rear bumper, but Buckwold pulled away and claimed career win number one.
Canaan, N.H. driver Rocke, who led from lap 11 until he surrendered the top spot to Buckwold, finished second. Their friend, Lashua of Canaan, N.H., finished third to complete a celebratory victory lane.
Point leader Adam Pierson of East Corinth came on strong late to finish fourth with Bradford’s Jordan Fornwalt fifth. Jason Gray, who made his first Bear Ridge start of the season, finished sixth with Robert Tucker, Lenny Pillsbury, Terry Williams, and Richie Simmons completing the top-ten finishers.
Michael Danforth claimed his third Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe feature win in their 30-lap event.
The Corinth driver worked around the outside of leader Stan Otterman on lap 25 to take the top spot. That came following a lap 20 restart that saw Otterman claim the top spot from Buster Kathan.
Josh Harrington of Topsham finished second with point leader Jason Horniak, who battled back from a mid-race incident, third. Second place point driver Matt Ellsworth and Todd Hayward completed the top-five finishers with Mike Chaffee, Bob Shepard, Jason Colbeth, Thomas Placey, and Chris LaForest.
Wayland Childs took the lead midway through the 20-lap Mike Rivers Automotive Limited Late Model feature to claim his third straight win and fourth of the year.
Derrick Stearns of Bradford finished second with point leader Tim Martin of White River Junction third.
Maine driver Jason Porter collected his first win in the 20-lap Weglarz Property Service Four Cylinder feature event.
Porter pulled away following an early race restart and collected the checkered flag. John Fields and Don Reynolds completed the top-five finishers.
Jim Durkee of Hartford finished second with Mike Ryan of Vershire third. Danny Doyle of Rochester beat out Jesse Durkee for the fourth spot at the checkered flag.
Tanner Siemons of Orford, N.H. won the 500cc Granite State Mini Sprint feature while Kyle Belliveau of Hopkinton, N.H. claimed the win in the 600cc Granite State Mini Sprint feature.
Bear Ridge will host its final point counting event of the season for their weekly racing divisions on Saturday, September 17 with the New England Dirt Track Championships with double points being counted for all feature divisions. Post time is 6:00pm.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Shake Valley Auto Spencer Rocke Memorial
Bear Ridge Speedway, Bradford, Vt.
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Pos.-Driver-Hometown
(# — denotes rookie)
Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds
1. # Todd Buckwold, Orange, N.H.
2. Trevor Rocke, Canaan, N.H.
3. Matt Lashua, Canaan, N.H.
4. Adam Pierson, East Corinth
5. Jordan Fornwalt, Bradford
6. Jason Gray, East Thetford
7. Robert Tucker, Topsham
8. Lenny Pillsbury, Cornish, N.H.
9. # Terry Williams, Wells River
10. Richie Simmons, Bradford
Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes (30 laps)
1. Michael Danforth, Corinth
2. Josh Harrington, Topsham
3. Jason Horniak, Bradford
4. Matt Ellsworth, Corinth
5. Todd Hayward, Bradford
6. Mike Chaffee, East Corinth
7. Bob Shepard, Topsham
8. Jason Colbeth, Newbury
9. Thomas Placey, Bradford
10. # Chris LaForest, Barre
Mike Rivers Automotive Limited Late Models (20 laps)
1. Wayland Childs, Chelsea
2. Derrick Stearns, Bradford
3. Tim Martin, White River Junction
4. John Fields, Lyme, N.H.
5. Don Reynolds, Springfield
Weglarz Property Service Four Cylinders (20 laps)
1. Jason Porter, Freeport, Maine
2. Jim Durkee, Hartford
3. Mike Ryan, Vershire
4. Danny Doyle, Rochester
5. Jesse Durkee, South Royalton
PHOTO: Todd Buckwold and his family celebrate their first career Bear Ridge Speedway DIRTcar Sportsman Modified feature win on Saturday night. (T.J. Ingerson/VMM photo)
