–by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
 VMM Editor

BRADFORD, Vt. – Chris Donnelly needed all 30 laps to earn his fifth Sprint Cars of New England feature win of the season.

The Piermont, N.H. driver made a last lap pass on rookie driver Chad Turck to claim the win.

The win for Donnelly was his second of the season at Bear Ridge.

Donnelly started the 30-lap feature evenet in the 13th spot and had moved into the top-five at the midway point. From there, Donnelly made quick work to move into third by lap 19 as Turck worked around leader Chris Clark for the lead.

Donnelly chased Turck until lap 27, when Donnelly peaked to the outside of Turck. Donnelly would pull even with Turck as the two raced under the white flag. Donnelly would then sneak in front of Turck, taking his lane away and driving to the win.

“It was a good night,” Donnelly said in victory lane. “It was a heck of a race. I knew with the laps winding down that I had to try something. I was hoping that I wouldn’t lose anything.

“Chad was real good to me. I kind of took his lane away and he probably had every right to move me out of the way. But he didn’t and that’s what makes these Sprint Cars guys real good to race with.”

The win for Donnelly came after his team suffered issues early in the evening and looked to a competitor for assistance.

“We had a rough night. We broke the car even before we got to start it,” Donnelly said. “They got it fixed. I have to thank Dan Douville for loaning me the parts.”

The rookie driver Turck of Pittsfield, N.H. settled for second.

“It’s been a heck of a rookie year. I’d like to think that I’m doing better every week,” Turck said. “I don’t know if I am or I’m just getting lucky.”

For Turck, he had a ringing endorsement from the winner’s circle.

“(Turck) has come a long way,” Donnelly said. “He came out of a Modified and he took it real easy and did it the right way. And now he’s picked up a lot of speed and he’s starting to get good finishes.

“It won’t be long and he’ll be running up front all the time.”

Kevin Chaffee and Dan Douville battled each other through the field, with Bradford’s Chaffee besting Douville on a three-wide pass of Clark to finish third. The defending champion Douville of Bridgewater, N.H. finished fourth while Luke Greenwood of Hudson, N.H. finished fifth, unofficially.

Clark, Dennis McLeod, Matt Hoyt, Ryan Avery, and Jake Williams completed the top-ten finishers.

The Sprint Cars of New England run on Sunday, September 4 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Valley Floors 30
Sprint Cars of New England
Bear Ridge Speedway, Bradford, Vt.
Saturday, September 3, 2016

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# — denotes rookie)

1. (13) Chris Donnelly, Piermont, N.H.
2. (3) # Chad Turck, Pittsfield, N.H.
3. (12) Kevin Chaffee, Bradford, Vt.
4. (11) Dan Douville, Bridgewater, N.H.
5. (9) Luke Greenwood, Hudson, N.H.
6. (1) Chris Clark, Vershire, Vt.
7. (2) Dennis McLeod, Concord, N.H.
8. (16) # Matt Hoyt, Campton, N.H.
9. (5) # Ryan Avery, Campton, N.H.
10. (8) Jake Williams, Center Tuftonboro, N.H.
11. (14) Tyler Austin, West Fairlee, Vt.
12. (10) Will Hull, Plainfield, Vt.
13. (6) Scott Holcomb, East Granby, Conn.
14. (4) # Mike Chaffee, East Corinth, Vt.
15. (15) Lauren Boisvert, Danbury, N.H.
16. (7) Lacey Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
17. (17) Patrick Smith, East Andover, N.H.

PHOTO: Chris Donnelly picked up his fifth Sprint Cars of New England feature win of the season on Saturday night at Bear Ridge Speedway. (T.J. Ingerson/VMM photo)