PHOTO: Bryan King (#X) scoots under Evan Kingsbury (#32) for the winning pass in the Sportsman Modified feature. (Alan Ward photo)
Williams nips Pierson for Coupe checkers, Fornwalt again in Late Models
(From track press release)
BRADFORD — Veteran stock car driver Bryan King of Corinth, VT sneaked into victory lane on Miller Auto Group Night at Bear Ridge Speedway on Saturday. King used a lapped car to execute a “pick” move with just two laps remaining in the 35-lap Bond Auto Parts DIRTcar Sportsman Modified feature and steal the lead from Evan Kingsbury.
Kingsbury, of Bradford, VT, drove the best race of his young Modified career to hold for the runner-up finish after leading the first 33 laps. Justin Comes of Middlebury, VT won a heated multi-car battle for third. “If it wasn’t for that lapped car, I probably wouldn’t have got [Kingsbury],” King said. “It just took that little bit and I got him.”
Kingsbury was disappointed in losing the race but was happy with his finish. He and Comes both credited Miller Auto Group, an automotive dealer in West Lebanon, NH that also offers many of the factory-built General Motors racing engines used in the Modified class. “I was hoping those lapped cars would get out of the way, but unfortunately they didn’t,” Kingsbury said. “I want to thank Miller Auto Group. Without these engines I don’t know if I’d be racing – they make it pretty inexpensive to do this.”
Adam Pierson finished fourth with Gary Siemons fifth. Jason Gray recovered from a six-car pileup at lap 7 to finish sixth unofficially, followed by Dan Eastman, Mike Dunn, Josh Sunn, and Jeff Elliott.
Terry Williams of Wells River, VT won the 30-lap Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe feature in a thrilling finish with Gene Pierson. Williams nipped East Corinth, VT driver Pierson at the line by less than a car length. Steve Ellsworth, Jason Horniak, and Josh Harrington completed the top five, followed by Josh Constantine, Jeremy Beckley, Jeff Robbins, Teddy Salomaa, and Mike McGinley.
Fifteen year-old Jordan Fornwalt of Bradford, VT posted his third A Notch Above Automotive Limited Late Model win of the season in a 20-lap feature. Mike Greene of North Haverhill, NH was second with Brian Chaffee, Jeremy Hodge, and Travis King in tow.
Danny Doyle of Rochester, VT drove past Kevin Harran on the final lap to win the 20-lap Weglarz Property Service Fast Four feature. Harran was second, followed by Rob Gioia, Bobby Bell, and Tim Martin.
Defending champion Eric Lang of Groton, VT won the three-segment, cumulatively scored KDD NAPA Auto Parts Hornet “Madness” event. Lang, who was involved in at least two of the race’s several multi-car crashes, finished second, fourth, and second in three 18-lap segments to post total low score of 8 points. Brent Warren (5th, 1st, 3rd = 9 points) was second overall, with Don Reynolds (4th, 2nd, 7th = 13 points) third, unofficially.
Rich Crooker of Nashua, NH posted a convincing win in the Granite State Mini Sprint 600cc feature, coming from more than a quarter-lap behind to beat Jake Williams and Troy Boissoneau for his second Bear Ridge win of the season. Josh Boissoneau of Bedford, NH won his second 500cc race of the season after a tight, back-and-forth battle with Patrick Smith. Derrick Barker was third.
Bear Ridge Speedway’s 45th season of stock car racing continues with Jiffy Mart of Bradford Night on Saturday, June 16. An open-cockpit doubleheader is on tap with the WYKR Sprint Cars of New England and the USAC Dirt Midget Association, plus a full card of the 99ROCK Weekly Racing Series Modifieds, Coupes, Late Models, Fast Fours, and Hornets. Special general admission is $13 for adults (age 18-61), $10 for teens (12-17) and seniors (62+), and $2 for children; Visa and MasterCard are accepted. Racing begins at the famous “6:00-ish” start time.
Bear Ridge Speedway is located on Kidder Road in Bradford, VT, just off Exit 16 on Interstate 91. For more information, call (802) 222-4052 or visit www.bearridgespeedway.com.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS — Miller Auto Group Night
Bear Ridge Speedway — Bradford, VT
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Pos.-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
Bond Auto DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Feature
1. Bryan King, Corinth
2. Evan Kingsbury, Bradford
3. Justin Comes, Middlebury
4. Adam Pierson, Fairlee
5. Gary Siemons, Orford, N.H.
6. Jason Gray, East Thetford
7. Dan Eastman, Thetford Center
8. Mike Dunn, North Haverhill, N.H.
9. Josh Sunn, White River Junction
10. Jeff Elliott, Benton, N.H.
Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe Feature
1. Terry Williams, Wells River
2. Gene Pierson, Jr., East Corinth
3. Steve Ellsworth, Corinth
4. Jason Horniak, Bradford
5. Josh Harrington, Topsham
6. # Josh Constantine, East Corinth
7. Jeremy Beckley, Woodsville, N.H.
8. Jeff Robbins, Woodsville, N.H.
9. Teddy Salomaa, Bradford
10. Mike McGinley, East Barre
A Notch Above Automotive Limited Late Model Feature
1. Jordan Fornwalt, Bradford
2. Mike Greene, Jr., Pike, N.H.
3. Brian Chaffee, West Topsham
4. Jeremy Hodge, Newbury
5. # Sam Comeau, Rumney, N.H.
Weglarz Property Service Fast Four Feature
1. Danny Doyle, Rochester
2. Kevin Harran, St. Johnsbury
3. Rob Gioia, East Thetford
4. Bobby Bell, St. Johnsburu
5. Tim Martin, White River Junction
KDD NAPA Auto Parts Hornet “Madness” Feature Overall Finish
1. Eric Lang, Groton
2. Brent Warren, Salisbury
3. Don Reynolds, Springfield
4. Mike Stender, South Strafford
5. # Brandon Gray, East Thetford
Granite State Mini Sprint 600cc Feature
1. Rich Crooker, Nashua, N.H.
2. Jake Williams, Center Tuftonboro, N.H.
3. Troy Boissoneau, Bedford, N.H.
Granite State Mini Sprint 500cc Feature
1. Josh Boissoneau, Bedford, N.H.
2. Patrick Smith, East Andover, N.H.
3. # Derrick Barker, Thetford
