56th opening night at the Ridge goes in the record books a huge success sponsored by F.M.S. NAPA Auto Parts of Bradford VT.

56th opening night at the Ridge goes in the record books a huge success.

For Immediate Release BRS-050620231

It was a full day of activities and racing action with festivities starting at the Bradford Fair Grounds with over eighty cars showing off their machines for the many fans who stopped by. A huge thank you goes out to the Fair committee for holding this annual event. From there the drivers made their way up to the Ridge for their first spin around the famed quarter mile clay oval in an exclusive practice session for the attendees before the rest of the competition arrived putting close to a hundred drivers in the pits anxious to grab the first green flag of the 56th opening consecutive season of racing at the Ridge. We can’t thank the fans, the competitors, crews, and families enough for making our opening night of our 56th consecutive season always owned or operated by the same family such a huge success!! THANK YOU.
The Bear Ridge Family had a tough offseason, loosing three of their dear friends. Before the features began all drivers and crews made their way to the infield and circled the track to give these three a proper send off. Leading the parade in his pace car were son Bob and April May with Mr. VIP Ernie Griffin, following was Travis King with Craig Wyman (racer, flagger, track official) and then Richie Simmons with Robin Durphey (gas & tire lady plus what ever else she was needed for). Seeing the track lined shoulder to shoulder was a very emotional event, and we know they have joined our other family members to keep the heavens rumbling with a track they have built up there! Gods speed to each of them, they will be in our hearts forever.
The first feature winners of the 56th consecutive season sponsored by F.M.S. NAPA Auto Parts of Bradford VT were Richie Simmons in the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds; Tim Hodge in the Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes; Extreme DIRTcar DMA Midgets Justin Sheridan, High Country Dispensary Late Models Matt Lashua, LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks Pat Wheeler, Woodsville Power Equipment Ridge Runners Hayden Bishop.
Jason Gray the past three seasons reigning champion of the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds figured he had it sewed up after the redraw put him starting on the outside pole for the main event, but the pole sitter Richie Simmons was not about to let him have it without a fight. After a bit of a rocky start with back-to-back cautions on lap one Simmons would get the jump on Gray and stay at the point surviving one more restart on lap six and from there the green flag laps kicked off quickly with Gray unable to make the move to the point. Simmons scores his first win since mid season of 2022. Gray crosses the line in 2nd, probably a bit tired after running a half K marathon that morning, with Max Dolliver, returning the to dirt after a run on the asphalt last year coming home in the final victory lane spot, third. DJ Robinson and Josh Sunn, back in the saddle after his wild ride last year, completed the top five.
In the Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes missing from the line up was Tad Kingsbury who also is a three seasons reigning champion, opening up the stage for some new winners. Tim Hodge got the jump on the restart after the Ricky Sanville broke and was able to hold off Ryan Christian for the first twelve laps. Christian got the chance he needed to get by Hodge on lap thirteen and held on for five laps before Hodge regained control and went on to capture the win, putting both Gary Corsi stable machines in victory lane on opening night. Christian maintained second place with Josh Harrington taking third. Cooper Hodge and Jason Horniak rounded out the top five.
In the newly branded Extreme DIRTcar DMA Midgets Justin Sheridan coming from the third row of the field took the lead away from Daniel Piastka on lap fourteen and was able to hold off the competition to cross the line first for the win. Manny Dias who started on the point fell back to third but was able to regain his footing to cross the line in second his first podium finish in over two years, with Will Hull returns to victory lane after a bit of a drought crossing the line in third. Brandon Piastka and Chris Murray rounded out the top five.
It was a walk in the park for Matt Lashua doing double duty first in the High Country Dispensary Late Models. Starting from the outside pole Lashua grabs the lead on lap three and cruises on to get recorded with the win beating out a newcomer Scott Heath and Rob French who crossed the line second and third respectfully. Mark Cole and Kelly Miller Sr completed the top five. asl doing double duty who crossed tight behind in second. Kelly Miller Sr grabbed the final victory lane spot with Trevor Strong and Rookie Parker Piper coming home in fourth and fifth respectfully.
In the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks it may be a Wheeler but not the Wheeler we have seen behind the wheel the past couple of years. Coming out of retirement, dad Pat is back behind the wheel taking over for son Lucas who is taking a year off to spend more time with family. With dad crossing the line first, who taught who? we expect to probably see more of Lucas in the pits than he expected to be!. Garrett Brown and Andrew Fitzgerald joined Wheeler in victory lane. Another name of years gone by out of retirement Bryan King in another X machine comes home in fourth with Aren Keened taking home fifth.
The Woodsville Power Equipment Ridge Runners once again invade the Ridge with an excellent car count. Hayden Bishop was able to hold off the pack to score his first win since last June. Bishop held of Cameron Kenny and last year’s champ Logan Martin for the hard-fought win. Tom Brown and Travis King rounded out the top five.
Coming up this Saturday May 13th sponsored by Forward’s Garage and Forward’s Plumbing LLC’s is the first of two events hosted by Sabil and Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds, for the VP Racing Fuels DIRTcar Sportsman East Series. The event sponsored will see the winner taking home $1,056.00 and everyone taking the green a minimum $100.00. In addition, you can expect a full card of racing with the Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes, High Country Dispensary Late Models, LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks, Woodsville Power Equipment Ridger Runners and visiting when at the Ridge R.E. Hinkley Granite State Mini Sprints. The Extreme DIRTcar DMA Midgets are off, returning to action on May 20th. This is a SPECIAL ADMISSION show with adults, teens and seniors at $15.00.
Remember in today’s society we could all use a little more family entertainment, and the Ridge is your best place to be for just that. The admission price is more than reasonable; the show top-notch, the food superior, and the family friendly atmosphere is just what you are looking for!
Tune in to hear April May and Butch as they join Stephen John for all the highlights of Bear Ridge Speedway from the week before and what is coming up every Friday morning from 6:30 to 7:00 on WYKR.
The price of a regular show general admission (front gate) ticket for adults (ages 17 to 61) is $12.00 a person. Seniors 62 and older $10.00. Teens 12 to 16 WITH a paying adult $10.00, and children 11 and under WITH a paying Adult $2.00. Military Discounts are available at $2.00 off for those with a valid ID. The back gate (pit gate) ticket price for Bear Ridge Speedway and DIRTcar 2023 license holders is $30.00. Non-license holders are $35.00 (both prices include the front gate ticket.)
Bear Ridge Speedway is as an alcohol-free family friendly entertainment spot, with our goal to make each experience at the Ridge better than the last. We continue to offer the best source of good inexpensive high-quality entertainment for families.
Please stay safe and be kind to others!
Visa and MasterCard are accepted. Racing begins at the famous “6:00-ish” start time every Saturday starting in May thru September.
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. Questions can be sent to brsdirt@charter.net Visa and Master card accepted

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – 56th Season of Racing sponsored by FMS NAPA Auto Parts of Bradford VT night
99ROCK Weekly Racing Series
Bear Ridge Speedway — Bradford, VT
Saturday May 6, 2023

Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds (35 laps)

1st 34 Richie Simmons
2nd 00 Jason Gray
3rd 29 Max Dolliver
4th 4 DJ Robinson
5th 11 Josh Sunn
6th 91nh James Fadden
7th 631 Todd Buckwold
8th 42T Robert Tucker
9th 26 Jeremy Huntoon
10th 3 Jeff Huntington
11th 17 Jim Morgan
12th 66 Tim Churchill
13th 16 Brian Chaffee
14th 86 Mike Ryan
15th 33 Melvin Pierson
16th 24p Ashton Pierson ®
17th 83 Tim Martin
18th 21 Earl Maxham
19th 116 Cainen Schulz
20th 9h Chris Huntington
21st 6 Jason Horniak
22nd 18 Matt Lashua
23rd 3H Kyle Huntington ®
24th 51 Brian Bigue

HEAT one: Jason Gray
HEAT two: Richie Simmons

Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes (30 Laps)

1st 2 Tim Hodge
2nd 10 Ryan Christian
3rd 11 Josh Harrington
4th 17 Cooper Hodge
5th 3 Jason Horniak
6th 69 Alexander Pushee
7th 28 Bob Shepard
8th 21e Matt Ellsworth
9th 91 Alfred O’Haire
10th 8 Steven Gardner
11th 18 Michael Danforth JR ®
12th 12 Cody Gregoropoulos
13th 93 Ricky Sanville

24 Jeremy Beckley DNS
20 Todd Hayward DNS

HEAT one: Tim Hodge
HEAT two: Ricky Sanville

Extreme DIRTcar DMA Midgets Feature (25 laps)

1st 17 Justin Sheridan
2nd 3 Manny Dias
3rd 2 Will Hull
4th 7 Brandon Piastka
5th 76 Chris Murray ®
6th 14 Nicki Ouellette ®
7th 91 Wayne Koehler
8th 52 Todd Mable
9th 55 James Fitzgerald
10th 0 Keith Brown ®
11th 1B Daniel Piastka
12th 25 Colin Clow ®
13th 18 Mike Chaffee
14th 5 Mike Netishen

HEAT one: Justin Sheridan
HEAT two: Daniel Piastka

High Country Dispensary Late Model Feature (20 Laps)

1st 316 Matt Lashua
2nd 16 Scott Heath ®
3rd 46 Rob French
4th 6x Mark Cole
5th 04 Kelly Miller Sr
6th 98 JP Vaillancourt
7th 13 Jason Porter
8th 18 Dana Carter ®
9th 32 Tyler Tremblay

HEAT one: Matt Lashua

LaValley’s Building Supply Dirt Stockers (20 Laps)

1st 21 Pat Wheeler
2nd 89 Garrett Brown ®
3rd 55 Andrew Fitzgerald
4th X Bryan King
5th 35 Aren Keene
6th 22 Mike Mann
7th 5j John Fields
8th 25 Timothy Blake
9th 18D Dawn Rumrill
10th 49 Hunter Garduno
11th 60 Dustin Towle
12th 6x Chris Cole
13th 32 Tyler Tremblay

82 Mike McClay DNS
69x AJ Pushee DNS
03 Joshua Paton DNS

HEAT one: Andrew Fitzgerald
HEAT two: Timothy Blake

Peanuts Auto LLC Ridge Runners (20 laps)

1st 30 Hayden Bishop
2nd 163 Cameron Kenny
3rd 44 Logan Martin
4th 98 Tom Brown
5th 21 Travis King
6th 54 Katie Burroughs
7th 43 Spencer Braley
8th 12 Devon Spinks
9th 97 Cary Hunter
10th 24 Bobby Bell
11th 50 Matt Lucas
12th 17 Shane Stygles
13th 51 Westley Blake
14th 35 Kevin LaBree
15th 64 Matthew Durphey ®
16th 92 Geoff Durphey
17th 07 Cory Collins ®
18th 63 Doug Kenny
19th 56 Anna Ricker
20th 19 Tim Morrill
21st 28 Randy Morrill
22nd 11 Daegan Spinks

24th 55 Ricky Stygles DNS

HEAT one: Travis King
HEAT two: Logan Martin

Joe Mama’s Sporting Goods 4/6 Cylinder Enduro
First Event 5/27/2023
-30-
Contact: April May Preston-Elms Email: brsdirt@gmail.com
Phone: (802) 222-4052