Jiffy Mart of Bradford P&H Truck Stop press 6/13/15
The Fairlee Flyer Kevin Chaffee wins two out of three in the USAC DMA Midgets, DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds and Sprint Cars of New England feaures
For Immediate Release BRS-061315-1
BRADFORD, VT – Don’t blink because you may not see the Fairlee Flyer as he flies thru the pits to his next event. “Fairlee Flyer” Kevin Chaffee, Bradford VT was a mere two positions short of making it a triple crown, competing in not one, not two, but three divisions winning two of the events and finish third in the other. Having gotten the warm up feature in the Midgets under his belt, Chaffee took to the ¼ mile clay oval in his Bond Auto DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds sitting midpack of the full field of machines. Chaffee not in too much of a hurry worked his way methodically thru the pack, also taking advantage of the field being regrouped after a couple of cautions, to the front of the field. Josh Currier Newport NH started on point and looked to be headed for his first win of the season, surviving the bloody hounds on the restarts, but was not able to hold off the flyer as by lap 33 Chaffee said here I am and see ya later. Currier was able to hold on for the bridesmaid position for the night defending his spot from Jason Gray E Thetford VT who simply ran out of time to pick his way by Currier and set a challenge on Chaffee. At the checkers that is how the three would cross, as Chaffee made his second visit to victory lane for evening. Completing the top five were TC Forward and DJ Robinson, both with two of their better finishes for the season. Chaffee is the first repeat winner in the Bond Auto DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds for the 2015 season. Claiming the Blackmount semi feature win was DJ Robinson his second of the year.
The night’s activities sponsored by Jiffy Mart of Bradford and P&H Truck Stop Wells River offered a little bit of everything with the wingless Midgets the Winged Sprint Cars of New England, the regular open wheel and fendered divisions and some great old timers from the Atlantic Coast Old Timers Group. ACOT had 11 legends on display for the fans and four of the brave ones took this open cockpit machines out on the track for a little action of their own. Always a delight to see, and hard to believe how it was, these are great group of gents who everyone enjoys getting a peak at.
The WYKR Sprint Cars of New England after their four wide parade laps took the green 18 strong for their thirty lap main event. Always the ones to watch the three musketeers of Chaffee, Dan Douville, and Chris Donnelly starting 14th thru 16th respectfully put on the show as they zigged and zagged their way to the front of the field. Toby Tatro and Luke Greenwood were too busy to pay any thought to what was going on behind them as they duked it out in a battle swapping the lead back and forth between. Greenwood would lead the most but unfortunately not the most important one as the musketeers had arrived at the front and Chaffee after being told by the photographer in victory lane after his midget race that he would see two more times this night as the winner, suddenly saw that he might be right. Chaffee captured the lead on lap 23 taking point for the remainder of the race. Donnelly and Douville battled for the runner up position with Donnelly getting the spot and Douville having to settle for third. Chaffee did claim his second win of the night and his third visit to victory lane. Troy Comeau and Luke Greenwood completed the top five.
Slow and steady wins the race and the ageless wonder Bob Shepard Topsham VT showed everyone just how that can work in the Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes. While Shepard worked his way from the back of the park the battle for the lead was fought between Rookie Todd Hayward and wily veteran Melvin Pierson. For 26 of the 30 laps the two fought the fight never knowing that both were soon to fall prey to the 28 machine as Shepard finally knocked on their doors taking the lead with just four to go. Shepard returning to the coupes in what could be seen as dajavous with the color scheme the same as many a day gone by picture (now if only we could get him to grow his hair back like it was years ago) has been hungry for a win, having not seen one in a long time. No oxygen was needed for him for this visit to victory lane, proving to all that time does sometimes make you better. Pierson held off Hayward for second with Hayward recording his best finish of the season in the third and final victory lane spot. The other elder of the group Buster Kathan finished fourth with Teddy “Salad bar” Salomaa coming home in third.
The USAC DMA Midgets were back home and with five of the drivers doing at least double duty these drivers are getting plenty of seat time and making for stiffer competition for the remainder of the field. With ages ranging from teens to seniors and all equally capable of making it to victory lane this division offers plenty of edge of your seat excitement for the fans. The dominance of the Manafort stable continues as once again Adam Pierson E Corinth VT came from deep in the pack to claim his second win of the year. The Matczak stable struggling of late finally had an in their book winning night as both drivers finished and finished well. As the veteran Jeff Horn brought the field to the green holding the point for several laps before succumbing to the Miller Stable driver Dean Christensen, Horn eager for one more win in his 50 years of racing found himself looking in from the outside as he slipped his way back to seventh. Christensen led for the bulk of the laps, but when Pierson grabbed the lead with seven to go, knew he would end up having to settle for at best runner up. Runner up is what he held on to with Kevin Chaffee in the Matczak machine knocking on his door. Coming home in fourth in his debut in the USAC Midgets was Derek Graham. With Josh Sunn finishing out the top five.
The Crazy Ed’s Limited Late Models, with three cautions slowing the field saw Brandon Gray grab the lead on lap two and cruise on to his fifth win of the season. Matt Lashua came across the line in second failing to bring home his new baby of less than a week a first place trophy. Returning Derrick Ohearn came home in third. Tim Martin and James Fadden completed the top five.
The Weglarz Property Service/F.M.S. Auto Parts Four Cylinders last on the night with just one feature to run. A third winner is finally able to be recorded in the record books this year as only Mike Ryan and Matt Boucher have had the honors so far. Jesse Durkee in a rear wheel drive grabbed the lead from Mike Ryan with only five to go and made to the checkers first, the first rear wheel car in this combined division in two years. Boucher and Ryan battled for the remaining top to victory lane spots with Boucher coming in one better the Ryan. Rounding out the top five were Jacob Roy and Justin Severance.
Bear Ridge Speedway’s 48th season of stock car racing continues on Saturday, June 20th sponsored by Wells River Savings Bank with a full card of racing plus the Four Cylinder make up race from 5/30 and a 4/6 cylinder Enduro. (USAC DMA Midgets off). Regular admission pricing applies for the 99Rock Weekly Racing Series at $10 for adults (age 18-61), $8 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 – Jiffy Mart of Bradford & P&H Truck Stop
99ROCK Weekly Racing Series
Bear Ridge Speedway — Bradford, VT
Saturday, June 13th, 2015
Bond Auto DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Feature (40 laps)
1st 73 Kevin Chaffee
2nd 42c Josh Currier
3rd OO Jason Gray
4th 1x TC Forward
5th 4 DJ Robinson
6th 91 Tim Tucker
7th 42T Robert Tucker
8th 15 Adam Pierson
9th 24 Jordan Fornwalt
10th 10s Ryan Christian
11th 9 Michael Dunn
12th O1 Mike Gendron
13th 34 Richie Simmons
14th 20 Chris Chambers
15th 40 Steven Flint
16th 12c Jamie Ferland®
17th 11 Josh Sunn
18th 88 Thomas Kimball
19th 79 Ray Johnson®
20th 14 Tim Williams ®
21st 10 Derek Graham
22nd 115 Tom Forward
DNS 5 Gary Siemons
Blackmount Equipment Sales Semi Feature winner: #4 DJ Robinson
Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe Feature (30 laps)
1st 28 Bob Shepard
2nd 33 Melvin Pierson
3rd 17 Todd Hayward®
4th 13 Buster Kathan
5th 8 Teddy Salomaa
6th 44 Michael Danforth
7th 24 Jeremy Beckley
8th 21e Matt Ellsworth
9th 71 Josh Harrington
10th 18 Jason Colbeth
11th 2 Tim Hodge
12th 11 Martin Mastic
13th 43 Earl Maxham
14th 16 Brian Chaffee
15th 3 Jason Horniak
16th 22 Thomas Placey
17th 5 Jonathon Covey®
USAC DMA Midgets Feature (25 laps)
1st 76 Adam Pierson
2nd 69 Dean Christensen
3rd 4 Kevin Chaffee
4th 5 Derek Graham
5th 67 Josh Sunn
6th 47 Scott Holcomb
7th 1R Jeff Horn
8th 64 Andrew Barrows
9th 12 Adam Whitney
10th 57 Dylan Duhaime
11th 1W Ray Miller
12th 46 Kenney Johnson
13th 33 Tim Gallant
14th 15 Jeff Champagne
15th 18c Mike Chaffee
16th 96 Rob Williams
DNS 10 Rich Blanchard
Elliott Beveridge dash winner Adam Pierson
Crazy Ed’s Limited Late Model Feature (20 laps)
1st OO Brandon Gray
2nd 18 Matt Lashua
3rd 55 Derrek O’Hearn
4th 83 Tim Martin ®
5th 91 James Fadden
6th 5T Travis Smith
7th 2 Derrek Stearns
8th 3 David Stearns
Weglarz Property Management/F.M.S. Auto Parts 4-Cylinder Feature (20 laps)
1st 88 Jesse Durkee
2nd 61 Matt Boucher
3rd 86 Mike Ryan
4th 11vt Jacob Roy
5th 4J Justin Severance ®
6th 87 Don Reynolds
7th 3 Charlie Lakin
8th 13 Hunter Garduno
9th 28 Jim Durkee
10th 8 Sean Perron
11th 75 Derrik Counter
12th 65 Robert Welch ®
13th 23 Jason Porter
14th 11 Kaitlyn Coates ®
15th 78 Richard Potwin
16th 17 Justin Blakely ®
17th 12 Shawn Chaloux ®
18th 31 Lisa Austin (DNS)
19th 68 Derrick Durkee (DNS)
20th o7 Shawn Pallas (DNS)
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Contact: April May Preston Email: brsdirt@charter.net
Phone: (802) 222-4052