Jason Gray set Bear Ridge History with 5th consecutive championship in the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds. Michael Danforth is your Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes Champion
Bear Ridge Speedway Honors 57th Season Champions
Jason Gray set Bear Ridge History with 5th consecutive championship in
the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds.
Michael Danforth is your Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes Champion
For Immediate Release BRS-11102024-1
West Lebanon NH – Bear Ridge Speedway honored the champions from its 57th season of dirt track stock car racing on Friday night and Saturday nights November 8th & 9th. The two-night format featuring ‘Fendered Wheels’ on Friday night and ‘Open Wheels’ on Saturday night recognized seventy drivers, with over 350 crew members, sponsors, fans, and officials in attendance for a sold-out banquet hall each night at the Fireside Inn & Suites West Lebanon NH for the gala. More than $35,000 in prizes, awards and point fund purses were awarded.
Jason Gray of E Thetford VT was one of three drivers who headlined the Saturday night festivities with his fifth consecutive championship, the first in the history of Bear Ridge speedway in any division, in the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modified Champion (1st place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series). Gray beat out runner up Max Dolliver of Londonderry VT (7th place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series), Rookie sensation Tad Kingsbury of Corinth VT came home in third (9th place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series), Robert Tucker of East Corinth VT scored fourth (8th place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series) and Mike Ryan of Bethel VT completed the top five (11th place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series).
Todd Buckwold of Canaan NH (10th place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series),
Jeremy Huntoon of Bradford VT(2nd place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series),
Ashton Pierson of East Corinth VT (13th place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series), Kyle Huntington of Bradford VT (14th place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series) and Tim Churchill of Benton NH (5th place finisher in the DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Eastern Region Series)
were your 6th through 10th place finishers.
Michael Danforth JR of Corinth VT will go down in the record books as the youngest driver in the history of Bear Ridge Speedway to win a championship in a top tier division. Last year he took home the honors of Rookie of the year this year driving a car owned by and with the help of his grandfather Bear Ridge Speedway Hall of Famer Gene Pierson he claimed the crown of champion in the DIRTcar Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes (He finished 3rd in the 2024 DIRTcar Pro Stock Hoosier Tire Weekly Championship & Track Points). Danforth beat out last years track champion Tim Hodge of Vershire VT who came home in second, (5th in the 2024 DIRTcar Pro Stock Hoosier Tire Weekly Championship & Track Points). Jason Horniak of Bradford VT comes home third, (7th in the 2024 DIRTcar Pro Stock Hoosier Tire Weekly Championship & Track Points), Cody Gregoropoulos is fourth with Cooper Hodge of Newbury VT completing the top five. Terry Williams of Groton VT, Ricky Sanville of Canaan NH, Ali Pushee of W Topsham VT, Jason Gray of E Thetford VT, and Bob Shepard of W Topsham VT
were your 6th through 10th place finishers.
Brandon Piastka of W Suffield CT was the third of the three drivers who headlined the Saturday night festivities with his first championship in the XTREME DIRTCAR DMA Midgets for legendary New England Auto Racers Hall of Famer Ray Miller. Piastka beat last year’s champion Chris Murray of Rutland VT. Manny Dias from the Skip Matczak stable is third in points, with Daniel Piastka of Hartford CT, brother of the champ and a Miller Stable car fourth, and Ethan Durocher from the Matczak stable fifth. John Forlano of Long Island NY, Keith Brown of Hardwick MA, Wayne Koehler of Jewett NY, Will Hull of Plainfield VT and Todd Mable of Topsham VT were your 6th through 10th place finishers.
Kelly Miller Sr of Duxbury VT finally made it to the top and is crowned the 2024 champion in the High-Country Dispensary Late Models. Scott Heath of Warren NH is your runner up for the second year in a row, with Rob Rugg third. Matt Lashua of Canaan NH and Tim Higgins of Tunbridge VT completed the top five.
Aren Keene of E Hardwick VT in the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks is crowned your champion beating out the rookie of the year and runner up Keith Mansur of Canaan NH. Bryan King from Corinth VT is third, Dustin Towle of Corinth VT is fourth and Tyler Fellows from E Corinth VT, completes the top five. John Fields of Orford NH, Andrew Fitzgerald, Mike McClay of New Hampton NH, Matt Pike of Warren NH and Tim Blake from Winchester NH were your 6th through 10th place finishers.
Kevin LaForest of Northfield VT is back on top winning his second championship beating out Travis King from Corinth VT in the Woodsville Power Equipment Ridge Runners. Kelly Miller Jr of Johnson VT is scored in third with Randy Morrill of South Royalton VT fourth, Tim Davis of Woodsville NH completed the top five. Katie Burroughs of Groton VT, Shane Stygles of Piermont NH, Travis Burroughs of Groton VT, Stan Otterman of W Topsham VT, and Rick Stygles of White River Jct. VT were your 6th through 10th place finishers.
The Joe Mama’s Sporting Goods Four/Six Cylinder Enduro top five were recognized for their achievements. Tiellar Mitchell of Gilford NH was crowned the Champion beating out Scott Dowland of Island Pond VT who comes home in second. Lucas Balch of Thetford Ctr VT is recorded in third with Hunter Garduno of W Fairlee VT fourth. Dayton Blake of Lyndonville VT and Tim Colby of Sheffield VT tied for fifth.
Three “Triple Crown” awards were presented over the two nights to drivers for their achievement of ‘flying’ to the front three times in one night to win the heat race, Sting Vintage Race Cars Dash for Cash Semi Feature, and the main event. Two Woodsville Power Equipment Ridge Runners Tim Morrill and Kelly Miller Jr were recognized on Friday night, with Bob Shepard in the DIRTcar Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes recognized on Saturday night.
Special awards were given in several categories, headlined by the prestigious John Poor Memorial Award, given annually to one driver and or crew from DIRTcar Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes and DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modified divisions. John Poor was an important official at Bear Ridge Speedway for many years and the award bearing his name is given to drivers. John loved racing, wanting to see a good race with guys racing hard with each other in a pack for position. He rooted for the guy and or crew who worked hard every week did their homework and despite adversity was able to shake it off and show up at the track ready to put on a good show for the fans, be respectful of his fellow competitors and who had fun racing no matter what the outcome. In the DIRTcar Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes division Bob Shepard took home the honors and Max Dolliver in the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modifieds.
The Bob Shepard “Drive, Desire, Determination and Dedication” award, was awarded to driver Jason Horniak. This year we are recognizing a driver who has called Bear Ridge his home for over a decade. This individual is one of the most dedicated supporters of racing at Bear Ridge that I know. He is always trying to put on the best show possible and set a challenge to any and all contenders exhibiting the drive that is needed to be a top contender at the Ridge. He made it to the top once and continues to show the determination needed to make it back there. This year his unparallel desire to be at the track was seen when he and his family suffered a devastating tragedy with the unexpected loss of his mother. Had his friends not talked him out of it he was going to make the 8 hour plus trek back to the track to race the last race of the season, which frankly is enough to show all four of the award traits.
The Rookie of the year based on points was awarded to Tad Kingsbury in the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modified division, with Lucas Wheeler in the DIRTcar Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes. Tim Higgins in the High-Country Dispensary Late Models, Keith Mansur in the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks, and Kyle Morris in the Woodsville Power Equipment Ridge Runners.
The Ray Brown/John Bullis annual award is given out by our dear friend and one of our announcers, John Sleeper
Max Dolliver wins in the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modified division, with Cooper Hodge earning the honors in the DIRTcar Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes. John Forlano won the award in the XTREME DIRTcar DMA Midgets. Rob Rugg in the High-Country Dispensary Late Models. Mike McClay in the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks, and Tim Davis in the Woodsville Power Equipment Ridge Runners took home plaques.
The Most Popular Driver award is given to the driver with the most fan votes collected over the summer.
Robert Tucker wins in the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modified division, with Terry Williams earning the honors in the DIRTcar Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes. Daniel Piastka won the award in the XTREME DIRTcar DMA Midgets. Kelly Miller Sr in the High-Country Dispensary Late Models. Tim Blake in the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks, and Kelly Miller Jr in the Woodsville Power Equipment Ridge Runners took home plaques.
The Big Al’s Photos “What A Picture” Awards were given to Butch Elms in the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modified division, with Ricky Sanville earning the award in the DIRTcar Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes. Wayne Koehler won the award in the XTREME DIRTcar DMA Midgets. Tim Higgins in the High Country Dispensary Late Models, Dustin Towle in the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks, and Tim Davis in the Woodsville Power Equipment Ridge Runners took home plaques.
Most Improved and Sportsman of the Year were once again determined by competitor votes in their respective positions. Most Improved in the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modified division is Jeremy Huntoon, Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes AJ Pushee, XTREME DIRTcar DMA Midgets Keith Brown, High Country Dispensary Late Models Rob Rugg. LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks Tyler Fellows, and the Woodsville Power Equipment Ridge Runners Tim Davis.
Sportsman of the Year the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modified division is Mike Ryan, Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes Jason Horniak, XTREME DIRTcar DMA Midgets Jeff Horn, High Country Dispensary Late Models Scott Heath, LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stocks Matt Pike, and the Woodsville Power Equipment Ridge Runners Kevin LaForest.
The Bear Ridge Speedway Hall Fame inducted the seventh group of five members. Track champions Mike Gendron, Danny Douville, and Allen Whipple along with long time supports Bill Josler and David “Peanut” Lackie were inducted.
More than 70 prizes were given to racers by random draw. The nights were capped with two sessions of the deal or no deal event for seven lucky drivers, with seven prizes each night from a hat to a $500.00 gift certificate handed out. The top award of a $500.00 Bear Ridge Speedway gift certificate was taken home by Keith Mansur on Friday night and Lucas Wheeler on Saturday night.
Bear Ridge Speedway’s 57th season of stock car racing is now officially complete. The 2025 season begins on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Season Passes for 2025 are now available; information and order forms are online at www.bearridgespeedway.com.
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Contact: April May Preston-Elms Email: brsdirt@gmail.com Phone: (802) 222-4052
