Showing posts with label Ryan Avery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ryan Avery. Show all posts

Thursday, May 27, 2010

The Juice: The Big Beginning

-by Justin St. Louis
VMM Editor

The 2010 racing season started quite a while ago in this neck of the woods. Vivid, teeth-chattering memories of the opener at Waterford Speedbowl in Connecticut still swirl in this writer's head like so many windblown snowflakes that fell during the drive up Interstate 89 on the journey home that March night. New England has been racing for two solid months now, and even we wintry Vermonters have enjoyed one form of on-track action or another since the first Thunder Road practice in mid-April.

But for all intents and purposes, this weekend is the big beginning.

Memorial Day weekend is traditionally the most celebrated in motorsports, whether it's the Indianapolis 500, NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, or the grind of weekly short tracks around the country. For the first time this year, all three Vermont speedplants will be open this weekend, and -- along with the well-timed 90-degree weather -- we can all welcome the arrival of the summer racing season.

If you can't find something to do at a race track this weekend, well, you're not trying very hard.

***

Congratulations to Jerry Richards and the management at Devil's Bowl Speedway for such a successful opening event on the new asphalt. The crowd was one of the largest in the speedway's 44-year history, and the racing was competitive and exciting, with lots of side-by-side racing. Dave Pembroke and Mike Bruno put on a great show for the win, and Grant Folsom even did his part by getting upside down on the frontstretch in front of the packed grandstand.

We're looking forward to rest of the season at Vermont's fastest half-mile.

***

From the "Beating A Dead Horse Even Deader" file: Is it totally ironic that Patrick Laperle won the Série ACT-Castrol opener at Autodrome St-Eustache last weekend? Wasn't that the place where he decided after the season finale that he was so frustrated that he was done racing with ACT for a couple years?

What's so intriguing about Laperle is that he simply can't stay away, and that's only a good thing. He may butt heads with Donald Theetge or Tom Curley or whomever, but that's because Laperle has such an obvious fire-in-the-belly for competition and winning.

Last Saturday's win may have been as important for Laperle personally and mentally as it was for his career numbers. It also qualified him for the second annual ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September. Patrick Laperle is back, folks.

Not that he ever really went anywhere anyway.

***

Here's a tip: If you're a betting person and you like dirt racing, put your money on Ryan Avery this year. Dude is cleaning house.

***

With low car counts and little growth over the past several seasons, officials at White Mountain Motorsports Park in New Hampshire disbanded the Super Street division over the winter and adopted the rulebook from Thunder Road's Tiger Sportsman class, creating the new Super Sportsman division for 2010.

Of the 15 drivers that raced in the inaugural feature on Saturday night, only one -- Gary Griswold -- has been a regular weekly competitor at White Mountain, and he finished 14th. The rest were Thunder Road regulars or drivers that plan to compete mainly on the four-race ACT Tiger Sportsman Series.

White Mountain is not only a beautful and scenic place to visit, it's a competitive, well-run race track that deserves good support divisions. (The headline Late Model class enjoyed a 26-car field with only a few outside visitors.) Here's hoping that the Super Sportsman field last weekend wasn't just a fluke.

***

Not only did Chris Donnelly win two features at Bear Ridge on Saturday, he won one the features using two different cars. While we're not totally sure how that's legal, we do marvel at it.

Donnelly finished second in the first leg of a two-segment feature at the season opener on May 15, but r rain postponed the second segment to last Saturday. In the interim, he was presented an offer he couldn't refuse and sold his only car. Donnelly found himself in a bind for the May 22 event, though, as his Wicked Racing Products business was the presenting sponsor and he wanted to compete in the event.

With a quick phone call, he borrowed a car from Tom Forward and drove from the rear to finish second in the second segment. With a low score of four points, Donnelly was declared the winner. Not sure we've ever seen anything like that before.

***

AROUND THE REGION:

Time to take a look at the top Vermonters from the past weekend...

Airborne Speedway (Plattsburgh, N.Y.): Brandon's Don Scarborough finished fifth in the Modified feature last Saturday, with Milton's Bill Sawyer third in the Sportsman race. Lance Rabtoy of Fairfax was third in the Renegades with Milton's Larry Underwood fifth.

Albany-Saratoga Speedway (Malta, N.Y.): Mike Bruno of Bomoseen took his second-straight Modified win on Friday night with Brandon's Don Scarborough fourth. Middlebury teen Hunter Bates won the Sportsman feature.

Bear Ridge Speedway (Bradford): Chris Donnelly of Orford, N.H., swept both Sportsman Modified features on Saturday night, followed by Thornton, N.H.'s Ryan Avery and Jason Gray of East Thetford in the first race and Travis Shinn of Groton, N.H., and Fairlee's Adam Pierson in the second race. Bradford's Jason Horniak won the first Sportsman Coupe feature over East Corinth's Melvin Pierson and Topsham's Josh Harrington, while Pierson beat Chris Carbee of South Ryegate and rookie Shane Race of South Strafford in the second race. Newbury's Jeremy Hodge took his frist career Limited Late Model win over Will Hull of East Montpelier and Tyler Stygles of Bradford. Josh Sunn of White River Junction swept both Fast Four races, with Danville's Danny Doyle and Andy Johnson of Wilder finishing second and third once each. Bobby Bell of St. Johnsbury won the Hornet race over Bradford's Tom Placey and Mark Harran of St. Johnsbury, while Dawn Woodward of Corinth beat her neighbor, Melissa King, and St. Johnsbury's Misty Bell in the Hornet Queen race.

Big Daddy's Speedway (Rumney, N.H.): Tyler Stygles of Bradford won the Super Street featrue on Sunday, and Josh Sunn of White River Junction was the Mini Stock runner-up.

Canaan Dirt Speedway (Canaan, N.H.): Rookie Dan Eastman of Thetford Center was third in the Sportsman Modifed feature on Friday and took over the point lead. Josh Sunn of White River Junction won the Mini Stock feature, and Dakota Stender of Tunbridge won the Bandit feature.

Canaan Fair Speedway (Canaan, N.H.): Kevin Menard of South Royalton was sixth in the first of two Pro Stock features on Saturday, and Mendon's Chris Wilk was third in the second race. Jamie Hodgdon of Ascutney was the Pure Stock runner-up with North Springfield's Rory Merritt fifth. Bobby Prior of White River Junction was fourth in the Outlaw Mini feature. Ascutney's Tyler Lescord won the Bandit feature over Mike Parker of Bradford.

Devil's Bowl Speedway (West Haven): Dave Pembroke of Middlesex beat Bomoseen's Mike Bruno to win the "Thunder at the Bowl 100" Late Model event on Sunday, with Tracie Bellerose of Gorham, N.H., third. Don Miller of Wells won the Sportsman feature over Clifton Park, N.Y.'s Fred Proctor and Hunter Bates of Middlebury. Milton's Cody Benoit won the Renegade feature over Jon Miller of Malta, N.Y., and Lance Rabtoy of Fairfax, and Miton's Chad Brown beat Garry Bashaw of Lincoln and Russ Downing of Hartland to win the Bomber Warrior race. Andy Smith of South Glens Falls, N.Y., won the Duke Stock race.

Modified Racing Series: Ascutney rookie Joey Jarvis was 15th in the East-West Showdown 100 at Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Friday, with uncle Dwight Jarvis of Ascutney 18th. Rowan Pennink of Huntington Valley, Pa., was the winner.

Monadnock Speedway (Winchester, N.H.): Josh King of Vernon was 17th in Saturday's Modified feature. Putney's Dana Shepard was ninth in the Super Street feature. Joe Rogers of Ludlow finished fifth in the Mini Stocks with Mike Metcalf of Westminster ninth.

PASS North Super Late Models: Steven Legendre of Danville finished eighth in Saturday's event at White Mountain Motorsports Park, and Milton's Scott Dragon was 15th. Johnny Clark of Hallowell, Me., was the winner.

Riverside Speedway (Groveton, N.H.): Dan Sidney of St. Johnsbury won the Outlaw Sportsman feature with Davey Ofsuryk of Newport Center fourth. Michael Smith of St. Johnsbury was fourth in the Super Stock race, and Doug Duprey of St. Johnsbury was third in the Street Stocks. Howard Switser of West Burke was third in the Dwarf Car race with Anthony Young of Beecher Falls fourth.

Sprint Cars of New England: Sunday's event at Big Daddy's Speedbowl was cut short due to a racing accident.

Twin State Speedway (Claremont, N.H.): Dallas Trombley of Rutland finished fourth in the Late Model feature on Friday night. Chris Wilk of Mendon was the Super Street winner with Russ Davis of Cavendish third. Pittsford's Kyle Davis won the Strictly Stock feature over David Greenslit of Waitsfield and Jacksonville's Kaitlin Stone.

White Mountain Motorsports Park (North Woodstock, N.H.): Stacy Cahoon of St. Johnsbury was the Late Model runner-up on Saturday with Bernie Lantagne of McIndoe Falls third. Graniteville's Chip Grenier won the Super Sportsman feature over Derrick O'Donnell of Bradford and North Wolcott's Brendan Moodie.

***

THIS WEEK:

Friday, May 28

Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Malta, N.Y. -- 6:45pm (Regular Event)
Canaan Dirt Speedway, Canaan, N.H. -- 7:00pm (Regular Event)
Twin State Speedway, Claremont, N.H. -- 7:30pm (Regular Event)

Saturday, May 29
Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y. -- 5:00pm (Modified Racing Series)
Bear Ridge Speedway, Bradford -- 6:00pm (SCoNE 360 Sprint Cars)
Canaan Fair Speedway, Canaan, N.H. -- 6:00pm (Regular Event)
Monadnock Speedway, Winchester, N.H. -- 6:00pm (NEMA Midgets)
Riverside Speedway, Groveton, N.H. -- 6:00pm (Regular Event)
White Mountain Motorsports Park, North Woodstock, N.H. -- 5:00 (Regular Event)

Sunday, May 30
Big Daddy's Speedbowl, Rumney, N.H. -- 4:00pm (Granite State Mini Sprints)
Devil's Bowl Speedway, West Haven -- 2:00pm (Modified Tri-Track Series)
Thunder Road Int'l Speedbowl, Barre -- 1:30pm (Modified Racing Series)


TOURING SERIES:

Granite State Mini Sprints: Sun., May 30 -- Big Daddy's Speedbowl, Rumney, N.H. (4:00pm)
Modified Racing Series: Sat., May 29 -- Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y. (5:00pm)
Modified Racing Series: Sun., May 30 -- Thunder Road Int'l Speedbowl, Barre, Vt. (1:30pm)
Modified Tri-Track Series: Sun., May 30 -- Devil's Bowl Speedway, West Haven, Vt. (2:00pm)
NASCAR Nationwide Series: Sat., May 29 -- Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C. (ABC/2:00pm)
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Sun., May 30 -- Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C. (FOX/5:45pm)
Pro All Stars Series: Sat., May 29 -- Concord Speedway, Concord, N.C. (7:00pm)
Série ACT-Castrol Edge: Sat., May 29 -- Autodrome Montmagny, Montmagny, Qué. (6:00pm)
Sprint Cars of New England: Sat., May 29 -- Bear Ridge Speedway, Bradford, Vt. (6:00pm)

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Donnelly Doubles Up At Bear Ridge

BRADFORD – There wasn’t much left for Chris Donnelly to accomplish at Bear Ridge Speedway. The Orford, N.H., driver is a winner and champion many times over at the Bradford dirt track, but could never recall winning two feature events on the same night.

Until now. And he did it in a borrowed car, to boot.

A veteran of more than 25 years running on dirt tracks in Vermont and New Hampshire, Donnelly decided to shift some of his attention toward the Sprint Cars of New England series this year. He was approached with an offer earlier in the week to sell his Sportsman Modified to another racer and jumped at the chance, but had some business to take care of: Donnelly’s fabrication business, Wicked Racing Products, was serving as the presenting sponsor for Saturday’s event at Bear Ridge, and he felt he needed to have an on-track presence for the race. He borrowed a Modified from Tom Forward, and in doing so swept the previously rained-out opening night two-segment feature and the regularly scheduled 30-lap race.

“I had a good opportunity to sell my car, so I sold it and then I went out and borrowed the best car in the area. I figured I’d be okay,” Donnelly said. “The secret was this car, I guess. It handles real good and it felt a lot like my other one. It made me happy, and when I’m happy I go fast.”

Between last week’s first segment and the segment that was postponed by rain to this week, Donnelly grabbed two runner-up finishes for a low total score of four points, earning him the overall win. Ryan Avery of Thornton, N.H., and rookie Dan Eastman of Thetford Center won the segments. Avery ended up second overall with East Thetford’s Jason Gray third, Bryan King of Corinth fourth, and defending track champion Gary Siemons of Orford, N.H., fifth.

Brian Whittemore of Florence started on the pole of the regular 30-lap feature and led the first three laps before Groton, N.H.’s Travis Shinn took over. Donnelly drove form 11th starting position to take the lead from Shinn on lap 19, then cruised to the win. Shinn, of Groton, N.H., finished second. As Whittemore and Jack Cook slowed to avoid a spinning lapped car coming to the checkered flag, Fairlee driver Adam Pierson squeaked by for third place. Cook held on for fourth with Whittemore fifth.

Jason Horniak of Bradford took the overall victory over East Corinth’s Melvin Pierson and defending champion Josh Harrington in the Sportsman Coupe make-up feature. In the nightcap, Pierson held a comfortable lead late in the going until the lapped car of Dwight Burgoyne spun. With nowhere to go as the caution flag flew, Pierson slammed head-on into Burgoyne’s car. Neither car was severely damaged and Pierson continued on in the lead once the race resumed; he held off Chris Carbee and Shane Race for the win, despite suffering a flat left-front tire in the crash with Burgoyne.

“It was a little tough with the flat tire, I had to use the brakes a little more,” said Pierson, “but the car was a rocket ship tonight.”

Newbury’s Jeremy Hodge scored his first career victory in the lone Limited Late Model feature after a tight battle with East Montpelier’s Will Hull and Tyler Stygles of Bradford during the closing laps. T.C. Forward and Sean Greene completed the top-five finishers.

Josh Sunn of White River Junction swept both Fast Four features. Danny Doyle of Danville beat Wilder’s Andy Johnson for second place in the first race, while Johnson beat Doyle for the runner-up spot in the second event.

Bobby Bell of St. Johnsbury won the Hornet feature over Bradford’s Tom Placey and Mark Harran of Danville, and Dawn Woodward of Corinth beat Melissa King for the Hornet Queen checkers.

Bear Ridge Results 5/22/10

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Wicked Racing Products/Snap-On Tools Night
Bear Ridge Speedway, Bradford, Vt.
Saturday, May 22, 2010

(Pos.-Driver-Hometown)

Bond Auto Sportsman Modified – Feature #1
1. Chris Donnelly, Orford, N.H.
2. Ryan Avery, Thornton, N.H.
3. Jason Gray, East Thetford
4. Bryan King, Corinth
5. Gary Siemons, Orford, N.H.
6. Adam Pierson, Fairlee
7. Dan Eastman, Thetford Center
8. Jack Cook, Moultonboro, N.H.
9. Justin Comes, Middlebury
10. Blake Shepard, Newton, N.H.

Bond Auto Sportsman Modified – Feature #2
1. Chris Donnelly, Orford, N.H.
2. Travis Shinn, Groton, N.H.
3. Adam Pierson, Fairlee
4. Jack Cook, Moultonboro, N.H.
5. Brian Whittemore, Florence
6. Gary Siemons, Orford, N.H.
7. Justin Comes, Middlebury
8. Kevin Chaffee, Orange
9. Jason Gray, East Thetford
10. Ryan Avery, Thornton, N.H.

Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe – Feature #1
1. Jason Horniak, Bradford
2. Melvin Pierson, East Corinth
3. Josh Harrington, Topsham
4. Gene Pierson, East Corinth
5. Chris Carbee, South Ryegate

Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe – Feature #2
1. Melvin Pierson, East Corinth
2. Chris Carbee, South Ryegate
3. Shane Race, South Strafford
4. Jason Horniak, Bradford
5. Steve Ellsworth, Corinth

A Notch Above Auto Limited Late Model
1. Jeremy Hodge, Newbury
2. Will Hull, East Montpelier
3. Tyler Stygles, Bradford
4. T.C. Forward, Lyme, N.H.
5. Sean Greene, Haverhill, N.H.

Journal Opinion Fast Four – Feature #1
1. Josh Sunn, White River Junction
2. Danny Doyle, Danville
3. Andy Johnson, Wilder
4. Tim Hodge
5. Kevin Harran, St. Johnsbury Center

Journal Opinion Fast Four – Feature #2
1. Josh Sunn, White River Junction
2. Andy Johnson, Wilder
3. Danny Doyle, Danville
4. Robert Tilden, East Thetford
5. Josh Connor

KDD NAPA Hornet
1. Bobby Bell, St. Johnsbury
2. Tom Placey, Bradford
3. Mark Harran, Danville
4. Brad Martin
5. Karl Sheldon, St. Johnsbury

Hornet Queen
1. Dawn Woodward, Corinth
2. Melissa King, Corinth
3. Misty Bell, St. Johnsbury

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Rain Cuts Bear Ridge Opener Short

Hull wins Late Models, Sheldon is top Hornet

BRADFORD – Mother Nature won the majority of Bear Ridge Speedway's opening night event on Saturday, but not before Will Hull and Karl Sheldon put their cars in the winner's circle.

East Montpelier driver Hull put together segment finishes of first and second for an overall low score of three points to win the Limited Late Model main event, while St. Johnsbury racer Sheldon took a third and a first in the Hornet segments to win his division's overall trophy before rains forced the postponement of the evening's final three races.

Jason Giguere of Lebanon, N.H., beat Hull to win the second Limited Late Model segment and finished second overall, with Bradford's Jeremy Hodge third. Tyler Stygles of Bradford and T.C. Forward of Lyme, N.H., completed the unofficial overall top-five.

Defending Hornet champion Tom Placey of Bradford was the overall runner-up in the Hornet class, with Corinth's Mike Pittman third, Mike Chapin of Chelsea fourth, and Jesse Smith fifth, unofficially.

Ryan Avery’s quick start continued as he took the first of two Sportsman Modified segments. The Thornton, N.H., driver also copped the opening night victory at the new Big Daddy’s Speedbowl in Rumney, N.H., last week. "I’ve got a lot of laps in this car, it’s my third year with this chassis," said Avery. "We turned about 130 laps already at Big Daddy’s, and I know what this car is going to do. We left 'em [behind] tonight. It felt really good." Chris Donnelly, Blake Shepard, Bryan King, and Jason Gray completed the top-five in the segment.

Chris Carbee of Topsham took a surprise victory in the first Sportsman Coupe segment after a pass of Jason Horniak at the halfway point. King finshed third with Mike McGinley and defending champion Josh Harrington in tow.

Josh Sunn of White River Junction took the first segment in the Fast Four division over Danny Doyle, Andy Johnson, Robert Tilden, and Kevin Harran.

The second segments for the Sportsman Modified, Sportsman Coupe, and Fast Four divisions will be completed at the May 22 program at Bear Ridge in addition to a full card of racing for all five divisions and the Granite State Mini Sprint Club.

Bear Ridge Speedway Results 5/15/10

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS -- KDD NAPA Auto Parts Opening Night
Bear Ridge Speedway -- Bradford, Vt.
Saturday, May 15, 2010

(Pos.-Driver-Hometown)

A Notch Above Auto Limited Late Model Overall Finish
1. Will Hull, East Montpelier
2. Jason Giguere, Lebanon, N.H.
3. Jeremy Hodge, Bradford
4. Tyler Stygles, Bradford
5. T.C. Forward, Lyme, N.H.

KDD NAPA Hornet Overall Finish
1. Karl Sheldon, St. Johnsbury
2. Tom Placey, Bradford
3. Mike Pittman, Corinth
4. Mike Chapin, Chelsea
5. Jesse Smith

Bond Auto Sportsman Modified Segment #1 Finish
1. Ryan Avery, Thornton, N.H.
2. Chris Donnelly, Orford, N.H.
3. Blake Shepard, Newton, N.H.
4. Bryan King, Corinth
5. Jason Gray, East Thetford

Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe Segment #1 Finish
1. Chris Carbee, Topsham
2. Jason Horniak, Bradford
3. Bryan King, Corinth
4. Mike McGinley, East Barre
5. Josh Harrington, Topsham

Journal Opinion Fast Four Segment #1 Finish
1. Josh Sunn, White River Junction
2. Danny Doyle, Hancock
3. Andy Johnson, Wilder
4. Robert Tilden, East Thetford
5. Kevin Harran, St. Johnsbury

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Avery Dominates Pre-Hangover 150 at Riverside

Bear Ridge regular wins on the snow

GROVETON, N.H. -- Ryan Avery put his dirt-track corner-sliding knowledge to use on Sunday at Riverside Speedway to win the postponed Pre-Hangover 150 enduro. Thirty-four drivers braved the snow and ice-covered quarter-mile oval as temperatures hovered around zero degrees Farenheit.

Avery, of Thornton, N.H., is a Sportsman Modified standout at Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford and Canaan (N.H.) Dirt Speedway. He won the race by three laps over Oxford Plains Speedway regular Jamie Heath of Waterford, Me. Riverside regulars Jeff Ainsworth of Bethlehem, N.H., Jamie Swallow, Jr. of Stark, N.H., and hometown driver Pete Gilcris completed the top five.

Thunder Road Int'l Speedbowl champion Donny Yates of North Montpelier finished sixth, eight laps off the pace. Colchester's Casey Houle was seventh, ten laps down.

OFFICIAL FINISH -- Pre-Hangover 150 Enduro
Riverside Speedway, Groveton, N.H.
Sunday, January 10, 2010

Pos.-Driver-Hometown-Laps

1. Ryan Avery, Thornton, N.H., 150
2. Jamie Heath, Waterford, Me., 147
3. Jeff Ainsworth, Bethlehem, N.H., 146
4. Jamie Swallow, Jr., Stark, N.H., 145
5. Pete Gilcris, Groveton, N.H., 142
6. Donny Yates, North Montpelier, 142
7. Casey Houle, Colchester, 140
8. Cameron Tyler, Groveton, N.H., 135
9. Ben Hodgkins, Exeter, N.H., 133
10. Gerard Cote, Oxford, Me., 130
11. Mitch Emery, Lancaster, N.H., 129
12. Jerrad Ainsworth, Bethlehem, N.H., 124
13. Todd Derrington, Bethlehem, N.H., 118
14. Shauna Randall, Stark, N.H., 116
15. Todd Baker, Enosburg, 103
16. Louis Maher, Spencer, Mass., 100
17. Dave LaFleche, Barre, 86
18. Jimbo Shurkus, Meredith, N.H., 67
19. Dan Benoit, Sr., Lancaster, N.H., 65
20. Arland Tyler, Groveton, N.H., 55
21. Kevin Whittum, Jr., Dalton, N.H., 52
22. Alan Derrington, Bethlehem, N.H., 52
23. Doug Bandy, Lyndonville, 49
24. Cody Leblanc, Gorham, N.H., 28
25. Paul Hodge, Orleans, 32
26. Troy Randall, Wheelock, 10
27. Jonah Delgenio, Keene, N.H., 10
28. Bronson Roy, Berlin, N.H., 5
29. Nick Gilcris, Groveton, N.H., 4
30. Jamie Davis, Wolcott, 4
31. David Hartshorn, Lancaster, N.H., 1
32. Kevin Harran, St. Johnsbury Ctr., 0
33. Bruce McKay, Campton, N.H., no score card
34. Danny Ehlers, St. Johnsbury, no score card

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Avery Wins Wild Modified Feature at Bear Ridge

Dow takes Sprint win, Horniak first-time Coupe winner


BRADFORD -- Bear Ridge Speedway had a bit of everything on Perry's Oil Service night on Saturday -- winged Sprint Cars, antique Midgets, its largest field of Modifieds all season, exciting battles for the lead, and an unforgettable crash.

Ryan Avery was the winner of arguably the season's most exciting Sportsman Modified race, one that featured a season-high 16 starters, countless position changes inside the top five, and an altitude record-setting flip by Gary Siemons.

Siemons, the two-time defending track champion at Bear Ridge, was running near the top-five when close racing turned into contact with Jack Cook. As the field stacked up in Turn 3, Siemons' car jumped a wheel, dug into the clay track surface nose-first, and turned a terrifying somersault about ten feet in the air. The pileup that followed involved Siemons, Cook, Todd Petschke, Blake Shepard, and Nick Berry. No injuries were reported, and in fact, Siemons said he plans to repair his car in time to return to Bear Ridge next week.

Avery, of Thornton, N.H., was ahead of the wreck, in the midst of a spirited battle for the lead with Corinth driver Bryan King. Following the restart for Siemons crash, Avery made a move under King to take the lead, bringing point leader Wayne Stearns with him. Stearns tried an inside bid on Avery on the backstretch, but was unsuccessful. Two additional restarts, including one on lap 18 for a fronstretch crash that eliminated Shepard, Jason Gray, and Jeremy Huntoon, allowed King to retake second from Stearns and also brought Chris Donnelly into the mix. Donnelly, who started 14th, was able to get under Stearns momentarily on lap 24, and the two traded lanes and positions for the remainder of the 30-lap event. Both drivers caught King, with Donnelly making a final-lap pass to take second place.

Avery said he knew that track position meant everything in the action-filled race. "It was challenging," he said. "The last few weeks I've been here I've had to start in the back and I've been able to come up through. I knew if I got a pretty good starting spot I'd have a pretty good chance at winning it tonight. At the front was the place to be tonight as far as I can tell. I mean, we came around and one car was upside down. I'm just glad those guys are doing okay and no one got hurt."

Donnelly, the runner-up, agreed, and pointed to some over-anxious driving by many in the field as the cause of the carnage. "That [wreck with Siemons and Cook] was right in front of me, the two of them. That was unbelievable," Donnelly said. "Everybody was pretty crazy tonight. I don't know, the whole place was going nuts. Too many cautions, or whatever, but it was tough going there, especially early on, and once it got sorted out a little bit it was even tougher because they were all over each other."

In a rough race, Avery appreciated the clean battle he had with King. "Me and Bryan ran Sportsman Coupes together for at least four of five years," said Avery. "So you give a little, take a little, and when it comes back around, you know, I expect the same thing from him."

Bob Shepard of West Topsham crossed the finish line in fifth place behind Avery, Donnelly, King, and Stearns. Travis Shinn finished sixth over Mike Dunn, the final car running on the lead lap. The balance of the top ten was completed by Blake Shepard, Gray, and Huntoon. Only eight of the 16 starters were running at the finish, including 11th-place finisher Jason Sanville. Avery was the seventh different Sportsman Modified winner in the last seven races.

Clay Dow of Ossipee, N.H. earned the Sprint Cars of New England (SCoNE) feature victory in a car borrowed from competitor Mike Kondrat. Dow destroyed his car in a flip at Rattlesnake Motordrome in New Hampshire last month, and used the Kondrat car to slice through the field, holding off Shawn Lawler for the win. Tunk Berry was involved in the first three caution periods before getting up to speed, and eventually made some impressive moves in traffic to finish in third place. Point leader Si Allen and Mark Cole completed the top five.

Freshman Sportsman Coupe racer Jason Horniak of Bradford made a big rookie mistake in his division's 25-lap feature by taking out leader Mike McGinley, but then put on the passing clinic of a veteran in coming from the rear of the field to score his first career victory. McGinley led the first seven laps from the outside pole before Horniak turned him around. McGinley was given his spot back during the caution period (one of eight in the first 15 laps), but surrendered the lead to Melvin Pierson of Topsham on lap 12. Richie Simmons gave Pierson a run one lap later, but was unsuccessful. Horniak came from the back to move under Pierson on lap 20, then cruised to his first win. Pierson finished second with Simmons third, point leader Josh Harrington fourth, and Billy Simmons fifth.

Dan Eastman of Thetford Center posted his seventh Limited Late Model win in ten events this season, passing leader Jeremy Hodge of Bradford with five laps remaining. Will Hull finished third over Shane Race and T.C. Forward.

Kevin Harran of St. Johnsbury led every lap of the Fast Four feature to collect his first victory of the year. Mitch Durke finished second over Andy Johnson, Nathan Potter, and Steve Bell.


Bradford's Tom Placey won his fourth-straight Hornet feature after a three-wide pass on the last lap to take the lead. Bobby Bell finished second with Karl Sheldon third, Amanda Gray fourth, and Mike Chapin fifth.

Melissa King of Corinth won the Hornet Queen feature over Misty Bell.



The Atlantic Coast Old Timers club ran an exhibition event featuring cars from the World War II era; the race was won by Carl Fink of Albany, N.Y.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS -- Perry's Oil Service Night
Bear Ridge Speedway, Bradford, Vt.
Saturday, July 25, 2009


Pos.-Driver-Hometown

Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified
1. Ryan Avery, Thornton, N.H.
2. Chris Donnelly, Piermont, N.H.
3. Bryan King, Corinth
4. Wayne Stearns, Thetford Center
5. Bob Shepard, West Topsham
6. Travis Shinn, Groton, N.H.
7. Mike Dunn
8. Blake Shepard, Newton, N.H.
9. Jason Gray, East Thetford
10. Jeremy Huntoon, Bradford

SCoNE 360 Sprint Cars
1. Clay Dow, Ossipee, N.H.
2. Shawn Lawler, Mason, N.H.
3. Tunk Berry, Center Ossipee, N.H.
4. Si Allen, West Windsor
5. Mark Cole, Lebanon, N.H.

Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe
1. Jason Horniak, Bradford
2. Melvin Pierson, Topsham
3. Richie Simmons, Bradford
4. Josh Harrington, Topsham
5. Billy Simmons, Bradford

A Notch Above Automotive Limited Late Model
1. Dan Eastman, Thetford Center
2. Jeremy Hodge, Bradford
3. Will Hull, East Montpelier
4. Shane Race, South Strafford
5. T.C. Forward, Lyme, N.H.

Journal Opinion Fast Four
1. Kevin Harran, St. Johnsbury
2. Mitch Durkee, Sharon
3. Andy Johnson, Wilder
4. Nathan Potter, Sharon
5. Steve Bell, St. Johnsbury

KDD NAPA Hornet
1. Tom Placey, Bradford
2. Bobby Bell, St. Johnsbury
3. Karl Sheldon, St. Johnsbury
4. Amanda Gray, East Thetford
5. Mike Chapin

P&C Foods Hornet Queen
1. Melissa King, Corinth
2. Misty Bell, St. Johnsbury
3. Dawn Woodward



(PHOTO: Sportsman Modified winner Ryan Avery (left) in victory lane. Photo by Justin St. Louis/VMM)