NEWS-The Speedway Line Report

By Mark Mckeon
BRADFORD, VT – Tyler Rich of Lyme, NH became the ninth different winner of the ultra-competitive Sprint Cars of New England season with a decisive victory at Bear Ridge Speedway Saturday. It marked the second career Sprint Car win for 2011 SCoNE Rookie of the Year. Starting sixth, Rich powered by three-time SCoNE champ Mark Cole with an outside pass to take the lead entering turn three on lap seven of the 25 lap event.

Previous 2012 feature winners Clay Dow and Dan Douville were second and third.

Rich, who also won his heat race, gave props to car owner and fellow competitor Chris Donnelly.

“Chris gives me a great hot rod to drive so the only thing we’ve had to adjust lately is the driver. I’ve been steering the car a lot with the brake instead of turning in with the wheel and Chris made some suggestions on that. Instead of punching the brake, which loosens the car up and turns it quickly, I’ve been easing on with the brake and putting a little more wheel into it and I’m a lot faster.”

Rich’s run for the roses was slowed singularly by a quickly thrown caution flag on lap 18 when Shawn Lawler and Kevin Chafee tangled in the middle of the pack, sending Sprint Cars scurrying. In fact, both drivers regained control and no cars ever stopped, but the event had the hallmarks of a pile-up, so prudence prevailed and the yellow was displayed.

The only other damage occurred when Lacey Hanson and Lawler got together on the backstretch after the checkers had flown. The story was dramatically different in the qualifiers when cousins Shawn Berry and Tunk Berry each flipped on the opening lap in their respective heats. Both events brought out the red flag and while neither driver was injured, Tunk’s car was done for the night.

The Sprint Cars of New England are at the Canaan Dirt Speedway on the next two Friday nights. This week is a make-up for a rainout and August 31 marks the start of SCoNE’s Triple Crown Labor Day Weekend series which moves to Bear Ridge on Saturday September 1 and Legion Speedway on Sunday September 2.

SCoNE (25 laps) 1. Tyler Rich, 2. Clay Dow, 3. Dan Douville, 4. Chris Donnelly, 5. Jake Williams, 6. Kevin Chaffee, 7. Mark Cole, 8. Will Hull, 9. Lacey Hanson, 10. Shawn Lawler, 11. Matt Robie, 12. Chris Downs, 13. Bob Giuliani, 14. Shawn Berry, 15. Brian Hoar, 16. Robbie Bodwell. DNS: Tunk Berry, Randy Wimert. Heat Winners: Dow and Rich.

Notes: SCoNE’s system of handicapping the highest point earners to the rear once again resulted in plentiful passing and an exciting race for the fans. Third place finisher Dan Douville started 14th, fourth place finisher Chris Donnelly started 15th and sixth place finisher Kevin Chafee came from 16th.... Randy Wimert’s car was scratched after an engine fire during hot laps when a newly installed fuel line failed... Many SCoNE drivers had busy nights, also competing in other divisions. Chris Donnelly bested a field of 25 cars to win the 40 lap DIRTcar Sportsman Modified feature with Kevin Chaffee second and Jake Williams extended his points lead with a win with the 600cc Granite State Mini Sprints. Lacey Hanson gets the nod for endurance after competing in a 500cc, 600cc and Sprint Car.... Brian Hoar made his first Sprint Car start in the Si Allen Special SCoNE guest car and thoroughly enjoyed himself while turning in a commendable performance. Starting scratch in both his heat at the feature, he became increasingly comfortable as the night went on. “I’ve never driven anything like it,” the eight time American Canadian Tour Champion and NASCAR Busch North Rookie of the Year said. “They’re crazy and I can see why guys get addicted to them- there just so much fun to drive.” Adam Pierson drives the guest car at Canaan this Friday, three time NEMA Champ Randy Cabral makes his Sprint Car debut in it at Canaan on Friday August 31 and Vermont Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott gets behind the wheel at Bear Ridge on September 22.