|
 By
Mark McKeon
BRADFORD, VT -Young Rookie driver Jeff Champagne of Westfield, MA
had a vintage night at Bear Ridge Speedway Saturday, earning his
first Midget win with a decisive victory against a stout, fast field
of USAC Dirt Midget Association competitors. Starting fourth,
directly behind 1971 Indy 500 Rookie-of-the-Year Denny Zimmerman,
the 15-year-old high school student snatched the lead from Dave
Hotchkiss on lap five and withstood the event’s only restart on lap
10 for a spin by Dean Christensen.
“I thought Denny would have a good start so I went with him,” the
jubilant winner said. “After that I tried to stay patient and pick
them off one at a time. I saw Dave drift up a little and that was my
shot, so I took it. After the restart, I remembered my Dad’s advice
about not being overly aggressive and flooring it right out of the
turns. I learned a lot tonight and was able to figure out how to use
the throttle instead of the brake to turn the car.”
New England Auto Racing Hall of Famer Ray Miller of East Granby, CT
came from sixth to finish second, while Kevin Chaffee of Fairlee, VT
charged from 12th to finish third and extend his points lead.
Defending USAC DMA Champion Joe Krawiec of Bristol, CT was fourth
and multi-time DIRTcar Modified feature winner Josh Sunn of White
River Jct., VT was fifth in only his second Midget start.
The USAC DMA Midgets conclude their sophomore season with
back-to-back appearances at Bear Ridge Speedway on the next two
Saturdays. The points championship will be decided on September 22
at the final points race and the curtain comes down on September 29
with a non-points Special Event.
USAC DIRT MIDGET ASSOCIATION RACE RESULTS: September 15, 2012 –
Bradford, Vermont –
Bear Ridge Speedway
FRIST HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Scott Holcomb (#91 Holcomb), 2. Adam Whitney
(#12 Whitney), 3. Dean Christensen (#69 Miller), 4. Joe Krawiec (#4
Matczak), 5. Dave Hotchkiss (#47 Miller), 6. Tim Gallant (#33
Gallant), 7. Jordan Fornwalt (#26 Covey), 8. Vince Jacobs (#0 Tefft),
9. Jim Close (#7x Close). NT .
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Kevin Chaffee (#23 Matczak), 2. Jeff
Champagne (#77 Champagne), 3. Scott Viets (#2 Miller), 4. Josh Sunn
(#76 Manafort), 5. Ray Miller (#1 Miller), 6. Jim Mossman (#1
Mossman), 7. Denny Zimmerman (#3 Matczak), 8. Jim Tumel (#93 Tefft).
2:13
FEATURE: (20 laps) 1. Jeff Champagne, 2. Ray Miller, 3. Kevin
Chaffee, 4. Joe Krawiec, 5. Josh Sunn, 6. Adam Whitney, 7. Tim
Gallant, 8. Vince Jacobs, 9. Scott Holcomb, 10. Scott Viets, 11.
Jordan Fornwalt, 12. Dave Hotchkiss, 13. Dean Christensen, 14. Jim
Close, 15. Denny Zimmerman, 16. Jim Mossman, 17. Jim Tumel. NT.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-4 Hotchkiss, Laps 5-20 Champagne.
NEXT USAC DMA MIDGET RACE: September 22 – Bradford, Vermont – Bear
Ridge Speedway. |
