Bear Ridge Honors 2014 Season Champions
Posted By Tj Ingerson On December 15, 2014
Categories: Bear Ridge
PHOTO: Bear Ridge Speedway honored its 2014 season champions during their banquet in late November. The 2014 champions include (left to right): Midget champion Adam Pierson, Coupe champion Jason Colbeth, Modified champion Chris Donnelly, Limited Late Model champion Jason Giguere, Hornet champion Mike Ryan, and Fast Four champion Rob Gioia. (Alan Ward photo)
--by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
VMM Editor
FAIRLEE -- Bear Ridge Speedway celebrated their 47th season of racing on Saturday, November 29 with their annual banquet held at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee in front of a sold out crowd.
Chris Donnelly topped the honorees list as the veteran driver celebrated his second straight Bond Auto Parts DIRTcar Sportsman Modified championship. The championship for the Piermont, N.H., driver was the eighth of his Bear Ridge career and spreads across six divisions.
Jason Gray of East Thetford was honored as the division’s runner-up, while Kevin Chaffee, Derek Graham, and Gary Siemons were honored for the top-five place finishes. Lyme, N.H., driver T.C. Forward was honored as the division’s Rookie of the Year for his first season of competition at Bear Ridge.
Newbury’s Jason Colbeth was officially crowned the champion in Bear Ridge’s longest running division, the Wells River Chevrolet DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes. Colbeth finished ahead of multi-time Coupe champion Josh Harrington. Thomas Placey and rookie Michael Danforth finished third and fourth in the season standings, while rookie Logan Oliver and Jeff Robbins tied for fifth. Danforth was honored as the division’s Rookie of the Year.
The prestigious John Poor Memorial Award was awarded to rookie drivers D.J. Robinson and Logan Oliver. The John Poor Memorial Award is given to a driver in the Modified and Coupe divisions who elevates the sport of stock car racing through exceptional conduct on and off the track. Robinson was honored as the Modified recipient while Oliver earned the Coupe division’s honor.
Multi-time Bear Ridge Speedway champion Adam Pierson claimed his first crown in the USAC Dirt Midget Association. Pierson earned nine wins in 12 events in 2015 and comfortably secured the division’s championship. Pierson finished ahead of his teammate, Josh Sunn, while Scott Holcomb, Scott Viets, and Mike Chaffee completed the top-five finishers. Tim Hodge was celebrated as the division’s Rookie of the Year.
Jason Giguere earned his second straight Laquerre’s Sport Limited Late Model championship by way of eight victories throughout the 2014 season. James Fadden finished runner-up to Giguere, while Mike Greene was third. Longtime Fast Four driver Kevin Harran was honored as the division’s Rookie of the Year.
Rob Gioia was crowned the Weglarz Property Service Fast Four champion while Mike Ryan was honored as the KDD NAPA Hornet champion.
Longtime driver Jack Cook was awarded the Bob Shepard “Drive, Desire, Determination, and Dedication” award. Kevin Chaffee was awarded the Modified Sportsmanship award, while Coupe champ Colbeth was honored with the Coupe Sportsmanship award. Midget driver Mike Chaffee, Limited Late Model driver Harran, and Fast Four driver Don Reynolds won their respective division’s honors.
Robinson, Oliver, Midget driver Joe Krawiec, Harran, Reynolds, and Ryan each won the Raymond and Cliff Bullis Memorial Award for performance on the track and conduct off the track.
Travis Shinn was voted the Most Popular Driver in the Modified division while Mitchell Frost (Coupes), Mike Chaffee (Midgets), James Fadden (Limited Late Models), Don Reynolds (Fast Four), and Ryan (Hornet) won the honor for their respective divisions.
Big Al’s Photo’s “What a Picture” Hard Luck Awards went to Modified driver Gary Siemons, Coupe driver Earl Maxham, Midget driver Scott Holcomb, Limited Late Model driver Cary Moulton, and Hornet driver Alicia Taylor.
Lap leader awards went Siemons, Colbeth, Pierson, Limited Late Model driver Rob Williams, and Hornet driver Cody Stearns.
Over $25,000 in awards were given out to the drivers during the 2014 event.
Bear Ridge’s 48th season will kick off on Saturday, May 2.