From Mark McKeon
Bradford, VT — (July 7, 2012) — Matt Robie of Hill, NH won all there was to win at Bear Ridge Speedway Saturday, scoring his first heat win with the Sprint Cars of New England and then coming back to earn his first SCoNE feature win in the 25 lap main event.
Robie’s victory keeps alive the streak of no repeat winners in SCoNE features this season. The seven features run so far this year have produced seven different winners, including three first timers.
Utilizing a tired motor that is long overdue for replacement and wheeling a Maxim chassis sponsored by J.W. Moses Construction, Moses Auto Body, C.A Miller Plumbing & Heating, Always Green Landscaping and Upper Valley Equipment Rental, Robie turned in a dominating performance, starting fourth, rocketing to the lead early and then being chased by a pair of former track champions. Former Late Model champion Will Hull made a determined drive from ninth to finish second, thwarted in his attempt to become the first repeat winner. Former Coupe champion Kevin Chafee, who has both Midget and Modified wins this season, earned his first Sprint Car podium finish with a run along the topside to come from seventh and finish third.
“My Dad does a great job preparing the car and all my sponsors stand behind me,” Robie said. “Tonight it worked real well on the outside early on and then when it needed to, it worked on the bottom, so I couldn’t ask for anything more. What a great night.”
Rookie Chris Down was fourth, scoring his first top-five and defending champ Dan Douville rim rode from 12th to finish fifth. Three caution flags slowed the event and minimized the impact of lapped traffic on the outcome. Single cars spin on laps 7 and 10 and a disabled car on lap 18 were all that disrupted continuity.
The Sprint Cars of New England have a week off before heading to Legion Speedway in Wentworth, NH for their second appearance of the season on Sunday July 22.
SCoNE Feature (25 laps)
1. (4) Matt Robie, Hill, NH
2. (9) Will Hull, E. Montpelier, VT
3. (7) Kevin Chafee, Fairlee, VT
4. (6) Chris Downs, Moultonboro, NH
5. (12) Dan Douville, Bridgewater, NH
6. (11) Chris Donnelly, Piermont, NH
7. (3) Bob Giuliani, Middleton, NH
8. (13) Clay Dow, Barnstead, NH
9. (10) Tyler Rich, Lyme, NH
10. (8) Andy Seuss, Hampstead, NH
11. (5) Jake Williams, Ctr. Tuftonboro, NH
12. (2) Bruce Kimball, Lebanon, NH
13. (1) Butch Valley, Jr., Hollis, NH
14. (17) Mark Cole, Lebanon, NH
15. (16) Lacey Hanson, Orwell, VT
16. (15) Jim Lowrey, Tilton, NH
17. (18) Shawn Berry, Ctr. Ossipee, NH
18. (14) Mike Bosco, Torrington, CT.
DNQ: Shawn Lawler, Brandon Valley.
Heats: Matt Robie, Butch Valley, Jr.
B Main: Jim Lowrey.