A DIRTcar Sportsman Series doubleheader awaits this weekend, with a regional champion being crowned and the first battle to determine an overall champion.
The East Region finishes up its 2025 season with a stop at Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford, VT, on Saturday, Aug. 2. Drivers will battle in a 40-lap Feature paying $1,058-to-win. After the Feature, the East Region champion will be crowned.
Then, the first round of the 2025 Championship Series begins at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park on Sunday, Aug. 3. A $1,500 prize is on the line in a 40-lap Feature.
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Here’s a look at What to Watch For at Bear Ridge and Glen Ridge:
EAST REGION
Buff Leads the Battle: Entering Saturday’s East Region finale at Bear Ridge, Zach Buff leads the standings after his win at Airborne Park Speedway in June.
The Latham, NY driver has never been to Bear Ridge in his career, but he does race at Glen Ridge weekly, which is a track of the same size. Buff has the points lead at Glen Ridge and aims to use his knowledge of that facility to help him in Vermont on Saturday.
He’s searching for his third career DIRTcar Sportsman Series win.
The Bear Ridge Boys: When the DIRTcar Sportsman Series heads to Bear Ridge, a stout field of regional competitors awaits any outsiders. The track has hosted six Series events, and Bear Ridge regulars have won all of them.
That includes defending East Region champion Jason Gray, who’s won three out of the six Features and the last visit in July of 2024.
Gray, from East Thetford, VT, leads the track’s points standings with three victories this season, and hasn’t finished outside the top 10 in 2025.
He’s being chased by Todd Buckwold, who also has a win at Bear Ridge this season, and Max Dolliver, who’s won twice. While Buckwold, from Canaan, NH, hasn’t reached Victory Lane with the Series, Dolliver won an East Region Feature last year.
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Battle of Champions: The championship season opener at Glen Ridge is the first of two stops in New York’s Capital Region on the tour, meaning many of the top drivers will travel to the 1/4-mile track for the first time this season.
That includes Central Region champion Gavin Eisele, who won last year’s opener. The LaFargeville, NY driver held off Nick Root to score his first career Series victory and aims to replicate that success this weekend.
Eisele has a win at Weedsport Speedway during Central Region competition this year.
North Region champion Shane Pecore, meanwhile, hasn’t been to Glen Ridge in his career, which means he’ll be learning the track while trying to start the Championship Season on a high note.
Pecore has two Series wins this season, winning on back-to-back nights at Brockville Ontario Speedway and Cornwall Motor Speedway. The 2016 champion is aiming for his 14th career victory.
Like Pecore, West Region champion Brett Senek has not been to Glen Ridge. He’s looking for his second win of the season after winning at Ransomville.
If Buff holds on to win the East Region, he’ll have the advantage over the other three since he races there weekly.
Contending For the Top: Along with the four champions, the DIRTcar Sportsman Series has a lot of contenders who are searching for a championship.
Drivers like Emmett Waldron, Mike Fowler, Richard Murtaugh, and Jessica Power will all compete this weekend at Glen Ridge, kicking off their aspirations for a Series title.
Out of these four drivers, Waldron has found the most success after winning at Fulton Speedway last weekend and earning top fives in three of the five regional events he started.
Three of the four drivers entered last year’s opener at Glen Ridge, with Waldron finishing seventh, Fowler ninth, and Power 11th. Murtaugh is expected to make his first start at “The Ridge” on Sunday.
Championship Series Schedule
Sunday, Aug. 3, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park
Tuesday, Aug. 12, Ransomville Speedway
Wednesday, Aug. 20, Fulton Speedway
Friday, Sept. 5, Can-Am Speedway
Saturday, Sept. 6, Weedsport Speedway
Friday, Sept. 12, Mohawk International Raceway
Saturday, Sept. 13, Land of Legends Raceway
Friday, Sept. 19, Albany-Saratoga Speedway
Saturday, Oct. 11, Oswego Speedway
Saturday, Oct. 18, Brockville Ontario Speedway
Oct. 30-Nov. 1, The Dirt Track at Charlotte (Non-Points)
