With a chance to clinch the DIRTcar Sportsman Series East Region championship at his home track, Jason Gray made the most of the opportunity.
The East Thetford, VT driver led all 40 laps to win the East Region finale at Bear Ridge Speedway and his first DIRTcar Sportsman East Region title.
Gray, the pole sitter, led the field to the green in the 40-lap Feature with Max Dolliver, who won the East Region Feature at Bear Ridge in May to his outside.
Dolliver chased Gray as they completed Lap 1, but the chase halted when the race’s only caution came out for Kyle Huntington on Lap 2.
Gray pulled away from Dolliver when the race resumed, dominating the first 20 laps. Dollver got to within three-tenths of a second in lap traffic but couldn’t catch the No. 00 in the second half of the race.
From there, Gray stayed out front on the 1/4-mile bullring to score the $1,057 victory—his third career DIRTcar Sportsman Series triumph.
Vermont driver Josh Sunn passed Dolliver on the final lap to earn second, while Dolliver finished third.
Todd Buckwold finished fourth, and Robert Tucker rounded out the top five, slipping past Jeff Huntington on the last circuit.
DIRTcar Sportsman Series East Region Feature (40 Laps): 1. 00-Jason Gray, 2. 11-Josh Sunn, 3. 29-Max Dolliver, 4. 631-Todd Buckwold, 5. 42-Robert Tucker, 6. 3-Jeff Huntington, 7. 18-Matt Lashua, 8. 66-Tim Churchill, 9. 16. Brian Chafee, 10. 09-Tad Kingsbury, 11. 86-Mike Ryan, 12. 24p-Ashton Pierson, 13. 26-Jeremy Huntoon, 14. 6-C.V. Elms, 15. 4-D.J. Robinson, 16. 3h-Kyle Huntington
