A bullring battle in Vermont kicks off the 2025 DIRTcar Sportsman Series East Region schedule, as drivers prepare for their lone stop in the Green Mountain State.
The Series visits Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford, VT, on Saturday, May 17, for a 40-lap battle paying $1,058-to-win in honor of the track’s 58th anniversary.
Joining the DIRTcar Sportsman Series East Region on the card are the track’s DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes, the Xtreme Dirt Midget Association, Dirt Stocks, and Ridge Runners.
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Here are the key storylines to watch at Bear Ridge:
Chasing Gray: The road to a victory at Bear Ridge goes through defending East Region Champion Jason Gray. The East Thetford, VT driver scored the opening night win at the 1/4-mile earlier this month and earned a win and runner-up finish in two Series starts in 2024.
Since 2021, Gray hasn’t finished outside the top three in Series events at Bear Ridge, including three wins, a second, and two thirds. He’s aiming for his fourth career Series win this weekend, which would break a tie with 19 other drivers, including NASCAR Trucks Series star Stewart Friesen.
Ridge Runners: To reach Victory Lane for the fourth time, Gray will contend with several Bear Ridge regulars, including Max Dolliver, who won this event last year. Dolliver held off Gray in the closing stages of last May’s event to earn his first career Series victory.
In six East Region starts, the Londonderry, NH driver has a win, three top fives, and three top 10s, all at Bear Ridge.
Other Bear Ridge drivers entering the weekend with momentum include Todd Buckwold, and Chris Huntington, who finished on the podium with Gray in the track’s season opener.
Buckwold has made 11 East Region starts with one top five and three top 10s. Huntington, meanwhile, earned a 15th in his lone regional start of 2024.
Bear Ridge promoter C.V. Elms will also be in action, as he plans to run the entire East Region schedule this season.
Vermont Invaders: The Bear Ridge regulars won’t be the only ones in action this weekend, as a few invaders will travel to the Green Mountain State in search of the $1,058 prize.
That group is led by Fire Swamp, who calls Airborne Park Speedway home on Thursday nights. He’s currently third in the track’s point standings entering this weekend and will attempt to make his first start at Bear Ridge on Saturday.
Zachary Graham, who races weekly at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, will also make the trip north to Bear Ridge. Graham finished fourth in Glen Ridge’s Limited Sportsman points standings last season and will try to use his experience on 1/4-mile tracks to his advantage when he visits Bear Ridge for the first time.
2025 DIRTcar Sportsman East Region Schedule
Saturday, May 17, Bear Ridge Speedway
Thursday, May 22, Airborne Park Speedway
Sunday, June 1, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park
