CARLSON SAILS TO SECOND WIN AT BEAR RIDGE

Bradford, Vermont (July 30, 2022)………Seth Carlson (Stafford, Conn.) took the lead on lap seven and sped to victory with the USAC DMA midgets at Bear Ridge Speedway Saturday night. The win was Carlson’s second of the season at Bear Ridge and solidified his point lead with four races remaining.

Justin Sheridan rocketed from third to the lead on the first lap of the feature bringing teammate Brandon Piastka with him. Piastka pressured Sheridan in the early laps but could not make a pass for the lead. While those two were dueling for first, Carlson was moving up from 9th starting spot into the top five.

The complexion of the race changed on lap six when Brandon Piastka got into the back of Justin Sheridan. The two Miller Racing teammates were temporarily hooked together bringing out the caution flag.

On the restart, Carlson got by Manny Dias for the lead and never looked back. Josh Sunn and Will Hull were also picking off cars on their way to the front. Sunn, starting 13th, took the fifth spot after the lead duo wrecked and claimed second from Dan Piastka on lap fifteen.

The 10th starting Hull got into the top five on the eighth lap then had to work his way passed Ralle Rookey and Dan Piastka over the remaining laps, finally getting third with four laps left.

Kevin Mahoney spun off turn four on lap 18 bringing out another caution flag. Sunn had won the previous two features with the DMA and his charge on this night from the last row to second had all eyes on the restart as he looked to continue his win streak.

Carlson had other ideas. With a clear track ahead, Carlson ripped off the fastest lap of the feature while Sunn had to repel Hull’s bid for 2nd. The last five laps ran off smoothly with Carlson winning by two seconds over Sunn.

It wasn’t a perfect night for Carlson as he broke a shock in his heat race.

Hull continued to have trouble with the Matczak #3, so he hopped into the back up Matczak #2. After struggling to a seventh-place finish in the second heat, Hull and the Matczak team lowered the car a little and moved the right rear tire in for side bite. The changes worked as Hull took third in the final rundown.

Dan Piastka’s fourth place finish was his seventh top five in eight races this year. Ralle Rookey took fifth. Manny Dias finished sixth. Sheridan and Piastka rebounded from their early race issue to finish seventh and eighth, respectively. Nikki Ouellette and Mike Chaffee rounded out the top ten.

Heat winners were Manny Dias and Justin Sheridan.

The USAC DMA midgets will make their second appearance of the season at Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Friday, August 12.

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USAC DIRT MIDGET ASSOCIATION RACE RESULTS:  July 30, 2022 – Bear Ridge Speedway – Bradford, Vermont

FIRST HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Manny Dias (#42 Dias), 2. Nikki Ouellette (#14 Matczak), 3. Mike Chaffee (#1B Miller), 4. Tyler Stark (#75 Stark), 5. Todd Mable (#2K Mable), 6. Kevin Mahoney (#32 Mahoney), 7. Tom Chaffee (#51 Chaffee). NT

SECOND HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Justin Sheridan (#17 Shookus), 2. Brandon Piastka (#7 Miller), 3. Josh Sunn (#76 Mancini), 4. Dan Piastka (#1 Miller), 5. Seth Carlson (#4 Matczak), 6. Will Hull (#2 Matczak), 7. Ralle Rookey (#50 Matczak). NT

ALSO AT THE TRACK: Jeff Horn (#A1 Horn) & Jim Mossman (#1RR Mossman)

FEATURE: (25 laps) 1. Seth Carlson, 2. Josh Sunn, 3. Will Hull, 4. Dan Piastka, 5. Ralle Rookey, 6. Manny Dias, 7. Justin Sheridan, 8. Brandon Piastka, 9. Nikki Ouellette, 10. Mike Chaffee, 11. Tyler Stark, 12. Todd Mable, 13. Kevin Mahoney, 14. Tom Chaffee. NT

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-6 Justin Sheridan, Laps 7-25 Seth Carlson.

USAC SPEED2 DIRT MIDGET ASSOCIATION POINTS: 1-Seth Carlson-428, 2-Josh Sunn-426, 3-Justin Sheridan-398, 4-Brandon Piastka-390, 5-Dan Piastka-389, 6-Ralle Rookey-265, 7-Manny Dias-231, 8-Todd Mable-219, 9-Mike Netishen-177, 10-Jeff Horn-169.

NEXT USAC DIRT MIDGET ASSOCIATION RACE:  August 12, 2022 – Albany-Saratoga Speedway – Malta, New York