CARLSON CRUISES TO BEAR RIDGE SCORE, TAKES OVER DMA POINT LEAD
By: John DaDalt
Bradford, Vermont (August 28, 2021)………Seth Carlson (Stafford, CT) took advantage of a slip by early leader Brandon Piastka to win the USAC-DMA midget feature at Bear Ridge Speedway on Saturday night. It was Carlson’s second win of the season and moved him back into the point lead with two races remaining in the 2021 season.
Manny Dias and Brandon Piastka brought the field around for the green flag with Piastka taking the lead as Dias was shuffled back to third by Will Hull. Hull’s night ended on the fourth lap as he rolled to a stop off of turn two and did not return to the race.
With Hull out, Carlson moved up to fourth. Piastka led Josh Sunn and Justin Sheridan on the restart, but Carlson made his move getting by both Sunn and Sheridan to take over second. Carlson then began to stalk Piastka and when Piastka slipped coming off of turn four, Carlson took advantage to take the lead on lap seven.
Justin Sheridan was also on the move coming from sixth starting spot to grab second from Piastka on lap eight. Sunn pressured Sheridan for second but could not find the necessary grip to get by.
Once in front Carlson steadily built up his lead over the pack staying in the groove and running consistent laps. At the finish, he held a three second lead over Sheridan.
For defending series champion Carlson, patience was definitely a virtue in the feature. “The bottom lane has just been so dominant at Bear Ridge this year, it’s just about patience and capitalizing on other people’s mistakes. He (Piastka) slipped up and I snuck through on the inside.”
Sheridan’s second place finish was his fifth top five in 2021. He spoke about his race strategy after the feature.
“On the start and restarts I was getting a good run on the outside for a lap but then had to move to the bottom groove. I knew it was important to get to the front before Seth, but he did a great job and by the time we were 1-2 I couldn’t catch him. I want to thank Ray Miller and Zettie Shookus for letting me race for them and the whole Miller Racing team, they’ve helped me race a bit more consistently this year and hopefully we can stay up front more often.”
Josh Sunn ran a hard race trying different lines and eventually tallied third spot followed by Brandon Piastka. Mike Chaffee picked up four positions from his ninth starting spot to finish fifth. Daniel Piastka held off Miller Racing teammate Joe Krawiec for sixth with Justin Phillips, Manny Dias and Dylan Campbell rounding out the top ten.
Heat winners were Manny Dias and Brandon Piastka. It was Piastka’s fourth straight win in a heat race.
The USAC-DMA midgets are back at Bear Ridge Speedway on Saturday September 11.
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USAC DIRT MIDGET ASSOCIATION RACE RESULTS: August 28, 2021 – Bradford, Vermont – Bear Ridge Speedway
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Manny Dias (#42 Dias), 2. Mike Chaffee (#18c Miller), 3. Daniel Piastka (#7x Miller), 4. Tom Chaffee (#51 Chaffee), 5. Wayne Koehler (#91 Koehler), 6. Adrian Tetreault (#52 Tetreault), 7. Dylan Campbell (#85 Campbell). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Brandon Piastka (#7 Shookus), 2. Seth Carlson (#4 Matczak), 3. Josh Sunn (#76 Mancini), 4. Justin Sheridan (#17 Miller), 5. Will Hull (#3 Matczak), 6. Justin Phillips (#16 Miller), 7, Joe Krawiec (#1B Miller). NT
FEATURE: (25 laps) 1. Seth Carlson, 2. Justin Sheridan, 3. Josh Sunn, 4. Brandon Piastka, 5. Mike Chaffee, 6. Daniel Piastka, 7. Joe Krawiec, 8. Justin Phillips, 9. Manny Dias, 10. Dylan Campbell, 11. Wayne Koehler, 12. Adrian Tetreault, 13. Tom Chaffee, 14. Will Hull. NT
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-6 Brandon Piastka, Laps 7-25 Seth Carlson.
USAC DIRT MIDGET ASSOCIATION POINTS: 1-Seth Carlson-573, 2-Joe Krawiec-556, 3-Justin Sheridan-543, 4-Justin Phillips-530, 5-Brandon Piastka-514, 6-Manny Dias-513, 7-Will Hull-512, 8-Josh Sunn-498, 9-Wayne Koehler-291, 10-Adrian Tetreault-242.
NEXT USAC DMA MIDGET RACE: September 11, 2021 – Bear Ridge Speedway – Bradford, Vermont