30 drivers showed up to compete in the 100 lap main event, which is nearly triple the turnout of a typical Saturday night race in the division.

The competition kicked off with three 12 lap heat races. Former BRMS track champion, Curt Gerry, pulled ahead with the early lead in the first qualifying heat.

Rusty Poland, in a borrowed #90 machine from Derek Kneeland, was also on the move early. He was all over Barry Poulin’s back bumper on lap 5, hungry for a spot on the podium. Poland pulled to his door the following lap, quickly taking over the position.

Curt Gerry continued to hold off his competitors in the closing laps, scoring the heat victory. Joey Doiron and Rusty Poland rounded out the top 3.

Nick Reno and Ryan Littlefield tangled on the initial lap of the second qualifying heat, resulting in an early race caution.

Joe Pastore pulled ahead with the advantage on the restart. Matt Dow, trying his hand in Nick Cusack’s Super Late Model, nearly lost control on the backstretch on lap 1. Dow managed to hold onto it, but ultimately fell to the back of the pack.

Travis Buzzell made his way to Jamie Wright’s outside door on lap 5, challenging for the runner-up spot. Buzzell took over the position two laps later as Glen Luce followed in succession.

Glen Luce came to life in the closing laps, igniting a battle for the runner-up spot with Travis Buzzell on lap 8. Luce took over the following lap and began tracking down his son-in-law, Joe Pastore, for the top spot.

Pastore was able to fend off Luce to the finish, picking up the heat victory. Travis Buzzell rounded out the top 3.

The initial start of the third and final qualifying heat was called off by race control. Once the field got rolling, Evan Beaulieu took off with the lead while Brandon Barker filed in behind him.

Wyatt Alexander was maneuvering through the field early, advancing to third over Josh Childs on lap 2.

Brandon Barker was all over Evan Beaulieu’s back bumper at the mid-point of the race, hungry for the top spot. Wyatt Alexander pulled up to them on lap 10, joining the battle with just two laps to go.

Barker pulled ahead with sole possession of the lead on lap 10, leaving Wyatt Alexander and Evan Beaulieu battling it out for the runner-up spot. The competition was so heated in the closing laps that Brandon Barker came to a spin at the finish line.

Following the wild finish, Beaulieu was deemed the heat race winner as Wyatt Alexander and Brandon Barker rounded out the top 3.

The final event was special, as all Pro Series competitors were able to participate in out of car introductions on the front stretch prior to the start of the race.

Curt Gerry hopped out to the early lead in the 100 lap feature. Drivers were three wide for the runner-up spot early, with Joe Pastore ultimately holding onto the spot.

After facing some heavy tire rub in the opening laps of the race, Evan Beaulieu dropped to fifth on lap 5. His friend and competitor, Wyatt Alexander, was on the move early, overtaking Joey Doiron for the runner-up spot on lap 8.

Max Rowe took a spin on lap 11 in turn 2, resulting in an early race caution.

Drivers were 3-wide for the top spot on the restart, with Joey Doiron taking over as Curt Gerry descended back to third behind Wyatt Alexander. Gerry wasn’t giving up without a fight, pulling to Alexander’s door on lap 15 and reigniting the battle for the position. After battling it out for over a dozen laps, Alexander pulled ahead with the advantage on lap 29.

Jamie Wright went around on lap 30 in turn 1, leading to another caution. Following the drop of the green flag, Dave Oliver and others went for spins in turn 3. This led to another quick yellow.

Joey Doiron pulled ahead with the advantage on the restart, leaving Wyatt Alexander and Curt Gerry battling it out for the runner-up spot. Alexander was able to fend him off once again and quickly began tracking down Joey Doiron for the top spot.

The leaders began to approach heavy lap traffic on lap 48, but trouble was brewing right in front of the leaders as Josh Childs took a spin on lap 49. This resulted in a mid-race caution.

Joey Doiron held the advantage on the restart, but Jeremy Davis took a spin in turn 2, leading to another caution.

Doiron held his line on the restart as Curt Gerry made his way back under Wyatt Alexander, challenging for the runner-up spot. Meanwhile, Brandon Barker and Corey Bubar spearheaded a head to head battle for fourth behind them.

Justin Larsen took a spin in turn 2 shortly after the restart, which brought the leaders back together once again.

Joey Doiron and Wyatt Alexander broke free on the restart, leaving Brandon Barker and Curt Gerry battling it out for position behind them. Gerry won the battle and dove to Alexander’s inside door, challenging for the runner-up spot yet again.

The leaders began approaching lap traffic again on lap 72. The competition slowed down once more on lap 76 as Dalton Gagnon spun in turn 4, making hard contact with the wall.

Joey Doiron maintained his advantage on the restart, pulling away from Wyatt Alexander. Corey Bubar also began to come to life in the closing laps of the race, overtaking third from Curt Gerry on lap 83.

Wyatt Alexander reeled in Joey Doiron by lap 84, making his way to Doiron’s outside door to challenge for the top spot. The battle surprisingly didn’t last long as Alexander took off with the advantage the following lap.

Ivan Kaffel took a spin on lap 85 in turn 2, resulting in a late race caution. After strong showings all day from both drivers, Evan Beaulieu and Glen Luce both took spins on the restart. This led to another quick caution.

Wyatt Alexander pulled ahead with the advantage on the restart and never looked back, capturing the feature victory. The win was special for Wyatt and the WAR team for many reasons.

First of all, Wyatt Alexander ran a special #51 paint scheme on Sunday, honoring the Walker family, namely Dan Walker and Jeff Walker. Dan has worked at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway for nearly his entire life. He has selflessly devoted his time to the track in a handful of different positions and most recently as the pit steward. He also raced at the track for years, with #51 being the number of his first racecar. Jeff followed in his father’s footsteps, racing (and winning) in the Beetle Bugs division on Thursday nights. Jeff’s son and Dan’s grandson, Ethan, has recently dipped his feet into the racing pool by competing weekly at Bartlett Bridge Raceway in a go-kart.

Gail Peters was also in attendance on Sunday, cheering on Wyatt and his team. Gail is the loving wife of the late Greg Peters, who was a mentor and a friend to many, including Wyatt Alexander. John Peters, Greg’s son, is also Wyatt’s best friend. It was bittersweet watching Gail and Wyatt share a hug on the front stretch of the track following his momentous victory.

Joey Doiron, Corey Bubar, Curt Gerry and Brandon Barker rounded out the top five.

Following the conclusion of the night’s events, “Happy Half Hour” lasted a bit longer than usual, giving both fans and drivers the opportunity to soak everything in.

Some fans (like myself) took this time to walk the track and share hugs and memories with members of the racing family. Others took this time to take home small pieces of the track, like loose rubber and cracked pieces of the track surface. Some fans sat by themselves in the stands, practicing self-reflection and reminiscing about their favorite memories at the track.

Some drivers elected to burn out upon leaving the track, leaving their mark in a big and bold way.

Everyone soaked in the moment in their own way. Although it was sad for all of us at the end of the day, it was undoubtedly a beautiful experience.

If you’d like to share your thoughts on how we can save the track, please join the Save Beech Ridge Speedway group on Facebook. We are all in this together.

Continue chasing the checkered and support our local short tracks. This is more important now than it ever has been before.

#weareBRMS and I love you all.

Until next time…

Cover photo credit: Jamie Williams – Finish Line Photography

The post Wyatt Alexander Captures Emotional Victory at BRMS appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.

The Pro Series competition kicked off with one 12 lap qualifying heat. Travis Buzzell powered to the early lead, pulling away from his competitors. Gary Smith also got a big jump early, separating himself and Rusty Poland by 3 positions.

Joe Pastore was hungry for the lead on lap 4, challenging Travis Buzzell for the top spot. The two drivers battled it out for a couple of laps until Pastore pulled ahead with the advantage on lap 6.

Joe Pastore maintained his advantage through the finish, picking up the heat victory while Travis Buzzell and Nick Cusack rounded out the top 3.

Gary Smith finished the heat one position ahead of Rusty Poland, who finished in eighth. This gave Smith a one point advantage over Poland going into the feature.

11 drivers took to the track for the 40 lap feature, which was the final event of the night. Joe Pastore took off with the early lead in the feature as Travis Buzzell powered into the runner-up spot behind him.

Gary Smith broke the top five on lap 4, giving him a two car advantage over Rusty Poland.

Travis Buzzell was all over Joe Pastore for the top spot on lap 10, eventually pulling to his inside the following lap. The two drivers went door to door until lap 13, where Pastore pulled ahead with the advantage.

Corey Bubar began his pursuit to the front mid-race, overtaking Travis Buzzell for the runner-up spot on lap 23. He tracked down Joe Pastore in the coming laps, eventually pulling to Pastore’s inside door on lap 27. While battling for position, the two drivers made contact on lap 28 in turn 4, resulting in Bubar losing ground and Pastore pulling away.

Pastore and Bubar reignited their battle with 5 laps to go and made contact once again on lap 38 in turn 4. It was a true drag race to the finish, with Pastore beating Bubar to the line and ultimately collecting his second victory of the night.

Travis Buzzell, Dave Oliver and Gary Smith rounded out the top five.

With his fifth place finish, Gary Smith captured the 2021 track championship. This was the first career Pro Series championship for Smith, who is 65 years old and travels from Bangor to Scarborough to race each and every week. Following the race, Smith celebrated his big accomplishment with family and friends, which included both his children and grandchildren.

While Smith picked up the track championship, Dave Oliver was crowned the 2021 NASCAR champion at the track and Wyatt Alexander picked up well-deserved “Rookie of the Year” honors in the division.

The season ended with a bang in the Pro Series and the surprises (unfortunately) continued before the championship award ceremony took place as track owner, Andy Cusack, announced that the track is currently under contract by an out of state real estate developer.

Sadness, frustration and sorrow flooded the front stretch, but track announcer, Andy Austin, kept perfect composure as he announced the champions to the sad, but supportive, crowd.

With the future of Beech Ridge Motor Speedway unknown, PLEASE make sure to support the track staff and competitors on Thursday, September 23rd, which could very well be the track’s final night of competition. The racing action kicks off at 7:00 pm. Let’s flood the pit and grandstand area and send BRMS off with a bang!

If you would like to create positive change in our racing community and brainstorm/share ideas on how we can save our track, please join the Save Beech Ridge Speedway group on Facebook.

Until then, continue chasing the checkered and support your local short tracks. This is more imperative now than ever before.

Please reach out if you need a somebody to talk to. #weareBRMS and we WILL get through this together.

Cover photo credit goes to my wonderful future Mother in Law, Sue Walker.

The post Gary Smith Picks Up First Career Pro Series Championship at Beech Ridge appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.

Coming into the night, Rusty Poland held a mere 6 point lead over Gary Smith in the standings.

The Pro Series competition kicked off with one 12-lap qualifying heat. Parker Varney took a spin on the initial lap of the heat, causing the field to scatter. This resulted in an early-race caution.

Wyatt Alexander stole the lead away from Nick Cusack on the restart as Alan Tardiff followed in succession. Gary Smith was on the move further on back, eager to cut down Rusty Poland’s point lead. Smith cleared Bill Rodgers for fifth on lap 10 and immediately moved onto Corey Bubar for fourth.

Bubar and Smith battled it out until the bitter end, where Smith cleared Bubar for the position with just one lap to go.

Wyatt Alexander held off his competitors in the closing lap, scoring the heat victory as Alan Tardiff and Nick Cusack rounded out the top three.

With Gary Smith finishing the heat in fourth and Rusty Poland finishing in sixth, Smith was able to cut Poland’s point lead down to 4 points going into the feature.

Wyatt Alexander and Alan Tardiff went head to head for the early lead in the 40 lap feature race. Gary Smith quickly maneuvered into third, creating a 3 car separation between himself and Rusty Poland.

As the leaders continued to battle it out at the front of the field, Rusty Poland was trying to gain some ground, riding Nick Cusack’s coattails for fifth on lap 19. Poland pulled to Cusack’s inside door two laps later, challenging for the position as Joe Pastore lingered closely behind.

After battling it out for three quarters of the race, Alan Tardiff pulled ahead with sole possession of the top spot on lap 28. Wyatt Alexander wasn’t giving up without a fight, pulling back up to Tardiff’s inside door to challenge for the lead on lap 32.

Rusty Poland finally cleared Nick Cusack for fifth on lap 36, tying up the point battle between himself and Gary Smith.

It was a drag race to the finish for Alan Tardiff and Wyatt Alexander. Tardiff ultimately beat Alexander to the line, picking up his third feature victory of the 2021 season. Margin of victory? .178 seconds.

Gary Smith, Corey Bubar and Rusty Poland rounded out the top five.

With a deadlocked tie for the track championship coming into the final week of competition, next week’s Pro Series race is sure to be a must-see event!

Who will come out on top, will it be Gary Smith or Rusty Poland? Join us next week at Beech Ridge to find out!

The Super Saturday season finale kicks off at 4:00 pm this coming Saturday, September 11th. The season’s final Autograph Night and championship presentation will follow the racing action.

Continue chasing the checkered and support your local short tracks. I hope to see you soon!

Cover photo credit goes to Jamie Williams at Finish Line Photography.

The post Alan Tardiff Scores Third Win of 2021 at Beech Ridge appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.

13 drivers showed up to compete in the Pro Series events and underdog, Rusty Poland, hoped to continue to lead the charge in a tight points battle.

Joe Pastore took off with the early lead in the first 10 lap qualifying heat. Rusty Poland made a bold move early, taking veterans, Bill Rodgers and Dave Oliver, 3-wide for third in the opening laps. Poland made it stick, pulling away with sole possession of the spot.

Corey Bubar tracked down Joe Pastore by lap 5, pulling to Pastore’s inside door as he challenged for the lead. The two competitors battled it out until the final lap, where Pastore ultimately picked up the heat victory. Rusty Poland rounded out the top 3.

Wyatt Alexander pulled ahead with the early advantage in the second and final qualifying heat. Nick Cusack was on the move early, quickly advancing into the runner-up spot over Travis Buzzell.

Gary Smith made his way to Travis Buzzell’s door on lap 2, challenging for third. Smith took over the spot the following lap and immediately moved onto Nick Cusack, stealing the runner-up spot away from Cusack on lap 6.

While his competitors battled it out for position, Wyatt Alexander had checked out in the closing laps, capturing the heat victory. Gary Smith and Nick Cusack rounded out the top 3.

Following the Sport Series feature, the Pro Series returned to the track for their 35 lap main event. Joe Pastore held the early advantage over Wyatt Alexander in the feature, but Alexander fought his way back to Pastore’s inside door on lap 4, spearheading a side by side battle for the top spot.

Gary Smith took a peek to the inside of Rusty Poland on lap 7, posing a challenge for fourth. Poland was able to hold him off and began to track down the leaders.

After battling it out for a handful of laps, Joe Pastore pulled ahead with sole possession of the lead on lap 10. Wyatt Alexander had backed off for a couple of laps, but was back to challenge Pastore just 5 laps later.

Evan Beaulieu took a hard spin on the front stretch on lap 19, resulting in a late-race caution.

The initial restart was called off by race control, but Pastore and Alexander continued to duke it out for the top spot once the field went green. Rusty Poland powered into the third spot on the restart, but Gary Smith was back on his inside, challenging for the spot on lap 22.

Poland managed to fend off Smith once again as the battle for the top spot continued to heat up in front of him. Wyatt Alexander was hungry for the lead in the closing laps of the race, diving back to Pastore’s inside with 10 laps to go and refusing to give up without a fight.

The two drivers battled it out until the bitter end, where Pastore was able to hold off Alexander to the line. Rusty Poland, Gary Smith and Corey Bubar rounded out the top 3.

Saturday brought great luck for Joe Pastore and the #20p team. On Saturday morning, Pastore’s young son, Jace, had discovered a coveted four leaf clover. Following the lucky find, Jace went on to draw the pole for his dad in the pre-race driver’s meeting. The good luck surely manifested throughout the day and paid off at the end of the night!

Joe Pastore and Wyatt Alexander put on a wildly exciting show on Saturday and Rusty Poland and Gary Smith continue to put on a nail biter in the championship points race.

How will the rest of the season play out with just 3 races remaining in 2021 at the track? Stay tuned to find out!

The 2021 Super Saturday season continues on this coming Saturday, August 28th. The racing action kicks off at 4:00 pm.

Continue chasing the checkered and support your local short tracks. I hope to see you soon!

Cover photo credit goes to Jamie Williams at Finish Line Photography.

The post Joe Pastore Scores Second Pro Series Win at Beech Ridge appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.

Former Beech Ridge Pro Series regular, John Peters, was originally slated to participate in the race in the #09 machine, which is a throwback to the car that his father, Greg Peters, used to race at the track when he was a competitor. Greg has been courageously battling cancer and John ultimately opted out of the race to spend precious and much-needed time with his family.

The legacy of the #09 still lived on at the speedway on Saturday as John’s best friend and competitor, Wyatt Alexander, changed his number to #09 for the night. Wyatt, among several other competitors, donned #racingforGNG stickers on their cars on Saturday, taking “Grand National Greg” along for the ride in various divisions.

With Wyatt and his competitors racing for something much bigger than a trophy, the first group of Pro Series competitors took to the track for the first 10-lap qualifying heat. Gary Smith and Rusty Poland went head to head for the early lead in the first heat. The two drivers battled it out until Smith pulled ahead with the advantage on lap 3.

Joe Pastore was also on the move early, challenging Rusty Poland for the runner-up spot on lap 4. Poland successfully held off Pastore to the finish as Gary Smith captured the heat victory.

Donnie Colpritt took off with the early lead in the second and final qualifying heat as Dave Oliver quickly powered into the runner-up spot. He made his way to Colpritt’s door on lap 2, challenging for the lead before taking over the spot the following lap.

As Dave Oliver pulled away, Brandon Barker made his way to Donnie Colpritt’s inside door on lap 5, hungry for the runner-up spot. Barker pulled away with the advantage on lap 6, but Dave Oliver was long gone in the closing laps of the heat, capturing the victory. Brandon Barker and Donnie Colpritt rounded out the top 3.

Once the field was set, Gary Smith and Dave Oliver went door to door for the early lead in the 40-lap feature. The two drivers duked it out for a handful of laps before Oliver pulled ahead with the advantage on lap 5.

Brandon Barker was also on the move early, challenging Gary Smith for the runner-up spot on lap 8 before taking sole possession of the spot just two laps later. Barker was hungry for more, all over Dave Oliver for the top spot on lap 13. Barker made his way to Oliver’s door the following lap, spearheading a battle for the lead.

Wyatt Alexander was powering his way through the field mid-race, making his way to Gary Smith’s inside door on lap 17, challenging for third before taking over the spot the following lap.

Trouble was brewing further back in the field as the leaders continued to battle it out. Barry Poulin took a hard spin on lap 27 in turn 3, resulting in a late-race caution.

Dave Oliver pulled ahead with the advantage on the restart, but a hard-charging Wyatt Alexander was on a mission. Alexander was all over Brandon Barker on lap 30, hungry for the runner-up spot. Alexander took over the spot and quickly moved on to Dave Oliver. He briefly took over the lead in the closing laps of the race, resulting in the entire Beech Ridge crowd erupting into cheers.

Alexander bobbled on lap 32, descending back to third. This gave Barker a chance to strike and the driver did just that, making his way to Oliver’s door on lap 35 as Wyatt Alexander rode their coattails, ready to strike once again.

Oliver maintained his edge through the finish, picking up yet another feature victory in the division. Brandon Barker, Wyatt Alexander, Rusty Poland and Gary Smith followed, rounding out the top five.

The Pro Series drivers brought the excitement to Beech Ridge on Saturday and raced cleanly with pure heart for a full 40 laps and surely made GNG proud. It was a special race to watch and everyone was an #09 fan on Saturday night.

There will be a break in the Super Saturday schedule this coming week, but the competition will return on Saturday, July 24th. The racing action kicks off at 4:00 pm.

Continue chasing the checkered and support your local short tracks. I hope to see you soon!

Cover photo credit: Jamie Williams – Finish Line Photography

My heart goes out to John Peters and his family. Stay strong, Greg. We all love you and will always be #racingforGNG.

The post Dave Oliver Picks Up Another Pro Series Victory at Beech Ridge appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.

Rusty Poland and Brandon Barker were two drivers playing “double duty” on Saturday, with Rusty competing in both the MRS and Pro Series and Barker competing in the Pro and Sport Series, where he is still filling in for the injured Robbie Harrison.

The Pro Series was the first division to take the NASCAR Nite stage on Saturday, kicking off the competition with two 10-lap qualifying heats.

Drivers were 3-wide for the early lead in the first qualifying heat. Brandon Barker pulled away with the top spot as Wyatt Alexander and Corey Bubar battled it out for the runner-up spot behind him. The two drivers battled it out side by side until the finish, where Wyatt Alexander pulled away with the spot on the final lap as Brandon Barker captured the heat victory.

Rusty Poland and Gary Smith went door to door for the early lead in the second qualifying heat and remained glue to each other through the entire heat, with Poland edging Smith out at the line by a nose, capturing his first career heat victory. Dave Oliver rounded out the top 3.

Once the field was set, Brandon Barker got the early jump over Rusty Poland in the 40-lap feature. Gary Smith was also on the move early, overtaking Poland for the runner-up spot on lap 3. Corey Bubar and Wyatt Alexander carried their battle from the heat to the feature, going door to door for fourth on lap 6.

Corey Bubar won the battle for position, immediately pulling up to Rusty Poland’s back bumper, challenging for third. Dave Oliver, powering through the field, picked off Bubar for fourth on lap 11. Oliver was at Poland’s door just two laps later, challenging for third before taking over the spot on lap 15.

Rusty Poland and Corey Bubar reignited their battle on lap 16, going nose to nose for fourth with Wyatt Alexander right on their heels. The two drivers battled it out for the better half of the race until Bubar pulled away with the position on lap 30 as Alexander followed in succession.

Corey Bubar and Wyatt Alexander continued to battle it out for position to the finish, where Bubar took a spin in turn 4 of the final lap, completely mixing up the top five in the final turn.

Brandon Barker held off the competition, scoring his first Pro Series victory of the 2021 season as Gary Smith, Dave Oliver, Wyatt Alexander and Rusty Poland rounded out the top five.

The Sport Series was the last NASCAR Nite division to take to the stage for their 10-lap qualifying heats.

Bubba Pelton and Nick Calvert went head to head for the early lead in the heat while Frank Wear and Brandon Barker battled it out for position behind them. Nick Calvert pulled ahead with the advantage on lap 5, leaving Frank Wear and Bubba Pelton duking it out for the runner-up spot behind him.

After a strong performance all day, Nick Calvert went up in smoke on lap 8, leaving both Frank Wear and Bubba Pelton spinning in his wake as the caution flag came out. Both drivers were able to restart on the front row, as neither driver caused the caution. Pelton and Wear battled it out to the finish, where Bubba Pelton edged out Frank Wear at the finish line for the heat victory as Brandon Barker rounded out the top 3.

Danny Wear and Clyde Hennessey battled it out for the early lead in the second and final Sport Series heat. Hennessey made a bold crossover move on lap 2, diving to Wear’s inside as the two continued to swap the lead back and forth before Danny Wear pulled away with the spot on lap 5.

Chris Smith was also on the move early, advancing to third over Curt Gleason on lap 7. He continued his pursuit to the front in the closing laps, making his way to Clyde Hennessey’s inside door on the final lap, challenging for the runner-up spot and succeeding as Danny Wear took home another heat victory.

Once the field was set, Bubba Pelton took off with the early lead in the 35-lap feature as father-son duo, Frank and Danny Wear, battled it out for position behind him. Danny Wear pulled ahead with the advantage on lap 4, leaving his father and Chris Smith duking it out for third behind him.

Chris Smith overtook Frank Wear for third and continued his pursuit to the front, stealing the runner-up spot away from Danny Wear just two laps later. Smith was still hungry for the top spot as he made his way to Bubba Pelton’s outside door on lap 7, challenging for the lead before taking over the position the following lap.

Brandon Barker was coming through the field quickly, overtaking Bubba Pelton for the runner-up spot on lap 10. He reeled in Chris Smith in the coming laps, successfully taking over as the leader on lap 17.

Ryan Phillips made his way to Danny Wear’s door on lap 22, challenging for fourth. Phillips took over just two laps later and immediately got to work on Bubba Pelton for third, successfully completing the pass on lap 27. Danny Wear still had some fight left in him in the closing laps, overtaking Bubba Pelton for fourth on lap 31 as Jason Curtis followed in succession.

Brandon Barker held off his competitors to the finish, scoring yet another feature victory. Barker is the first driver in DECADES to achieve two feature victories in one night at Beech Ridge. The last time this feat occurred was in the 1970’s, so it was a very special night for the #88/#13 teams.

Chris Smith, Ryan Phillips, Danny Wear and Jason Curtis rounded out the top five.

Brandon Barker successfully added his name to the Beech Ridge record books on Saturday. Who will be the next driver to achieve the same feat, Joe Pastore or even Adam Lovejoy? Only time will tell.

Catch the next week of Super Saturday racing action this coming Saturday, June 26th. The racing action kicks off at 4:00 pm. Kids of ALL ages are now allowed in the pits and grandstand admission is just $12 for adults and FREE for kids 12 and under!

Continue chasing the checkered and support your local short tracks. I hope to see you soon!

Cover photo credit goes to Jamie Williams at Finish Line Photography!

The post Brandon Barker Achieves Coveted 2-Peat at Beech Ridge appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.

Wyatt Alexander and Dave Oliver went head to head for the early lead in the first Pro Series qualifying heat.The two drivers remained side by side until Alexander pulled ahead with just 3 laps to go. He maintained his lead, capturing the heat victory as Dave Oliver and Brandon Barker rounded out the top 3.

Gabe Brown powered into the early lead in the second and final qualifying heat. Rusty Poland was on the move early, making quick work of Nick Cusack for the runner-up spot. Corey Bubar followed in his footsteps, going head to head with Cusack for third on lap 3 before taking over third.

Bubar was hungry for more as rode Poland’s heels for the runner-up spot, igniting a battle for position on lap 5. Bubar pulled to his door the following lap and the two drivers battled it out to the finish, with Rusty Poland nudging out Bubar at the line as Gabe Brown captured the heat victory.

13 drivers took to the track for the 100-lap main event. Wyatt Alexander pulled ahead with the early advantage over Gabe Brown. Dave Oliver was in hot pursuit early, stealing the runner-up spot away from Brown on lap 3.

Rusty Poland, riding with momentum from last week’s top 5 finish, made his way to Gabe Brown’s door on lap 5. Corey Bubar was waiting in the wings, ready to strike at any moment if either driver faltered. Gabe Brown pulled ahead with the sole possession of the spot on lap 11 as Bubar followed, overtaking Poland for fourth. Bubar immediately moved onto Gabe Brown, completing the pass for third on lap 16.

The field remained single file until lap 35, where Alan Tardiff pulled out of line, challenging Rusty Poland for fifth. The two drivers duked it out for a handful of laps before Tardiff tucked back into line behind Poland, unable to complete the pass.

Last week’s feature winner, Joe Pastore, suddenly pulled off-track on lap 43 and brought the #20 machine down to the pits. He returned to the track on lap 60, deeming him unable to achieve back-to-back wins happen after falling multiple laps down.

Wyatt Alexander continued to set a blistering pace at the front of the pack, lapping multiple drivers with every passing lap. By lap 89, Alexander had a full straightaway lead over Dave Oliver and had also lapped all but 5 of his competitors.

Alexander maintained his lead until the end, scoring the feature victory after leading all 100 laps. The win is his first feature victory of the 2021 season and his second 100-lap victory in two seasons at the track. After taking his victory lap around the track, Wyatt celebrated with his friends, family and team members in Victory Lane.

Dave Oliver, Corey Bubar, Gabe Brown and Rusty Poland rounded out the top five.

After scoring multiple top 5 finishes in the open points races this season, Wyatt Alexander finally got it done on Saturday night! Wyatt Alexander, Dave Oliver and Corey Bubar continue to impress and top the leaderboard every week while drivers like Rusty Poland continue to grow with every passing week.

Who will be the next Pro Series driver that makes it into Victory Lane? Only time will tell.

You can see it all happen in person next Saturday, June 12th. The racing action kicks off at 4:00 pm and kids of ALL AGES are now allowed in the pits! Adult grandstand admission is just $12 while kids 12 and under get in for FREE!

Continue chasing the checkered and support your local short tracks. I hope to see you soon!

Photo credit for cover photo: Chris Allen

The post Wyatt Alexander Wins Big at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.

We saw a lot of new faces in the pits on Saturday with over 100 drivers showing up to compete in various divisions. Among those drivers was Kate Re, who was making her first career start at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. Gabe Brown also returned for another round of Pro Series competition, along with former weekly competitor, Brandon Barker.

Joe Pastore took off with the early lead over Wyatt Alexander in the first Pro Series qualifying heat. Alexander was hungry for more on lap 6, making his way back to Pastore’s door as he challenged him for the top spot. While the two leaders were duking it out for first, Travis Buzzell and Bill Rodgers battled it out for third behind them.

Pastore held off Alexander for the heat victory while Travis Buzzell nudged out Bill Rodgers for third.

Gabe Brown powered into the early lead over Alan Tardiff in the second and final qualifying heat. Tardiff still lingered closely behind, trailing Gabe Brown until lap 8, where he pulled back up to Brown’s door for the lead. The two drivers remained door to door until Tardiff pulled ahead with just two laps to go.

Alan Tardiff maintained his edge, capturing the heat victory as Gabe Brown and Rusty Poland rounded out the top 3.

17 drivers took to the track for the 50-lap feature event. Joe Pastore took off with the early lead as Wyatt Alexander and Alan Tardiff battled it out for the runner-up spot behind him. Alexander pulled ahead with the edge over Tardiff on lap 5, then setting his sights on Pastore at the top of the leaderboard.

Gabe Brown was hungry for a podium spot, all over Alan Tardiff’s back bumper for third on lap 7. Wyatt Alexander continued his pursuit to the front, tracking down Joe Pastore for the top spot on lap 15 and igniting a red-hot battle for the lead.

Rusty Poland, hoping to gain his footing after a tough start to the season, found his way to Gabe Brown’s door on lap 18, challenging for fourth. Poland finally cleared Brown for the spot on lap 20 and immediately moved onto Alan Tardiff while Joe Pastore and Wyatt Alexander went door to door for the top spot.

Dave Oliver was also on the move in the second half of the feature, breaking the top five on lap 38.

Wyatt Alexander and Joe Pastore stayed close, with Alexander finding his way back to Pastore’s door once again with just five laps to go. The two drivers gave it everything they had and dug in during the closing laps, but Pastore held the edge as he crossed the finish line, capturing his first career Pro Series victory. Margin of victory? .224 seconds.

Pastore celebrated in Victory Lane, thanking his friends, family and the Caruso Fowler Racing team for supporting him throughout his racing journey.

Wyatt Alexander, Alan Tardiff, Rusty Poland and Dave Oliver rounded out the top five.

The Pro Series division remains SUPER competitive and drivers like Pastore, Alexander, Tardiff and Oliver all continue to showcase their strength week after week. Rusty Poland, who has shared his frustrations about the slow start to his 2021 season, showed up on Saturday and proved that everything gets better as long as you give it your all and never give up. It’ll be fun watching the #44 team grow even more over the course of the season.

Catch more Pro Series racing action next Saturday, June 5th. The racing action kicks off at 4:00 pm. Kids of ALL AGES are now allowed in the pits and grandstand admission is only $12 for adults and FREE for kids 12 and under.

Continue chasing the checkered and support your local short tracks. I hope to see you soon!

The post Joe Pastore Captures First Career Pro Series Victory at Beech Ridge appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.

Last week, Bill Rodgers took home the victory in the division after Corey Bubar scored his season opening win. The division remains highly competitive week-in and week-out, with each week providing new twists and turns. This week was no different.

Alan Tardiff and Joe Pastore went head to head for the early lead in the first 12-lap qualifying heat. Pastore pulled ahead with the advantage on lap 3. Dave Oliver was also on the move early, overtaking Alan Tardiff for the runner-up spot on lap 4. He was at Pastore’s door the following lap, challenging for the top spot. Oliver pulled ahead on lap 8 and never looked back, securing the heat victory. Joe Pastore and Alan Tardiff rounded out the top 3.

Corey Bubar took off with the early lead in the second and final Pro Series heat as Trevor Sanborn quickly moved into the runner-up spot over Gary Smith. Bubar and Sanborn went door-to-door for the lead on lap 2 and remained close, although Bubar held the slight advantage.

Week 2 winner, Bill Rodgers, was on the move mid-race, advancing to third over Gary Smith on lap 6. He was at Trevor Sanborn’s door for the runner-up spot the following lap and the 3 leaders remained neck & neck for the remainder of the heat. Bubar ultimately scored the heat victory over Trevor Sanborn. The two drivers made contact following the finish and Sanborn went for a wild spin through turns 1 and 2. Gary Smith, beating Bill Rodgers to the line, rounded out the top 3.

Once the field was set, 13 drivers took to the track for the 75-lap feature. Dave Oliver pulled away from his competitors early, taking off with the lead. Bill Rodgers was on the move early, all over Corey Bubar for fourth on lap 6. Gary Smith was right on his toes, joining the battle for position on lap 10 and pulling away with the advantage over Rodgers just one lap later.

Smith continued his pursuit on lap 14, challenging Bubar for fourth. While battling it out, the two drivers caught up to Joe Pastore and Gary Smith overtook both drivers, seizing the third place position. Wyatt Alexander was all over Corey Bubar for fifth on lap 24, hungry for a spot in the top five. The two drivers battled cleanly for over a dozen laps before Alexander finally took over the spot on lap 45. After a solid showing all day, Alan Tardiff came to a slow on lap 48, pulling to the pits.

Dave Oliver was on rails, pulling ahead to a full half track lead with just 25 laps to go. Corey Bubar came back to life in the closing laps of the feature, reigniting his battle with Wyatt Alexander for fifth on lap 59 before overtaking the position the following lap. After a strong performance throughout the day, Gary Smith had a right front tire go down on lap 66, sending him into the turn 4 wall. The incident was a heartbreaking end to Smith’s day and also led to a late-race caution.

Smith’s downfall completely changed the game as Trevor Sanborn and Joe Pastore overtook Dave Oliver on the restart after Oliver displayed dominance throughout the entire course of the race. The two drivers went nose-to-nose to the checkered, with Sanborn beating Pastore to the line by a hair. Margin of victory? .079 seconds. Dave Oliver, Travis Buzzell and Corey Bubar rounded out the top five.

The victory was momentous (and emotional) for Trevor Sanborn and the #29 team. Toward the end of last season, Sanborn was hospitalized and fighting for his life after being diagnosed with double pneumonia and sepsis. Sanborn still faces setbacks from his health scare in his daily life, but has since returned to racing and continues to be competitive, even when faced with adversity. Sanborn thanked his family, friends and team that has stayed by his side in his Victory Lane speech.

Sanborn’s well-fought win was one for the memory books and everyone was a Trevor Sanborn fan on Saturday night.

So far this season, we have already seen three different feature winners in the Pro Series division. Drivers like Joe Pastore and Travis Buzzell continue to be competitive and it’ll be interesting seeing how many different winners the division will have this season.

Stay tuned for week 4 of Beech Ridge competition, coming next Saturday, May 22nd. The racing action kicks off at 4:00 pm. Kids of ALL AGES are now allowed in the pits. Grandstand admission is just $12 for adults and FREE for kids 12 and under!

Continue chasing the checkered and support your local short tracks! I hope to see you soon!

The post Trevor Sanborn Scores Momentous Victory at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.

The Pro Series competition kicked off with two 12-lap qualifying heats. Trevor Sanborn took off with the early lead in the first heat. Dave Oliver lingered closely behind before pulling up to Sanborn’s door on lap 5, challenging him for the top spot and taking over the lead the following lap. Trevor Sanborn and Wyatt Alexander spearheaded a battle for the runner-up spot on the final lap, with Sanborn ultimately beating Alexander to the line as Dave Oliver secured the heat victory.

Joe Pastore and Bill Rodgers went head to head for the early lead in the second and final qualifying heat. Pastore pulled ahead with the slight edge in the early laps as Rodgers lingered closely behind. Pastore maintained his lead for the remainder of the race, securing the heat victory as Bill Rodgers and Alan Tardiff rounded out the top 3.

In a shocking turn of events, Joe Pastore made the dreaded right-hand turn to the pits prior to the start of the feature after facing mechanical troubles, never to return to the track.

Once the field got rolling, Bill Rodgers took off with the early lead in the feature. Trevor Sanborn was also on the move early, challenging Alan Tardiff for third on lap 12.

Dave Oliver was also making strides, going door to door with Bill Rodgers for the lead on lap 15. Rodgers pulled away for a brief moment before Oliver returned to his door just a handful of laps later. After battling it out for nearly 10 laps, Alan Tardiff succumbed to Trevor Sanborn on lap 23 as Sanborn took over third.

Wyatt Alexander joined the main pack on lap 30 after overtaking Tardiff for fourth. The leaders continued to swap the lead back and forth with every passing lap until Rodgers pulled away with the slight edge on lap 50.

Trevor Sanborn and Wyatt Alexander began to close in on Rodgers and Oliver in the closing laps and the top 4 began to pull away from the rest of the pack. Trevor Sanborn was all over Dave Oliver for the runner-up spot in the closing laps of the feature but Oliver managed to hold him off to the line as Bill Rodgers took home the feature victory. Wyatt Alexander and Alan Tardiff rounded out the top five.

The Pro Series division continues to remain highly competitive week-in and week-out. Drivers like Trevor Sanborn and Dave Oliver continue to show consistency and strength as drivers like Corey Bubar and Dave Oliver continue to prove that they still have what it takes to top the podium.

It’ll be interesting to see which drivers can break the mold and come out on top come points season.

You can watch it all go down next Saturday, May 15th at 4:00 pm. Kids of ALL AGES are now allowed in the pits. As always, grandstand admittance is only $12 for adults and kids 12 and under get in for FREE.

Continue chasing the checkered and support your local short tracks. I hope to see you soon!

The post Bill Rodgers Returns to Victory Lane at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway appeared first on Chasing The Checkered.