Connor Cleveland Claims 2016 KOD Championship
Story By: ROB HAZER / KOD SERIES MEDIA
Photos By: KOD SERIES / RACERSGUIDE.COM
Bradford, VT- September 26, 2016 – David Schilling came into the King Of Dirt Sportsman Modified Series season finale at Bear Ridge Speedway just 11 points behind Connor Cleveland. Schilling would start 3rd with Cleveland starting 10th and that set up one epic throw down for the crown in the Green Mountain State Clash.
Michael Sabia and Jon Miller led the 31-car field to the green flag, with Sabia taking the early lead. The aforementioned David Schilling quickly moved into the runner up spot and began pressuring Sabia for the lead.
Miller found himself battling early with a familiar foe Scott Duell and track regular DJ Robinson for positioning inside the top five.
It didn’t take long for the fastest man alive in the state of Vermont to make his way forward. Adam Pierson started 7th and within 10 laps moved into position battling with Duell for 4th until inadvertent contact left Duell 14x facing the wrong direction and Pierson sent to the rear.
On the restart Sabia continued to control the pace of the 100 lap feature race with Schilling pressuring, but a new face entered the race for the top spot in the form of Jason Gray. The double zero was pressuring hard using top and bottom in an exciting race with Schilling for 2nd, with both just a car length off the back of the Sabia 7s.
Kevin Chaffee has chased the KOD tour all summer long and found himself in his wheel house starting 9th, but worked his way to the top five to battle for the $1250 win. It wasn’t easy, as he’d find himself in a battle for position with former track champion Chris Donnelly who was aboard the Jim Boardman number 70.
After a pair of yellow flags around lap 69 the 1-800-GOT-JUNK Troyer of David Schilling finally made the move to grab the top spot from Schilling on a restart and began to run away. This put the pressure solely on Connor Cleveland who at the time was running 11th.
One of the other battles playing out was the Redline Graphics Newcomer Of The Year. Young gun Cody Hunt entered the event leading the Newcomer standings over Scott Duell and Andrew Buff by only five points. At one point early in the race Duell had enough spots to take the honors, but through the event both Hunt and Buff battled back to grab top 10 finishes.
With 15 laps remaining a near catastrophic incident happened on a restart. A small jingle on a late race restart saw Adam Pierson get caught up in a multi-car incident that included point leader Connor Cleveland. Pierson would retire for the evening, but Cleveland was able to continue and rally to finish 4th.
Up front it was all David Schilling who picked up a win on tour at a track he’s never seen. Very impressive run for the championship challenger who finished a mere six points behind Cleveland in the title fight. Sabia crossed the line 2nd, with Kevin Chaffee, Connor Cleveland, and Chris Donnelly rounding out the top five.
An impressive run to earn Hoosier Hard Charger for Andrew Buff in 6th, Redline Graphics Newcomer of the year Cody Hunt in 7th, Jordan Fornwalt 8th, Scott Duell rebounded for 9th, and Adam Gage rounded out the top 10.
Next up for the King Of Dirt Racing Series will be the annual banquet with date and venue to be determined in the next month. Stay tuned and keep an eye on the social media outlets and website.
NOTES: 31 cars entered the Green Mountain State Clash at Bear Ridge Speedway. 15 drivers on hand were KOD tour regulars, with Pierson and Chaffee being speedway regulars as well. KOD Tour regulars occupied 8 of the top 10 finishing spots after the 100-lap event. David Schilling picked up his 1st career KOD Tour win. Connor Cleveland survived, battled, and rallied to claim the crown as King by six points with his 4th place finish. Andrew Buff suffered a broken steering box in time trials, but worked hard from 24th to earn a 6th place finish making him the Hoosier Tire Hard Charger. Despite missing the final event of the KOD Series schedule, Cody Bleau actually gained points and finished 4th in points after the drop was figured in. Bleau was sidelined with a concussion after an accident the week before the series trip to Bear Ridge. He had 316 points, but with the drop it gave him 275. After the Bear Ridge event his drop would be the no show, giving him the 316. Finally, Cody Hunt was able to secure the Redline Graphics Newcomer Of The Year honors after finishing 7th respectively.
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2016 1-800-GOT-JUNK KING OF DIRT CRATE SPORTSMAN SERIES PRESENTED BY DODSON CONSTRUCTION, ELMO’S SPEED SUPPLY, & HOOSIER RACING TIRE GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE CLASH FEATURE RESULTS AT BEAR RIDGE SPEEDWAY (100 LAPS) – 1) David Schilling, 2) Michael Sabia, 3) Kevin Chaffee, 4) Connor Cleveland, 5) Chris Donnelly, 6) Andrew Buff, 7) Cody Hunt, 8) Jordan Fornwalt, 9) Scott Duell, 10) Adam Gage, 11) Derek Graham, 12) Robert Tucker, 13) Thomas Placey, 14) Richie Simmons, 15) Terry Williams, 16) Jon Miller, 17) Matt Lashua, 18) Ryan Christian, 19) Jim Morgan, 20) James Fadden, 21) Todd Buckwold, 22) Luke Klob, 23) Mike Dunn, 24) Jason Gray, 25) Adam Pierson, 26) Josh Currier, 27) Gary Siemons, 28) Kevin Ward, 29) DJ Robinson, 30) Don Lashua, 31) Kevin White.
J-Tees Screen Printing Heat Race #1 Results (8 Laps) – ADAM PIERSON, Connor Cleveland, Michael Sabia, Adam Gage, Robert Tucker, Thomas Placey, Don Lashua, Matt Lashua.
J-Tees Screen Printing Heat Race #2 Results (8 Laps) – JASON GRAY, Chris Donnelly, Scott Duell, Ryan Christian, Mike Dunn, Richie Simmons, Gary Siemons, Kevin White.
J-Tees Screen Printing Heat Race #3 Results (8 Laps) – KEVIN CHAFFEE, David Schilling, Jordan Fornwalt, Kevin Ward, Josh Currier, Andrew Buff, Terry Williams, Luke Klob.
J-Tees Screen Printing Heat Race #4 Results (8 Laps) – TODD BUCKWOLD, DJ Robinson, Jon Miller, Jim Morgan, Derek Graham, Cody Hunt, James Fadden.
Dirt Track Digest Lap Leaders – Michael Sabia (1-69), David Schilling (70-100).
Hoosier Tire Hard Charger – (25th to 2nd).
Redline Graphics Newcomer Of The Race – Andrew Buff (6th).
J-Tees Sreen Printing Heat Winners (Cash & Swagg) – Adam Pierson, Jason Gray, Kevin Chaffee, and Todd Buckwold.
Fast Time Of The Day – Adam Pierson (13.706).
King Of Dirt Crate Sportsman Tour Schedule
06/12/16 – Utica Rome Speedway – ‘602 Spring Fling’
WINNER: Rocky Warner
06/24/16 – Albany Saratoga Speedway – ‘Friday Night Lights’
WINNER: Connor Cleveland
08/06/16 – Lebanon Valley Speedway – ‘Battle On The Banks’
WINNER: Kevin Ward
09/01/16 – Lebanon Valley Speedway – ‘Mr. Crate Track USA’
WINNER – Scott Duell
09/09/16 – Albany Saratoga Speedway – ‘Northeast Crate Nationals
WINNER – Tim Hartman Jr.
09/10/16 – Utica Rome Speedway – ‘Salute To Our Troops’
WINNER – Rocky Warner
09/24/16 – Bear Ridge Speedway – ‘Green Mountain State Clash’
WINNER – David Schilling
King Of Dirt Pro Stock Tour Schedule
06/03/16 – Albany Saratoga Speedway – ‘Pro Stock Classic’
WINNER: Robbie Speed
06/12/16 – Utica Rome Speedway – ‘Action Track Throwdown’
WINNER: Luke Horning
07/08/16 – Albany Saratoga Speedway – ‘Full Fender Firecracker’
WINNER: Dan Older
08/27/16 – Lebanon Valley Speedway – ‘Seize The Crown’
WINNER – Daniel Sanchez
09/09/16 – Utica Rome Speedway – ‘Fall Frenzy’
WINNER – Nick Stone
King Of Dirt Racing Series are brought to you in part by sponsors and partners that include Albany Saratoga Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway, Bear Ridge Speedway, Utica Rome Speedway, 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, Dodson Construction, Hoosier Racing Tire, Elmo’s Speed & Supply, Elmo’s Auto Body, DKM Fabrication, Fox Racing Shocks, Fastline Performance, Beyea Custom Headers & Exhausts, Bicknell Racing Products, Axcel Sports, Boyd’s Motorworks, Flach Performance Products, Extreme Speed & Performance, Bill McGaffin Photography, Bobco Racing Video, Saratoga Masonry, Lazzaro’s Auto Body, JTees Screen Printing, Bloomfield’s Florist, Dean’s Electrical Services, Horn Lady Motorsports, Macedon Parts Plus, Redline Graphics, DE Designs & Signs, High Octane Heating & Cooling, Buff’s Auto Service, Electric City Taxi, Next Generation Roofing, Burt’s Tree Service, Speed’s Garage, Stone Motorsports, A1 Installers, HICO Fabrication, Racers Guide, Race Pro Weekly, Final Reward Trophy, Dirt Track Digest, Midnight Music Machine DJ Service, and Mayhem Motorsports.
