Local roundup: Upper Valley racing revs its engines and spectators can return at Bear Ridge

CLAREMONT — Kyle Welch held off Grantham’s Mike Willis after a mid-race pass to take the first Sportsman Modified feature of the season at Claremont Motorsports Park on Friday night.

Willis and defending division champion Brian Robie won the heat races earlier in the evening for the front two spots in the starting grid. Willis took the lead at the drop of the green flag, with Welch and Robie making the closest pursuit early.

Robie spun out on the 10th lap of the 35-lap feature, allowing Welch to stay with Willis. Welch took the lead on the restart and repeated the feat following two more cautions, keeping Willis in his rear-view mirror the rest of the way. Robie recovered from his mishap to claim third place, with Ben Byrne and Walt Hammond filling out the top five.

Dave Greenslit (Street Stocks), Kodi Sabins (Pure Stocks) and Dustin Thibodeau (Six Shooters) won Claremont’s other regular divisions, and Luke LeBrun picked up the victory in the NELCAR Legends visit. Claremont is back in action on Friday night at 7:15 p.m., with fireworks on the schedule along with a 100-lap Granite State Pro Stock Series race.

BRADFORD, Vt. — The loosening of stay-at-home crowd restrictions in Vermont will allow Bear Ridge Speedway to welcome a limited number of spectators to Saturday night’s Fourth of July show at the dirt oval.

Fans must order tickets in advance by calling 603-787-6352. The track continues to operate with an arrive-play-leave system that prohibits anyone from re-entering the facility should they leave the property. Spectators must also must have their temperatures checked, wear face coverings at all times and only sit in the areas reserved on their tickets.

Saturday’s show will include the Sportsman Modifieds, Sportsman Coupes, Late Models, Dirt Stockers and Four-Cylinders and the Sprint Cars of New England, along with a post-race fireworks show. Gates open at 3 p.m., the action begins at 6 and no one will be admitted after 7.

This past Saturday’s feature winners included Matt Lashua (Modifieds), Melvin Pierson (Coupes), Will Hull (Midgets), Kevin LaForest (Fours) and Karl Sheldon (Enduro).

MEN’S LACROSSE Dartmouth duo recognized

HANOVER — Former Dartmouth players Ben Martin and James Sullivan were named to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association’s scholar All-American team on Monday.

Martin and Sullivan, who both recently graduated, saw their senior seasons shortened by the coronavirus pandemic. Two-year captain Martin had a team-high eight goals in the Big Green’s 3-1 start to the spring, while Sullivan also appeared in all four games, three of which he started.

The USILA program recognizes players who have distinguished themselves academically, athletically and as citizens in their communities. Jack Korzelius was the last Dartmouth player to earn the honor in 2018.

WOMEN’S GOLF Four on scholars team

HANOVER — Four Dartmouth golfers landed on the Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholars team on Monday.

Big Green junior Julianne Strauch made the squad for the third year in a row, and sophomore Kaitlyn Lees earned her second invitation in as many years. Freshmen Samantha Yao and Angela Zhang also made the cut.

Golfers must maintain a minimum 3.50 grade-point average to be selected, one of the more stringent standards in college sports. Lees, Yao and Zhang played all four of Dartmouth’s spring tournaments prior to the cancellation of spring sports, and Strauch took part in three.