Weather troubles create exciting Modified doubleheader on Friday
WEST HAVEN, VT – Mother Nature has been a thorn in the side of stock car racing fans throughout the northeast, but Vermont’s Devil’s Bowl Speedway is fighting back. After losing two of the first three regular Friday night summer programs to rain, Devil’s Bowl will start making up for lost time by adding the exciting “Twin 25” format to Carmody Ford Night on Friday, June 14 for the Bond Auto Parts Modified division of the weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
The ground pounding Modifieds will run a pair of 25-lap main events during the program, joining the Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stock division and an historic inaugural appearance by the Granite State Pro Stock Series for the Carmody Ford “Slate Valley 100” event. Twenty-one year-old Alex Bell of Cambridge, NY was the most recent Modified winner on May 31 and will try to win both 25-lap races on the night presented by his team’s primary sponsor, Carmody Ford of Greenwich, NY.
“I’ve had the Carmody Ford race circled on my calendar, and now I’ve got two chances to get them in victory lane on their own night, so I’m excited,” Bell said. “Our car is running really well and we’re on a roll after the win two weeks ago. I would love to do it again a couple of times this Friday for my sponsor.”
Bell has plenty of company at the front of the Bond Auto Parts Modified field. Two-time defending Devil’s Bowl champion Ron Proctor of Charlton, NY leads the point standings, with veterans Todd Stone of Middlebury, VT, Joe Williams of Scotia, NY, and Vince Quenneville, Jr. of Brandon, VT grouped closely behind. Jessey Mueller, Hunter Bates, Leon Gonyo, and Bell are all within 43 points of the leader.
Bobby LaVair of Gabriels, NY leads the Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stock division following his victory on May 31, with, Benson, VT’s Jake Noble just six points back. Rookie Lacey Hanson of Orwell, VT and veteran John McCarron of Rensselaer, NY are tied for third place.
The Granite State Pro Stock Series will bring high-profile entries from around the northeast for the Carmody Ford Slate Valley 100 including Vermont State Late Model Champion Dave Pembroke of Middlesex, VT, Oxford 250 winner Larry Gelinas of Buxton, ME, NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Matt Frahm of New Salem, NH, and five-time Devil’s Bowl winner Chris Wilk of Rutland, VT.
General admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, and free for children 12 and under. Racing begins at 7:00pm on Friday, June 14. Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, VT, four miles north of Exit 2 on U.S. Route 4.