NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS NORTH FOR SEPT 24, 2015
By Lou Modestino
Williamstown, VT’s Jimmy Hebert has filed the first official entry for the 53rd Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl on Sunday, October 11. The 2015 edition of the “toughest short-track stock car race in North America” has more than $60,000 in posted awards with $10,000 guaranteed to the winner of the annual Thunder Road Speedbowl season finale.
The Milk Bowl is one of the most celebrated auto racing events in the United States with its unique race format and tradition. The special event for American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Models is run in three 50-lap segments, with the starting grid for the second and third segments set by inverting the finishing order of the previous segment. Drivers receive one point per position, per segment, with the lowest combined finish for all three segments earning the overall win.
“The Milk Bowl means a lot,” Hebert said. “I grew up watching it as a kid, and it was definitely the biggest race at my home track (Thunder Road). We’re excited for it this year – we’ve finally started to figure things out at Thunder Road. We’ve had some tough luck the last couple years and couple of car issues, but I think we’re in pretty good shape this year.”
In addition to the $10,000 minimum winner’s purse, posted awards include a $1,000 bonus for the driver setting the fastest time in time trials and $500 for the driver with the second-fastest time. $7,500 in lap leader awards are also up for grabs and will be distributed among the top-three drivers on each lap of the event.
The winner’s list for the Milk Bowl includes some of the most celebrated names in Northeast auto racing history. Robbie Crouch holds the record with four Milk Bowl wins, while St-Denis, QC’s Patrick Laperle and Williston, VT’s Brian Hoar lead active ACT drivers with three victories each.
Former NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kevin Lepage and 1960s legend Russ Ingerson were also three-time winners. Other former champions of the event include inaugural winner Harold Hannaford; Dave Dion; Beaver, Bobby, and Brent Dragon; Nick Sweet; and defending champion Eddie MacDonald.
The two-day event begins Saturday, October 10 at 1:30 pm with Booth Bros./H.P. Hood Qualifying Day. Time trials and “Triple 50” qualifying races will set the first 26 spots in the 30-car Milk Bowl starting field, with the balance determined by the last-chance “B-Feature” Sunday, October 11 at 1 pm. Saturday’s program also includes time trials and the first segments of “Mini Milk Bowls” for the Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen and Allen Lumber Street Stock.
Justin St. Louis, a motorsports writer for three Vermont daily newspapers, is the winner of the New England Antique Racers’ Mitchell/Ratta Award. The prize will be presented at the New England Antique Racers Hall of Fame 18th induction banquet Sunday, Nov. 8 at Maneeley’s in South Windsor, CT.
A native Vermonter, St Louis is a contributor to the Burlington Free Press, the Rutland Herald and the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus. He is also a play-by-play announcer on the Radio Vermont network of stations. A member of the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame advisory committee, he has been covering auto racing since attending Thunder Road and Catamount Stadium as a teenager.
The prize memorializes two of New England’s greatest motorsports writers – Charlie Mitchell of the Norwalk (CT) Hour and Jack Ratta of the Manchester (NH) Union Leader.
St. Louis is among an impressive group of honorees including incoming Hall of Famers road racer Sam Posey, drivers Greg Sacks, Jim McCallum, Stan Greger and Ronnie Marvin, the multi-faceted Lew Boyd, car owner Paul Dunigan, car owner/engine builder Joe Fontana and publisher Jim Moffat.
Ticket information for the banquet is available on the New England Antique Racers website (NEAR1.org).
St. Louis was an announcer/publicist for Thunder Road, Airborne and the American-Canadian Tour at 19. He is currently the media director at Devil’s Bowl Speedway and was a contributor to Thunder Road’s 50th anniversary book in 2009 and the statistical history of Northeastern Speedway.
Brian Caswell of Portland scored his second PASS weekend Wildcat open victory, Saturday afternoon at PASS 400 Weekend presented by Southern Maine Chrysler Jeep Dodge at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway.
Caswell started on the front row and led every lap, but it was by no means easy as he first had to battle Lewis Anderson for the top spot before Hollis Center’s Gary Babineau took a turn at providing a stiff challenge.
Anderson got spun around, while Babineau suffered from equipment failure, leaving newly-crowned Oxford Plains Speedway track champion Josh Childs of Oxford to take up the fight.
Childs put Caswell to the test, but the Portland driver was up to the challenge, and defended the honor of Beech Ridge racers by defeating all invaders from several other Maine racetracks.
Caswell and Childs were joined on the podium by David Whittier of West Poland. Anderson, of Hollis, charged back through the field to a fourth-place finish, with Chaz Briggs of Westbrook rounding out the top five. Anderson and Caswell won heat races.
Scott Alexander of Newburgh closed up an already-tight championship battle in the PASS Mods, outrunning reigning series champion Andy Shaw of Center Conway to the finish line.
PASS Mods points leader Doug McClure of Buxton crossed the finish line in third position. Dixfield’s Ryan Robbins charged to a fourth-place finish, with early race leader Jimmy Emerson of Windham rounding out the top five.
Alexander and McClure won heat races. With two events left on the schedule, McClure has a three-point advantage over Shaw, with race winner Alexander only five points from the top of the rankings.
Dan Wade of New Gloucester prevailed in the 25-lap main event for four-cylinder Bandits division competitors. Wade’s Dodge Neon was chased under the checkered flag by Troy Smith of Bridgton, who led the early portion of the race. Lewiston’s Adam O’Neal was the third-place finisher, ahead of New Gloucester’s Caleb Emerson-Mains and Curtis Fanjoy of Auburn. Smith won the heat race.
Qualifying for the 300-lap PASS North Super Late Model main event was also contested on Saturday, with 15-lap heat race wins earned by Robbie Harrison of Gorham, Cassius Clark of Farmington, Glen Luce of Turner and Brent Dragon of Colchester, Vermont. Dennis Spencer of Turner and Alan Tardiff of Lyman scored consolation race victories.
Marc Lucas of Brunswick and Scarborough’s Clyde Hennessey won heat races setting up Sunday’s 75-lap Sport Series/Super Street open race.
PASS 400 Weekend presented by Southern Maine Motors of Saco resumes Sunday, September 20, at noon, at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, with a 300-lap AIM Recycling USA PASS North Super Late Model race highlighting an action-packed racing card. For more information visit proallstarsseries.com.
Saturday, September 19, 2015 results from PASS 400 Weekend at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway; Scarborough, Maine; presented by Southern Maine Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge (finishing position, car number, driver’s name, driver’s hometown).
Wildcat/Strictly Stock (75 laps) 1 47 Brian Caswell, Arundel; 2 3 Josh Childs, Oxford; 3 58 David Whittier, West Poland; 4 81 Lewis Anderson, Hollis; 5 82 Chaz Briggs, Westbrook; 6 4 Curtis Gleason, South Portland; 7 36 Rick Spaulding, Lisbon; 8 4x Jordan Russell, Norway; 9 35 Kristina Nadeau, Buxton; 10 7 Mark Lundblad, Jr., Albany, NH; 11 1 Ed Connolly, Scarborough; 12 60 Richard Wentworth, Center Conway, NH; 13 8 Calvin Rose, Jr., Turner; 14 33 Andrew Breton, Sabattus; 15 63 Bryce Mains, Naples; 16 14 Dave Brannon, Lisbon; 17 6 Dave Cameron, Alfred; 18 40 Mac Hannan, Jr., Union; 19 36x Nathan Leavitt, Buxton; 20 04 Zach Bowie, Greene; 21 2 Travis Lovejoy, Sanford; 22 3x Jordan Pearson, Glenburn; 23 09 Gary Babineau, Hollis Center; 24 99 Matt Dufault, Turner; 25 56 Mike Short, Auburn.
PASS Mods (40 laps) Scott Alexander, Newburgh; 2 0 Andy Shaw, Center Conway, NH; 3 22 Doug McClure, Buxton; 4 36 Ryan Robbins, Dixfield; 5 12 Jimmy Emerson, Windham; 6 33 Billy Dixon, East Waterboro; 7 2 Randy Sanborn, West Baldwin; 8 7 Steve Reno, West Bath; 9 64 Matty Sanborn, Westbrook; 10 9 Evan Armington, Lovell; 11 14 Jon McCarron, Etna; 12 21 Mike Carigan Lebanon.
Bandits (25 laps) 1 17 Dan Wade, New Gloucester; 2 32 Troy Smith, Bridgton; 3 14 Adam O’Neal, Lewiston; 4 23 Calen Emerson-Mains, New Gloucester; 6 40 Curtis Fanjoy, Auburn; 7 121 Jeremy Farr, Auburn; 8 33 Matt Hiscock, Turner; 9 13 Bill Grover, Waterford; 10 91 Jamie Heath, Waterford; DNS 69 T. James Devlin, West Paris.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway management and staff are deeply saddened to confirm the passing of long time stock car racing competitor Leon Gonyo. Mr. Gonyo, 63, of Chazy, NY, won the speedway’s final asphalt NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Modified race of the season on the evening of Saturday, September 19, 2015 but succumbed soon after.
Mr. Gonyo appeared to suffer a medical event while driving his racecar around the speedway during a ceremonial victory lap. His car then made an impact into the frontstretch retaining wall before approaching the victory lane area. Mr. Gonyo utilized proper safety equipment including an approved helmet, seat, and restraining belts. The car was inspected following the incident and was deemed to be mechanically and structurally sound.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway official Dick Therrien sustained minor injuries when the car struck a ladder that he was standing on, but is recovering at home after being evaluated at Rutland Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Gonyo was a true gentleman of the sport and enjoyed a racing career with more than 40 years of success at many race tracks in the northeastern United States and Canada. His talents seemed to only improve with age, proven by his final victory on Saturday night – his fifth win of the season at Devil’s Bowl Speedway and his seventh overall in 2015.
Much more than just a winner, Leon Gonyo was a very well-respected and highly regarded member of the local stock car racing community, and was presented with Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s highest honor for 2013, the John Bruno Award, which is given annually to someone who has made a significant contribution to short track racing during their lifetime while maintaining high standards of conduct and respect on and off the track. Mr. Gonyo met and far surpassed the award’s criteria and was a leader in the community.
The effort and care shown in assisting Mr. Gonyo on Saturday night was nothing short of incredible, and Devil’s Bowl Speedway thanks the Fair Haven Rescue medical staff on site, the Devil’s Bowl Speedway Safety Team, and the many people who volunteered to help, for their personal care and professionalism.
Our thoughts and very best wishes are with Leon Gonyo’s family and race team, his wide-reaching fan base, and the community of Chazy, New York. Devil’s Bowl Speedway thanks its legion of racing fans, competitors, officials, staff and volunteers, sponsors, and media members for their outpouring of support and asks that the same continues to be extended to the Gonyo family.
Rest easy, Leon Gonyo. Thank you for sharing your passion and your class with us all.
Johnny Clark of Farmingdale broke a season-long dry spell on the AIM Recycling USA Pro All Stars Series North Super Late Model circuit on Sunday, powering his way to an impressive victory over a fast-closing Mike Rowe in the Southern Maine Chrysler Jeep Dodge 300 at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough.
For Clark, a six-time series champion, it was a record-setting fourth triumph in the 300-lap annual September classic at Southern Maine’s stock car racing showcase. Though he’d won a 50-lap Budweiser Championship Series race this summer at Oxford Plains Speedway, success on the tour he was the all-time kingpin on had been non-existent.
While suffering through an exceptionally-disappointing campaign in the PASS North SIM ranks, Clark’s woes were further compounded by a work accident that saw him break a shoulder and foot just five weeks before the Beech Ridge score.
“I felt pretty good in the car,” said Clark in victory lane. “We finished second to Cassius (Clark, no relation) in New Brunswick, and frankly he had us covered today and if he didn’t have problems with the car we would have been second to him today.”
The 50-lap victory at Oxford helped turn the season around for the six-time PASS North SLM king. It came during the first-ever hiatus Clark took from the series voluntarily since its’ inception. He did miss a few races due to a broken wrist back in 2001, but stepping back after performances he admits were embarrassing was painful.
But throwing clichés out like it ain’t over until it’s over wouldn’t do this race justice.
Mike Rowe of Turner all but clinched the 2015 AIM Recycling USA Pro All Stars Series North Super Late Model Championship with a second-place finish at Beech Ridge. Rowe, now 65-years-old and already enshrined in the Maine Racing Hall of Fame, extended his advantage atop the season-long rankings in his first season aboard the Petit Motorsports 7.
Rowe got a lap down during the 300 but after a lucky dog free pass and a little fresh rubber things were almost as good as they could be for the legendary racer from Turner.
Cassius Clark crossed the finish line in fourth position after circumstances seemingly conspired to keep the Rollie MacDonald-owned car from victory lane. Clark, of Farmington, dominated the early stages of the race, and though obviously weak on restarts, the King 13 usually reclaimed the lead a few laps later.
Clark and the 13 team were forced to pit as the laps wound down, due to what appeared to be a furling issue, and Johnny Clark went on to claim victory over a fast-closing Mike Rowe. Joey Doiron of Berwick claimed third-place hardware, battling back into a trophy position after being a lap down at one point during the marathon grind.
It took a remarkable late charge from the back of the field for Cassius Clark to post a fourth-place finish. Kelly Moore of Scarborough raced from 15th staring position into trophy contention for most of the day before crossing under the checkered flag in fifth position.
Jeremy Davis of Tamworth, New Hampshire, Dace farrington, Jr., of Hay; Mike Hopkins of Hermon; Glen Luce of Turner and Derek Ramstrom of West Boylston, Massachusetts rounded out the top ten.
Andy Shaw of Center Conway, New Hampshire drove the Sumner Sessions 0 to victory lane following the 40-lap race for PASS Modifieds. Shaw, the touring division’s defending champion, closed to within three points of Buxton’s Doug McClure, the leader in the championship standings entering the season finale set for Sunday, October 4 at Oxford Plains Speedway.
McClure’s runner-up finish kept him atop the rankings entering the finale, with 2015 Oxford Plains Speedway Mods track champion Ryan Robbins of Dixfield rallying to claim third-place hardware. Newburgh’s Scott Alexander was the fourth-place finisher, followed by Windham’s Jimmy Emerson, who led the event’s early stages.
Clyde Hennessey, Jr., of Windham, was the dominant force in a 50-lap open competition race for Sport Series/Limited Sportsman type cars. Scarborough’s Frank Wear coasted to a second-place finish, never seriously challenged for runner-up honors.
Harpswell’s Marc Lucas battled Hennessey quite successfully in the early laps before his mount failed him, and Hennessey easily maintained control of the race from that point. Nate Leavitt of Buxton spent most of the 50-lapper with the hammer down and it paid off with a third-place finish in front of Lyman’s Dalton Gagnon and Dave Charest of Westbrook.
In Northeast Mini Stock Tour action Matt Sonnhalter scored an upset victory in the 50-lap main event, outrunning the division’s dominant driver, Toby Wells of Dublin, New Hampshire, to the checkered flag for his first win on that touring series.
Sonnhalter, of East Thetford, Vermont and Wells were chased ubder the checkered flag by Heywood Harriott of Gorham, New Hampshire. Jimmy Childs of Leeds and Skowhegan’s Zach Audet rounded out the top five.
The season-ending championship points finale for AIM Recycling USA PASS North Super Late Models and the PASS Modified class is set for Sunday, October 4 at Oxford Plains Speedway.
Results from the Southern Maine Chrysler Jeep Dodge 300 AIM Recycling USA Pro All Stars Series North Super Late Model eace at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway; Scarborough, Maine; Sunday, September 20, 2015. finishing position, car number, driver’s name, driver’s hometown, sponsor, car owner
1 54 Johnny Clark, Farmingdale, clarkscrapmetals.com, John Clark III
2 7 Mike Rowe, Turner, Saco Bay Tackle, Lux Enterprises, Petit Motorsports
3 73 Joey Doiron, Berwick, FBJ Machine, John Doiron
4 13 Cassius Clark, Farmington, King Racing Competition Parts & Fabrication, Rollie MacDonald
5 47 Kelly Moore, Scarborough, RC Moore, Rox Moore
6 09 Jeremy Davis, Tamworth, NH, GE Brown General Contractor, Mike Davis
7 23 Dave Farrington, Jr. , Jay, Kulwicki DDP, Hilltop Collision Center, Wood Pellet Warehouse, David & Mona Farrington
8 15 Mike Hopkins, Hermon, Hopkins Landscaping & Paving, Mike Hopkins
9 7L Glen Luce, Turner, Stevens Electric & Pump Service, Glen Luce
10 35 Derek Ramstrom, W. Boylston, MA, Matthews Truck Service, Ramstrom’s Service Center, Rick Ramstrom
11 77 Trevor Sanborn, East Parsonsfield, Hight Chevrolet Buick GMC, Corey Hight
12 33 Richie Dearborn, Hollis, Robie Builders, Dick Dearborn
13 48 Bobby Timmons, Windham, Southern Maine Chrysler Jeep Dodge, Mulkern Racing LLC
14 22 Scott Farrington, Minot , Dunkin Donuts, Scott Farrington
15 59 Reid Lanpher, Manchester, Mission Trailers, Team EJP, docks.com, Reid Lanpher Racing LLC
16 61 TJ Brackett, Buckfield, Trenworth & Sons Trucking, TJ Brackett
17 4 Ben Rowe, Turner, Hancock Lumber, Richard Moody & Sons Construction, RMR
18 14 Scott McDaniel, Livermore, Damon’s Garage, R.N. Damon
19 75 Gary Smith, Bangor, Uncle Henry’s, Bud & Ray’s Auto Body, Gary Smith
20 12h Robbie Harrison, Gorham, Wireless Construction, Alan Berry
21 42 Corey Bubar, Windham, Investment Properties LLC, Rick Lockwood
22 94x Garrett Hall, Scarborough, Portsmouth Ford Quicklane, Garrett Hall
23 05 Jacob Dore, Sanford, Kash For Kans, Jacob Dore
24 46 Dennis Spencer, Jr., Turner, Crazy Horse Racing, Mitch Green
25 38 Alan Tardiff, Lyman, iracing.com, Marc Tardiff
26 55 Brent Dragon, Milton, VT, RR Charlebois Freightliner, Brent Dragon
27 17 Travis Benjamin, Morrill, Belfast Variety, Morrill General Store, Ron Benjamin
28 88 Jeff Taylor, Farmington, Fox Designs, Jeff Taylor
29 16 Travis Stearns, Auburn, Richard Green Trucking, LaQuinta Inn & Suites, Richard Green
30 00 Bryan Kruczek, Newmarket, NH, Ouellette Associates, Traditional Mortgage, Kruczek’s Garage Joseph Kruczek
31 21 David Oliver, Standish, HP Hood/Helluva Good, SPD Racing LLC
32 2 Matt Matheson, Oromocto, NB, Modern Ventures Ltd., Matt & Tim Matheson
Results from the Southern Maine Chrysler Jeep Dodge PASS 400 Weekend at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway; Scarborough, Maine; Sunday, September 20, 2015 (finishing position, car number, driver’s name, driver’s hometown)
Limited Sportsman / Sportsman / Sport Series open (50 laps) 1 8 Clyde Hennessey, Windham; 2 20 Frank Wear, Scarborough; 3 36 Nate Leavitt, Buxton; 4 11 Dalton Gagnon, Lyman; 5 07 Dave Charest, Westbrook; 6 7 Grant Aither, Kingston, NH; 7 31j Nick Campbell, Arundel; 8 15 Mike St. Pierre, Buxton; 9 47 Charlie Buxton, Windham; 10 Natasha Dyer, Arrowsic; 11 5 Marc Lucas, Harpswell; DNS 03 Dave Langlais, Shapleigh.
PASS Mods (50 laps) 1 0 Andy Shaw, Center Conway, NH; 2 22 Doug McClure, Buxton; 3 36 Ryan Robbins, Dixfield; 4 17 Scott Alexander, Newburgh; 5 12 Jimmy Emerson, Windham; 6 21 Mike Carignan, Lebanon; 7 7 Steve Reno, West Bath; 8 33 Billy Dixon, East Waterboro; 9 2 Matty Sanborn, Westbrook; 10 14 Jon McCarron, Etna.
NEMST (50 laps) 1 33 Matt Sonnhalter, East Thetford, VT; 2 2 Toby Wells, Dublin, NH; 3 17 Heywood Harriott, Gorham, NH; 4 5 Jimmy Childs, Leeds; 5 19 Zach Audet, Skowhegan; 6 88 Emerson Cayer, Contoocook, NH; 7 2 Rob Greenleaf, West Bath; 8 07 Pete Zakarite, Niantic, CT; 9 43 Dana Shepard, Putney, VT; 10 18 Jacob Rheaume, Rochester, NH; 11 24 Joe Baxter, Pascoag, RI;
12 18 Justin Larsen, Peru; 13 7 Eric Pelletier, Dayville, CT; 14 83 Brady Romano, Livermore Falls; 15 90 Desmond Skillings, Antrim, NH; 16 20 Pete McCollett, Readfield; 17 22 Shaun Waites, Jr., Raymond, NH; 18 84 William Schoeler, Warwick, RI; DNS 55 Nicholas Anderson, Oxford, MA; DNS 41 Loren Smith, Allenstown, NH.
Saturday was championship night at Monadnock Speedway as the points champions were crowned for the weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Last week, the rain came just before the Sportsman Modifieds could run their feature so they’d be batting lead-off on Saturday for the first of a two feature showcase for the premiere Monadnock division.
In the opening 30 lap event, Bill Kimball, looked to create some breathing room in the points chase between himself and Scott MacMichael as Kimball held a slim, 30 point lead over MacMichael. Kimball started seventh just behind MacMichael. Eric LeClair led the field to green from the pole position, but it wasn’t to be for the #84 as he was soon shuffled back through the field.
TJ Bleau in the#15 and Nathan Johnson in the #5J had strong performances as they moved around LeClair. In the #87, Brett Gonyaw was charging hard, but by lap 15 #8 Keith Carzello had his sights set on the top spot. Kimball finished in seventh with MacMichael just behind him in eighth. “I gotta thank Brian Barnard he put a great set up under this thing. I think about anybody could have won in this thing tonight, it was hooked up,” Carzello said after he claimed victory in the first feature of the night. Gonyaw came in a close second to Carzello with Tyler Jarvenpaa making a big jump up from the tenth starting position to claim a spot on the podium coming across in third place.
The heats went on as they are regularly scheduled following the first Sportsmans Mod feature. At the conclusion of heats the visiting Vintage Outlaw Series came out and ran 15 laps at speed.The Vintage Outlaw throwbacks had only four entries. The top three cars got going, but the fourth, #19 had issues from the start.By the end he was being lapped, and seemed to lose control on the last turn coming to the checkered flag. He collected #195 who was running second and wrecked into the front stretch wall. Paul LaPlant in the #7 won the race and #94 Mike Ronhock finished second.
Daniel Starkweather came out and dominated the Young Guns feature for his sixth win of the year. Dylan Morse ran well and finished second with Justin Littlewood coming home third. The visiting Classic Lites came onto the track for their 25 lap feautre. Admits a host of spins and cautions, Eric Skofield came out on top. Skofield survived an early spin to come back and win.
“To be honest with you I don’t even know what happened,” Skofield said after the race. “I ended up spinning out, I thought I was crashed out, but the car was still together.”Tom Harton in the #85 got around Duane Skofield coming to the line to keep it from being a Skofield, Skofield 1-2 finish. Despite blowing an engine on the last lap Duane Skofield held on for third.
It was time to crown champions once the Classic Lites cleared the speedway, and up first on the docket was the Mini Stock feature.
Just 25 laps stood between Eric Pomasko and his first points championship. The 9 year veteran held the slimmest of margins over his next closest competitor, rookie Matt Gauffin. Should anything happen to each of their cars, Julia Raymond was within striking distance sitting in third in the points just 12 off of Pomasko.
In a cluster of cars, the Mini Stocks ran a tight race, but it was #71 Pomasko who lead the field when the came off the final turn. Title chasing Guaffin needed only to finish on Pomasko’s bumper to clinch the crown finished deep in the pack as Solomon Brow and Joel Monahan came across after Pomasko. “I didn’t get much sleep last night,” a relieved Pomasko admitted just after getting out of his race car in victory lane, “I was just trying to process in my brain what might happen.”
Last week Pomasko’s lead was six points, but a rough ride coupled with a second place showing from Gauffin saw his grasp on the title slip. He re-established himself this week and came out on top not only on the night, but for the season. Gauffin finished in fifth place on the evening just behind Julia Raymond.
Next onto the race track came the Thunder Stock for their final points race of the season. #20 David Greenslit just had to finish the race more or less and he would clinch his points championship over last year’s champ Marshall Usher. Things looked a little hairy early on for Greenslit as Greg William got into the back of him and sent him around bringing caution to the speedway.
Greenslit recovered, and ended up running eighth and sealing the title for the #20 team. “I just had to let Greg go,” said Greenslit after the race, “He hit me about 18 times out there.” “Just had to do what we had to do,” said Greenslit, “Congrats to Marshall on the win, hell of a season with him again.” As it turns out the win meant a little extra to Greenslit, he revealed after the race he was driving with a heavy heart due to the loss of his grandfather on Thursday, and he dedicated the championship to his memory. In the race for the lead, second in points Marshall Usher took home the victory followed by Paul Barnard and Craig Chaffee.
Super Stocks came out next and long time driver Dennis Stange looked to put a stamp on his first career championship. Stange held a safe 24 point lead over second place Tyler Leary heading into the night. A fifth place finish sealed the points title for Stange.
Twenty Super Stocks packed the ¼ mile track and led to several yellow flags slowing the overall pace. In front of the pack, Dylan Bodreau out ran Leary to win, Chris Curtis had another strong finish crossing the line third with Josh Wood putting together a good run coming across fourth. Despite having to manage with restart after restart, Bodreau was able to hold off Leary and get the win.
“It was dreadful there for a while,” said Bodreau of having to deal with the cautions, “I knew the #11 was quick and he was going to be right there every time.” “It’s really a dream come true to win down here,” Bodreau said, “It’s my first win in anything down here and I’ve been coming here since I was a little guy, it’s just awesome.”
Stange has 34 seasons under his belt and now finally gets to call it the championship belt. He’s been racing since 1981 and he talked about the championships he won in the years between then and now saying, “None, this is the first one.”
That set the stage for the Sportsman Modified feature #2. Before the race it was announced that Monadnock Speedway’s Sportsman Modified driver Jason Barden was going to be the NASCAR NH Rookie of the Year, a prize worth $1,000 and an invitation to the yearly National Awards banquet. Barden earned the title by accumulating the most points by a rookie at a NASCAR sanctioned track in the track’s premier division.
Sportsman Mod feature #2 featured one of the largest fields of cars all year, as there were 22 cars in the grid to start. It was a field that included young Cameron Sontag in his first Sportsman Mod start, as he looks to make the jump to the premier division next season.
Bill Kimball held about a 30 point lead over Scott MacMichael heading into the final Sportsman Mod points race.
The two drivers were going for the gold early, as tMacMichael went three wide going into turn three. That doesn’t usually work out too well, and caution had to be thrown as a result of the pile up that ensued. Once they got things going again, laps started to tick off quickly. MacMichael had a strong race car and was charging towards the front. Trevor Bleau and Tyler Jarvenpaa had good runs finishing third and fourth respectively.
MacMichael did all he could to gain track position and cut into Kimball’s point lead, but nobody had a challenge for Keith Carzello, the winner of the first feature. Carzello swept the night bringing home the victory, while MacMichael had to finish for second both in the 2nd feature and in the points standings. When asked about if the prospect of sweeping the night crossed his mind earlier, Carzello said he didn’t have any such thought, “With this group of guys, no way,” he said.
“I was able to hang on for dear life with Scotty coming,” Carzello said, “Glad I could get two in a row, I’ve never done that in my racing career.” Bill Kimball took the title home with a fifth place finish.
The final race of the night was the Lightning Stock division with CJ Johnson taking the early lead. Cole Littlewood battled Kris Kristolaitis for second. As laps winded down Tim Leblanc leading the points carefully ran around the ¼ mile in eighth spot. Kristolaitis never was able to make up ground as Johnson cruised in victory lane followed Kris Kristolaitis and Mike Stebbins.
Tim Leblanc captured his first Lightning Stock championship.
The speedway will take a week off to prepare for their Super Saturday event being held on October 3, 2015. The events will include all the regular divisions plus Pro 4 Modifieds, Spectator Races, Big Wheels race and the great School Bus Race. Race time is at 2 pm.
The stars aligned for Vince Quenneville Jr. at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday night, September 19, and the popular veteran stock car driver finally wrapped up his first championship on the asphalt half-mile oval. Quenneville finished first and second in a pair of 50-lap races for the Bond Auto Parts Modified division, and came from behind to win his first title in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series presented by Yandow Sales & Service and John Deere.
The Brandon, VT racer dominated the opening race at the Mekkelsen RV Vermont 200 Championship event, leading all but the first three laps. Ron Proctor entered the event as the point leader after a summer-long battle with Quenneville, but was prematurely eliminated from contention in a crash on lap 5. From there Quenneville drove a steady race and sailed to his fifth of the season at Devil’s Bowl.
Todd Stone finished second after an impressive drive from 17th starting position, followed by Jimmy Ryan. Kenny Tremont Jr. finished fourth in his first asphalt race of the year, with Joey Roberts fifth.
The second 50-lap race was marked by both triumph and tragedy. Leon Gonyo of Chazy, NY ran to a dominant win, leading the final 39 circuits and crossing the finish line ahead of Quenneville with a half-lap advantage. Gonyo’s celebration was short, though, as he suffered a medical emergency during his victory lap and passed away shortly after despite a concentrated effort by Fair Haven Rescue, track safety workers, and many volunteers. (A full statement on the incident is available at www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com.)
Quenneville finished second in the race with Stone third. Hometown racer Billy Lussier led eight laps early and finished a strong fourth, with Proctor rebounding for fifth place. Quenneville’s runner-up finish gave him 16 top-five finishes in 17 starts and was enough to outdistance Proctor by 34 points for his first asphalt track championship; he had previously won the Devil’s Bowl title in 2003 on the former half-mile clay surface. Bob Kilburn of Fair Haven, VT was named the Rookie of the Year.
Josh Masterson of Bristol, VT put the exclamation point on a solid campaign in the Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model division by winning the 100-lap finale. As Steve Miller and Rich Lowrey Jr. waged an entertaining battle for the lead, Masterson remained solid.
He grabbed the lead from Miller at lap 71, then survived the race’s seventh and final restart three laps later to take his fourth victory of the season and his first Late Model championship. Lowrey finished a season-best second, followed by Chris Bergeron. Bobby Therrien ran fourth, and Miller faded back to fifth place. Robert Bryant Jr. finished second in the standings, and Richard Lowrey III won the Rookie of the Year title.
Richie Turner of Fairfax, VT ended his season the same way it started in the Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep Renegade division by winning the 50-lap finale. The former Devil’s Bowl champion has made only sporadic appearances recently, but dominated the race to bookend the year in victory lane.
Robert Gordon of Milton, VT finished second in the race and clinched the championship – his third title in the last four years. Shawn Duquette finished third followed by teenagers Michael Wright and Dylan Rabtoy. Scott FitzGerald finished as the championship runner-up, and Matt Monaghan took Rookie of the Year honors.
Chris LaVair of Gabriels, NY capped an incredible season in the Portland Glass Mini Stocks by winning the two-segment finale. LaVair swept both 15-lap legs of race for his sixth victory of the year and clinched his first Devil’s Bowl championship. He accomplished the same at Airborne Park Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY, winning six times and taking the overall title.
Dale O’Neil was the runner-up in the race, followed Harold LaVair, Chris’ father. Bradley Bertrand finished fourth to wrap up his Rookie of the Year campaign, and championship runner-up Chuck Bradford finished fifth in the race.
Out of respect to the emergency with Leon Gonyo, a 50-lap race for the MFT Sauce & Rub Co. Enduro Series, which was scheduled to end the event program following the second Modified race, was postponed until Sunday, October 4.
With the asphalt NASCAR season now finished, Devil’s Bowl Speedway turns its attention to The Dirt Track for the next two weeks. The inaugural “Green Mountain Sprint Car Nationals” presented by Fabian Earth Moving and Coastal 181 Publishing will run on Saturday, September 26 at 6:00 p.m. The event features the largest Sprint Car purse ever posted in Vermont and brings together the Empire Super Sprints and Sprint Cars of New England tours for the first time ever.
A non-points event for the Sportsman Modified division will be on the card, along with point-counting races for the Renegades and Mini Stocks. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. with racing at 6:00 p.m.
OFFICIAL RESULTS – Mekkelsen RV Vermont 200 Championship Finale
Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, VT
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series presented by Yandow Sales & Service and John Deere
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Bond Auto Parts Modified Feature #1 (50 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (5) Vince Quenneville Jr., Brandon, VT
2. (17) Todd Stone, Middlebury, VT
3. (3) Jimmy Ryan, Whiting, VT
4. (12) Kenny Tremont Jr., West Sand Lake, NY
5. (7) Joey Roberts, Fletcher, VT
6. (13) Leon Gonyo, Chazy, NY
7. (11) Codie Aubin, Plattsburgh, NY
8. (4) Greg Atkins, Clintonville, NY
9. (8) # Jamy Begor, Mooers Forks, NY
10. (9) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, VT
11. (2) # Bob Kilburn, Fair Haven, VT
12. (10) Jason Furman, Ballston Spa, NY
13. (14) Rico Hernandez, Plattsburgh, NY
14. (15) Cameron Grady, Wilmington, NY
15. (1) Dave Snow, Brandon, VT
16. (16) Speedy Bresette, Plattsburgh, NY
17. (6) Ron Proctor, Charlton, NY
Did Not Start: Jason Durgan; Jamie LaFountain
Last-Chance Qualifier Winner: Billy Lussier
Shiley Fabrication Hard Charger Award: Todd Stone
Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck Award: Ron Proctor
Bond Auto Parts Modified Feature #2 (50 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (7) Leon Gonyo, Chazy, NY
2. (12) Vince Quenneville Jr., Brandon, VT
3. (11) Todd Stone, Middlebury, VT
4. (3) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, VT
5. (14) Ron Proctor, Charlton, NY
6. (6) Codie Aubin, Plattsburgh, NY
7. (5) Greg Atkins, Clintonville, NY
8. (8) Joey Roberts, Fletcher, VT
9. (9) Kenny Tremont Jr., West Sand Lake, NY
10. (4) # Jamy Begor, Mooers Forks, NY
11. (2) # Bob Kilburn, Fair Haven, VT
12. (1) Jason Furman, Ballston Spa, NY
13. (10) Jimmy Ryan, Whiting, VT
14. (16) Rico Hernandez, Plattsburgh, NY
15. (15) Speedy Bresette, Plattsburgh, NY
16. (13) Dave Snow, Brandon, VT
17. (17) Cameron Grady, Wilmington, NY
Shiley Fabrication Hard Charger Award: Vince Quenneville, Jr.
Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck Award: Jason Furman
Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model Feature (100 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (8) Josh Masterson, Bristol, VT
2. (4) Rich Lowrey Jr., Charlotte, VT
3. (3) Chris Bergeron, Claremont, NH
4. (13) Bobby Therrien, Hinesburg, VT
5. (2) Steve Miller, Vergennes, VT
6. (9) Jamie Aube, North Ferrisburgh, VT
7. (14) # Richard Lowrey III, Charlotte, VT
8. (1) Walter J. Hammond, Canaan, NH
9. (10) Jamie Fisher, Shelburne, VT
10. (16) Dave Whitcomb, Essex Junction, VT
11. (6) Robert Bryant Jr., Brooklyn, CT
12. (7) Todd Stone, Middlebury, VT
13. (11) Trampas Demers, South Burlington, VT
14. (3) Seth Bridge, Mendon, VT
15. (12) Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton, VT
16. (15) Todd Davis, Claremont, NH
Heat Winners: Josh Masterson; Chris Bergeron
Consi Winner: Jamie Fisher
Crazy Horse Racing Winners Circle Challenge: Josh Masterson
Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep Renegade Feature (50 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (6) Richie Turner, Fairfax, VT
2. (9) Robert Gordon, Milton, VT
3. (7) Shawn Duquette, Morrisonville, NY
4. (8) # Michael Wright, Alburgh, VT
5. (5) Dylan Rabtoy, Swanton, VT
6. (3) # Matt Monaghan, Colchester, VT
7. (4) Scott FitzGerald, West Rutland, VT
8. (2) Jared Blake, North Hero, VT
9. (1) # Tony Salerno, Mineville, NY
Did Not Start: Randy Howard; Tony Putzier
Bond Auto Parts Hard Charger Award: Robert Gordon
Portland Glass Mini Stock Feature (15 laps x 2)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (7) Chris LaVair, Gabriels, NY
2. (9) Dale O’Neil, Mooers, NY
3. (3) Harold LaVair Jr., Gabriels, NY
4. (4) # Bradley Bertrand, Ferrisburgh, VT
5. (10) Chuck Bradford, Addison, VT
6. (2) Andrew FitzGerald, West Rutland, VT
7. (5) Kyle Sorensen, Ballston Spa, NY
8. (6) John McCarron, Rensselaer, NY
9. (1) # Tanner Crary, Saranac Lake, NY
10. (8) Cooper Bouchard, Hinesburg, VT
Did Not Start: Dan Collins
Segment Winners: Chris LaVair (2)
Bond Auto Parts Hard Charger Award: Dale O’Neil