The weather was picture-perfect for Heritage Family Credit Union Night, featuring the annual kids’ bicycle races and kids’ bicycle giveaway at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday. The large crowd on hand was treated to an entertaining night of racing highlighted by three drivers winning for the first time this season, and four others adding to their growing list of trips to victory lane.
The first main event of the night was the 30-lap showdown for the Sunoco Sportsman Modifieds, with Randy Ryan dominating the field for his second win in the last three weeks. Alex Palmer-Sawyer and Marty Hutchins led the field to the green flag, with Palmer leading the first lap by a half a car length. Hutchins seized control off of turn two on the second lap and controlled the early stages. Ryan launched from the fourth spot on the grid, and there were indications right away that he would be tough to beat as his 60R machine was on rails once again. By the halfway point Ryan had taken charge. Ryan had to hold off Hutchins on several restarts, but Hutchins had his hands full in a fierce battle for the runner-up spot with Justin Comes. Further back, Joey Scarborough was barreling up through the pack from the 19th starting spot to close in on a top five finish, but came up just a sliver short. Ryan withstood every challenge from Hutchins to take the checkered flag. Hutchins fended off Comes for second. Adam Pierson and Billy Lussier joined the others in the top five. Scarborough earned the Elmo’s Pit Stop Hard Charger $100 bonus by gaining 13 spots.
In the O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman Modified 25-lap feature, after serving notice that he had a fast hot rod in his heat race, William Duprey fired from outside the front row and seemed on his way to a win. However, William Lussier Jr. had other plans. Duprey led the first 19 laps, but the “Hometown Kid’s Kid” was on the prowl. Lussier methodically diced his way from the fifth spot on the grid, winning an intense clash with Bobbi Hults for second. After getting around Hults, Lussier Jr. set his radar lock on Duprey and passed him with five circuits remaining, then closed the deal to secure his first win of 2026. Duprey placed second, followed by Hults, Freddie Little, and Gary English. Aidan Benoure cashed the $50 bonus check as the Next Play Performance Hard Charger award winner, advancing sixth positions, from 14th to eighth.
The Northen Refrigeration Novice Sportsman Modified 20-lap feature saw rookie Gage Provencher collect his third win of the season. The driver known as “Pig Boy” has made a quick transition to the modified ranks after consecutive Mini Sprint championships. Mark McGinnis sprang from the pole searching for his second career win and led the first seven laps, but when caution flew on lap seven Provencher was ready to pounce. Provencher powered around McGinnis to take the point and led the final 12 laps to garner the top spot on the podium. McGinnis crossed the line second to register his best run of the season. Points leader Rob Steele was third, Rob Steves fourth, and Gavin Fleury fifth.
Points leader Quinn Quenneville rolled to a decisive victory in the 20-lap Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint feature. Quenneville started on the outside pole next to Tommy Kasuba and took the lead as soon as the green flag dropped. That was all Quenneville needed as he led from start to finish to earn his second win of the season. John Smith also had a quick piece. Smith closed in on the leader on a few occasions, but Quenneville found another gear each time. Smith completed his best showing of the year with a second-place finish. Levi Cram crossed the line in third, Alex Reed fourth, and Scott Bachand fifth after a late pass of young and improving Aiden Wade at the stripe.
Trevor Jaques won for the third time this season in the Stove Deport Crown Vic 15 lap feature. Defending track champion Eric Friend set the early pace, but it was clear instantly that holding off Jaques would prove to be difficult. Jaques started fifth but quickly dispensed of the other contenders to take the top spot and drive off for the win. Bradford Cram had a solid run to finish second, ahead of Josh Muir who rallied from an early incident to place third. Norm Morill was fourth. Friend faded to fifth.
In the Mini Stock High Handicap 20-lap main event, Tyler Bell shed the monkey off his back to park his car in victory lane for the first time this season. Kyle Jordan jumped from the fifth starting position to lead much of the opening segment, but a posse made up of top guns, Bell, Jeremy Brownell, Jeremy Brownell Jr., Kaleb Shepard and Chris Charbonneau, all past feature winners, were stalking him. Bell eventually took the lead, fell to second, and then recaptured the point to earn the win. Brownell was second, Brownell Jr. third, Jordan fourth, and Shepard fifth.
Bert Ouellette used an adventurous run to pick up his first career victory in the Mini Stock Low Handicap 15-lap feature. The Ellington, Connecticut driver who took over the Damian Olden ride a few weeks ago started 11th on the grid before weaving his was through the field. Ouellette’s chances appeared to suffer a severe blow when he had a late confrontation with an implement tire, but no damage was done to the car and he continued moving forward. Jayde Pope was looking to bring home back-to-back wins, as he led when Bob Biglelow showed the popsicle sticks for two to go. Ouellette however made a huge run down the backstretch to reel in Pope and swept around him on lap 14 to acquire his inaugural trophy. Pope, Quinton Bishop, Ron Alger, and Airborne Park regular Kyle Hart in the “Blue Deuce” each scored top five results.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway will host one of the biggest dirt racing events of the summer this Sunday, as the Short Track Super Series thunders its way into the Green Mountain State for the “Slate Valley 67” $7,567.00 to win event. The previously postponed “Northeast Crate Nationals” will also be contested, with a 50 lap, $2,500 to win showdown. The Limited Sportsman and Novice Sportsman will go “Topless” for dad on Father’s Day weekend. The Mini Stocks will also be on the card. Grandstands open at 5 p.m. Racing is at 7 p.m. Grandstand admission is $30. Infield Parking is $35. Kids 12 and under are free. Pit admission is $45.
