Gibbons Files First Entry for Vermont 200 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway
Glen Ridge winner ready for biggest Sportsman race in North America
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Brendan Gibbons has filed the first official entry for the Interstate All Battery Center Vermont 200 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. The Scotia, N.Y., racer is prepared to take on a stacked field in what has quickly become the biggest Sportsman Modified dirt track race in North America, and will be one of many invaders chasing the $7,500 winner’s purse on Sunday, September 6.
Gibbons ranks among the top 10 DIRTcar Sportsman drivers at Glen Ridge Motorsports Park in Fultonville, N.Y., and he picked up the first win of his career there on July 19; he also won twice in the track’s Limited Sportsman division in 2019, and is a frequent competitor at the nearby Fonda Speedway.
Therrien Tightens Championship Battle with Win on VT Tire & Service Night
Martin, Dopp, Campbell, & Putney Also Earn Wins
Barre, VT — Hinesburg’s Bobby Therrien put a supercharge into his bid to become the 2020 “King of the Road” by capturing the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Model main event at Vermont Tire & Service Night on Thursday, August 20. The 2017 Thunder Road track champion took the lead from Shelburne’s Trampas Demers with 13 laps remaining and then drove away to considerably tighten this year’s title battle.
Therrien started eighth for the 50-lap trophy dash and followed fellow title contender Marcel J. Gravel through the field as outside polesitter Matt White set the pace. As Gravel and Therrien hounded second-place runner Demers at the halfway point, Eric Chase came to a stop on the front stretch, drawing the race’s only caution.
Demers had been losing ground to White at the time of the yellow, but he came to life on the restart, sailing around White to take the lead. Therrien followed Demers around on the high side a few laps later and then began putting the pressure on for the top spot.
With 14 laps to get, Therrien found a hole underneath Demers and went for it, completing the pass a lap later and taking off like a rocket from there for the win. His first victory of the year unofficially pulled him within 12 points of overall leader Jason Corliss with just three point-counting events remaining.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway Announces Major Fall Schedule Changes
Saturday nights and $10,000-to-win Modified event among adjustments
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Devil’s Bowl Speedway has made some exciting schedule changes for the autumn portion of the 2020 dirt track stock car racing season. As fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has forced facilities in nearby states to stop hosting races, the Vermont facility is adapting with the ever-changing times to safely provide racers and fans with more suitable options.
Vermont’s pandemic health and safety guidelines remain firmly in place, helping the Green Mountain State to currently be in a better position than many surrounding areas. With several speedways in New York State forced to interrupt or even end to their seasons prematurely – and as schools begin to reopen – Devil’s Bowl Speedway promoter Mike Bruno has worked to offer favorable date changes and event alternatives for teams and spectators while adhering to COVID-19 policies.
Thunder Road Doubling Up with VT Tire & Service Night and Bolduc Enduro
Barre, VT — Barre’s Thunder Road is ready for a double dose of Vermont stock car thrills this Thursday, August 20 and Sunday, August 23. Vermont Tire & Service Night and the 36th Bolduc Metal Recycling Enduro 200 gives fans two chances to see great racing either at the track or worldwide on the Northeast Sports Network.
The doubleheader starts with Vermont Tire & Service Night on Thursday, August 20 at 7:00pm. All four of Thunder Road’s weekly divisions are on the card with the stars of the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models, Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers, Allen Lumber Street Stocks, and Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors ready to do battle. The evening also includes the Marvin Johnson Memorial First-Time Winners Race where a Street Stock driver becomes a first-time winner on the high banks.
Then on Sunday, August 23 at 6:00pm is the annual “People’s Race”. The Bolduc Enduro 200 has been an annual Thunder Road tradition since 1985. Pre-entries are on par with previous seasons, meaning 100 or more cars are once again expected to vie for the $3,000 top prize.
Speshock Squeezes Last Drop Out of Engine for Devil’s Bowl Speedway Win
Comes grabs second win in Limited Sportsman division
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Jack Speshock has been on a roller coaster ride during the 2020 dirt track racing season, and on Sunday, August 16 he experienced a skyscraper high and a basement-level low all in the same moment at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. The Malta, N.Y., driver dominated for his second big victory in a 24-hour span, but then he promptly blew his engine during the cool-down lap.
His win, while bittersweet, highlighted a roster of nine winning drivers which also included Austin Comes, Josh Coonradt, Andrew FitzGerald, Chris Sumner, Kamden Duffy, Frank Hoard Jr., Kyle Hoard, and Mike Wheeler.
Speshock had been the hard-luck poster child for several weeks at Devil’s Bowl, having crashed out while in contention to win Pepsi Sportsman Modified features twice in the last month. Things went much better for him during the weekend, starting with a top-10 finish at Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Friday and a win at Airborne Speedway on Saturday. He led every circuit of Sunday’s 30-lap feature at Devil’s Bowl, but he knew for more than half of the race that he was in trouble.
Jason Gray is the overall winner in the DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Mods
Will Hull gets win number one in the WYKR Sprint Cars of New England
Bear Ridge Speedway
Feature winners for the Swenson Insurance night at the Ridge: Jason Gray for the overall in the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds, Thomas Placey in the DIRTcar Sportsman Coupes, George Osgood in the C.A. Miller Limited Late Models, Brandon Gray in the LaValley Building Supply Dirt Stockers, Buddy Welch in the Peanuts Auto Four Cylinders, and Will Hull in the WYKR Sprint Cars of New England
The DIRTcar Sabil & Sons Sportsman Modifieds drivers had over nine thousand dollars on the line for their madness night, setting up their night for three segments of thirty three laps each. Segment one went to Jason Gray with Jordan Fornwalt and Mike Ryan crossing the line in second and third. These three lucky drivers got to start the second segment in the rear from the invert giving James Fadden the win in the segment. Jason Gray made it back up thru traffic to finish second with Matt Lashua coming home in third. Segment three went to Jordan Fornwalt with DJ Robinson taking second and Gray getting third. The overall combination points put Jason Gray on top with Jordan Fornwalt in second and Matt Lashua in third. Mike Ryan and and Todd Hayward completed the top five.