NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS NORTH
By Lou Modestino
Patrick Tibbetts of Barre earned his first career Allen Lumber Street Stock victory during the only feature event to be concluded before the rains came on Cody Chevrolet-Cadillac night on Thursday, August 7 at Thunder Road. The Late Model feature with 26 cars saw three laps completed before Phil Scott made hard contact with the wall and the rain started shortly after ending the night’s events.
The remainder of the Late Model feature will be made up next Thursday, August 14 at 6:00pm before the regularly scheduled event. The Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen 100-lapper will be run at 6:00pm before the Jet Service Envelope night on Thursday, August 21.
In the Street Stock 25 lap feature completed before the rain, Tibbetts held off Kevin Dodge and Kyle Streeter in a fierce battle. Will Hennequin and Donny Yates completed the top five. Jennifer Getty, Tommy Smith, Jamie Davis, Bunker Hodgdon and Alan Maynard all earned top ten finishes.
Next Thursday, August 14 will kick of with the remainder of tonight’s rained out feature at 6:00pm before a regular weekly event for the Late Models, Tigers, Street Stocks and the Rough Riders. Also the New England Antique Racers will make their annual visit.
Cody Chevrolet-Cadillac Night
Thunder Road – Barre, VT
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Late Models Postponed – Feature Make-Up Thursday, August 14
Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen – Feature Make-Up Thursday, August 21
Allen Lumber Street Stocks Unofficial Results
Pos. Driver (Car #) Hometown
1. Patrick Tibbetts (48) Barre, VT
2. Kevin Dodge (8) Barre, VT
3. Kyle Streeter (37) Waitsfield, VT
4. Will Hennequin (47) Morrisville, VT
5. Donny Yates (05) N. Montpelier, VT
6. Jennifer Getty (25) Cambridge, VT
7. Tommy Smith (50) Williamstown, VT
8. Jamie Davis (43) Wolcott, VT
9. Bunker Hodgdon (83) Hardwick, VT
10. Alan Maynard (10) Fairfax, VT
11. Jamon Perry (62) Hardwick, VT
12. Garry Bashaw (4) Lincoln, VT
13. Gary Mullen (29) Tunbridge, VT
14. Keith Fortier (35) Hinesburg, VT
15. Jaden Perry (92) Hardwick, VT
16. Mike Gay (3) So. Burlington, VT
17. Ken Stridsberg (6) Berlin, VT
18. Tyler Austin (5) E. Calais, VT
19. #Thomas Merchant (38) Eden Mills, VT
20. Justin Blakely (17) Barre, VT
21. Marcel J. Gravel (86) Wolcott, VT
22. Jeremy Colson (44) S. Royalton, VT
Cody Sargen usually has a way with words. On Friday, August 8 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, though, the congenial 20 year-old was left speechless in victory lane. The Greenfield Center, NY driver from won perhaps the most competitive NASCAR Whelen All-American Series race of the season for his first-ever victory, but was just part of a memorable night at the track. Seventeen year-old Emily Packard was perfect on the night in winning a Triple Crown in the Late Model division, while Robert Gordon, Jake Noble, Jeff Murray, and Kaitlyn Baker were also winners.
Sargen fought for the win from the opening circuit of the 30-lap Bond Auto Parts Modified feature race. He led the first lap from the outside pole position, but surrendered it to Billy Lussier on a restart just one lap in. Sargen fought back on the outside to lead lap 6, then waged a thrilling battle with fellow youngster Jamie LaFountain. The pair officially traded the lead six times at the start/finish line between laps 7 and 21, and many more times through the corners.
Leon Gonyo crept into the mix from the beginning of that battle and eventually took second away from LaFountain on lap 22. A final restart on lap 24 didn’t help Gonyo, though, and Sargen pulled away for the win. Point leader Todd Stone recovered from a spin through the infield at lap 12 to charge up to third place. Ron Proctor and Jessey Mueller came from the back of the field to round out the top five finishers.
Stone carries a 45-point lead on Gonyo (729-684) with five feature races remaining on the schedule. Joey Roberts, who finished 13th in the event after crashing, is third overall, 65 points behind Stone.
“I’ve always known that Cody can drive a racecar, but I haven’t always given him the best car,” Matt Sargen, the winner’s father and crew chief, told the cheering crowd. The team completely disassembled and rebuilt their No. 55 Engineered Solutions-sponsored Bicknell chassis during the week. “We worked harder than we ever have to get the car right, and tonight he was perfect behind the wheel.”
Once he caught his breath, Cody Sargen was in awe of his accomplishment. “I grew up watching Leon Gonyo and Todd Stone race, and to be in victory lane with them is good enough. To actually beat them is incredible. My team and my dad made this possible.”
Not to be outdone, U-32 High School student Emily Packard of East Montpelier, VT kept the crowd roaring with a dominant night in the Late Model division. Packard swept her qualifying heat, the bonus semi-feature, and the 30-lap main event to become the first-ever Triple Crown winner in the division. The feature win was her second of the season and tightens the championship battle between herself and rivals Jamie Fisher and Josh Masterson.
Packard moved from sixth starting position to take the lead from Jamie Aube at lap 9 and was never headed for the balance of the caution-free race. Point leader Fisher caught Packard in lapped traffic late in the race, but was unable to make a move for the win and settled for his fourth consecutive runner-up finish. Masterson took third, followed by Aube and Robert Bryant, Jr. Fisher now leads Masterson by a scant six points for the championship (514-508), with Packard just six more behind in third place.
Robert Gordon of Milton, VT drove from the back of the Renegade field to post his fourth win of the year in that division’s 20-lap race. Rookie Scott FitzGerald led the first seven laps before Jim McKiernan poked ahead for a single circuit. Point leader Gordon slipped past both and sailed to the win. Brad Bushey finished second in his first start of the season and was followed by McKiernan, FitzGerald, and Ray Benoit.
Defending Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stock champion Jake Noble of Benson, VT shook the monkey off his back in a big way in the entry-level division’s 20-lap event with his second win of the year. Noble started fifth and was in the lead by lap 5, cruising to the win. Bobby LaVair finished second with Chuck Bradford hot on his heels in third place. Mike Whalen, Jr. and John McCarron were next in line.
Jeff Murray of Georgia, VT dominated the 50-lap Enduro Series event for his first-ever win. Murray benefitted from the mechanical failures of several of his nearest challengers, but led every step of the way and beat runner-up Eric “Mongo” Messier by half of a lap. “Mr. Bojangles” Shawn Fountain finished third, followed by his father “Wild Bill” Fountain and Brett “Woody” Wood.
Kaitlyn Baker of Unionville, CT put on a show in the Daredevil class to take a popular win. After being drawn at random to race in the “community” division in a set of track-owned racecars, the sister of Late Model driver Kyle Baker beat the field for the win. Tanner Crary finished second, followed by former dirt racer Chris Lussier – who spun on the first lap and bounced off the wall in the final corner – and Robert Winchell.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway returns to action on Friday, August 15 with NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing presented by Brown’s Quarried Slate and Brown’s Orchard & Farm Stand. A special appearance by the New England Antique Racers is also on the card. Regular general admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (age 62+), and free for children age 12 and under. The “Fans First” program will give free admission to residents of Castleton, VT who present valid identification. Gates open at 5:00 p.m., with racing at 7:00 p.m.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, VT
Friday, August 8, 2014
Bond Auto Parts Modified Feature (30 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (2) Cody Sargen, Greenfield Center, NY
2. (8) Leon Gonyo, Chazy, NY
3. (9) Todd Stone, Middlebury, VT
4. (13) Ron Proctor, Charlton, NY
5. (14) Jessey Mueller, Olmstedville, NY
6. (3) Jamie LaFountain, Plattsburgh, NY
7. (7) Vince Quenneville, Jr., Brandon, VT
8. (1) # Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, VT
9. (4) # Jason Reome, Ballston Spa, NY
10. (6) Jason Durgan, Morrisonville, NY
11. (5) Johnny Scarborough, Bomoseen, VT
12. (12) Rick Doner, West Chazy, NY
13. (10) Joey Roberts, Fletcher, VT
14. (11) Codie Aubin, Plattsburgh, NY
Heat Winners: Johnny Scarborough, Leon Gonyo
Late Model Feature (30 laps)
Pos.-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (6) Emily Packard, East Montpelier, VT
2. (7) Jamie Fisher, Shelburne, VT
3. (11) Josh Masterson, Bristol, VT
4. (2) Jamie Aube, North Ferrisburgh, VT
5. (5) Robert Bryant, Jr., Brooklyn, CT
6. (4) Bucko Branham, Plattsburgh, NY
7. (3) Nick LaGoy, Morrisonville, NY
8. (8) Tommy Eriksen, Jr., Ferrisburgh, VT
9. (9) Carol Parker, Fair Haven, VT
10. (1) # Dan St. Hilare, Shelburne, VT
11. (10) Jesse Carris, Rutland, VT
12. (12) # Kyle Baker, Unionville, CT
Heat Winners: Jamie Fisher, Emily Packard
Semi-Feature Winner: Emily Packard
Renegade Feature (20 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (7) Robert Gordon, Milton, VT
2. (5) Brad Bushey, Cambridge, VT
3. (2) Jim McKiernan, Moriah Center, NY
4. (1) # Scott FitzGerald, West Rutland, VT
5. (3) Ray Benoit, Milton, VT
6. (8) Josh Payea, East Georgia, VT
7. (6) Tony Putzier, Jericho, VT
8. (4) Randy Howard, Georgia, VT
9. (9) # Jared Blake, North Hero, VT
Heat Winner: Scott FitzGerald
Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stock Feature (20 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (5) Jake Noble, Benson, VT
2. (10) Bobby LaVair, Saranac Lake, NY
3. (7) Chuck Bradford, Addison, VT
4. (9) Mike Whalen, Jr., Plattsburgh, NY
5. (8) John McCarron, Rensselaer, NY
6. (1) Harold LaVair, Jr., Gabriels, NY
7. (6) Kyle Watrous, Bomoseen, VT
8. (4) # Andrew FitzGerald, West Rutland, VT
9. (3) Mitchell Dundon, Orwell, VT
10. (2) # Shaylynn Senecal, West Rutland, VT
11. (11) Matt Monaghan, Colchester, VT
12. (12) Chris LaVair, Gabriels, NY
13. (13) Kyle Sorensen, Ballston Spa, NY
Heat Winners: Bobby LaVair, Jake Noble
Enduro Series (50 laps)
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver-Hometown-Laps Completed
1. (35) Jeff Murray, Georgia, VT – 50 laps
2. (88X) Eric Messier, Hinesburg, VT – 50 laps
3. (7) Shawn Fountain, Plattsburgh, NY – 50 laps
4. (77) Bill Fountain, Altona, NY – 50 laps
5. (802) Brett Wood, Georgia, VT – 50 laps
6. (17) Joe Dresser, Schuyler Falls, NY – 49 laps
7. (76) Shawn Moquin, Milton, VT – 49 laps
8. (511X) Brad Bushey, Cambridge, VT – 49 laps
9. (20) Zach Wood, Georgia, VT – 48 laps
10. (68) Kevin Sorel, Plattsburgh, NY – 48 laps
11. (30) Tom Kudlacik, Milton, VT – 47 laps
12. (14) Chris Mattos, Milton, VT – 47 laps
13. (33) Andrew Lopes, Colchester, VT – 47 laps
14. (069) Jason Vezina, North Hero, VT – 47 laps
15. (177) Marc Denton, Milton, VT – 47 laps
16. (91) Hunter Murray, Cambridge, VT – 47 laps
17. (26) Casey O’Connell, Burlington, VT – 46 laps
18. (86) Michael Desjardins, Rutland, VT – 45 laps
19. (17X) Richie Turner, Fairfax, VT – 43 laps
20. (666) Andy Botala, Grand Isle, VT – 42 laps
21. (69) Zack Seamans, Middletown Springs, VT – 40 laps
22. (22) Ethan White, Hinesburg, VT – 31 laps
23. (89) Seth Gero, Middlebury, VT – 29 laps
24. (57) Darren Grenier, Poultney, VT – 3 laps
25. (171) Tyler Rhoades, Milton, VT – 2 laps
26. (87) John Gero, Wells, VT – 1 lap
27. (144) Eric Raymond, Bristol, VT – 0 laps
Daredevil (4 laps)
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver-Hometown
1. (44) Kaitlyn Baker, Unionville, CT
2. (3) Tanner Crary, Gabriels, NY
3. (911) Chris Lussier, Fair Haven, VT
4. (22) Robert Winchell, Granville, NY
Reigning Budweiser Pro Late Model champion TJ Brackett of Buckfield became the first repeat main event winner of the season in the top class of Oxford Championship Series competition, scoring in the 50-lap headlining event Saturday night at Oxford Plains Speedway, .
“It’s been a pretty cool week,” the winner said from victory lane. “First, winning with Kyle Busch at Chaudiere (Quebec, in PASS Super Late Model competition) and now this. Of course, I have to thank Seth Holbrook and the guys in the pits.”
Brackett and Holbrook, his main man twisting the wrenches, work with the NASCAR star whenever he races in this region. For Brackett it was also a 180-degree turn from the previous week at OPS, where he was sent to the rear of the lineup with three laps to go after being involved in an altercation that saw the leader of the race spinning.
Brackett started 11th in the 50-lap finale and methodically worked his way into contention until he went by Poland’s Tommy Ricker late in the race to lead until the checkered flag waved. Veteran racer Donnie Wentworth of Otisfield had a strong run, finishing second after spending a healthy portion of the event in the outside groove. 14-year-old Gunnar Rowe of Turner was the third-place finisher.
Championship leader Shawn Martin of Turner drove from 16th on the starting grid to finish in fourth position, with Ricker rounding out the top-five. Quinney Welch led several laps before fading to a sixth-place finish, with Alan Wilson of Hebron, Tim Brackett of Buckfield, Jeremy Davis of Tamworth, New Hampshire and Buckfield’s Vanna Brackett rounding out the top-ten. Rowe and Mark Lundblad of Conway, New Hampshire were heat race winners. Lundblad led the first 20 laps of the main event before retirting from the event with mechanical woes.
Evan Armington of Lovell took the lead from New Gloucester’s Ron Henry, then held off a late challenge by Newburgh’s Scott Alexander to score victory in a special, 40-lap feature race for the visiting Pro All Stars Series Mods.
“This is one of those nights where everything went right,” the young, third-generation racer said in victory lane. Armington also thanked a kid who gave him a lucky rabbit’s foot-shaped cookie he took along for the ride.
Alexander, a serious contender for the PASS Mods championship, closed quickly once in second position, but could not catch Armington. Andy Shaw of Center Conway, New Hampshire was third across the line, with the top-five rounded out by Mark Lucas of Harpswell and Livermore’s Scott McDaniel. Armington and Ryan Robbins of Dixfield scored heat race victories.
Josh Childs of Oxford emerged unscathed from a wild, 30-lap main event for the Allen’s Coffee-Flavored Brandy Street Stock division, scoring the main event victory and claiming the unofficial lead in the championship points standings as well. Childs dedicated the win to his aunt and uncle, Linda and Guy, who recently lost their home in a devastating fire. Childs entered the night well behind Waterford’s Spencer Morse, the previous week’s winner, but Morse met misfortune quickly in this race, sliding down the frontstretch on his roof on the first lap. Morse returned to the event with his battered racecar, but failed to finish after another altercation.