It was “Hometown Heroes Night” at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday, and the police, fire, rescue, and military personnel on hand to be honored were treated to some of the most exciting races of the season.
Of the eight feature races that were contested, nearly all of them consisted of tight battles that came right down to the checkered flag. It was also the annual “Backpack Giveaway” with a large group of kids now ready to begin school in the fall with gear to carry their supplies in, courtesy of the generosity of drivers, crews and staff.
A few weeks ago Scott Towslee saw the engine expire in his primary car, and has been running a backup machine the last few weeks with very little success. Armed with his favorite hot rod and a new power plant, Towslee outdueled Randy Ryan for the win in the Sunoco Sportsman Modified 30-lap event. Ryan launched from the pole and led the first 28 laps. Frank Hoard III and Dave Camara provided the early threat to the leader. Meanwhile, Towslee was on the charge from the sixth spot on the grid. Once Towslee took over the second spot, he stalked Ryan but could not find a way by him as they ran identical lines. With two laps remaining, after trying different strategies throughout, Towslee finally found the right formula and powered past Ryan to steal the victory. Ryan held on for second; Brent Warren was third, Joey Scarborough fourth and Hoard III fifth.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman division ran Twin 20-lap features. Both of them saw drivers who have been through some trials and tribulations this season finally visit Victory Lane. In the opener, Kamden Duffy started on the front row, grabbed the early advantage, and led from green to checkers to score his first win of 2026 in dominating fashion. William Lussier weaved his way through the pack to take his shot at Duffy late in the race, but the 42 car was too stout. Lussier Jr., Boomer Patterson, William Duprey, and Cody O’Brien rounded out the top five.
In the second feature, Duprey put a Band-Aid on his frustrating season as he captured an emotional victory. Matt Wade led the first two circuits before Anthony Ryan slipped past him for the lead. Ryan led the next seven laps for the most part, but he and “Dupe” hit the stripe side by side with barely a piece of paper separating them for several laps. Duprey finally survived the battle with Ryan, taking the top spot on lap 11 and leading the final nine laps to earn the win. Tyler Travis crossed the line second, followed by Patterson, Ryan, and Logan Denis.
Roger LaDuc and Gage Provencher led the field to the green flag for the start of the 20-lap Northern Refrigeration Novice Sportsman Modified showdown. Provencher led the first two trips around the speedway before spinning in turn two, dropping him back in the field. James McLellan assumed the lead after Provencher vacated it and drove away to cruise to the convincing victory, his second of the season. Matt Little worked his way from seventh on the grid to pick up the second spot in the order. Rob Steves finished third, and Gavin Fleury rallied from an early issue to place fourth. Rob Steele rounded out the top five.
Points leader Levi Cram hadn’t parked his car in victory lane for a few weeks after a hot start to the season, but he ended his recent rough patch in the Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint 15-lap feature. Cram fired from the pole to build a sizable lead and was never challenged as the race went caution-free. Scott Bachand tried his best to reel in Cram but couldn’t chase him down. Bachand drove under the checkers for the runner-up spot. Tyler Whittemore, Chris Lennox and Alex Reed completed the top five.
In the Mini Stock Low Handicap 15-lap feature, Jayde Pope set the pace in the early stages and remained in control until the halfway crossed-flags. Kyle Hart, who started dead-last on the grid, navigated through traffic and overtook Pope on lap eight to collect the first win of his career. Ron Alger, who has been on a torrid streak as of late, made a late bid for back-to-back wins, but Hart was not to be denied. Following the top two under the checkers were Pope, Gerard Jordan, and Jerry Jordan Jr.
The Mini Stock High Handicap 20-lap feature provided some of the most intense competition of the evening as Chris Charbonneau swept around Jeremy Brownell in the final stages to earn the top spot on the podium. Cody Dion led the first two laps before giving way to Brownell. Brownell started ninth but didn’t waste any time getting to the front. Charbonneau, as he typically does, was biding his time, waiting for the right moment to strike. And that’s exactly what he did for win number three on the season. Behind Charbonneau and Brownell, Kaleb Shepard, Tyler Bell and Cody Dion registered top five finishes.
The night concluded with the “Wild and Wacky” 50-lap Enduro. Tim LaDuc lapped the entire field and seemed to have the win in his back pocket until a wheel came off with nine laps remaining and his car rolled onto its roof between turns three and four. LaDuc’s bad fortune spelled good luck for Andrew Lopes, who went on to secure his second win in a row. Kody Vemilyea was second, Neale Davis-Secard third, Nick Cain fourth, and Bob Bathalon fifth.
Next Saturday and Sunday is a two-day event at Devil’s Bowl Speedway for the Reed Door Solutions “Prelude to the Vermont 200” weekend. Saturday features the 358 Modified Special for 30 Laps and $2000 to win. There will also be weekly division qualifying and features plus a 10-Lap Sportsman Dash for Cash for drivers not racing 358s. Grandstands open at 5:30 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m.
The annual CJ Richards Memorial will be the main event on Sunday. The Sportsman Modifieds will go 67 laps for $5,000 and a guaranteed starting spot in the Vermont 200. The Limited Sportsman, Novice Sportsman, Mini Sprints and Mini Stocks will also be on the card. Grandstands open at 4:00 p.m. with the green flag at 6 p.m.
Grandstand admission is $20. Infield admission is $30. Children 12 and under are free. Pit passes are $45. All passes are good for the weekend.
Official Results-Hometown Heroes, Backpack Giveaway Night
Saturday, July 25th, 2026
Sunoco Sportsman Modified Feature (30 laps)
Pos. (Start) Driver Hometown
1. (6) Scott Towslee Manchester, VT
2. (2) Randy Ryan Orwell, VT
3. (8) Brent Warren Salisbury, VT
4. (14) Joey Scarborough Brandon, VT
5. (4) Frankie Hoard III Manchester Center, VT
6. (7) Tanner Siemons Orford, NH
7. (5) Dave Camara Poultney, VT
8. (3) Tim Hodge East Thetford, VT
9. (12) Ashton Pierson E Corinth, VT
10. (16) Jordan Fornwalt Bradford, VT
11. (10) Jim Ryan Whiting, VT
12. (11) Josh Sunn White River Junction, VT
13. (1) Vince Quenneville Brandon, VT
14. (13) Marty Kelly III Bennington, VT
15. (9) Johnny Bruno West Haven, VT
16. (17) Adam Pierson East Corinth, VT
17. (18) Alex Palmer-Sawyer Cambridge, NY
18. (15) Jeff Washburn Bensen, VT
DNS Billy Lussier Fair Haven, VT
DNS Eric Shaw Wells, VT
DNS Adam Piper Leicester, VT
O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman Modified Feature #1 (20 laps)
Pos. (Start) Driver Hometown
1 Kamden Duffy Richmond, NH
2 William Lussier Jr Fair Haven, VT
3 Joshua Patterson Milton, VT
4 William Duprey Hydeville, VT
5 Cody O'Brien Peru, NY
6 Tyler Travis Hartland, VT
7 Aiden Benoure Bristol, VT
8 Anthony Ryan Benson, VT
9 Logan Denis Whiting, VT
10 Bob Kilburn Fair Haven, VT
11 Russell Farr III Middle Granville, NY
12 Freddie Little Salisbury, VT
13 Gary English Salisbury, VT
14 Bobbi Hults Castleton, VT
15 Matthew Wade Fair Haven, VT
16 Steve Miller Vergennes, VT
17 Austin Comes South Burlington, VT
18 Dan Seguin Halfmoon, NY
DNF Trevor Hurlburt Bomoseen, VT
O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman Modified Feature #2 (20 laps)
Pos. (Start) Driver Hometown
1 William Duprey Hydeville, VT
2 Tyler Travis Hartland, VT
3 Joshua Patterson Milton, VT
4 Anthony Ryan Benson, VT
5 Logan Denis Whiting, VT
6 William Lussier Jr Fair Haven, VT
7 Gary English Salisbury, VT
8 Cody O'Brien Peru, NY
9 Bob Kilburn Fair Haven, VT
10 Matthew Wade Fair Haven, VT
11 Freddie Little Salisbury, VT
12 Bobbi Hults Castleton, VT
13 Aiden Benoure Bristol, VT
14 Steve Miller Vergennes, VT
15 Austin Comes South Burlington, VT
16 Kamden Duffy Richmond, NH
17 Russell Farr III Middle Granville, NY
DNF Dan Seguin Halfmoon, NY
DNS Trevor Hurlburt Bomoseen, VT
Northern Refrigeration Novice Sportsman Modified Feature (20 laps)
Pos. (Start) Driver Hometown
1 James McLellan Wells, VT
2 Matt Little Salisbury, VT
3 Rob Steves Orwell, VT
4 Gavin Fleury Ticonderoga, NY
5 Rob Steele Bomoseen, VT
6 Mark McGinnis Rutland, VT
7 Gage Provencher Bridport, VT
8 Christopher Pierce Orford, NH
9 Eric Dingman Corinth, NY
10 Roger Laduc Castleton, VT
11 Ben Williams Brandon, VT
12 Kaylin Pierson Fairlee, VT
13 Nate Illsley Fair Haven, VT
14 DNF John Bates Mendon, VT
DNS Chris Sumner East Middlebury, VT
Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint Feature (15 laps)
Pos. (Start) Driver Hometown
1 Levi Cram Leicester, VT
2 Scott Bachand St Albans, VT
3 Tyler Whittemore Pittsford, VT
4 Chris Lennox Eagle Bridge, NY
5 Alex Reed Proctor, VT
6 Carm Isabella Ballston Spa, NY
7 Tommy Kasuba Castleton, VT
8 Andy Quenneville Brandon, VT
DNF Aiden Wade Clarendon, VT
Mini Stock Low Handicap Feature (15 laps)
Pos. (Start) Driver Hometown
1 Kyle Hart Cadyville, NY
2 Ron Alger Orwell, VT
3 Jayde Pope Fair Haven, VT
4 Gerard Jordan Jr Benson, VT
5 Jerry Jordan Sr Benson, VT
6 Chandler Sumner Ripton, VT
7 David Labarge South Glens Falls, NY
8 Vincent Kendall Rutland, VT
9 Caden Stearns Shoreham, VT
10 Quinton Bishop Whiting, VT
DNF Adam Stewart Benson, VT
DNS Carl Lapoint Clemons, NY
Enduro Series (50 laps)
Pos. (Start) Driver Hometown
1 Andrew Lopes Swanton, VT
2 Kody Vermilyea West Haven, VT
3 Neale Davis-Sicard Sheldon, VT
4 Nick Cain Milton, VT
5 Bob Bathalon West Haven, VT
6 Anthony Declair Petersburg, NY
7 Maverick Mitchell Benson, VT
8 Tim LaDuc Orwell, VT
9 George Wanner West Haven, VT
10 Dan Desforges West Haven, VT
11 Jeremiah Thomas Petersburg, NY
12 Melissa Williams Ripton, VT
13 Cody Seaver Fair Haven, VT
