June 6, 2004

Hoard Notches First Win at the Bowl

WEST HAVEN, VT –  Patience paid off for Ray Hoard Sunday night in the double-point Spring Championships at Devil’s Bowl Speedway.

Hoard found the opening he needed with three laps to go and recorded his first victory of the season in the 30-lap 358 modified feature.

Tim Laduc, who had won the opener, looked like he was on his way to a second straight win, but Hoard had other ideas. On lap 27, Laduc dropped low, leaving an opening in the high groove, and Hoard, who had started ninth in the feature field, rocketed around the top to get the lead for good and record just his second career victory.

“We waited for something to happen and we got lucky tonight,” said Hoard after the win. “The last lap is one I won’t forget for some time.”

C.V. Elms was the class of the field early, starting on the pole and leading the first 24 laps. But he got sideways coming out of the fourth turn on lap 25, ending his bid for his first career victory at the Bowl.

Hoard finished with a 0.682-second margin of victory over Laduc. Ken Tremont Jr., making his first appearance of the season at Devil’s Bowl, came across the finish line third, despite having to go to the pits for a flat tire early in the feature. Ron Proctor finished fourth and Gene Munger was fifth. Munger’s finish was a good turnaround from opening day, when he wrecked early and didn’t even get into the feature.

Lori Cary picked up her first victory of the season in the 20-lap pro-street stock feature, and did it in dramatic fashion. On the last lap of the feature, something let loose under the hood of Cary’s car and the car caught fire. But Cary never panicked, getting across the finish line before scrambling to safety. But the car suffered heavy damage from the blaze.

Completing the top five were Carl Vladyka, Robert Langevin, Cale Kneer and Jeff Washburn.

Scott Fowler and Billy Lussier kept the crowd on its feet in the 15-lap Rentway Limiteds feature. Fowler and Lussier ran side-by-side for most of the feature and on the last lap, both were charging hard into the third turn when Lussier spun, allowing Fowler to come away with the victory. Arnie Trudeau was a distant second, with Jamie Buzzell third. Lussier came across the finish line eighth.

Chris Cary Jr. turned in an impressive performance in the 15-lap Pro-Built mini-stock feature, driving his four-cylinder car to a 0.936 second victory over a handful of six-cylinder cars. Elmer Montville, who had made his way to victory lane on opening night, was second in his six-cylinder car while Amanda Clemens, also driving a six-cylinder, was third.

The Duke stocks were also in action Sunday night, with Adam Piper taking the victory.

Devil’s Bowl will be back in action Sunday night with the annual Judith L. Richards Memorial, a benefit race for the Rutland Area Visiting Nurses Association/Hospice. The track will adhere to its regular starting time, with the first green flag falling at 7 p.m.

MODIFIEDS: RAY HOARD, Tim Laduc, Ken Tremont Jr., Ron Proctor, Gene Munger, Don Scarborough, Jim Ryan, Mike Perrotte, Lance Harting, Vince Quenneville Jr., John Harrison, Denny Young, Brian Whittemore, C.V. Elms, Stan Lemiesz, Ken Anatriello, Chris Vernold, Frank Hoard Sr., Neal Erickson, Joe Budka, Chad Miller, Paul LaCoste, Jon Trudeau, Jim Introne.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: LORI CARY, Carl Vladyka, Robert Langevin, Cale Kneer, Jeff Washburn, Ed Thompson, Randy Alger, Scott Duell, William Smith IV, Dave Wood.

RENTWAY LIMITEDS: SCOTT FOWLER, Arnie Trudeau, Jamie Buzzell, Pat Cram, Tom Pierce, Jon Sullivan, Bill Burlingame, Billy Lussier, Tony Condon, Richard Stone, Jared McMahon, Tim Brunelle, Adam Forbes, Mike Labelle, Don Williams, Ben Ladd, Steve Holcomb, William Duprey, Mark Burch, Joey Trudeau.

PRO-BUILT MINI-STOCKS: CHRIS CARY JR., Elmer Montville, Amanda Clemens, Jeremy Brownell, John Baldwin, Randy Manhey, Brittany Ladd, Mike Clark Jr., Jason Bishop, Joseph Baker, Chuck Burns, Brett Osgood, Bobby Stearns, Harold Clothier, Heather Combs, Mike Pope. DQ: Bobbi Jo Bean.