July 10, 2011: W. HAVEN, VT — If there was any toasting going on after Sunday night’s NASCAR Modified feature at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, they were doing it with non-alcoholic beverages.
That’s because fourth-generation driver Bobby Hackel IV was in victory lane after his first career victory on the Champlain Valley Racing Association asphalt.
The teenager, one of the CVRA’s young lions, drove a flawless race and outran red-hot Ron Proctor to take the checkered flag in the 30-lap NASCAR Modified feature.
Frank Hoard III and Hackel locked into a good battle early in the feature, and with 10 laps in the books, had a comfortable cushion over Jessey Mueller, Proctor and Joe Williams.
A caution came out on lap 12 when Proctor and Mueller came together, with Proctor going off the backstretch and having to restart at the rear of the field.
Hackel used the restart to rocket past Hoard into the lead, and quickly jumped out to a five-car advantage.
But all eyes were on Proctor, who was making an incredible charge to the front. On lap 20, he swung to the high side and drove past both Williams and Hoard to slide into third. Hackel was working his way through lapped traffic, leaving Mueller and Proctor to battle for second, and Proctor finally took over the runner-up spot with four to go.
But by that time, Hackel was in control of the feature, and set off a wild celebration in his pit with his first asphalt victory. Proctor came across the stripe second, marking his fifth top-five finish in as many features at the Bowl this season.
Mueller, who has hit on a perfect set-up for the last three weeks, finished third, with Hoard fourth and Williams fifth. Hoard has now had back-to-back fourth-place finishes.
Mike Bruno came away with his third victory of the season in the pro late model feature. Once again, the two Vermont runners, Bruno of Castleton and Chris Wilk of Rutland, turned the feature into their own two-man battle. Bruno took the lead on lap six, while Wilk moved past Hunter Bates for second on the same lap.
The field bunched together after a caution for Joey Laquerre, who looped his car on the backstretch, and Wilk stayed right on Bruno’s rear bumper for the rest of the feature, even giving Bruno a couple of taps with two to go. One final caution set up a dash for the checkered flag, but Bruno held his line and recorded his second straight victory, with Wilk second and Bates third.
Josh Coonradt drove to his second consecutive victory during the Renegades feature, but was later disqualified during technical inspection and given last place points. The renegade win was then awarded to Frank Monroe. Eddie Bruno got the win in the Bomber Warriors division.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway will be holding its Summer Kickoff on Sunday, July 17, with all divisions in action. The festivities will also include the Red Knights Motorcycle Ride to benefit Bone Marrow Registration at the Rutland Regional Medical Center.
NASCAR MODIFIEDS: BOBBY HACKEL IV, Ron Proctor, Jessey Mueller, Frank Hoard III, Joe Williams, Hunter Bates, Mike Bruno, Alex Bell, Paul Braymer, Michael Bush, Dave Snow, Jason Rheome, Andy Durie, Matt Atwood. DNS: Jon Miller, Kevin Wright, Don Miller.
PRO LATE MODELS: MIKE BRUNO, Chris Wilk, Hunter Bates, Kevin Elliot, Randy Miller, Joey Laquerre, Scott Atwood.
RENEGADES: FRANK MONROE, Matt Livingston, Jeremy Jones, Jonathan Hayes, Andy Smith, Bill Dupree, Rowdy Burch, Bill August, Russ Farr Jr., Josh Coonradt (DQ).
BOMBER WARRIORS: EDDIE BRUNO, Ray Germain, Mark Lindblade, Kevin Brown, Jake Noble, Ken Duell, Justin Lilly, Blake Swarting.