August 6, 2006

Todd Stone notches first win in 2006

WEST HAVEN, VT – The Green Mountain boys obviously like this bounty deal.

Since CVRA officials put a bounty out on defending track champion Ken Tremont Jr., two Vermont drivers have collected the big bucks. On Sunday night, it was Middlebury’s Todd Stone walking off with $1,500 after picking up his first win of the season in the 30-lap 358 modified feature at the Bowl. The payoff included bonuses of $250 from the track, $150 from Rheome’s Refuse Removal and $100 from Lovett Construction.

And what happened to Tremont? He was involved in a pileup on lap four, brought out another caution on lap eight and battled back for a 12th -place finish.

Rick Davis came off the pole and set the pace for the first three laps, until a crash involving Tremont, Mike Bruno, Frank Hoard Sr., Tim Laduc and Gardner Stone brought out the first caution.

On the restart, Chris Vernold, John Calcagni Jr. and Rich Stromberg stacked up in turn four, again slowing the pace.

Vince Quenneville Jr., who had started ninth, used the subsequent restart to move past Davis into the lead, but Stone, who had started 18th, was already working his way through the field, helped by the two early cautions.

By lap 10, Stone was up to fourth as Jimmy Ryan battled with Quenneville for the lead.

Stone joined the battle for the lead and the fans were treated to some incredible racing between the three Vermont pilots. Stone finally took the No. 2 spot away from Ryan on lap 20, and two circuits later, charged past Quenneville into the lead. Running green the rest of the way, Stone hit the finish line 1.403 seconds ahead of Quenneville, who finished second for the seventh time in the past two seasons. Ironically, the last time Stone visited victory lane, on July 3, 2005, Quenneville was also second.

Ryan hit the stripe third, with Albany-Saratoga sportsman competitor Dustin Delaney fourth, an impressive performance by the teenager. Gene Munger finished fifth.

Cale Kneer picked up his second win of the season in the 20-lap pro-street stock feature, holding off red-hot Rob Langevin. Two early cautions bunched the field and created some incredible racing at the front of the pack, as polesitter Jon Bates, Kneer, Lori Cary and Langevin appeared to be magnetized together as they charged around the track.

Kneer, who had started eighth, got the best of that battle and took the lead away from Bates on lap nine. Kneer started to pull away until the yellow flew on lap 17, giving Langevin the break he needed. But Kneer held his line on the restart and forced Langevin to settle for second. Cary was third, followed by Carl Cram and Mike Lussier.

Randy Alger drove to his first career win in the limited feature. Despite starting fourth, Alger went right to the front and led every lap but one. Bill Duprey, who was running low while Alger preferred the high groove, stuck the nose of his car in front at the completion of lap five, but Alger was back on the point the next time around and came away with the win. Following Alger and Duprey across the finish line were Adam Piper, Joey Trudeau and Jared McMahon.

Mike Duclos again buried the field in the mini-stock feature, getting his third straight win and fifth of the season.

The highlight of the night was the annual Mountain Man enduro, with Adam Faye walking off with the win and the prestigious title in the 50-lap event, leading nearly every lap.

All divisions will be in action on Sunday night, and a $250 bonus will remain in effect in the modified division.

MODIFIEDS: TODD STONE, Vince Quenneville Jr., Jimmy Ryan, Dustin Delaney, Gene Munger, Ray Hoard, Rick Davis, Ron Proctor, Don Scarborough, Leon Gonyo, Don Mattison, Ken Tremont Jr., Mike Perrotte, Chris Donnelly, Tim Laduc, Don Ackner, Adam Pierson, Brian Whittemore, Frank Hoard Sr., Chris Vernold, Matt Depew, C.V. Elms, John Calcagni Jr., Rich Stromberg, Mike Bruno, Gardner Stone.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: CALE KNEER, Rob Langevin, Lori Cary, Carl Cram, Mike Lussier, Jim Groncki, Bob Schmidt, Charlie Towslee, Russ Miller, Jeremie Younger, Jake Losaw, Jon Bates, Carl Vladyka, Jeff Martin, Jeff Washburn, Walt Brownell Jr., Justin Perry. DQ: Dan Eastman.

LIMITEDS: RANDY ALGER, Bill Duprey, Adam Piper, Joey Trudeau, Jared McMahon, D.J. Brundige, Adam Forbes, John Russo, Joe Ladd, Mark Wallett, Merv Blackwell, Kevin Elliot, Shannon Donnelly, Jeremy Jones.

MINI-STOCKS: MIKE DUCLOS (6), Ron Zagata (6), Brett Osgood (4), Shawn Anagnos (4), Tim Anagnos (6), Bruce Taylor (4)

DUKE STOCKS: Jeff Smith, Tim Brooks, C.J. Vitigliano, Bill Parker.