PHOTO: Carmody Ford “Slate Valley 100” winner Matt Frahm (right) with Granite State Pro Stock Series Chief Starter Bryon Callen (left) at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. (Photo courtesy Twitter/Ashley Hazelton)
Bates and Stone split Modified Twin 25s, LaVair repeats in Mini Stocks
WEST HAVEN, VT – Matt Frahm put on a stock car racing clinic at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Friday, June 14, dominating the inaugural Carmody Ford “Slate Valley 100” for the Granite State Pro Stock Series. Frahm was joined in victory lane by NASCAR Whelen All-American Series winners Hunter Bates, Todd Stone, and Bobby LaVair.
Frahm, of New Salem, NH, was untouchable in the 100-lap main event for the Granite State Pro Stock Series in its first appearance at a Vermont race track, leading every lap. The 23 year-old part-time competitor on the NASCAR Nationwide Series posted his second consecutive victory on the GSPSS tour and remains the only driver to repeat as a race winner since the series’ inception in 2011. He was challenged in the early laps by Dave Pembroke, Mike O’Sullivan, and Jay Sands, but was able to pull away to a comfortable lead and cruised to his third Granite State victory.
George Bessette of Danbury, CT raced among the leaders throughout the event and claimed the runner-up position. Zig Geno of Canterbury, NH posted a strong third-place result, followed by Barry Gray of Belchertown, MA, Jeremy Davis of Tamworth, NH, and Josh King of Vernon, VT. Series point leader O’Sullivan, of Springfield, MA, was running in second place at lap 81 when he spun off the backstretch; he recovered to finish seventh. Mike Parks, Jake Vanada, and Glenn Tyler completed the unofficial top ten.
Local driver Chris Wilk of Rutland, VT made his return to Devil’s Bowl Speedway in the event, but retired in 13th place at lap 65. Pembroke, of Middlesex, VT was forced out on lap 21 after breaking a drivetrain while running in second place; he was scored 18th in the finishing order.
Recent high school graduate Hunter Bates of Middlebury, VT continued his strong start to the season, winning the first of two 25-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bond Auto Parts features. Bates, who won a 30-lap Late Model feature at Devil’s Bowl in the most recent event on May 31, was ahead of the field on lap 12 when contact between second-place Jamie Proctor and third-place Jessey Mueller triggered a massive crash that involved half of the 20-car field and necessitated a red flag period. Though injuries were reported, several cars were forced out with damage.
Defending champion Ron Proctor of Charlton, NY finished second with Vince Quenneville, Jr., of Brandon, VT third. Todd Stone of Middlebury, VT rebounded from the lap 12 crash to finish fourth, just missing a “Triple Crown” victory after winning his qualifying heat and the Sunoco Race Fuels Semi-Feature. Joe Williams of Scotia, NY finished fifth.
Stone finished what he started in the second 25-lap feature, driving from 17th starting position to pass Jamie Proctor with seven laps remaining, taking the lead and sailing to his second victory of the season. Proctor, of Schuylerville, NY, finished a season-best second, followed by Leon Gonyo of Chazy, NY, Mueller, of Olmstedville, NY, and Bates.
Bobby LaVair of Gabriels, NY posted his second-straight win in the 15-lap feature race for the Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stock division. Like the first Modified event, the Mini Stock race also saw a major pileup that eliminated several cars; no drivers were injured. Garry Bashaw of Lincoln, VT finished in second place with Dan Collins of Rensselaer, NY third. Chris LaVair of Gabriels, NY and Matt Monaghan of Colchester, VT completed the top five.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway returns to action on Friday, June 21 with the annual “Hometown Heroes Night” presented by Carrara Masonry & Concrete, featuring another “Twin 25” event for the Bond Auto Parts Modified division, along with the Late Models, Renegades, and Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stocks. All military, veterans, police, fire, and rescue workers will be admitted free with valid identification; general admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and free for children 12 and under. Racing is scheduled to begin at 7:00pm.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, VT, four miles north of Exit 2 on U.S. Route 4. For more information, visit www.devilsbowlspeedwayvt.com or call (802) 265-3112. Devil’s Bowl Speedway is on Facebook at facebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway and on Twitter at @DevilsBowlSpeed.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Carmody Ford “Slate Valley 100”
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series & Granite State Pro Stock Series
Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, VT
Friday, June 14, 2013
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
Granite State Pro Stock Series (100 laps)
1. Matt Frahm, New Salem, NH
2. George Bessette, Danbury, CT
3. Zig Geno, Canterbury, NH
4. Barry Gray, Belchertown, MA
5. Jeremy Davis, Tamworth, NH
6. Josh King, Vernon, VT
7. Mike O’Sullivan, Springfield, MA
8. Mike Parks, Newport, NH
9. Jake Vanada, Berkley, MA
10. Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays, NY
11. Larry Gelinas, Buxton, ME
12. Jay Sands, Hampton, NH
13. Chris Wilk, Center Rutland, VT
14. Austin Brehio, Hopkinton, NH
15. Mike Rivard, North Scituate, RI
16. Phil Meany, Gardner, MA
17. John-Michael Shenette, Grosvenordale, CT
18. Dave Pembroke, Middlesex, VT
19. Fran Colson, Baldwinville, MA
20. Erick Sands, Farmington, NH
Did Not Start: Tommy O’Sullivan, Wilbraham, MA
Heat Winners: Mike O’Sullivan, Dave Pembroke
Bond Auto Parts Modified Feature #1 (25 laps)
1. (6) Hunter Bates, Middlebury, VT
2. (12) Ron Proctor, Charlton, NY
3. (10) Vince Quenneville, Jr., Brandon, VT
4. (11) Todd Stone, Middlebury, VT
5. (14) Joe Williams, Scotia, NY
6. (1) Jamie Proctor, Schuylerville, NY
7. (7) Jeff Haskins, Wells, VT
8. (13) Jim Introne, Jr., Hartford, NY
9. (16) Andy Smith, South Glens Falls, NY
10. (15) Matt Atwood, Whitehall, NY
11. (20) # Bruce Schwab, Jr., Whitehall, NY
12. (2) Dave Snow, Brandon, VT
13. (9) Alex Bell, Cambridge, NY
14. (8) Jessey Mueller, Olmstedville, NY
15. (18) Leon Gonyo, Chazy, NY
16. (3) # Jamie LaFountain, Plattsburgh, NY
17. (4) Cody Sargen, Greenfield Center, NY
18. (19) # Emily Quinn, Schaghticoke, NY
19. (5) Mike Bush, South Glens Falls, NY
20. (17) James Introne, Sr., Hartford, NY
Heat Winners: Todd Stone, Jamie Proctor
Sunoco Race Fuels Semi-Feature Winner: Todd Stone
Bond Auto Parts Modified Feature #2 (25 laps)
1. (17) Todd Stone, Middlebury, VT
2. (5) Jamie Proctor, Schuylerville, NY
3. (7) Leon Gonyo, Chazy, NY
4. (11) Jessey Mueller, Olmstedville, NY
5. (13) Hunter Bates, Middlebury, VT
6. (16) Ron Proctor, Charlton, NY
7. (15) Vince Quenneville, Jr., Brandon, VT
8. (9) Alex Bell, Cambridge, NY
9. (14) Joe Williams, Scotia, NY
10. (12) Jeff Haskins, Wells, VT
11. (10) Andy Smith, South Glens Falls, NY
12. (4) Cody Sargen, Greenfield Center, NY
13. (8) Jim Introne, Jr., Hartford, NY
14. (2) Dave Snow, Brandon, VT
15. (1) Matt Atwood, Whitehall, NY
16. (18) # Bruce Schwab, Jr., Whitehall, NY
17. (3) # Jamie LaFountain, Plattsburgh, NY
18. (5) Mike Bush, South Glens Falls, NY
19. (19) James Introne, Sr., Hartford, NY
20. (20) # Emily Quinn, Schaghticoke, NY
Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stock (15 laps)
1. (14) Bobby LaVair, Gabriels, NY
2. (12) Garry Bashaw, Lincoln, VT
3. (6) Dan Collins, Rensselaer, NY
4. (7) Chris LaVair, Gabriels, NY
5. (2) Matt Monaghan, Colchester, VT
6. (1) Kyle Watrous, Bomoseen, VT
7. (15) # Lance Masterson, Lincoln, VT
8. (9) # Chuck Bradford, Addison, VT
9. (4) John McCarron, Rensselaer, NY
10. (3) Mike Whalen, Jr., Morrisonville, NY
11. (5) Jake Noble, Benson, VT
12. (8) # Jason Sabourin, Vergennes, VT
13. (10) # Lacey Hanson, Orwell, VT
14. (11) # Kyle Sorensen, Ballston Spa, NY
15. (13) Harold LaVair, Jr., Gabriels, NY
Heat Winners: Chuck Bradford, Jason Sabourin