July 16, 2006

Tremont untouchable

WEST HAVEN, VT – With the way Ken Tremont Jr. is running at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, about the only mystery left on Sunday nights is, Who’s going to finish second?

Tremont put on another show of dominance Sunday night, picking up his sixth win of the season in the 30-lap 358 modified feature at the Bowl despite going to the rear early in the race after being involved in a tangle with two other cars. The six victories ties a career-high for Tremont at the Vermont track, where he sat in victory lane six times during the 1997 campaign.

Frank Hoard Sr. came off the pole and set the early pace Sunday night, leading the first eight laps, but Tim Laduc, who has had nothing but bad luck in 2006, quickly sliced to the front to challenge Hoard for the lead.

Tremont, who had started 11th, also didn’t waste any time getting to the front, as he moved up to third by the eighth lap. But that proved to be a bad place to be one lap later. Laduc took the lead coming out of the fourth turn, but there was also some contact between the two lead cars. More banging and slamming occurred in the first turn, with both leaders wrecking and collecting Tremont. Devil’s Bowl officials disqualified Hoard for rough-riding, and Tremont had to go to the rear of the field.

That little skirmish put C.V. Elms into the lead on lap 10, but the next time around, it was Gene Munger who was sitting on the point.

A restart on lap 14 cost Munger the lead, as Don Scarborough got the better jump when the green came back out, and the feature had another new leader.

But all eyes were on Tremont, who was working his way back from the rear of the field. Running the outside groove, Tremont was riding a freight train to the front, and with 10 laps left in the feature, was back up to fourth, behind three of the Green Mountain boys – Scarborough, Vince Quenneville Jr. and Munger.

Tremont took over the No. 3 position on lap 21, and two laps later, moved past Quenneville for second. The next time around, Tremont was back in front after switching to the low groove to power around Scarborough, who was sticking to the top where Tremont wanted to run. After that, all Scarborough could do was watch Tremont pull away. Tremont had a 3.1 second advantage at the checkered flag, forcing Scarborough to be content with his second runner-up finish of the season.

Todd Stone got up for third, with Quenneville fourth and Munger fifth.

Rob Langevin drove to his second consecutive victory in the 20-lap pro-street stock feature, holding off Carl Cram and Cale Kneer, who were inches apart for second. In a race that featured three-wide racing every lap (sometimes in more than one place) the pro street stocks showed once again how competitive this division is at the Bowl this year.

Will Hull started on the pole and had the lead for the first six laps until Langevin, who had started10th, took over. Cram, who had started next to Langevin in the fifth row, had followed the No. 24 car to the front and moved into second on lap nine, setting the tone for a whale of a finish. Cram even had the lead for one lap, edging past Langevin to hit the stripe first on lap 18, but Langevin kept up his momentum, and regained the top spot the next time around.

That left Cram to settle for second, with Kneer breathing down his neck for third. Hull finished fourth, the best finish of his young career at the Bowl, and Freddie Little came across the line fifth.

Adam Piper dominated the limited feature, driving away with his fifth win of the season. Piper started eighth, had the lead after just three laps and pulled away to a 4.4 second victory over Randy Alger. Bill Duprey finished third.

Mike Duclos got the win in the mini-stock feature, making his way to victory lane for the third time this season.

Racing will resume at Devil’s Bowl on Sunday night, with all divisions in action on Seniors Night. All fans 62 years of age and over will be admitted free of charge.

358 MODIFIEDS: KEN TREMONT JR., Don Scarborough, Todd Stone, Vince Quenneville Jr., Gene Munger, Don Ackner, Ray Hoard, Jimmy Ryan, Mike Bruno, Matt Depew, Chris Vernold, Scott Duell, Brian Whittemore, C.V. Elms, Joe Santoro, Tim Laduc, Dustin Delaney, Ron Proctor, Rick Davis, Robert King, Ben Elder. DQ: Frank Hoard Sr.

PRO-STREET STOCKS: ROB LANGEVIN, Carl Cram, Cale Kneer, Will Hull, Freddie Little, Dan Eastman, Donnie Williams, Jeff Washburn, Justin Perry, Jim Groncki, Mike Lussier, Walt Brownell Jr., Jon Bates, Charles Towslee, Rob Wood, Jeremie Younger, Bob Schmidt, Jake Losaw, Carl Vladyka.

LIMITEDS: ADAM PIPER, Randy Alger, Bull Duprey, Mike Clark, Jared McMahon, Kevin Elliot, D.J. Brundige, Joe Ladd, Lee Moss (filling in for Mark Wallett), Shannon Donnelly, Charlie Primeau, Jeremy Jones, Joey Trudeau.

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