June 27, 2004

Hoard grabs win number 2

WEST HAVEN, VT –  For years, Ray Hoard struggled with his modified program at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, and was little more than a field-filler.

But in 2004, Hoard has another label – championship contender.

Hoard became the first two-time winner at the Champlain Valley Racing Association’s Vermont track Sunday night, holding off Mike Perrotte to notch just his third career win at the Bowl.

Hoard has been in the top five in four of the five events held this season at the Bowl, as he also has a third and a fifth to go with his two victories. No other modified driver can claim that many top-five finishes in 2004.

This win certainly wasn’t a gimme, as Hoard started ninth in the field, sitting behind some pretty heavy hitters, including Perrotte and defending track champion Vince Quenneville Jr., who has had a miserable season to date. Frank Hoard Sr., who also hasn’t been able to shake the black cloud that’s followed him around the CVRA in 2004, started on the pole and looked sharp early, towing the rest of the field around the speedway. Ray Hoard was running fifth when the first caution came out on the 10th lap, and then used the restart to make his move.

Two laps after the restart, Ray Hoard had moved up on Frank Hoard’s rear bumper, and then took the lead for good on lap 13 of the 30-lap feature.

With Ray Hoard on the point, Frank Hoard had his hands full trying to hold off Don Scarborough in a good battle for second. Scarborough finally won that battle on lap 20, and had an open race track in his pursuit of the leader. Perrotte put on a late charge and reeled in Scarborough, and then used the only other restart of the race, on lap 28, to take over the No. 2 position.

At the finish line, Ray Hoard had a 0.551-second margin over Perrotte, who finished second for the second straight week. Scarborough, who is still looking for his first win of the year, was third, with Frank Hoard Sr. fourth and Quenneville fifth. Completing the top 10 were Gene Munger, C.V. Elms, Jim Ryan, Tim Laduc and Ron Proctor.

Scott Duell put his name into the Devil’s Bowl record books, picking up his first career victory in the 20-lap Amsoil pro-street stock feature. Duell is the son of former modified driver Kim Duell, who won the hobby division championship at the Bowl in 1979.

Scott Duell, who also has a win at Albany-Saratoga Speedway this season, jumped out of his second-row starting position to lead all 20 laps of the feature. When the checkered flag fell, he had a huge 4.664 second margin of victory over Robert Langevin. Joe Santoro was third, with Lori Cary fourth and Ed Thompson fifth.

Jamie Buzzell drove to his second victory of the season in the 15-lap Rentway Limited feature. Buzzell started 12th in the 23-car field, but a couple of early restarts helped him snake his way to the front. Don Williams, who had started seventh, became the third leader of the feature on lap six, but just two laps later, Buzzell had the lead and all Williams could do was chase Buzzell’s rear bumper for the rest of the feature. Scott Fowler crossed the finish line third, with Pat Cram fourth and Billy Lussier fifth.

Elmer Montville was also a repeat winner, recording his second victory of the season in the Pro-Built Mini-Stock feature. Randy Manhey held off Jamie McCarthy in a whale of a battle for second. McCarthy had the first four-cylinder car across the finish line.

The Central New York Mini-Sprints were also on Sunday night’s card, with Pat Kerner coming away with the victory. Adam Piper also made his way to victory lane, winning the Duke Stock feature.

Devil’s Bowl will be back in action Sunday night with a special 4th of July holiday treat, as Pepsi presents American Pride Night. All divisions will be in action, plus an enduro and one of the biggest fireworks displays ever witnessed in the state of Vermont. Racing will begin at 7 p.m.

MODIFIEDS: RAY HOARD, Mike Perrotte, Don Scarborough, Frank Hoard Sr., Vince Quenneville Jr., Gene Munger, C.V. Elms, Jim Ryan, Tim Laduc, Ron Proctor, Todd Stone, Neal Erickson, Denny Young, Frank Keene, Stan Lemiesz, Brian Whittemore, Ken Anatriello, Pete Kimball, Mike Tholin, Lance Harting, Jon Trudeau.

AMSOIL PRO-STREET STOCKS: SCOTT DUELL, Robert Langevin, Joe Santoro, Lori Cary, Ed Thompson, Cale Kneer, Carl Vladyka, Randy Alger, Mike Haines.

RENTWAY LIMITEDS: JAMIE BUZZELL, Don Williams, Scott Fowler, Pat Cram, Billy Lussier, Rich Holmes, Brian Ashline, Mark Burch, Richard Stone, Keith Guilder, Bob Smith, Jared McMahon, Shannon Donnelly, John Sullivan, Joe Ladd, Arnie Trudeau, Steve Holcomb, Tracy Ash, Bill Burlingame, Joey Trudeau, Pat Putnam, Mike LaBelle. DQ: William Duprey.

PRO-BUILT MINI-STOCKS: ELMER MONTVILLE, Randy Manhey, Jamie McCarthy, Brittany Ladd, Jason Bishop, Charles Burns, Harold Clothier, John Baldwin, Amanda Clemens, Bobbi Jo Bean, Mike Clark Jr., Chris Cary Jr., Mike Pope, Heather Combs.