Stone “Locked In” with Vermont 200 Qualifier Win at Devil’s Bowl Speedway First-time winners in four divisions

WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Todd Stone punched his ticket into the big dance at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday, August 27. The championship point leader captured the “Win & You’re In” Vermont 200 qualifier victory on Friend Construction Night, and he was joined in victory lane throughout the night by four drivers who earned the first wins of their careers – Gary English, Ed Bell, Brian Blake, and Raelin Dunham.

Three-time champion Stone, from Middlebury, Vt., was both lucky and good; he was lucky enough to draw the number-one starting position in both his qualifying heat and the 30-lap Sunoco Sportsman Modified feature, and he was good enough to lead every lap he ran all night long. The caution-free feature race was done in just over 11 minutes, from the initial pace lap off pit road to the checkered flag.

Justin Comes continued his hot streak to drive from eighth place to finish second, and Tanner Siemons grabbed a podium finish in third. Sophomore driver Shawn McPhee picked up his third top-five finish of the month in fourth place, and Justin Stone – the winner’s son – completed the top five finishers. Rounding out the top 10 in order were Marty Kelly III, David Boisclair, Jimmy Davis, Walt Hammond Jr., and Vince Quenneville. Heats were won by Boisclair and both Stones.

By virtue of his “Win & You’re In” victory – the 45^th overall win of his career at the track – Todd Stone has a guaranteed starting position in the richest dirt Sportsman Modified event in the world: The $10,000-to-win Fabian Earth Moving Vermont 200 at Devil’s Bowl on Sunday, September 4.

Gary English topped the list of first-time winners, scoring in the 25-lap O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman race. The Salisbury, Vt., racer, in his third year behind the wheel, led the first seven laps of the race before Alex Layn took over after a restart. Layn looked like a first-time winner himself, but English got a second chance with a lap-17 restart and reclaimed the point.

English held on through a final caution period with five laps left to seal the deal, and was greeted by a happy crowd in the winner’s circle. Layn posted the runner-up finish ahead of Bill Duprey, John Gosselin, and Josh LeClaire. Steve Miller was sixth, followed by Fred Little, Katrina Bean, Steve Pope, and Bob Kilburn. Heats were won by Gosselin, Duprey, and Randy Ryan.

Ed Bell won a highly competitive 20-lap feature for the Hoosier Daddy Racing Rookie Sportsman division, notching his first-ever victory. Russ Farr led the first half of the race before spinning off the top of Turn 3 at lap 12, allowing Bell to take over. After the final restart on lap 14, Orwell, Vt., racer Bell engaged in an exciting four-way battle for the win with his cousin, Daryl Gebo, and Kamden Duffy and Josh Bussino.

Gebo nosed ahead to lead lap 16, but Bell lead the final four circuits as the foursome sliced and diced with each other every step of the way. Gebo finished second with Bussino edging Duffy for third. Randy Edson completed the top five, followed by Tyler Travis, Adam LaFountain, Aaron Clark, Boomer Patterson, and Bobbi Jo Hults. Gebo and Travis won the qualifiers.

Cornwall, Vt.’s Brian Blake finally scored his first win in the Mini Stock division after almost three years of knocking on the door. Blake took the lead from Griff Mahoney one-third of the way through the 15-lap race and then held off hard-charging Chris Sumner for the win. Leading rookie Matt Wade finished third ahead of Griff Mahoney and Mark Mahoney. The top 10 was rounded out by Allen Hewitt, early leader Ronnie Alger, Jake Barrows, Adam Mahoney, and Craig Kirby. Wade, Sumner, and Chase Allen won the heats.

T.J. Knight of Wells, Vt., won the 10-lap Mini Stock B-Feature ahead of Carl LaPoint and Willie Rice.

Queensbury, N.Y.’s Raelin Dunham was a popular first-time winner in the Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint division. The 16-year-old rookie took the lead on the first lap and led all 15 tours around the half-mile as she held off a race-long challenge from veteran driver John Smith. Gage Provencher made some late passes for third place ahead of Logan Denis and Ray Hanson. Chayton Young was sixth, followed by Lane Saville, Chris Lennox, Tommie Kasuba, and Kevin Smith. Lennox and Provencher were the heat winners.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway returns to action on Labor Day Weekend as Fabian Earth Moving presents the Vermont 200 on Saturday, September 3 and Sunday, September 4. All Sportsman Modified qualifying and the 200-lap main event paying $10,000 to win will be held on Sunday. Support divisions will be racing on Saturday and the Sprint Cars of New England tour will join the Sportsman Modifieds on Sunday. For information including schedules, camping, tickets, and rules, visit the Devil’s Bowl Speedway website at www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, Vt., four miles north of U.S. Route 4, Exit 2, and just 20 minutes from Rutland, Vt. 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 Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Friend Construction Night

Devil’s Bowl Speedway – West Haven, Vt.

Saturday, August 27, 2022

Sunoco Sportsman Modified Feature (30 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

(1) Todd Stone, Middlebury, Vt.
(8) Justin Comes, Middlebury, Vt.
(2) Tanner Siemons, Orford, N.H.
(5) Shawn McPhee, Rutland, Vt.
(3) Justin Stone, Middlebury, Vt.
(6) Marty Kelly III, Shaftsbury, Vt.
(4) David Boisclair, Watervliet, N.Y.
(9) Jimmy Davis, Amsterdam, N.Y.
(7) Walt Hammond Jr., Canaan, N.H.
(13) Vince Quenneville, Brandon, Vt.
(10) Elmo Reckner, Ballston Lake, N.Y.
(19) Tim LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.
(15) Jimmy Ryan, Shoreham, Vt.
(14) # Troy Audet, Bridport, Vt.
(17) Walter J. Hammond, Canaan, N.H.
(16) Dylan Rabtoy, Swanton, Vt.
(20) Frank Hoard III, Manchester Center, Vt.
(23) Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.
(11) Brent Warren, Salisbury, Vt.
(22) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
(21) Brian Whittemore, Pittsford, Vt.
(18) Allan Hammond, Canaan, N.H.
(27) Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald, Gansevoort, N.Y.
(26) Mike Palmer, Salisbury, Vt.
(25) Anthony Warren, Shoreham, Vt.
(24) Kevin Chaffee, Bradford, Vt.
(12) # Austin Comes, Middlebury, Vt.
(28) Adam Piper, Leicester, Vt.

“General” Gardner Stone Hard Charger $100 Bonus: Tim LaDuc (+7 positions)

Heat Winners: Todd Stone, Justin Stone, David Boisclair

O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman Feature (25 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

(2) Gary English, Salisbury, Vt.
(3) Alex Layn, New Haven, Vt.
(5) William Duprey, Hydeville, Vt.
(1) John Gosselin, Shoreham, Vt.
(16) Josh LeClaire, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
(12) Steve Miller, New Haven, Vt.
(6) Fred Little, Salisbury, Vt.
(9) Katrina Bean, Benson, Vt.
(10) Steve Pope, Shoreham, Vt.
(18) Bob Kilburn, Fair Haven, Vt.
(14) Randy Ryan, Orwell, Vt.
(4) Jason Quenneville, Quechee, Vt.
(7) A.J. Munger, Benson Landing, Vt.
(8) Timmy Aldrighetti, Bethel, Vt.
(20) Kyle Kerr, Shoreham, Vt.
(15) Anthony Ryan, Benson, Vt.
(17) John McPhee Jr., Rutland, Vt.
(19) Mike McGinn, Elizabethtown, N.Y.
(21) Matt Piper, Fairlee, Vt.
(11) Evan Roberts, Fletcher, Vt.
(13) Hunter Nutter, Orford, N.H.

Heat Winners: John Gosselin, William Duprey, Randy Ryan

Hoosier Daddy Racing Rookie Sportsman Feature (20 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

(2) Ed Bell, Orwell, Vt.
(5) Daryl Gebo, Orwell, Vt.
(8) Josh Bussino, Mount Holly, Vt.
(9) Kamden Duffy, Richmond, N.H.
(6) Randy Edson, Orwell, Vt.
(11) Tyler Travis, Hartland, Vt.
(7) Adam LaFountain, Bristol, Vt.
(15) Aaron Clark, Bristol, Vt.
(3) Boomer Patterson, Milton, Vt.
(13) Bobbi Jo Hults, Benson, Vt.
(10) William Lussier Jr., Fair Haven, Vt.
(12) Nick Austin-Neil, Salisbury, Vt.
(1) Russ Farr, Granville, N.Y.
(4) Derrick Counter, Salisbury, Vt.
(14) Jason Kerr, Shoreham, Vt.

Did Not Start: Robert Gauthier, Williston, Vt.

Heat Winners: Daryl Gebo, Tyler Travis

Mini Stock A-Feature (15 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

(6) Brian Blake, Cornwall, Vt.
(17) Chris Sumner, Ripton, Vt.
(16) # Matt Wade, Fair Haven, Vt.
(3) Griff Mahoney, Bristol, Vt.
(5) Mark Mahoney, Brandon, Vt.
(7) # Allen Hewitt, Rutland, Vt.
(4) Ronnie Alger, Orwell, Vt.
(11) Jake Barrows, Cornwall, Vt.
(14) Adam Mahoney, Rutland, Vt.
(15) Craig Kirby, St. Albans, Vt.
(2) Jakobee Alger, Orwell, Vt.
(12) Cody Dion, Rutland, Vt.
(10) Tom Severance, Fair Haven, Vt.
(13) Austin McKirryher, Proctor, Vt.
(8) # Luke Fellows, Highgate Center, Vt.
(21) Joe Malzac, East Middlebury, Vt.
(18) # Tim Robinson
(19) # Levi Cram, Leicester, Vt.
(9) Chase Allen, Fair Haven, Vt.
(1) # Nick Melotti, Mendon, Vt.
(20) Tyler Bell, Peru, N.Y.

Heat Winners: Chase Allen, Matt Wade, Chris Sumner

Mini Stock B-Feature (10 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

(1) T.J. Knight, Wells, Vt.
(5) # Carl LaPoint, Granville, N.Y.
(2) Kaydan Rice, Poultney, Vt. (substitute for Willie Rice)
(4) Donald Olden, Poultney, Vt.
(7) Brian Barrows, Cornwall, Vt.
(3) Ray Phillips, Fair Haven, Vt.
(6) Mary Gardner, Middle Granville, N.Y.

Did Not Start: Damian Olden, Fair Haven, Vt.; # Alton McCoy, Whitehall, N.Y.

Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint Feature (15 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

(2) # Raelin Dunham, Queensbury, N.Y.
(6) John Smith, Poultney, Vt.
(7) Gage Provencher, Bridport, Vt.
(9) # Logan Denis, Whiting, Vt.
(4) Ray Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
(10) # Chayton Young, Wynantskill, N.Y.
(8) # Lane Saville, Warrensburg, N.Y.
(12) Chris Lennox
(1) Tommie Kasuba, Castleton, Vt.
(3) Kevin Smith, Brandon, Vt.
(11) Damen Kasuba, Orwell, Vt.
(5) Vern Woodard, Fair Haven, Vt.

Did Not Start: Chris Lekberg, Brandon, Vt.