Bruno defeats Lussier, Placey stuns in novice

WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Johnny Bruno defeated Billy Lussier to win his second-career Sunoco Sportsman Modified Feature Saturday, July 27 on McGee Family Automotive Night. Kamden Duffy scored his first O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman win of the year after passing Bob Kilburn late. Thomas Placey won his first novice feature, while Will Hull, Adam Mahoney and Quinn Quenneville all visited victory lane.

Bruno and Lussier shared the front row for the 30-lap main event on a fast surface that offered three distinct lines of racing all night. Bruno led the first two laps until Lussier snuck by. He led the way from there, surviving a few cautions and holding steady. Joey Scarborough and Tim LaDuc were making their way forward, along with 12th starter Dave Camara, who was well inside the top-10. Unfortunately, at the early part of the race’s second half, Camara wound up facing the wrong way on the front stretch, drawing the caution and ending his night.

Bruno went to work on the restart, besting Lussier on the outside lane, leading from lap 17 until the end, winning by just under one second. Bruno’s first-career win came on opening night of 2023. His second now comes a week before he returns to college at the University of Central Florida. Saturday’s win was Bruno’s last appearance of 2024. Lussier was 2nd for his best run of the year. Jimmy Ryan was 3rd with Frank Hoard, III in 4th position. James Hanson completed the top-five. Scarborough earned Elmo’s Pit Stop Hard Charger bonus, going from 20th to 6th.

In the O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman ranks it was Richmond, N.H.’s Kamden Duffy winning his first race of the year, passing 2nd starter Bob Kilburn on lap 14 on the outside lane. Cody
O’Brien started 6th and was reeling Duffy in in the closing laps after Kilburn ran into trouble, but Duffy pulled away again with two laps to go to secure the win. O’Brien was 2nd with Gary English 3rd after starting 14th, earning him the Amsoil/Clean Engine Product Hard Charger Bonus for the second week in a row. Scott Towslee was 4th with Justin Lilly 5th.

Bradford, Vt.’s Thomas Placey surprised everyone when he showed up and won the 20-lap Hoosier Racing Tire Novice Sportsman Feature from his 10th starting position. Placey has raced in other divisions on both dirt and asphalt in New England, but Saturday was his first time in a sportsman modified-type car at the Bowl. Josh Bussino led from the drop of the green flag, besting his fellow front-row starter Russ Farr. Nick Austin-Neil was looking strong early, using the outside lane to make his way forward from 6th position. Logan Denis was also trucking up on the top. Bussino’s lead was a full straightaway or more at one point when Raelin Dunham began to reel him in from 2nd. On lap 14, Placey moved into 2nd position, but did not appear able to reduce the gap between himself and Bussino. On lap 17, however, Bussino caught an infield tire late, bending the front axle and coming pit-side, handing Placey the lead and eventual win. Austin-Neil was 2nd with Denis 3rd. Matt Wade was 4th and Matt Cram rounded out the top-five.

Will Hull won the 25-lap McGee Automotive Family Sprint Cars of New England Feature. He and Dylan Menditto shared the front row with Hull grabbing the early lead. Kadyn Berry started 4th and moved the 3rd at the jump, following Hull around the outside. On lap 14, Berry went around Meditto for 2nd and began to reel in Hull, turning a 4-second gap and turning it into just half a second on the final lap, but Hull managed to take the win. Berry was 2nd with Caleb Lamson running 3rd. Meditto and Nick Comeau rounded out the top-five.

Whitehall, N.Y.’s Adam Mahoney won one of the biggest Fisher Auto Parts Mini Stock Features of the year, a massive, 20-lap A-main with 35 cars in it. Mahoney started 5th driving Brian Barrows car, cracking the top-two on lap seven. Mahoney led briefly on laps eight and nine, before surrendering the top spot to Chris Sumner. Mahoney went back around Sumner on lap 15 to win his first A-feature of the year. Sumner was 2nd with Jeremy Brownell 3rd. Chase Allen was 4th from 20th. Mark Mahoney was 5th. Ryan Patch, Chris Charbonneau, Griff Mahoney, Ron Alger and Brian Blake completed the top-10.

The Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprints went 20 laps in a feature-only format like the mini stocks. Quinn Quenneville overcame a recent bout of bad luck to win the feature, starting 10th and making his way forward. Between accidents and mechanical issues, the last month or so has been a tough one for Quenneville, but with the win Saturday he appears headed for a bright finish to the year. Ray Hanson was 2nd, retaking the points lead from 3rd place finisher Gage Provencher. Destin St. Clair was 4th and Alex Reed was 5th.

Gordy Dimick won an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the Dirt Track World Finals in Charlotte, North Carolina in November, courtesy of McGee Family Automotive. Additionally, over 125 backpacks filled with goodies and school supplies were given away to kids at the track. Devil’s Bowl Speedway is back this weekend, August 3 and 4, with a two-day racing extravaganza for the second-annual “Prelude to the 200.” Saturday night features a $1500-to-win 358 Modified race highlighting the card with a full program of racing for the limited sportsman, mini stocks and crown vics, plus heat races for the novice, heat races and segment racing for the mini sprints. Sunday will be the 67-lap C.J. Richards Memorial “Prelude to the 200,” paying $5,000-to-win for the sportsman. Novice will have their feature and the mini sprints will finish their segment races.

General admission is $20 for the entire weekend! Kids 12 and under are free.  Infield tailgating is available for $25, pit passes are $45 for everyone all weekend (Good Both Days). Saturday night’s program starts at 7PM and Sunday starts at 6PM. Camping is free all weekend.

OFFICIAL RESULTS – McGEE AUTOMOTIVE FAMILY NIGHT

Sunoco Sportsman Modified Feature (30 laps)

Pos. (start) driver, hometown

  1. (1) Johnny Bruno, West Haven, Vt.
  2. (2) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
  3. (3) Jimmy Ryan, Whiting, Vt.
  4. (6) Frankie Hoard, III, Manchester, Vt.
  5. (5) James Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
  6. (20) Joey Scarborough, Brandon, Vt.
  7. (4) Randy Ryan, Orwell, Vt.
  8. (19) Tim LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.
  9. (9) Brian Whittemore, Pittsofrd, Vt.
  10. (16) Vince Quenneville, Jr., Brandon, Vt.
  11. (13) Travis Green, Wallkill, N.Y.
  12. (22) Tanner Siemons, Claremont, N.H.
  13. (14) Marty Kelly, III, North Bennington, Vt.
  14. (18) Justin Comes, Fair Haven, Vt.
  15. (21) Josh Leclaire, Bomoseen, Vt.
  16. (15) Troy Audet, Bridport, Vt.
  17. (17) Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.
  18. (25) AJ Munger, Benson Landing, Vt.
  19. (24) Bubba McPhee, Rutland, Vt.
  20. (8) Adam Piper, Leicester, Vt.
  21. (23) Bruce Loomis, Salem, N.Y.
  22. (27) Brent Warren, Salisbury, Vt.
  23. (28) Shawn McPhee, Rutland, Vt.
  24. (26) Austin Comes, South Burlington, Vt.
  25. (7) Pat Miner, Monkton, Vt.
  26. (12) Dave Camara, Poultney, Vt.
  27. (10) Fire Swamp, Akwesasne, N.Y.
  28. (11) Kevin Chaffee, Bradford, Vt.

O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman Feature (2 laps)

  1. (3) Kamden Duffy, Richmond, N.H.
  2. (6) Cody O’Brien, Springfield, Vt.
  3. (14) Gary English, Jr., Salisbury, Vt.
  4. (13) Scott Towslee, Manchester, Vt.
  5. (15) Justin Lilly, Castleton, Vt.
  6. (16) Steve Miller, Vergennes, Vt.
  7. (7) Jason Quenneville, Queechee, Vt.
  8. (17) Boomer Patterson, Milton, Vt.
  9. (10) Eric Shaw, Wells, Vt.
  10. (4) Adam Lafountain, Starksboro, Vt.
  11. (2) Bob Kilburn, Fair Haven, Vt.
  12. (5) Tyler Travis, Hartland, Vt.
  13. (11) Marty Hutchins, Poultney, Vt.
  14. (1) Derrick Counter, Leicester, Vt.
  15. (8) Billy Duprey, Hydeville, Vt.
  16. (9) Alex Layn, New Haven, Vt.
  17. (12) Fred Little, Salisbury, Vt.
  18. (18) William Lussier, Jr., Fair Haven, Vt.

Hoosier Racing Tire Novice Sportsman Feature (20 laps)

  1. (10) Thomas Placey, Bradford, Vt.
  2. (6) Nick Austin-Neil, Salisbury, Vt.
  3. (8) Logan Denis, Whiting, Vt.
  4. (9) Matt Wade, Fair Haven, Vt.
  5. (3) Matt Cram, Leicester, Vt.
  6. (4) Raelin Dunham, Queensbury, N.Y.
  7. (7) Bobibi Hults, Castleton, Vt.
  8. (2) Josh Bussino, Fair Haven, Vt.
  9. (5) Aiden Benoure, Salisbury, Vt.
  10. (1) Russ Farr, Granville, N.Y.

Did not start: Robert Steves

Fisher Auto Parts Mini Stock Feature (20 laps)

  1. (5) Adam Mahoney, Whitehall, N.Y.
  2. (6) Chris Sumner, East Middlebury, Vt.
  3. (9) Jeremy Brownell, Greenwich, N.Y.
  4. (20) Chase Allen, Fair Haven, Vt.
  5. (6) Mark Mahoney, Brandon, Vt.
  6. (24) Ryan Patch, Rutland, Vt.
  7. (22) Chris Charbonneau, Rutland, Vt.
  8. (23) Griff Mahoney, Benson, Vt.
  9. (13) Ron Alger, Orwell, Vt.
  10. (21) Brian Blake, Cornwall, Vt.
  11. (3) Richard Fleury, Poultney, Vt.
  12. (30) TJ Knight, Wells, Vt.
  13. (16) Willie Rice, Poultney, Vt.
  14. (15) Damian Olden, Rutland, Vt.
  15. (11) Adam Stewart, Benson, Vt.
  16. (18) Cody Vanguilder, Rutland, Vt.
  17. (26) Jakobee Alger, Orwell, Vt.
  18. (33) Cody Agoney, Morrisonville, N.Y.
  19. (12) Tom Severance, Fair Haven, Vt.
  20. (1) Cody Dion, Rutland, Vt.
  21. (8) Chris Hewitt, Pittsford, Vt.
  22. (14) Quinton Bishop, Whiting, Vt.
  23. (34) Luke Marcheski, Quincy, M.A.
  24. (2) James Murray, Proctor, Vt.
  25. (10) Carl LaPoint, Wells, Vt.
  26. (27) Kyle Jordan, Benson, Vt.
  27. (28) MAry Gardner, Granville, N.Y.
  28. (17) Tim Robinson, Center Rutland, Vt.
  29. (32) Trevor Jacques, Milton, Vt.
  30. (19) Jake Mallory, Granville, N.Y.
  31. (25) Jarrod Colburn, Rutland, Vt.
  32. (7) Nick Melotti, Mendon, Vt.
  33. (29) Eric Messier, Hinesburg, Vt.
  34. (31) Donald Olden, Poultney, Vt.

Did not start: Derek Lachapelle

Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint Feature (20 laps)

  1. (10) Quinn Quenneville, Brandon, Vt.
  2. (11) Ray Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
  3. (12) Gage Provencher, Bridport, Vt.
  4. (7) Destin St. Clair, Peru, N.Y.
  5. (8) Alex Reed, Proctor, Vt.
  6. (4) Vern Woodard, Fair Haven, Vt.
  7. (5) Kevin Smith, Brandon, Vt.
  8. (1) Tommy Kasuba, Castleton, Vt.
  9. (3) Tucker Jones, Fort Plain, N.Y.
  10. (2) Brandon Emerson, Williamstown, Vt.
  11. (9) Jenna Zakrzewski, Schuylerville, N.Y.
  12. (6) Chris Lennox, Eagle Bridge, N.Y.

McGee Automotive Family Sprint Cars of New England Feature (25 laps)

  1. (2) Will Hull, East Montpelier, Vt.
  2. (4) Kadyn Berry, Goffstown, N.H.
  3. (5) Caleb Lamson, Moretown, Vt.
  4. (1) Dylan Menditto, Brooklyn, C.T.
  5. (3) Nick Comeau, Hebron, N.H.
  6. (10) Matt Hoyt, Campton, N.H.
  7. (6) Floyd Billington, South Glens Falls, N.Y.
  8. (8) Jake Williams, Center Tuftonboro, N.H.
  9. (11) Joe Kata, Goshen, N.Y.
  10. (7) Caiden Hebert, New Hampton, N.H.
  11. (13) Troy Comeau, Warren, N.H.
  12. (9) Jason Goff, Preston Hollow, N.Y.
  13. (12) Nick Kruger, Rupert, Vt.

Did not start: Wayne Stearns

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