Roberts takes Modified thriller; Masterson, Bradford, Gray take victories
WEST HAVEN, VT – There wasn’t a full moon over Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday night, but the action was as crazy as if there had been. When all was said and done on Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep Night, fans witnessed four close finishes, while a disqualification changed the final results of the main event.
Robert Gordon will go into the record books as the winner of the first-ever 100-lap race for the Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep Renegade division at Devil’s Bowl. Though he crossed the finish line in second place, the defending track champion from Milton, VT was the driver to watch through the duration of the race. Gordon led 41 laps in the first half of the event and sat in second place behind Richie Turner during a scheduled refueling break at lap 51. Gordon had a right-front tire go flat during the break and was forced to make a pit stop, then marched from the back of the 17-car field at the restart to reclaim the runner-up spot.
Turner dominated the second half of the race and withstood three restarts in the final 28 laps to cross the line first, but was later disqualified in post-race inspection due to unapproved pushrods and valve spring retainers in his engine. Gordon inherited the victory and the $1,000 winner’s purse along with it.
Ryan Boutin of Fairfax, VT made the most of a rare Devil’s Bowl appearance with a solid drive from 10th starting spot to officially take the runner-up position. Jason McClatchie of Plattsburgh, NY moved up third, followed by Zach Rabtoy of Fairfax, VT and Scott FitzGerald of West Rutland, VT. Rookie Matt Monaghan finished sixth, followed by Jon Boutin, rookie Shawn Franklin, Jim McKiernan and Jared Blake.
Joey Roberts of Fletcher, VT won a rowdy and competitive 35-lap feature for the Bond Auto Parts Modified division. The action started at the initial green flag when the front row starters got crossed up, creating a logjam behind them that left rookies Timex Morgan and Bob Kilburn in a heap. A second wreck just before the halfway mark knocked Nick Heywood and Jamie LaFountain out of the event and the subsequent restart opened the door for Roberts to make his move.
Roberts jumped into the lead at lap 17 and fought off Brandon, VT’s Vince Quenneville Jr. for several laps before squaring off with Jason Durgan. One final caution flag set up a green-white-checker finish; Roberts and Durgan bounced off of each other at the restart, then Durgan and Leon Gonyo came together causing a major shuffle in the running order. At the hectic finish, it was Roberts with his first win of the season, followed by Quenneville. Bucko Branham of Plattsburgh, NY finished third ahead of Gonyo and Greg Atkins, while Cody Sargen, Ron Proctor, Jason Furman, Durgan, and Codie Aubin rounded out the top 10.
The 30-lap Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model feature saw two exciting battles for the lead, first between polesitter Walt Hammond Jr. and Robert Bryant Jr., then later between Josh Masterson and Todd Stone. Masterson, of Bristol, VT, threaded the needle between Hammond and Bryant on a late restart, then held off a charge from Stone in the final two laps for the victory. Bryant crossed the line in third place but was later disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct. Hammond inherited the position with rookie Richard Lowrey III and former track champion Chris Bergeron in tow.
Chuck Bradford of Addison, VT scored his first win of the year in the Portland Glass Mini Stock feature. The defending Devil’s Bowl champion had a rear view mirror full of opening night winner Dale O’Neil during the 15-lap race, but held on despite O’Neil’s repeated challenges. Pete Blaney survived a heavily-smoking engine for third place with Kris Clark and Chris LaVair next in line. Bradford announced in victory lane that both he and LaVair would donate their night’s winnings to the CHERUBS children’s charity.
The My Family Tradition (MFT) Sauce & Rub Co. Enduro Series had a barnburner of a 50-lap race, which came down to a rare final-lap pass for the win. Brett Wood of Georgia, VT led the first 49-and-a-half laps only to have Rutland, VT driver Cory Gray sneak by him in the final corner as the crowd erupted in cheers. Gray’s win was his first Enduro score in five years; Wood took second with Eric Messier third. Jeff Murray and Kirk Brunelle completed the top five finishers as the final two drivers on the lead lap.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway returns to action with a two-day, two-track weekend on June 6-7. The American-Canadian Tour Late Models make their annual stop on Saturday, June 6 with their first-ever race at Devil’s Bowl under the lights at the People’s United Bank 100 at 6:00 p.m. Modifieds, Renegades, and Mini Stocks are also on the card.
On Sunday, June 7, the Berlin Optical Expressions Dirt Track Series opens on the 3/10-mile infield dirt track at 4:00 p.m., with a full slate of Sportsman Modifieds, Renegades, Mini Stocks, and the track debut for the Lucas Oil POWRi Outlaw Midget Series.
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 and Instagram at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep Night
Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, VT
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series presented by Yandow Sales & Service and John Deere
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Robert Gordon (second from right) of Milton, VT won the Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep 100 for the Renegade division at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. (MemorEvents photo)
Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep Renegade Feature (100 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (3) Robert Gordon, Milton, VT
2. (10) Ryan Boutin, Fairfax, VT
3. (7) Jason McClatchie, Plattsburgh, NY
4. (1) Zach Rabtoy, Fairfax, VT
5. (2) Scott FitzGerald, West Rutland, VT
6. (6) # Matt Monaghan, Colchester, VT
7. (9) Jon Boutin, St. Albans, VT
8. (5) # Shawn Franklin, Waitsfield, VT
9. (12) Jim McKiernan, Moriah Center, NY
10. (14) Jared Blake, North Hero, VT
11. (8) Keith O’Neil, Mooers, NY
12. (15) Keith Pelkey, Clintonville, NY
13. (4) Dylan Rabtoy, Swanton, VT
14. (11) Tylor Terry, Morrisonville, NY
15. (16) Josh Payea, Georgia, VT
16. (17) # Tony Salerno, Mineville, NY
Disqualified: (13) Richie Turner, Fairfax, VT (engine)
Heat Winners: Scott FitzGerald; Robert Gordon
Bond Auto Parts Hard Charger Award: Ryan Boutin
Joey Roberts of Fletcher, VT celebrates his victory in the Bond Auto Parts Modified division on Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep Night at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. (MemorEvents photo)
Bond Auto Parts Modified Feature (35 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown-Laps Completed
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (7) Joey Roberts, Fletcher, VT
2. (6) Vince Quenneville, Jr., Brandon, VT
3. (10) Bucko Branham, Plattsburgh, NY
4. (9) Leon Gonyo, Chazy, NY
5. (11) Greg Atkins, Clintonville, NY
6. (5) Cody Sargen, Greenfield Center, NY
7. (12) Ron Proctor, Charlton, NY
8. (13) Jason Furman, Ballston Spa, NY
9. (4) Jason Durgan, Morrisonville, NY
10. (2) Codie Aubin, Plattsburgh, NY
11. (14) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, VT
12. (1) Dave Snow, Brandon, VT
13. (3) Jamie LaFountain, Plattsburgh, NY
14. (19) Jason Bruno, Morrisonville, NY
15. (17) # Allan Hammond, Canaan, NH
16. (15) Jimmy Ryan, Whiting, VT
17. (8) Nick Heywood, Plattsburgh, NY
18. (16) # Bob Kilburn, Fair Haven, VT
19. (18) # Timex Morgan, Plattsburgh, NY
Heat Winners: Dave Snow; Jason Durgan
Shiley Fabrication Hard Charger Award: Bucko Branham
Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck Award: Bob Kilburn
Josh Masterson of Bristol, VT won the Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model feature on Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep Night at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. (MemorEvents photo)
Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model Feature (30 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (3) Josh Masterson, Bristol, VT
2. (7) Todd Stone, Middlebury, VT
3. (1) Walt Hammond, Jr., Canaan, NH
4. (6) Richard Lowrey, III, Charlotte, VT
5. (4) Chris Bergeron, Claremont, NH
6. (5) Steve Miller, Vergennes, VT
7. (10) Robert Hagar, Windsor, VT
8. (9) Chad White, Fort Ann, NY
9. (11) Mark Norris, Benson, VT
10. (12) Jesse Carris, Rutland, VT
11. (8) Walter J. Hammond, Orange, NH
Disqualified: (2) Robert Bryant, Jr., Brooklyn, CT (unsportsmanlike conduct)
Heat Winners: Walt Hammond, Jr.; Robert Bryant, Jr.
Semi-Feature Winner: Robert Bryant, Jr.
Chuck Bradford of Addison, VT won the Portland Glass Mini Stock feature on Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep Night at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. (MemorEvents photo)
Portland Glass Mini Stock Feature (15 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (3) Chuck Bradford, Addison, VT
2. (10) Dale O’Neil, Mooers, NY
3. (8) Pete Blaney, Jay, NY
4. (7) Kris Clark, Keeseville, NY
5. (6) C.J. LaVair, Saranac Lake, NY
6. (2) Harold LaVair, Jr., Gabriels, NY
7. (4) Kyle Sorensen, Ballston Spa, NY
8. (1) Tyler Irwin, Peru, NY
9. (9) # Bradley Bertrand, Ferrisburgh, VT
10. (5) Andrew FitzGerald, West Rutland, VT
Heat Winners: Dale O’Neil; Chuck Bradford
Bond Auto Parts Hard Charger Award: Dale O’Neil
Cory Gray of Rutland, VT won the MFT Sauce & Rub Co. Enduro Series event at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep Night. (MemorEvents photo)
MFT Sauce & Rub Co. Enduro Series Feature (50 laps)
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver-Hometown
1. (17) Cory Gray, Rutland, VT – 50 laps
2. (802) Brett Wood, Georgia, VT – 50 laps
3. (02) Eric Messier, Hinesburg, VT – 50 laps
4. (35) Jeff Murray, Georgia, VT – 50 laps
5. (00) Kirk Brunelle, Ferrisburgh, VT – 50 laps
6. (20) Zach Wood, Georgia, VT – 49 laps
7. (87) John Gero, Wells, VT – 49 laps
8. (49) Chris LaForest, Barre, VT – 49 laps
9. (33) Andrew Lopes, Colchester, VT – 49 laps
10. (76) Shawn Moquin, Milton, VT – 49 laps
11. (30) Tom Kudlacik, Milton, VT – 48 laps
12. (14) Chris Mattos, Milton, VT – 48 laps
13. (38) Casey O’Connell, Burlington, VT – 47 laps
14. (98) Dominic Guerrina – 46 laps
15. (23) Dylan Gilmond, Rutland, VT – 31 laps
16. (23X) Marc Denton, Milton, VT – 19 laps
17. (069) Jason Vezina, North Hero, VT – 15 laps
18. (28) Todd Muguira, Cavendish, VT – 3 laps
19. (215) Andrea Noble, Rutland, VT – 2 laps
No Score – (4) Lance Bussino