Williams takes Sprint Car sweep; Duprey, Conroy, Wood are holiday winners
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Young Bobby Hackel is beginning to make a name for himself on the Dirt Track at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, and on Sunday, July 3, he stole the show at the WhistlePig Whiskey “Firecracker” Independence Day Special by winning in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Sportsman Modified action and by very nearly winning in the Sprint Cars of New England.
Twenty-one-year-old Hackel – a fourth-generation racer from Rensselaer, N.Y. – started 10th on the 22-car Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified field and wasted little time in getting to the front. He was inside the top-five after just one lap, and passed Chris Murray for the lead on lap nine.
Moments after Hackel took control, the race took a sad and tragic turn. Veteran driver Ron Casey of Manchester Center, Vt., was stricken by an apparent medical emergency and veered off the track before impacting the retaining wall in Turn 2. He was transported via ambulance to Rutland Regional Medical Center in Rutland, Vt., where he passed away about three hours after the incident. (A full statement regarding the situation is available by clicking HERE.)
With one of the largest grandstand crowds in recent years on hand, the decision was made to continue the event. A two-hour delay while waiting for Fair Haven Rescue to send a back-up ambulance was filled with a massive holiday fireworks show, and an on-track driver meet-and-greet session, and race fans remained upbeat and enthusiastic for the action to resume.
The fast, tacky track surface created wild action in the final 26 laps, with several crashes including flips by Vince Quenneville Jr. and Derrick McGrew; no injuries were reported in any of the crashes. Hackel never wavered from the top spot despite repeated attempts from Middlebury, Vt., driver Justin Comes, who finished second. Jackie Brown Jr. rebounded from a crash to finish third, followed by Tim LaDuc and Kenny Tremont Jr. Tim Hodge, rookie Justin Severance, Jason Bruno, Justin Smith, and Billy Lussier completed the top 10.
Jake Williams of Center Tuftonboro, N.H., made it a clean sweep in his qualifying heat, the Dash for Cash, and the 30-lap feature for the Sprint Cars of New England (SCoNE). Williams had a dominant car for most of the night, but SCoNE rookie Hackel nearly upset his bid for the win. After starting 19th, Hackel flew through the pack to pull alongside Williams in a battle for the lead in the final laps. Williams was able to shake Hackel off, though, for his third career SCoNE tour win and his first at Devil’s Bowl.
Hackel finished second ahead of early leader Tyler Austin, Chris Donnelly, and Luke Greenwood, who started 18th. Dan Douville, Will Hull, Chad Turck, Richie Simmons, and Chris Clark finished sixth through tenth. Kevin Chaffee escaped injury after flipping his car in the feature, and both Clay Dow and Lacey Hanson walked away from a spectacular two-car flip in qualifying.
Bill Duprey of Hydeville, Vt., was in a class of his own in the Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade division, dominating both the qualifying heat and the 15-lap feature race. Duprey was unchallenged during the night and led every lap that he ran on the track. Curtis Condon was the runner-up in the feature, followed by rookie Brian Bishop Jr., Lou Gancarz, and Paul Braymer.
Chris Conroy of Newport, N.H., was a first-time Devil’s Bowl winner in the Portland Glass Mini Stocks, taking the checkered flag in a 15-lap race. Jason Porter of Freeport, Maine, led laps early and settled for second place. Mike Ryan was third ahead of Wayland Childs and Robert Garney. Mike Whalen Jr. was uninjured in a two-time flip during qualifying.
Defending Enduro Series champion Brett Wood of Georgia, Vt., took the lead at lap 14 of his division’s 40-lap event and sailed to the victory. Following a thorough scoring recheck, Wood’s son, Zach – who won a rain-soaked race on the Asphalt Track at Devil’s Bowl the previous night – finished second with Cory Gray third. Brandon Gray was fourth with Ethan White fifth. Karl Raacke walked away from a high-flying roll with his police-themed car, which included flashing blue lights.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is back in action with the double-points Mid-Season Championship weekend on July 9-10. The half-mile Asphalt Track races on Saturday, July 9, with the 3/10-mile Dirt Track running on Sunday, July 10. Racing each night begins at 6:00 p.m. and includes a driver autograph session at intermission. Regular general admission each night is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and free for kids age 12 and under.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, Vt., four miles north of Exit 2 off of U.S. Route 4 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 Twitter and Instagram at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – WhistlePig Whiskey “Firecracker” Independence Day Special
Devil’s Bowl Speedway Dirt Track – West Haven, VT
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified Feature (35 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (10) Bobby Hackel, Rensselaer, N.Y.
2. (5) Justin Comes, Middlebury, Vt.
3. (6) Jackie Brown Jr., Hurley, N.Y.
4. (8) Tim LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.
5. (15) Kenny Tremont Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.
6. (18) Tim Hodge, Vershire, Vt.
7. (4) # Justin Severance, Pittsford, Vt.
8. (13) Jason Bruno, Morrisonville, N.Y.
9. (20) Justin Smith, Gansevoort, N.Y.
10. (2) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
11. (14) Jason Sanville, Canaan, N.H.
12. (9) Derrick McGrew, Ballston Spa, N.Y.
13. (1) Chris Murray, Fair Haven, Vt.
14. (3) Jim Introne Jr., Hartford, N.Y.
15. (16) Codie Aubin, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
16. (11) Adam Pierson, East Corinth, Vt.
17. (7) Vince Quenneville Jr., Brandon, Vt.
18. (22) Brian Whittemore, Pittsford, Vt.
19. (19) Wayne Stearns, Bradford, Vt.
20. (21) Chad Miller, White River Junction, Vt.
21. (17) Ron Casey, Manchester Center, Vt.
22. (12) Scott Duell, Ballston Spa, N.Y.
Heat Winners: Chris Murray, Justin Comes, Tim LaDuc
Shiley Fabrication Hard Charger Award: Tim Hodge
Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck Award: Chris Murray
Sprint Cars of New England Feature (30 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (10) Jake Williams, Center Tuftonboro, N.H.
2. (19) Bobby Hackel, Rensselaer, N.Y.
3. (8) Tyler Austin, West Fairlee, Vt.
4. (13) Chris Donnelly, Piermont, N.H.
5. (18) Luke Greenwood, Hudson, N.H.
6. (14) Dan Douville, Bridgewater, N.H.
7. (11) Will Hull, Plainfield, Vt.
8. (5) # Chad Turck, Pittsfield, N.H.
9. (7) # Richie Simmons, Bradford, Vt.
10. (3) Chris Clark, Vershire, Vt.
11. (2) Patrick Smith, East Andover, N.H.
12. (17) Steve Hutchinson, Goffstown, N.H.
13. (1) Lauren Boisvert, Danbury, N.H.
14. (15) # Marty Hutchins, Poultney, Vt.
15. (6) # Mike Chaffee, Corinth, Vt.
16. (4) Christine Boesch, Concord, N.H.
17. (9) # Matt Hoyt, Campton, N.H.
18. (12) Kevin Chaffee, Bradford, Vt.
19. (16) Dennis McLeod, Concord, N.H.
Did Not Start: Lacey Hanson, Orwell, Vt.; Clay Dow, Barnstead, N.H.
Heat Winners: Patrick Smith, Jake Williams, Chris Donnelly
Dash Winner: Jake Williams
Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade Feature (15 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (1) Bill Duprey, Hydeville, Vt.
2. (2) Curtis Condon, Queensbury, N.Y.
3. (10) # Brian Bishop Jr., Bridport, Vt.
4. (6) Lou Gancarz, North Adams, Mass.
5. (3) Paul Braymer, Granville, N.Y.
6. (5) Joey Trudeau, Hague, N.Y.
7. (9) Matt Mosher, Queensbury, N.Y.
8. (7) Aaron Fachini, North Adams, Mass.
9. (4) # Josh Bussino, Belmont, Vt.
10. (8) Larry Bristol, West Rutland, Vt.
Heat Winner: Bill Duprey
Bond Auto Parts Hard Charger Award: Brian Bishop Jr.
Portland Glass Mini Stock Feature (15 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (5) Chris Conroy, Newport, N.H.
2. (1) Jason Porter, Freeport, Maine
3. (6) Mike Ryan, Vershire, Vt.
4. (10) Wayland Childs, Chelsea, Vt.
5. (8) Robert Garney, Fort Edward, N.Y.
6. (4) Derrick Counter, Leicester, Vt.
7. (7) Mike Lique, Lebanon, N.H.
8. (3) Chris Cardarelli, Milton, Vt.
9. (2) Brian Bishop Sr., Bridport, Vt.
10. (9) # Cameron Kennedy, Rochester, Vt.
11. (11) # Josh Swahn, Pittsford, Vt.
Did Not Start: Mike Whalen Jr., Peru, N.Y.; Shawn Moquin, Milton, Vt.
Heat Winners: Jason Porter, Chris Conroy
Bond Auto Parts Hard Charger Award: Wayland Childs
Enduro Series Feature (40 laps)
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver-Hometown-Laps Complete
1. (802) Brett Wood, Georgia, Vt. – 40 Laps
2. (20) Zach Wood, Georgia, Vt. – 40 Laps
3. (17) Cory Gray, Clarendon, Vt. – 40 Laps
4. (00) Brandon Gray, East Thetford, Vt. – 40 Laps
5. (22) Ethan White, Hinesburg, Vt. – 39 Laps
6. (35) Jeff Murray, Georgia, Vt. – 39 Laps
7. (33X) Andrew Lopes, Colchester, Vt. – 38 Laps
8. (38X) Casey O’Connell, Burlington, Vt. – 38 Laps
9. (76) Shawn Moquin, Milton, Vt. – 38 Laps
10. (5) Kyle Botala, Grand Isle, Vt. – 37 Laps
11. (30) Tommy Kudlacik, Milton, Vt. – 35 Laps
12. (80) Zachary Garvey, Grand Isle, Vt. – 34 Laps
13. (723) John Wiggins, Westford, Vt. – 34 Laps
14. (18X) Jake Barrows, Middlebury, Vt. – 34 Laps
15. (666) Andy Botala, Grand Isle, Vt. – 29 Laps
16. (69) Karl Raacke, North Hero, Vt. – 28 laps
17. (44) Craig Kirby, Winooski, Vt. – 27 Laps
18. (29J) Brandon Rogers, Castleton, Vt. – 15 Laps
19. (72) Kyle Rogers, Fair Haven, Vt. – 5 Laps
Did Not Start: Dom Guerrina, North Hero, Vt.; Kevin Keene, East Hardwick, Vt.