Aube, McKiernan, Messier on top in support classes
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Billy Lussier thrilled his hometown crowd at the half-mile Asphalt Track at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday, June 25, taking his first career victory in a wire-to-wire romp. Somewhat fittingly, the Fair Haven, Vt. driver’s milestone win came on “Hometown Heroes” Night presented by Rutland Regional Medical Center and Whelen Engineering. Other winners in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action included Jamie Aube, Jim McKiernan, and Eric Messier.
Lussier, who lives just five miles from the speedway and had a large cheering section in the grandstands, drove the entire caution-free 30-lap feature race for the Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified division out front and opened up a sizeable lead on the field. It was almost not to be for Lussier, however, as his crew discovered a broken suspension component on the No. 25 Fair Haven Chrysler-Dodge/Liberty Street Discount Beverage & Deli car after qualifying and made hasty repairs just minutes before the green flag.
“This one is for the whole crew and my family, and all the fans that have supported us for so many years here,” Lussier said in victory lane. “The hard work paid off tonight. This is just awesome.”
Jackie Brown Jr. of Hurley, N.Y., held second place for much of the race before former champion Ron Proctor chased him down in the final 10 laps. Proctor, of Charlton, N.Y., took the runner-up spot, followed by Brown, Jason Durgan, and Vince Quenneville Jr.
North Ferrisburgh, Vt., native and veteran racer Jamie Aube took his first win of the season in the Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model division, which ran a two-segment, scored feature event. Aube was the runner-up in both 20-lap legs of the race for a total low score of four points. Robert Bryant Jr., Seth Bridge, and Steve Miller all tied at seven points, but Bryant got the tiebreaker for the runner-up position based on his win in the final segment. Bridge was third overall followed by first-segment winner Miller, and John Donahue with eight points.
The Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade division ran a similar format with two 15-lap scored segments, and Jim McKiernan of Moriah Center, N.Y., swept both halves of the race for a perfect two-point score and the overall win. R.J. Germain finished second overall with five points, followed by rookie Austin McKiernan – the winner’s son – at seven points. Scott FitzGerald and Tony Salerno completed the top five.
Rookie Eric “Mongo” Messier of Hinesburg, Vt., overcame a hard crash last week and transmission problems on Saturday afternoon for his first career win in the hotly contested Portland Glass Mini Stock race. Messier, runner-up Brad Bertrand, and third-place Harold LaVair were among the drivers that combined for nine lead changes in just 15 laps. Garrett Given and C.J. LaVair rounded out the top five finishers.
The annual “Hometown Heroes” event recognized all members of local law enforcement, first responders, and members of the armed forces with free admission, and an on-track parade of fire trucks representing the West Haven, Fair Haven, and Castleton departments highlighted intermission. The Thomas Dairy Kids Club also hosted a candy scramble on the frontstretch during intermission.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is back in action for two nights on Independence Day weekend with Rutland County’s biggest and loudest fireworks shows. Racing is on the half-mile Asphalt Track on Saturday, July 2 and on the 3/10-mile Dirt Track on Sunday, July 3. Special general admission each night is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors (62+) and students (13-17), 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.
OFFICIAL RESULTS – Rutland Regional Medical Center/Whelen Engineering “Hometown Heroes” Night
Devil’s Bowl Speedway Asphalt Track – West Haven, VT
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified Feature (30 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (1) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
2. (8) Ron Proctor, Charlton, N.Y.
3. (3) Jackie Brown Jr., Hurley, N.Y.
4. (9) Jason Durgan, Morrisonville, N.Y.
5. (7) Vince Quenneville Jr., Brandon, Vt.
6. (10) Joey Roberts, Fletcher, Vt.
7. (5) Jimmy Ryan, Whiting, Vt.
8. (2) Dave Snow, Brandon, Vt.
9. (12) Alex Bell, Cambridge, N.Y.
10. (6) Bob Kilburn, Fair Haven, Vt.
11. (11) # Chuck Bradford, Addison, Vt.
12. (4) Travis Bruno, Morrisonville, N.Y.
Heat Winners: Bill Lussier, Vince Quenneville Jr.
Shiley Fabrication Hard Charger Award: Ron Proctor
Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck Award: Travis Bruno
Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model Feature (20 laps x2)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown – Segment Points
# – denotes rookie
1. (3) Jamie Aube, North Ferrisburgh, Vt. – 4 points
2. (5) Robert Bryant Jr., Brooklyn, Conn. – 7 points
3. (4) Seth Bridge, Mendon, Vt. – 7 points
4. (2) Steve Miller, Vergennes, Vt. – 7 points
5. (7) John Donahue, Graniteville, Vt. – 8 points
6. (6) Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt. – 9 points
7. (1) Mark Norris, Benson, Vt. – 14 points
Segment Winners: Steve Miller, Robert Bryant Jr.
Crazy Horse Racing Winners Circle Challenge: Jamie Aube
Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade Feature (15 laps x2)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown – Segment Points
# – denotes rookie
1. (5) Jim McKiernan, Moriah Center, N.Y. – 2 points
2. (3) Ray Germain Jr., Bristol, Vt. – 5 points
3. (1) # Austin McKiernan, Moriah Center, N.Y. – 7 points
4. (6) Scott FitzGerald, West Rutland, Vt. – 8 points
5. (1) Tony Salerno, Mineville, N.Y. – 9 points
6. (7) # Bill Burlingame, Gansevoort, N.Y. – 11 points
7. (4) Matt Monaghan, Colchester, Vt. – 14 points
Segment Winners: Jim McKiernan (2)
Bond Auto Parts Hard Charger Award: Jim McKiernan
Portland Glass Mini Stock Feature (15 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (5) # Eric Messier, Hinesburg, Vt.
2. (9) Brad Bertrand, Ferrisburgh, Vt.
3. (3) Harold LaVair Jr., Gabriels, N.Y.
4. (7) Garrett Given Sr., Cornwall, Vt.
5. (4) Chris LaVair, Saranac Lake, N.Y.
6. (6) # Zach Wood, Georgia, Vt.
7. (8) Mike Whalen Jr., Peru, N.Y.
8. (10) Al Maynard, Fairfax, Vt.
9. (2) Roger LaBounty, Morrisonville, N.Y.
10. (13) # Roo Forrest, West Rutland, Vt.
11. (1) # Brett Wood, Georgia, Vt.
12. (12) # Kaleb Shepard, New Haven, Vt.
13. (11) Chris Cardarelli, Milton, Vt.
14. (14) # Cameron Kennedy, Rochester, Vt.
Did Not Start: Andrew FitzGerald, West Rutland, Vt.; John McCarron, Rensselaer, N.Y.
Heat Winners: Eric Messier, Brad Bertrand
Bond Auto Parts Hard Charger Award: Brad Bertrand
(Photos by Andrew Cassidy/Devil’s Bowl Speedway)