Audet is seventh different Limited Sportsman winner
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Devil’s Bowl Speedway fans were treated to an amazing night of dirt track action on Saturday, June 12, as the finishes of all six feature race events were not certain until the cool-down lap. Marty Kelly III and Demetrios Drellos split the 20-lap twin bill for the headline Sportsman Modified division, while Troy Audet, Chris Murray, Jake Barrows, and Austin Chaves also stood in victory lane during the event.
A smooth, racy, three-lane track surface lent itself to breathtaking passes and lead changes throughout the night, and a pair of quick, 20-lap sprint races for the Sportsman Modifieds meant that it was all-hustle from the first green flag. The opening feature saw five official lead changes, each more spectacular than the last. Brent Warren and Adam Piper diced up front in the opening laps before Joey Scarborough came into the picture. While Scarborough was impressive and dueled briefly with Josh Masterson, defending track champion Demetrios Drellos was magic in traffic, coming from 18th starting position in only eight laps to challenge Scarborough.
Drellos got out front on lap 9 just after tagging the frontstretch wall, but he suffered a flat tire the next lap, bringing out a caution flag and giving the lead back to Scarborough. Third-generation racer Scarborough then had a new dancing partner in Tanner Siemons, who had come from 16th at the start. As the duo engaged in a side-by-side battle, North Bennington, Vt., driver Marty Kelly III – who had waited patiently for a couple laps – saw a window open five four laps remaining and snuck through, passing both drivers at once to take the lead. Two quick restarts on lap 18 forced Kelly to fend off the field, and he sped across the line for the second win of his career.
Siemons finished a tight second, while late-arriving Tim LaDuc nosed past Scarborough for third place. Drellos rebounded from his pit stop to finish fifth, just edging rookie Johnny Bruno. Elmo Reckner, Frank Hoard III, Vince Quenneville, and Mike Palmer completed the top 10. Qualifying heats were won by Josh Masterson, Drellos, and Quenneville.
In the nightcap, Alex Bell appeared to have the car to beat for most of the race, Bell led early before Masterson got to the front, but Masterson’s car shut down moments later and Bell reassumed the top spot. Don Mattison came to Bell’s side after the halfway mark, and the pair ran in a synchronized drift through the turns for several laps before Mattison took control in the 15th circuit.
Drellos had a different plan, though, and the Queensbury, N.Y., driver was able to finish what he started in the first feature by passing Mattison to lead the final three laps and streak away for the victory. Mattison settled for the runner-up spot, while Scarborough got by Bell for third, and Jimmy Ryan rounded out the top five. Justin Comes was sixth ahead of Reckner, Palmer, Hoard, and Siemons.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman division saw its seventh different winner in as many races in the 2021 season with Bridport, Vt.’s Troy Audet taking the first Modified win of his career in a 25-lapper. Audet came from 11th place to challenge leader Dakota Green with a handful of laps left, finally making his move at lap 20 with a furious charge on the outside lane.
After a clean race to that point, Audet had to outlast the field – and particularly the advances of Scott FitzGerald – over four restarts in the balance of the race. FitzGerald took a career-best finish as the runner-up with John Gosselin third. Anthony Ryan shrugged off recent tough luck for fourth, and 15-year-old Beau Reeves was fifth.
The top 10 was completed in order by Melvin Pierson, Evan Roberts, Josh LeClaire, Austin Comes, and Bill Duprey. Heat wins went to A.J. Munger, Justin Lilly, and Green, and the consolation race was won by Timmy Aldrighetti.
Chris Murray saved his best for last, quite literally, in the 20-lap Super Stock feature. The Fair Haven, Vt., driver fought a brake problem and made up a long gap to leader Mark Norris over a long green-flag run to reach Norris on lap 19 and make the winning pass on the backstretch in the final circuit.
The victory was Murray’s fourth in a row. Norris, who had led every step of the way to that point, finished second with Paul Braymer, Josh Bussino, and Chuck Bradford in tow.
The Summit Up Construction Mini Stock division drew its largest field of the year with 29 cars for the 20-lap feature, which turned out to be least predictable race of 2021 to date. No less than six drivers took turns in the lead as crashes and mechanical gremlins took their toll on the field, and Middlebury, Vt.’s Jake Barrows led at three different points before finally securing the win.
Barrows gave up the lead to Chris Conroy at lap 9, but Conroy’s car broke at lap 10. Tim Simonds came calling at lap 14, but he wrecked out of the lead at lap 17. Barrows then had to hold off Craig Kirby for his first win in two years. Kirby was second with Clemmy Bell making a surprise appearance and a last-lap pass for third place. Willie Rice and Brian Blake rounded out the top five, followed by Scott Chandler, Derrick Counter, Lynn Denton, Daryl Gebo, and Tom Severance.
Austin Chaves proved that Ray Hanson is human after all, winning the 15-lap feature for the Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint division. Previous champion Chaves, of Chester, Vt., had previously announced during the week that he would be taking a break from weekly competition following the event, and he went out on top by ending Hanson’s four-race win streak.
Hanson was hot on Chaves’ heels at the finish, making up a sizeable gap as the laps ran away, but settling for second place. Kamden Duffy finished third, one day before his 13th birthday. Rookie Vern Woodard was fourth and Kaidin White was fifth. Bubba McPhee, Gage Provencher, John Smith, Roger LaDuc, and Kris Severance finished in positions 6-10. Duffy and Hanson won the heats.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway returns to action on Saturday, June 19 at 7:00 p.m. with the annual “Topless Night” Father’s Day Weekend special event; the Sportsman Modified and Limited Sportsman classes will race “topless” without roofs for a vastly different look and feel. All other weekly classes will also be on the card.
Grandstand admission is $12 for adults and $5 for children (12 and under). Tickets will be available online at https://buytickets.at/devilsbowlspeedway and at the speedway on race day. Infield drive-in parking will be $20 for adults and free for kids, with tickets available at the speedway.
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.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Devil’s Bowl Speedway – West Haven, Vt.
Saturday, Jun 12, 2021
Sportsman Modified Feature #1 (20 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (8) Marty Kelly III, North Bennington, Vt.
2. (16) Tanner Siemons, Orford, N.H.
3. (20) Tim LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.
4. (7) Joey Scarborough, Brandon, Vt.
5. (18) Demetrios Drellos, Queensbury, N.Y.
6. (10) # Johnny Bruno, Castleton, Vt.
7. (14) Elmo Reckner, Ballston Lake, N.Y.
8. (9) Frank Hoard III, Manchester Center, Vt.
9. (19) Vince Quenneville, Brandon, Vt.
10. (13) Mike Palmer, Salisbury, Vt.
11. (24) Don Mattison, Wells, Vt.
12. (2) Adam Piper, Leicester, Vt.
13. (21) Neil Stratton, Bennington, Vt. (substitute for Anthony Warren)
14. (25) Alex Bell, Cambridge, N.Y.
15. (5) Brian Whittemore, Pittsford, Vt.
16. (11) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
17. (4) Gene Pierson Jr., East Corinth, Vt.
18. (23) Jason Bruno, Morrisonville, N.Y.
19. (22) # Shawn McPhee, Rutland, Vt.
20. (1) Brent Warren, Salisbury, Vt.
21. (15) Jimmy Ryan, Shoreham, Vt.
22. (6) Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.
23. (12) Adam Pierson, East Corinth, Vt.
24. (3) Mike Fisher, Castleton, Vt.
25. (17) Justin Comes, Middlebury, Vt. (penalized from 21st – procedural)
Did Not Start (1 driver): Justin Stone, Middlebury, Vt.
Lap Leaders: Brent Warren, pole; Adam Piper, 1-5; Joey Scarborough, 6-8; Demetrios Drellos, 9-10; Scarborough, 11-15; Marty Kelly III, 16-20. (5 lead changes among 5 drivers)
Cautions (5): Laps 5, 7, 10, 18, 18.
Heat Winners: Josh Masterson, Demetrios Drellos, Vince Quenneville
Sportsman Modified Feature #2 (20 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (16) Demetrios Drellos, Queensbury, N.Y.
2. (7) Don Mattison, Wells, Vt.
3. (12) Joey Scarborough, Brandon, Vt.
4. (2) Alex Bell, Cambridge, N.Y.
5. (9) Jimmy Ryan, Shoreham, Vt.
6. (14) Justin Comes, Middlebury, Vt.
7. (15) Elmo Reckner, Ballston Lake, N.Y.
8. (11) Mike Palmer, Salisbury, Vt.
9. (6) Frank Hoard III, Manchester Center, Vt.
10. (17) Tanner Siemons, Orford, N.H.
11. (18) Vince Quenneville, Brandon, Vt.
12. (23) Adam Pierson, East Corinth, Vt.
13. (22) Neil Stratton, Bennington, Vt. (substitute for Anthony Warren)
14. (19) Tim LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.
15. (8) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
16. (20) Marty Kelly III, North Bennington, Vt.
17. (13) # Johnny Bruno, Castleton, Vt.
18. (3) Adam Piper, Leicester, Vt.
19. (10) Brian Whittemore, Pittsford, Vt.
20. (4) Jason Bruno, Morrisonville, N.Y.
21. (21) # Shawn McPhee, Rutland, Vt.
22. (5) Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.
23. (1) Brent Warren, Salisbury, Vt.
Did Not Start (3 drivers): Gene Pierson Jr., East Corinth, Vt.; Mike Fisher, Castleton, Vt.; Justin Stone, Middlebury, Vt.
Lap Leaders: Brent Warren, pole; Alex Bell, 1-14; Don Mattison, 15-17; Demetrios Drellos, 18-20. (3 lead changes among 4 drivers)
Cautions (2): Laps 7, 10.
Heat Winners: n/a
O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman Feature (25 laps – extended to 26 laps by green-white-checkered finish)
FINISH REVISED ON 6/16/2021
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
1. (11) Troy Audet, Bridport, Vt.
2. (6) Scott FitzGerald, West Rutland, Vt.
3. (10) John Gosselin, Shoreham, Vt.
4. (7) Anthony Ryan, Benson, Vt.
5. (12) Beau Reeves, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
6. (13) Melvin Pierson, East Corinth, Vt.
7. (15) Evan Roberts, Fletcher, Vt.
8. (18) Josh LeClaire, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
9. (16) Austin Comes, Middlebury, Vt.
10. (22) Bill Duprey, Hydeville, Vt.
11. (20) Gary English, Salisbury, Vt.
12. (19) Timmy Aldrighetti, Bethel, Vt.
13. (3) A.J. Munger, Benson, Vt.
14. (4) Mike McGinn, Elizabethtown, N.Y.
15. (14) Bob Kilburn, Fair Haven, Vt.
16. (17) Cody O’Brien, Springfield, Vt.
17. (23) Randy Ryan, Orwell, Vt.
18. (5) Katrina Bean, Benson, Vt.
19. (9) Justin Lilly, Castleton, Vt.
20. (2) Dakota Green, Cambridge, N.Y.
21. (24) Wesley Sutliff, South Glens Falls, N.Y.
22. (21) Alex Layn, New Haven, Vt.
23. (8) Craig Wholey, Bolton Landing, N.Y.
24. (1) Bryon Linendoll, West Pawlet, Vt.
Did Not Start (1 driver): Russ Farr, Granville, N.Y.
Lap Leaders: Bryon Linendoll, pole; Dakota Green, 1-19; Troy Audet, 20-26. (2 lead change among 3 drivers)
Cautions (5): Laps 7, 21, 22, 24, 24.
Heat Winners: A.J. Munger, Justin Lilly, Dakota Green
Consi Winner: Timmy Aldrighetti
Super Stock Feature (20 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (8) Chris Murray, Fair Haven, Vt.
2. (2) Mark Norris, Benson, Vt.
3. (7) Paul Braymer, Granville, N.Y.
4. (5) Josh Bussino, Fair Haven, Vt.
5. (6) # Chuck Bradford, Addison, Vt.
6. (4) # Andy Botala, Grand Isle, Vt.
7. (1) Ronnie Alger, Orwell, Vt.
8. (3) # Chris Brown, Shrewsbury, Vt.
9. (10) Mike Bussino, Mount Holly, Vt. (substitute for Griff Mahoney)
10. (9) Matt Mosher, Queensbury, N.Y.
Lap Leaders: Ronnie Alger, pole; Mark Norris, 1-19; Chris Murray, 20. (2 lead changes among 3 drivers)
Cautions (1): Lap 1.
Heat Winners: n/a
Summit Up Construction Mini Stock Feature (20 laps)
FINISH REVISED ON 6/20/2021
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (8) Jake Barrows, Middlebury, Vt.
2. (12) Craig Kirby, St. Albans, Vt.
3. (21) Clemmy Bell, Peru, N.Y.
4. (7) Willie Rice, Poultney, Vt.
5. (6) Brian Blake, Cornwall, Vt.
6. (11) # Scott Chandler, Pittsford, Vt.
7. (9) Derrick Counter, Leicester, Vt.
8. (13) Lynn Denton, Milton, Vt.
9. (8) # Daryl Gebo, Orwell, Vt.
10. (3) Tom Severance, Fair Haven, Vt.
11. (20) # Jakobee Alger, Orwell, Vt.
12. (1) # Adam Mahoney, Rutland, Vt.
13. (19) # Jason Kerr, Shoreham, Vt.
14. (16) Tim Simonds, North Clarendon, Vt.
15. (17) Chris Sumner, Ripton, Vt.
16. (4) # Chase Allen, Fair Haven, Vt.
17. (27) David LaBarge, South Glens Falls, N.Y.
18. (23) Zach Wood, Georgia, Vt.
19. (24) # Hunter Clark, Salisbury, Vt.
20. (14) Chris Conroy, Newport, N.H.
21. (26) Chris Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
22. (29) Greg Zindler, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
23. (28) Brittany Ladd, South Glens Falls, N.Y.
24. (5) # Austin McKirryher, Proctor, Vt.
25. (10) T.J. Knight, Wells, Vt.
26. (2) Mary Gardner, Middle Granville, N.Y.
27. (18) Kaydan Rice, Poultney, Vt.
28. (22) Joe Malzac, East Middlebury, Vt.
29. (25) Griff Mahoney, Bristol, Vt.
Lap Leaders: Adam Mahoney, 1; Jake Barrows, 2-8; Chris Conroy, 9-10; Barrows, 11-13; Tim Simonds, 14-17; Barrows, 18-20. (5 lead changes among 4 drivers)
Cautions (6): Laps 1, 1, 6, 14, 15, 17.
Heat Winners: n/a
Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint Feature (15 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (8) Austin Chaves, Chester, Vt.
2. (11) Ray Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
3. (10) Kamden Duffy, Richmond, N.H.
4. (6) # Vern Woodard, Fair Haven, Vt.
5. (9) Kaidin White, Monkton, Vt.
6. (1) John McPhee Jr., Rutland, Vt.
7. (7) # Gage Provencher, Bridport, Vt.
8. (13) John Smith, Poultney, Vt.
9. (12) Roger LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.
10. (4) # Kris Severance, Fair Haven, Vt.
11. (2) # Kyle Bruno, Pittsford, Vt.
12. (5) # Tommy Kasuba, Castleton, Vt.
13. (3) Kevin Smith, Brandon, Vt.
Lap Leaders: John McPhee Jr., 1; Austin Chaves, 2-15. (1 lead change among 2 drivers)
Cautions (1): Lap 1.
Heat Winners: Kamden Duffy, Ray Hanson
