Durgan takes two-point lead entering Sunday asphalt finale
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Ron Proctor saved his best stuff for the end of the season at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, winning the Heritage Family Credit Union 50 to open the Vermont 200 Weekend on Saturday, September 10. After a one-hour rain delay, the two-time Asphalt Track champion posted his first victory of the year in a thrilling finish for the Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified division of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
Travis Bruno led from the start and seemed to have a win in hand, but the race’s only caution flag flew with six laps left and bunched the field for a restart. Proctor, of Charlton, N.Y., was involved in a close fight for the runner-up spot with Jackie Brown Jr. for most of the race, but took the position away after the restart.
From there Proctor chased Bruno down and drove hard into Turn 3 on the outside lane just before the beginning of the final lap. The pair ran side-by-side for the last half-mile of the race, leaning on each other coming to the checkered flag, and Proctor stole the win by about a foot at the finish line. After leading all but the final few feet, Bruno was disappointed with the runner-up finish, but offered his congratulations to Proctor in victory lane.
Jason Durgan of Morrisonville, N.Y., battled with championship rival Vince Quenneville Jr. of Brandon, Vt., for fifth place for most of the event as both wrestled with their ill-handling racecars. Durgan benefitted from the lap-44 restart to advance into third place. Brown settled for fourth with Quenneville fifth. The top 10 was completed by Jamy Begor, Billy Lussier, Chuck Bradford, Joey Roberts, and Codie Aubin.
Durgan was able to break out of a tie with Quenneville for the championship point lead entering Sunday’s “Leon Gonyo Memorial” 50-lapper. Quenneville gained two points on Durgan through qualifying heats, but Durgan earned four more that Quenneville in the feature race to take a slim two-point lead (780-778) – the difference of one on-track position in the finale.
In Sportsman Modified preliminary action, Addison, Vt.’s Chuck Bradford – the 2016 Rookie of the Year – won the “Shootout” for non-winners, and Anthony Warren of Shoreham, Vt., won the Mechanics Race.
It was a Germain family affair in the Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegades as R.J. Germain of Bristol, Vt. won the Shootout and his dad, Ray Germain, won the Mechanics Race. Tony Salerno won the qualifying race.
The Portland Glass Mini Stocks were also in action with Garrett Given Sr. of Cornwall, Vt., taking the Shootout. Andrew FitzGerald and Brad Bertrand won qualifying heats.
Fletcher, Vt.’s Stephanie Roberts – wife of Sportsman Modified driver Joey Roberts – won the eight-lap, ladies-only Mini Stock “Powder Puff” race in a wild finish that saw Sami Sargent get airborne in a spectacular crash as she tried to take second place; she was uninjured. Pam Guptil finished second with Katelyn FitzGerald third.
Sunday, September 11 is a jam-packed, two-track day at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. The half-mile Asphalt Track fires up at 1:00 p.m., with the second 50-lap Sportsman Modified race, a 100-lap Late Model event, a Renegade 50, and 25 laps for the Mini Stocks; champions will be crowned in all divisions. At 6:30 p.m., the 3/10-mile Dirt Track is in action with the “Vince Quenneville Sr. Memorial” presented by Interstate All Battery Center. The two-event ticket package is just $25.00 for adults 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 – Vermont 200 Weekend/Heritage Family Credit Union Day
Devil’s Bowl Speedway Asphalt Track – West Haven, VT
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified Feature (50 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (7) Ron Proctor, Charlton, N.Y.
2. (2) Travis Bruno, Morrisonville, N.Y.
3. (10) Jason Durgan, Morrisonville, N.Y.
4. (5) Jackie Brown Jr., Hurley, N.Y.
5. (9) Vince Quenneville Jr., Brandon, Vt.
6. (11) Jamy Begor, Mooers Forks, N.Y.
7. (6) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
8. (9) # Chuck Bradford, Addison, Vt.
9. (3) Joey Roberts, Fletcher, Vt.
10. (14) Codie Aubin, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
11. (12) Ryan McLean, Au Sable Forks, N.Y.
12. (1) Chad White, Fort Ann, N.Y.
13. (4) Jimmy Ryan, Whiting, Vt.
14. (15) Bobby Hackel, Rensselaer, N.Y.
15. (13) Jason Bruno, Morrisonville, N.Y.
Did Not Start: # Matt Bilodeau, Pittsford, Vt.
Heat Winners: Travis Bruno, Jackie Brown Jr.
Shiley Fabrication Hard Charger Award: Jason Durgan
Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck Award: Chad White
Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified Non-Winners Shootout (10 laps)
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (18) # Chuck Bradford, Addison, Vt.
2. (172) Chad White, Fort Ann, N.Y.
Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified Mechanics Race (8 laps)
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver
1. (60) Anthony Warren
2. (172) Matt White
3. (69) Zack Daniels
4. (18) Brian Latuch
Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade Non-Winners Shootout (10 laps)
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (19) R.J. Germain, Bristol, Vt.
2. (71GB) Matt Monaghan, Colchester, Vt.
3. (33) # Alexis Aiken, Claremont, N.H.
4. (26) # Bill Burlingame, Gansevoort, N.Y.
5. (58) Tony Salerno, Mineville, N.Y.
Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade Mechanics Race (8 laps)
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver
1. (19) Ray Germain
2. (33) Dave Aiken
3. (58) Jeremy Carpenter
4. (55) Brandon Larrow
Portland Glass Mini Stock Non-Winners Shootout (10 laps)
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (82G) Garrett Given Sr., Cornwall, Vt.
2. (55) Andrew FitzGerald, West Rutland, Vt.
3. (802) # Brett Wood, Georgia, Vt.
4. (0) # Kaleb Shepard, New Haven, Vt.
5. (555) # Roo Forrest, West Rutland, Vt.
6. (22) Johnny Bruno, Castleton, Vt.
Portland Glass Mini Stock “Powder Puff” (8 laps)
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver
1. (50X) Stephanie Roberts
2. (55VT) Pam Guptil
3. (55) Katelyn FitzGerald
4. (05) Kyra White
5. (08X) Becky LaFountain
6. (7) Tonia Bouchard
7. (94) Nikki LaRock
8. (555) Kathy FitzGerald
9. (22) Alayne Bruno
10. (11) Sami Sargent