Aube, FitzGerald snap long winless droughts; Bradford goes for three-peat
WEST HAVEN, VT – Vince Quenneville Jr. is keeping things interesting at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. The veteran stock car driver sailed to his third victory of the season on Friday, August 21 and tightened an already-close championship battle. Other winners at the event, which was sponsored by Brown’s Quarried Slate and Brown’s Orchard & Farm Stand, included Jamie Aube, Scott FitzGerald, and Chuck Bradford.
Quenneville’s win came in the Bond Auto Parts Modified division of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series presented by Yandow Sales & Service and John Deere. Codie Aubin of Plattsburgh, NY looked the part of a first-time winner by leading the caution-free 30-lap race by a substantial margin, but Brandon, VT racer Quenneville reeled him and completed the pass for the lead with eight laps remaining.
Aubin held on for the runner-up finish, the best result of his career at Devil’s Bowl. Ron Proctor of Charlton, NY finished third in spite of mid-race contact between his car and Quenneville’s. Dave Snow matched his career-best finish in fourth place, while Greg Atkins finished fifth.
Proctor and Quenneville entered the event separated by just four points atop the championship standings; Proctor extended his narrow lead through qualifying to six points, but Quenneville chopped the gap down to just two points (655-653) unofficially – the difference of a single on-track position in a feature race.
North Ferrisburgh, VT native Jamie Aube ended a winless skid exactly one week shy of its 22nd anniversary with his first Devil’s Bowl victory in the 30-lap Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model feature. The three-time NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (formerly Busch North Series) champion sparred with Seth Bridge for the first half of the race, with the pair often trading the lead two or more times per lap. Aube officially took the lead over at lap 12 and was out front for the balance of the race. His most recent victory had been in a Busch North race on August 28, 1993 at the former Riverside Park Speedway in Agawam, MA.
Seventeen year-old Walter J. Hammond of Canaan, NH turned an unlucky season around with a strong runner-up finish. Todd Stone of Middlebury, VT held off a charging Robert Bryant Jr. for the final podium spot. Bryant took fourth and unofficially trimmed Josh Masterson’s championship lead to 33 points (507-474); Bobby Therrien finished fifth in the race.
Scott FitzGerald was a happy winner in the 15-lap Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep Renegade feature. Like Aube, the West Rutland, VT racer ended a long drought with his first win on asphalt; his last victory came on the former dirt half-mile at Devil’s Bowl in 1994. FitzGerald led every step of the way; Robert Gordon and Don Franklin, each of Milton, VT, completed the podium finishers.
Chuck Bradford of Addison, VT made it three consecutive wins in the Portland Glass Mini Stock division by taking the 15-lap feature race. Bradford passed early leader Kyle Sorensen to take command at lap 7, then held Sorensen off in the final laps for the win. Ballston Spa, NY racer Sorensen established a career-high mark with the runner-up finish. Point leader Chris LaVair of Gabriels, NY finished third.
Quenneville, Aube, FitzGerald, and Bradford were each presented with special slate trophies cut in the shape of the State of Vermont, courtesy of Brown’s Quarried Slate. A group of young race fans also presented their favorite drivers with tasty treats at intermission for the Thomas Dairy Kids Club “Bake a Cake” event.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is back in action on Friday, August 28 with the annual “Double Stack Night” presented by Sugar & Spice Restaurant and Jones’ Donuts. All four weekly NASCAR divisions will run double features, and the event also hosts the fourth annual Great North American Pancake Eating Championship at intermission. Regular general admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and free for kids age 12 and under. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. and racing begins at 7:00 p.m.
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 – Brown’s Quarried Slate/Brown’s Orchard & Farm Stand Night
Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, VT
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series presented by Yandow Sales & Service and John Deere
Friday, August 21, 2015
Bond Auto Parts Modified Feature (30 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (8) Vince Quenneville Jr., Brandon, VT
2. (1) Codie Aubin, Plattsburgh, NY
3. (7) Ron Proctor, Charlton, NY
4. (3) Dave Snow, Brandon, VT
5. (6) Greg Atkins, Clintonville, NY
6. (9) Leon Gonyo, Chazy, NY
7. (5) Jimmy Ryan, Whiting, VT
8. (4) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, VT
9. (2) # Bob Kilburn, Fair Haven, VT
Heat Winners: Ron Proctor; Leon Gonyo
Semi-Feature Winner: Greg Atkins
Shiley Fabrication Hard Charger Award: Vince Quenneville Jr.
Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck Award: Bob Kilburn
Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model Feature (30 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (4) Jamie Aube, North Ferrisburgh, VT
2. (6) Walter J. Hammond, Canaan, NH
3. (8) Todd Stone, Middlebury, VT
4. (9) Robert Bryant Jr., Brooklyn, CT
5. (11) Bobby Therrien, Hinesburg, VT
6. (2) Seth Bridge, Mendon, VT
7. (5) Steve Miller, Vergennes, VT
8. (12) Chad White, Fort Ann, NY
9. (7) Matt White, Northfield, VT
10. (10) Josh Masterson, Bristol, VT
11. (3) Rich Lowrey Jr., Charlotte, VT
12. (1) Mark Norris, Benson, VT
Heat Winners: Todd Stone; Robert Bryant Jr.
Crazy Horse Racing Winners Circle Challenge: Jamie Aube
Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep Renegade Feature (15 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (2) Scott FitzGerald, West Rutland, VT
2. (6) Robert Gordon, Milton, VT
3. (1) Don Franklin, Milton, VT
4. (5) Jimmy Bushey, Mooers Forks, NY
5. (3) Jared Blake, North Hero, VT
6. (4) # Tony Salerno, Mineville, NY
7. (7) # Matt Monaghan, Colchester, VT
Heat Winner: Scott FitzGerald
Bond Auto Parts Hard Charger Award: Robert Gordon
Portland Glass Mini Stock Feature (15 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (8) Chuck Bradford, Addison, VT
2. (2) Kyle Sorensen, Ballston Spa, NY
3. (7) Chris LaVair, Gabriels, NY
4. (4) John McCarron, Rensselaer, NY
5. (10) # Bradley Bertrand, Ferrisburgh, VT
6. (5) Bobby LaVair, Hickory, NC
7. (1) Kyle Watrous, Bomoseen, VT
8. (6) # Tanner Crary, Saranac Lake, NY
9. (9) Andrew FitzGerald, West Rutland, VT
10. (3) Harold LaVair Jr., Gabriels, NY
Heat Winners: Chris LaVair; Chuck Bradford
Bond Auto Parts Hard Charger Award: Chuck Bradford
