WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Akwesasne, N.Y.’s Fire Swamp has been good in 2024. So good, in fact, that he has won two races at Devil’s Bowl and one at Airborne Park in the first month of racing, ran well when he hasn’t won, and earned over $9,000 in prize money in the process.
Swamp began Sunday’s Crate Nationals by turning in the day’s best time trial. He proceeded to win his heat race, and redraw the pole position for the 100-lap feature. All eyes were on the 18-year-old kid, who was coming off a win at Airborne Park and win in this year’s opener at ‘New England’s Fastest Dirt Track.’
The race began with tough luck for top-running Devil’s Bowl regulars, Josh Leclaire and Jimmy Ryan. Leclaire blew a rear end running 2nd in the opening laps, and Ryan suffered a spin in turn four not so long after. Meanwhile, 2020 Vermont 200 Champion and 2021 Sportsman Track Champion Demetrios Drellos was busy, working from 19th starting spot, having made his way into the top-10 by lap 25.
Swamp controlled the field every step of the way, being paced by Brian Calabrese, Kevin Chaffee, Richard Murtaugh and Tyler Corcoran, and then on lap 40, Drellos cracked the top-five.
Instead of his usual black #111 mount, he piloted Dave Rogers’ white and red #44 car. That car pulled into Swamp’s proverbial rear-view mirror on lap 56, during a lengthy green-flag run.
On lap 79, Drellos took the lead.
More trouble would strike for Devil’s Bowl regulars Dave Camara, Tim LaDuc and Frankie Hoard, III during the second-half of the race. LaDuc and Hoard each found themselves spun at one point, Camara appeared to break something at the north end of the track. The separate incidents each drew their own yellows.
On lap 89, Swamp took the lead back. Then, Drellos reclaimed the top spot with 10 to go. They ran side-by-side for the closing laps, with Swamp edging Drellos to the line on 97 and 98, but Drellos cleared him in the middle groove for what looked like good coming to the white flag.
On the final lap, heading into turn three, Swamp drove in deep on the slippery surface, generating an audible gasp from the crowd. He cleared Drellos long enough to slide up in front of him, and Drellos was unable to cross him over in time, watching Swamp drive off to victory.
Brian Calabrese completed the podium with Richard Murtaugh and Tyler Corcoran completing the top-five.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
May 26, 2024
Northeast Crate Nationals Feature (100 laps)
- (1) Fire Swamp, Akwesasne, N.Y.
- (19) Demetrios Drellos, Queensbury, N.Y.
- (7) Brian Calabrese, Johnstown, N.Y.
- (10) Richard Murtaugh, Fulton, N.Y.
- (4) Tyler Corcoran, Central Square, N.Y.
- (6) Vince Quenneville, Jr., Brandon, Vt.
- (16) Dom Roselli, Monticello, N.Y.
- (2) Kevin Chaffee, Bradford, Vt.
- (12) Troy Audet, Bridport, Vt.
- (25) Justin Comes, Fair Haven, Vt.
- (20) Travis Green, Wallkill, N.Y.
- (9) Tim LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.
- (21) Joey Scarborough, Brandon, Vt.
- (24) Bubba McPhee, Rutland, Vt.
- (29) Marty Kelly, III, North Bennington, Vt.
- (23) Tanner Siemons, Orford, N.H.
- (27) Max Dolliver, Londonderry, N.H.
- (26) Randy Ryan, Orwell, Vt.
- (17) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
- (18) Adam Piper, Leicester, Vt.
- (30) AJ Munger, Benson, Vt.
- (13) Johnny Bruno, West Haven, Vt.
- (22) Pat Miner, Monkton, Vt.
- (8) Frankie Hoard, III, Manchester, Vt.
- (28) Brent Warren, Salisbury, Vt.
- (15) Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald, Gansevoort, N.Y.
- (11) Dave Camara, Poultney, Vt.
- (5) Jimmy Ryan, Whiting, Vt.
- (3) Josh Leclaire, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Did not start: Josh Masterson
Did not qualify: Cory Castell, Tad Kingsbury, Anthony Warren, James Hanson, Jim Nagle, Brian Whittemore, Bruce Loomis, Alex Palmer-Sawyer