Swamp Shocks Devil’s Bowl Field at “Matty B Memorial”

WEST HAVEN, VT—Akwesasne, NY’s Fire Swamp led every lap of Saturday’s season-opening, 32-lap Sunoco Sportsman Modified feature and collected $3200.00, which was presented by Black Diamond Builders and 32B Storage in memory of Matt Bilodeau. Gary English, Jr., Matt Wade, Quinn Quenneville, Griff Mahoney and Eric Friend also picked up wins on the day.

A more-than-healthy crowd was on hand to witness the beginning of a new racing season, and young Fire Swamp started it off with a bang.

Swamp took advantage of a good pill draw to start on the front row of his heat race and win it, before using his front row starting position to lead every lap of the feature. He was challenged at the end by Orwell, V.t.’s Tim Laduc, but the North County youngster held off Devil’s Bowl’s reigning champion and landed in victory lane. Anthony Warren was 3rd. Justin Comes and Dave Camara rounded out the top five.

In the O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Feature, Gary English, Jr. returned to victory lane, using his 4th-to-1st heat race run to start on the outside of the front row. When polesitter Kyle Kerr hit an infield tire on lap one, English drove out front on the top side and stayed there, fending off a late challenge from Scott Towslee to grab the win. Cody O’Brien finished 3rd in his return to Devil’s Bowl, Mike Clark was 4th and John Gosselin finished 5th.

In the Hoosier Tire Novie Sportsman, it was Matt Wade and Nick Austin-Neil trading the lead a few times with Wade eventually coming out on top. Autin-Neil went under Wade on the bottom when the top seemed like the place to be, and Wade made the bottom work to slip by again and grab his first career open-wheel victory. Josh Bussino was 3rd, Logan Denis was an impressive 4th and fellow true-rookie Aiden Benoure was 5th.

For Friend Construction Mini Sprint driver Quinn Quenneville, Saturday was a day he will not likely ever forget. His father, Andy, a staple mechanic in the pit area, was best friends with the late Matt Bilodeau, whom Saturday’s race was in memory of. Carrying Bilodeau’s colors, black and fluorescent red, Quenneville finished 3rd in his heat and the random invert put him on the pole for the feature. Quenneville was perfect, holding off Gage Provencher for the win. Chris Lenox was 3rd, stalwart Ray Hanson was 4th and Vern Woodard was 5th.

In full-fendered competition, Griff Mahoney drove from 6th position to win the Fisher Auto Parts Mini Stock Feature. Defending champion Brian Blake charged from 11th to finish 2nd. Sophomore competitor Ryan Patch rounded out the podium, while Craig Kirby and Mark Mahoney completed the top five.

Eric Friend won the 9th State Cannabis Crown Vic feature from the 4th starting position. Friend, known for his all-out approach to spectator racing, enduros and support of the mini sprint division, drove the #4 Friend Construction car to victory lane, besting nine other drivers in the growing class. Brad Cram, Norman Morrill, completed the podium.

OFFICIAL RESULTS – Black Diamond Builders 58th Season Opener

Devil’s Bowl Speedway – West Haven, Vt.

Saturday, May 4, 2024

 Sunoco Sportsman Modified Feature (32 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown# – denotes rookie

  1. (1) Fire Swamp, Akwesasne, N.Y.
  2. (7) Tim LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.
  3. (5) Anthony Warren, Shoreham, Vt.
  4. (9) Justin Comes, Fair Haven, Vt.
  5. (18) Dave Camara, Poultney, Vt.
  6. (21) Walter J Hammond, Canaan, N.H.
  7. (10) Joey Scarborough, Brandon, Vt.
  8. (3) # Craig Wholey, Bolton Landing, N.Y.
  9. (8) Travis Green, Walkill, N.Y.
  10. (15) Dom Roselli, Middletown, N.Y.
  11. (6) Kevin Chaffee, Bradford, Vt.
  12. (20) Justin Stone, Middlebury, Vt.
  13. (11) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
  14. (2) Derrick McGrew, Jr, Ballston Spa, N.Y.
  15. (12) Troy Audet, Bridport, Vt.
  16. (14) Josh Leclaire, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
  17. (16) Jimmy Ryan, Whiting, Vt.
  18. (22) Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald, Gansevoort, N.Y.
  19. (19) # Randy Ryan, Orwell, Vt.
  20. (29) Frankie Hoard, III, Manchester, Vt.
  21. (4) Vince Quenneville, Jr, Brandon, Vt.
  22. (24) Adam Piper, Leicester, Vt.
  23. (31) Walt Hammond, Jr, Canaan, N.H.
  24. (28) Brian Whittemore, Pittsford, Vt.
  25. (30) Marty Kelly, III, Shaftsbury, Vt.
  26. (17) James Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
  27. (23) Bubba McPhee, Rutland, Vt.
  28. (25) Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.
  29. (13) Tanner Siemons, Orford, N.H.
  30. (26) Brent Warren, Salisbury, Vt.
  31. (27) Bruce Loomis, Salem, N.Y.

Did Not Qualify: AJ Munger, Ryan Christian, Floyd Billington, Pat Miner

Heat Winners: Craig Wholey, Derrick McGrew, Jr, Fire Swamp, Vince Quenneville

Consi Winner: Justin Stone

Elmo’s Pit Stop Hard Charger Award: Walter J Hammond (+17)

O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman Feature (25 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

  1. (2) Gary Enlgish, Jr, Salisbury, Vt.
  2. (7) Scott Towslee, Manchester, Vt.
  3. (9) Cody O’Brien, Springfield, Vt.
  4. (6) # Mike Clark, Salsibury, Vt.
  5. (8) John Gosselin, Shoreham, Vt.
  6. (4) Bob Kilburn, Far Haven, Vt.
  7. (11) Steve Pope, Shoreham, Vt.
  8. (16) # William Lussier, Jr, Fair Haven, Vt.
  9. (12) Alex Layn, New Haven, Vt.
  10.  (5) William Duprey, Hydeville, Vt.
  11.  (10) Jason Quenneville, Queechee, Vt.
  12.  (1) Kyle Kerr, Shoreham, Vt.
  13.  (3) Kamden Duffy, Richmond, N.H.
  14.  (14) Anthony Ryan, Benson, Vt.
  15.  (17) Charlotte Morin, Saint-Cesaire, Quebec
  16.  (22) # Adam Lafountain, Starksboro, Vt.
  17.  (20) # Randy Edson, Orwell, Vt.
  18.  (23) # Don Williams, Ripton, Vt.
  19.  (25) # Boomer Patterson, Milton, Vt.
  20.  (13) Fred Little, Salisbury, Vt.
  21.  (18) # Eric Shaw, Benson, Vt.
  22.  (21) # Tyler Travis, Hartland, Vt.
  23.  (19) #Derrick Counter, Leicester, Vt.
  24.  (15) Timmy Aldrighetti, Braintree, Vt.
  25.  (24) Ed Bell, Queensbury, N.Y.
  26.  (26) Steve Miller, Vergennes, Vt.

Did Not Start: Marty Hutchins

Heat Winners: Kamden Duffy, Gary English, Jr, Kyle Kerr

Hoosier Tire Novice Sportsman Feature (20 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

  1. (2) Matt Wade, Fair Haven, Vt.
  2. (4) Nick Austin-Neil, Salisbruy, Vt.
  3. (3) Josh Bussino, Fair Haven, Vt.
  4. (5) # Logan Denis, Whiting, Vt.
  5. (11) # Aiden Benoure, Salisbury, Vt.
  6. (1) Bobbi Hults, Castleton, Vt.
  7. (6) # Matt Cram, Leicester, Vt.
  8. (7) Jason Kerr, Shoreham,. Vt.
  9. (8) #Raelin Dunham, Queensbury, N.Y.
  10.  (10) # Keegan Tabor, Randolph, Vt.
  11.  (7) Russ Farr, Middle Granville, N.Y.

Did Not Start: Eric Leno

Heat Winners: Nick Austin-Neil, Josh Bussino

Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint Feature (20 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

  1. (1) Quinn Quenneville, Brandon, Vt.
  2. (3) Gage Provencher, Bridport, Vt.
  3. (4) Chris Lennox, Eagle Bridge, N.Y.
  4. (5) Ray Hansdon, Orwell, Vt.
  5. (2) Vern Woodard, Fair Haven, Vt.
  6. (6) John Carleton, Chittenden, Vt.
  7. (7) Kevin Smith, Brandon, Vt.
  8. (9) Ashleigh Kulzer, Johnstown, N.Y.
  9. (8) Tommie Kasuba, Castleton, Vt.
  10.  (11) # Levi Cram, Leicester, Vt.
  11.  (15) Brandon Emerson, Williamstown, Vt.
  12.  (12) Destin, St. Clair, Peru, N.Y.
  13. (10) Alyssa Vanderpool, Sayre, PA
  14.  (13) Alex Reed, Proctor, Vt.
  15.  (14) Tucker Jones, Fort Plain, N.Y.

Did Not Start: Jenna Zakrewski

Heat Winners: John Carleton, Ray Hanson

Fisher Auto Parts Mini Stock A-Feature (15 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

  1. (6) Griff Mahoney, Benson, Vt.
  2. (11) Brian Blake, Cornwall, Vt.
  3. (7) Ryan Patch, Rutland, Vt.
  4. (9) Craig Kirby, St. Albans, Vt.
  5. (12) Mark Mahoney, Brandon, Vt.
  6. (5) Jarrod Colburn, Rutland, Vt.
  7. (8) Ron Alger, Orwell, Vt.
  8. (14) Jacob Mallory, Granville, N.Y.
  9. (3) Austin McKirryher, Proctor, Vt.
  10. (13) TJ Knight, Wells, Vt.
  11. (20) Jeremy Bronwell, Greenwhich, N.Y.
  12. (10) Jakobee Alger, Orwell, Vt.
  13. (17) Chris Charbonneau, Rutland, Vt.
  14. (18) Adam Stewart, Benson, Vt.
  15. (21) Quinton Bishop, Whiting, Vt.
  16. (2) Adam Mahoney, Whitehall, N.Y.
  17. (16 Chase Allen, Fair Haven, Vt.
  18. (19) Donald Olden, Poultney, Vt.
  19. (4) Tom Severance, Fair Haven, Vt.
  20. (1) Luke Marcheski, Quincy, M.A.

Did Not Start: Richard Fleury

Heat Winners: Mark Mahoney, Brian Blake, Jakobee Alger

 Mini Stock B-Feature (6 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

  1. (2) Chris Sumner, East Middlebury, Vt.
  2. (8) Logan Martin, South Royalton, Vt.
  3. (1) Nick Melotti, Mendon, Vt.
  4. (9) Nick Stark, Pawlet, Vt.
  5. (3) Carl Lapoint, Wells, Vt.
  6. (4) Tim Robinson, Center Rutland, Vt.
  7. (5) Cory Collins, Essex, Vt.
  8. (10) Cody Vanguilder, Rutland, Vt.

Did Not Start: Damian Olden, Christopher Hewitt, Mary Gardner, Alton McCoy

9th State Cannabis Crown Vic Feature (15 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

  1. (4) # Eric Friend, Bristol, Vt.
  2. (5) # Bradford Cram, Rutland, Vt.
  3. (3) Norman Morrill, North Ferrisburgh, Vt.
  4. (2) # Ron Tollner, Johnstown, N.Y.
  5. (1) Rob Steele, Bomoseen, Vt.
  6. (6) # Elisabeth DuPont, Monkton, Vt.
  7. (8) # Helen Steele, Bomoseen, Vt.
  8. (9) Scott Cram, Rutland, Vt.

Did Not Start: Albert Laplante

Heat Winners: Eric Friend

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