Laduc Collects “Bounty at the Bowl”
WEST HAVEN, VT – Just call Tim Laduc “The Bounty Hunter.”
Inspired by a bounty put up by the Richards family and the fans to any driver who could keep points leader Ken Tremont Jr. out of victory lane, Laduc wasted little time getting to the front of the pack and went on to record his first win of the season in the 30-lap 358 modified feature Sunday night at Devil’s Bowl Speedway.
Tremont came into the night having won six of the eight features run at the Bowl this season, prompting the Richards family to put up a $250 bonus for any driver who could get to victory lane ahead of Tremont, as long as he was still running at the end. The fans at the Bowl also kicked in $150, allowing Laduc to walk off with $1,400.
Laduc started third, which proved to be a good place to be early in the feature, as it allowed him to steer clear of some major problems that were taking place behind him.
On lap four, Jimmy Davis hit the wall in turn three and flipped his modified, and one lap later, Don Ackner also did a number after hitting the wall in turn one. Laduc had used the restart on lap four to get the lead, but couldn’t pull away, as two more yellows kept the pace of the feature at a crawl.
Another caution came out on lap 11, when Erik Mack spun out, but when the field started to click off some green flag laps, Laduc began to show just how fast he really was.
Gene Munger also had a fast car and moved up to second on lap 15. When Chris Vernold spun and brought out another yellow on lap 19, the fans were finally treated to some good racing, as Laduc was running the high groove and Munger was staying low in his bid to get to the front.
As hard as Munger tried, he couldn’t find enough power to get around Laduc, who came away with his ninth career win at the Bowl. Munger finished second for the second time this year, while Todd Stone made a late charge to finish third, right behind Munger.
Ron Proctor crossed the finish line fourth, with Tremont getting up for fifth after starting 17th in the 27-car field. Completing the top 10 were Mike Bruno, Don Scarborough, C.V. Elms, Vince Quenneville Jr., and Ray Hoard.
Km Duell held off Rob Langevin to get his first win of the season at the Bowl in the 25-lap pro-street stock division, breaking Langevin’s two-race winning streak in the process.
Cautions plagued the early laps of the feature, which allowed Langevin, who had started 13th, to get the front and take the lead after just five laps.
Duell, who had started right behind Langevin, also didn’t waste any time, and was up to third after 10 laps. Another restart helped Duell take over second, and on lap 18, he had the lead, although Langevin was running right on his door handle.
Langevin, running the outside, edged back in front on lap 22, but Duell never let off the throttle and put the Lazzaro Motorsports car back into the lead with two laps to go. Duell beat Langevin to the finish line by 0.182 seconds, with Jeff Washburn further back in third.
Curtis Condon also made his first visit of the season to victory lane, winning the 15-lap limited feature. Condon waited until the last possible minute, using a last-lap pass to nip Kevin Elliot at the finish line. Adam Piper, who already has five wins under his belt, finished third.
Mini-stocks were also in action Sunday night, with Mike Duclos dominating the 15-lapper and getting his fourth victory of the season. Ron Zagata was a distant second, with Bruce Taylor Jr. third.
Devil’s Bowl will be back in action Sunday night with its annual Mountain Man Weekend, sponsored by Friends in Adoption, which will include a 40-lap enduro. Racing will begin at 7 p.m.
MODIFIEDS: TIM LADUC, Gene Munger, Todd Stone, Ron Proctor, Ken Tremont Jr., Mike Bruno, Don Scarborough, C.V. Elms, Vince Quenneville Jr., Ray Hoard, Robert King, Rick Davis, Elmo Reckner, Mike Perrotte, Gardner Stone, Scott Duell, Shawn Cassidy, Chris Vernold, Erik Mack, John Calcagni Jr., Jimmy Ryan, Frank Hoard Sr., Matt Depew, Brian Whittemore, Don Ackner, Dustin Delaney, Jimmy Davis.
PRO-STREET STOCKS: KIM DUELL, Rob Langevin, Jeff Washburn, Mike Lussier, Dan Eastman, Jim Groncki, Carl Cram, Carl Vladyka, Bob Schmidt, Jonah Rule, Donnie Williams, Jon Bates, Charles Towslee, Will Hull, Jeremie Younger, Lori Cary, Justin Perry, Mike Buzzell, Walt Brownell Jr., Bernie Companion, Bill Smith IV, Jake Losaw.. DQ: Cale Kneer.
LIMITEDS: CURTIS CONDON, Kevin Elliot, Adam Piper, Randy Alger, Jared McMahon, Bull Duprey, Adam Forbes, John Russo, Joey Trudeau, Steve Holcomb, Mark Burch, Mark Wallett, Joe Ladd, Tony Condon, Steve Burch, Jeremy Jones, Mike Clark, Shannon Donnelly, D.J. Brundige.
MINI-STOCKS: MIKE DUCLOS (6), Ron Zagata (6), Bruce Taylor Jr. (4), Neal Warner (6), Cliff White (4), Shawn Anagnos (4), Tim Anagnos (6), Jeff Smith, C.J. Vitagliano, Tim Reed, Bill Parker, Tim Brooks.
Sources: Devil’s Bowl Speedway