Mueller Returns to Devil’s Bowl Winner’s Circle
Bushey wins again in Late Models
WEST HAVEN, VT – Rising stock car racing star Jessey Mueller posted his second NASCAR Whelen All-American Series victory of the season in the Bond Auto Parts Modified division on Whelen Engineering “Hometown Heroes” Night at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Friday, June 22. The 17-year-old from Olmstedville, NY had a convincing drive from eighth starting position to take the lead from Jamie Proctor at the halfway point, then drove away to the win in the 35-lap main event.
Mueller had suffered through tough luck and crashes in recent weeks but credited the victory to his family-based team.
“My dad and my mom pour everything into this race car with their Mueller & Sons Heavy Duty Towing business, and this whole team has been working hard. It feels great to win again for them,” Mueller said in victory lane.
Vince Quenneville, Jr., of Brandon, VT had a similarly impressive drive through traffic from his tenth starting position to score the runner-up finish. Schuylerville, NY driver Proctor had his best run of the year in third place; Proctor made a breathtaking move on the outside lane from fourth place into the lead on the opening lap that left fans cheering. Leon Gonyo and Alex Bell completed the unofficial top five.
Craig Bushey continued his outstanding season in the J&S Steel Late Model division, winning for the fourth time in the last five events. Bushey drove from ninth place to the lead and never looked back. Kevin Elliott of Rutland, VT posted a career-best second-place finish despite late side-by-side contact with early leader Danny Sullivan that sent Sullivan spinning. Bryan Town of Charlestown, NH was third, with Boomer Morris and rookie Robert Bryant, Jr., each posting career-best finishes in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Bill Duprey of Hydeville, VT made it back-to-back wins in the Renegade division in a two-segment race. Duprey won the first 10-lap segment to score one point, then finished second to Robert Gordon in the second leg for a total score of three points. Gordon, of Milton, VT, finished third and first for four total points, good enough for the runner-up spot. Jeremy Jones of Leicester, VT was third overall with five points.
Bristol, VT’s Ray Germain, Jr., inherited his second Bomber win of the season following post-race technical inspection. Josh Masterson and Bobby LaVair, who originally crossed the finish line in first and second place, respectively, were each penalized to the rear of the finishing order for having more than the maximum allowable right-front wheel camber. John McCarron of Rennselaer, NY moved up to second place with Jake Noble of Benson, VT third.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is back in action on Friday, June 29 at 7:30pm as Interstate All Battery Center of Rutland, VT presents a full card for NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bond Auto Parts Modifieds, J&S Steel Late Models, Renegades, and Bombers, plus the first 4&6-cylinder Enduro race of the season. Rules and entry blanks for the Enduro are available online at www.devilsbowlspeedwayvt.com. Regular general admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors (62+), and free for children 12 and under. Gates open at 5:00pm, racing starts at 7:30pm.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, VT, four miles north of Exit 2 on US Route 4. For more information, call (802) 265-3112 or click www.devilsbowlspeedwayvt.com. Devil’s Bowl Speedway is on Facebook at facebook.com/devilsbowlspeedway and Twitter at @DevilsBowlSpeed.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Whelen Engineering “Hometown Heroes” Night
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, VT
Friday, June 22, 2012
Bond Auto Parts Modified Feature (35 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (8) Jessey Mueller, Olmstedville, NY
2. (10) Vince Quenneville, Jr., Brandon, VT
3. (4) Jamie Proctor, Schuylerville, NY
4. (11) Leon Gonyo, Chazy, NY
5. (9) Alex Bell, Cambridge, NY
6. (5) Cody Sargen, Greenfield Center, NY
7. (12) Ron Proctor, Charlton, NY
8. (7) Hunter Bates, Middlebury, VT
9. (3) # Joey Roberts, Georgia, VT
10. (15) Jason Bruno, Plattsburgh, NY
11. (14) Joe Williams, Scotia, NY
12. (2) # Jeff Haskins, Wells, VT
13. (13) Dave Snow, Brandon, VT
14. (1) # Andy Smith, South Glens Falls, NY
15. (6) Mike Bush, Hudson Falls, NY
Heat Winners: Jessey Mueller, Cody Sargen
J&S Steel Late Models (30 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
1. (9) Craig Bushey, Fairfax, VT
2. (4) Kevin Elliott, Rutland, VT
3. (6) Bryan Town, Charlestown, NH
4. (8) Boomer Morris, Barre, VT
5. (13) # Robert Bryant, Jr., Brooklyn, CT
6. (6) Matt White, Northfield, VT
7. (10) Joey Laquerre, East Montpelier, VT
8. (5) Dan Petronis, II, Mechanicville, NY
9. (1) # Johnny Chesnut, Grantham, NH
10. (12) # Jesse Carris, Rutland, VT
11. (3) Norm Andrews, Northfield, VT
12. (2) # Danny Sullivan, Morrisonville, NY
13. (11) # Tom Eriksen, Jr., West Ferrisburgh, VT
Heat Winners: Matt White, Craig Bushey
Renegade (10 laps x 2)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown-(Total Score)
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (3) Bill Duprey, Hydeville, VT (3 pts.)
2. (4) Robert Gordon, Milton, VT (4 pts.)
3. (1) Jeremy Jones, Leicester, VT (5 pts.)
4. (2) Ryan Keith, Pittsford, VT (8 pts.)
Segment Winners: Bill Duprey, Robert Gordon
Heat Winner: Robert Gordon
Bomber (20 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (11) Ray Germain, Jr., Bristol, VT
2. (4) John McCarron, Rennselaer, NY
3. (1) Jake Noble, Benson, VT
4. (2) Garrett Given, Cornwall, VT
5. (7) Dan Collins, Rennselaer, NY
6. (5) Matt Monaghan, Colchester, VT
7. (3) # Gerald LaFlam, Hinesburg, VT
8. (10) Harold LaVair, Gabriels, NY
9. (13) # Kyle Watrous, Niantic, CT
10. (6) # Anthony Alger, Warrensburg, NY
11. (14) # Shane Doran, Benson, VT
12. (9) Mitchell Dundon, Orwell, VT
13. (12) # Josh Masterson, Bristol, VT (penalty)
14. (8) Bobby LaVair, Gabriels, NY (penalty)
Heat Winners: Josh Masterson, Garrett Given
Sources: Devil’s Bowl Speedway
PHOTO: (L-R) Third-place Jamie Proctor, winner Jessey Mueller, and runner-up Vince Quenneville, Jr., in Whelen Engineering victory lane at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Friday. (MemorEvents photo)