Tremont is King, Hackel is Champion at Devil’s Bowl Speedway Dirt Track
Duprey, Ryan, Gray wrap up championships
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Kenny Tremont Jr. was the dominant winner of the 50th season finale at the Dirt Track at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday, October 1, taking The Stove Depot “King of the Clay” 100. While Tremont won the race, it was Bobby Hackel winning the weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series war, sealing up the Dirt Track championship on his 22nd birthday. Also claiming titles were Bill Duprey, Mike Ryan, and Cory Gray.
Seven-time Devil’s Bowl champion Tremont reversed his late-season streak of bad luck with an untouchable performance in the 100-lap finale for the Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified division. The West Sand Lake, N.Y., veteran started on the pole position by virtue of a low handicap after recent struggles and took full advantage by pulling away from the field early and never facing a true challenge.
A rash of caution periods slowed the event – including one red flag for a flip by Justin Comes, who was uninjured and continued in the race, and another to fix seeping water in Turn 3 – but Tremont held steady at every restart and sailed to his third win of the season, copping a $2,000 payday. Tim LaDuc and Adam Pierson fought tooth-and-nail for the runner-up position for much of the race, and Pierson was able to sneak in front of LaDuc with two laps left, but LaDuc powered back by for the runner-up showing.
Hackel, of Rensselaer, N.Y., finished fourth to complete his title drive, becoming the youngest lead-division track champion in Devil’s Bowl Speedway history. Vince Quenneville Jr., the 2016 NASCAR Vermont State Champion, finished fifth after starting 21st. The top 10 was completed by Jordan Fornwalt, Allan Hammond, Billy Lussier, Brian Whittemore, and Chad Miller. Justin Severance of Pittsford, Vt., was named the Rookie of the Year in the Dirt Track weekly standings. Thirty-three cars from three U.S. states and Québec attempted to qualify for 25 starting positions.
Scott FitzGerald of West Rutland, Vt., won the 25-lap feature for the Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade division, dominating the race with his Asphalt Track car. The win was his first on dirt since August 1994. Josh Coonradt finished in second place, while Hydeville, Vt.’s Bill Duprey took the division’s championship with a third-place finish. Matt Mosher and Lou Gancarz completed the top five finishers.
Duprey entered the event trailing Curtis Condon in the point standings, but Condon was out of the country on a business trip and missed the event. Josh Bussino of Mount Holly, Vt., also passed Condon to finish second in points and seal up the Rookie of the Year title.
Aaron Bunker of Newport, N.H., made his season debut a profitable one in the Portland Glass Mini Stock finale, taking home the $500 top prize by defeating a season-high field of 25 cars. The Legion Speedway star started 16th and breezed through traffic to the win. Robert Garney finished second.
Mike Ryan of Vershire, Vt., rebounded from two trips to pit road to finish third in the race and lock up the championship. Wayland Childs and Eric Castiglioni rounded out the top five. Cameron Kennedy of Rochester, Vt., slipped past Chris Charbonneau for the Rookie of the Year title.
Brandon Gray of East Thetford, Vt., won the 50-lap Enduro Series finale. Gray was mostly untested during the race until Eric Messier surprised Gray by passing him for the lead with three laps remaining. Gray regrouped and took the win with Messier second and Brett Wood third. Cory Gray of Rutland, Vt., finished fourth to earn his first championship. Jeff Murray was fifth in the race.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s 50th season of stock car racing is now complete. Details regarding the annual Banquet of Champions with be announced in the near future.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, Vt., four miles north of Exit 2 off of U.S. Route 4 and just 20 minutes from Rutland, Vt. 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.
OFFICIAL RESULTS – The Stove Depot “King of the Clay”
Devil’s Bowl Speedway Dirt Track – West Haven, VT
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified Feature (100 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (1) Kenny Tremont Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.
2. (6) Tim LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.
3. (15) Adam Pierson, East Corinth, Vt.
4. (12) Bobby Hackel, Rensselaer, N.Y.
5. (21) Vince Quenneville Jr., Brandon, Vt.
6. (14) Jordan Fornwalt, Bradford, Vt.
7. (10) Allan Hammond, Canaan, N.H.
8. (7) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
9. (4) Brian Whittemore, Pittsford, Vt.
10. (2) Chad Miller, White River Junction, Vt.
11. (18) Terry Williams, Wells River, Vt.
12. (19) Rich Coons, Montgomery, N.Y.
13. (11) Justin Comes, Middlebury, Vt.
14. (17) Matt Lashua, Canaan, N.H.
15. (25) Codie Aubin, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
16. (22) Wayne Stearns, Bradford, Vt.
17. (5) Jackie Brown Jr., Hurley, N.Y.
18. (8) # Justin Severance, Pittsford, Vt.
19. (3) Jimmy Ryan, Whiting, Vt.
20. (16) Chris Murray, Fair Haven, Vt.
21. (13) Todd Buckwold, Canaan, N.H.
22. (9) Joey Scarborough, Brandon, Vt.
23. (24) Trevor Rocke, Canaan, N.H.
24. (20) Walt Hammond Jr., Canaan, N.H.
25. (23) Mike Block Sr., Ballston Spa, N.Y.
Did Not Qualify: Floyd Billington, Clint Bonner, Reggie Bonner, Ryan Christian, Bob Hackel, Diana Huyck, Darryl Mitchell, Lenny Pillsbury.
Heat Winners: Kenny Tremont Jr., Justin Severance, Todd Buckwold, Jordan Fornwalt
Consi Winner: Vince Quenneville Jr.
B-Main Winner: Ryan Christian
Shiley Fabrication Hard Charger Award: Vince Quenneville Jr.
Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck Award: Darryl Mitchell
Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade Feature (25 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (6) Scott FitzGerald, West Rutland, Vt.
2. (5) Josh Coonradt, Ballston Lake, N.Y.
3. (9) Bill Duprey, Hydeville, Vt.
4. (4) Matt Mosher, Queensbury, N.Y.
5. (1) Lou Gancarz, North Adams, Mass.
6. (7) Jim McKiernan, Moriah Center, N.Y.
7. (2) # Josh Bussino, Mount Holly, Vt.
8. (8) Mark Burch, Fort Edward, N.Y.
9. (3) Larry Bristol, Rutland, Vt.
Heat Winner: Matt Mosher
Bond Auto Parts Hard Charger Award: Bill Duprey
Portland Glass Mini Stock Feature (25 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (16) Aaron Bunker, Newport, N.H.
2. (14) Robert Garney, Fort Edward, N.Y.
3. (13) Mike Ryan, Vershire, Vt.
4. (6) Wayland Childs, Chelsea, Vt.
5. (8) # Eric Castiglioni, Newbury, N.H.
6. (25) Jim Durkee, Hartford, Vt.
7. (10) Derrick Counter, Leicester, Vt.
8. (21) Sean Lantas, Newport, N.H.
9. (5) # Cameron Kennedy, Rochester, Vt.
10. (9) Chris Cardarelli, Milton, Vt.
11. (22) Jake Barrows, Monkton, Vt.
12. (18) Johnny Bruno, Castleton, Vt.
13. (24) Chris Conroy, Newport, N.H.
14. (23) Jonathon Baker, Plymouth, N.H.
15. (7) # Eric Messier, Hinesburg, Vt.
16. (4) # Chris Charbonneau, Rutland, Vt.
17. (17) Jim Cutler, Fort Edward, N.Y.
18. (3) # Roo Forrest, West Rutland, Vt.
19. (15) # Zach Wood, Georgia, Vt.
20. (2) # Josh Swahn, Pittsford, Vt.
21. (19) David Flanders, Warner, N.H.
22. (12) Andrew FitzGerald, West Rutland, Vt.
23. (1) # Kyle Watrous, Bomoseen, Vt.
24. (11) Jason Porter, Freeport, Maine
25. (20) David LaBarge, Glens Falls, N.Y.
Heat Winners: Kyle Watrous, Robert Garney, Jason Porter
Bond Auto Parts Hard Charger Award: Jim Durkee
Enduro Series Feature (50 laps)
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver-Hometown-Laps Complete
1. (00) Brandon Gray, East Thetford, Vt. – 50 Laps
2. (08X) Eric Messier, Hinesburg, Vt. – 50 Laps
3. (802) Brett Wood, Georgia, Vt. – 50 Laps
4. (17) Cory Gray, Rutland, Vt. – 50 Laps
5. (14) Jeff Murray, Fairfax, Vt. – 50 Laps
6. (3D) Dakota Desabrais, Fair Haven, Vt. – 49 Laps
7. (18X) Jake Barrows, Monkton, Vt. – 49 Laps
8. (30) Tommy Kudlacik, Milton, Vt. – 48 Laps
9. (76) Shawn Moquin, Milton, Vt. – 47 Laps
10. (44) Craig Kirby, Winooski, Vt. – 46 Laps
11. (38X) Casey O’Connell, Burlington, Vt. – 43 Laps
12. (22) Ethan White, Hinesburg, Vt. – 40 Laps
13. (20) Zach Wood, Georgia, Vt. – 38 Laps
14. (118X) Jonathan McCluskey, Cornwall, Vt. – 36 Laps
15. (91NH) James Fadden, Plainfield, N.H. – 31 Laps
16. (0) Kaleb Shepard, New Haven, Vt. – 29 Laps
17. (77) Johnny Bruno, Castleton, Vt. – 21 Laps
18. (5) Kyle Botala, Grand Isle, Vt. – 14 Laps
Sources: Justin St. Louis/Devil’s Bowl Speedway PR