Hackel Back on Track with Third Win at Devil’s Bowl Speedway

By admin July 20, 2020 Devil's Bowl

Warren nabs his second in Limited Sportsman class

WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Bobby Hackel did not let a bump in the road get him down, and instead got right back on the winning track at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Sunday, July 19. Hackel’s win was the headline moment of the night, which also saw Anthony Warren, Andrew FitzGerald, Willie Rice, and Kamden Duffy visit victory lane.

Hackel lost the championship point lead in the Pepsi Sportsman Modified division during the week due to a scoring recheck on a previous race, but he made up for it with an authoritative drive to his third feature win of the season. The fourth-generation Rensselaer, N.Y., racer survived a rough-and-tumble start to the 30-lapper which saw a spate of caution periods in the early laps, then drove from his 17th starting position into the lead on lap 10 and ran away uncontested.

Rookie Justin Stone of Middlebury, Vt., almost stole the show, however, taking the lead at lap 6 from veteran Alex Bell and pacing the field for four laps. Stone might have made a bid for the upset were it not for a restart, at which point Hackel zoomed up to the front and never looked back. Stone held on for during a long green-flag run to finish second. Jimmy Ryan, Justin Comes, and Bell rounded out the top five, each turning a stretch of bad luck around; for Bell, the finish was first of the year inside the top 20.

Adam Pierson battled late with Derrick McGrew Jr. to finish sixth, and 13-year-old McGrew had his best Devil’s Bowl result in seventh. Kenny Tremont Jr., Tim LaDuc, and Demetrios Drellos completed the top 10 in order. Ryan, Stone, and rookie Marty Hutchins won the qualifying heats, and Pierson took the last-chance consolation race. Jack Speshock of Malta, N.Y., won the B-Feature for non-qualifiers, with rookie James Hanson second and Kevin Chaffee third.

Unofficially, Hackel now sits in a tie for the point lead with fellow three-time winner Pierson, at 296 points apiece. Previous leader Drellos is third, just five points back at 291. LaDuc is fourth at 253 with Joey Scarborough fifth at 248.

Shoreham, Vt.’s Anthony Warren rebounded from a tough outing last week to grab his second victory of the season in the 20-lap O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman feature. Warren started on the front row and led every lap, despite a pair of restarts. Point leader Johnny Bruno, who also had trouble last week, finished second, and Austin Comes came from 11th to take third place.

Gary English was a career-best fourth, and Matt Bilodeau drove from the back of the pack after an early jumble to complete the top five. Anthony Ryan was next in line, followed by Randy Ryan, Mike McGinn, Jeff White, and Kevin Groff. Warren and Lacey Hanson won the qualifying heats. Bruno leads Warren, unofficially, by nine points in the standings, 316-307. Bilodeau is third at 304, and Comes and Anthony Ryan are tied in fourth at 292 each.

Patience was a saving grace for Andrew FitzGerald in the 15-lap Super Stock feature, and it landed him in the winner’s circle for the third time this summer. The race in front of the West Rutland, Vt., driver was a barnburner as Bill Duprey and Jim McKiernan slugged it out in a full-contact battle for the lead; they traded the top spot four times officially before McKiernan finally spun with three laps to go. FitzGerald, who was tight to Duprey’s rear bumper throughout, pounced at the restart and drove off for the win. Duprey was second, and Curtis Condon beat Cam Gadue by inches at the line – three-thousandths of a second on the electronic scoring loop – for third place. McKiernan rebounded for fifth.

The 20-lap Mini Stock feature turned into the “Rice & Beans Show” as Willie Rice and Katrina Bean finished 1-2, marking the best finish in either driver’s career; Poultney, Vt., racer Rice was the division’s fourth first-time winner in a row. Point leader Chris Conroy came from 15th starting position to take third. Early race leader T.J. Knight finished fourth, and Tim Simonds completed the top five.

What Kamden Duffy may lack in size, he made up for with a heavy right foot, and the diminutive 12-year-old dominated the 15-lap Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint race for the first Devil’s Bowl feature win of his young career. Rookie Troy Audet took his fourth podium finish of his freshman season, and point leader Cody O’Brien finished third. Samantha Mulready and rookie Kaidin White rounded out the top five.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway has a doubleheader weekend on tap for July 25-26. On Saturday night at 7:30 p.m., the ground-pounding Small Block “358” Modifieds return for a 35-lap, $1,500-to-win tune-up for the August’s “Battle at the Bowl” event; they’ll be joined by the Limited Sportsman and Mini Stock divisions on Saturday. On Sunday night at 7:00 p.m., all five of Devil’s Bowl’s weekly divisions will be in action, and the full-fender Pro Stocks return for the first time in two years.

Limited grandstand seating and infield drive-in spectator parking will be available both nights. Grandstand tickets are $15 each night or $25 for the weekend, and infield tickets are $20 each night or $35 for the weekend. Tickets will be for sale online at https://buytickets.at/devilsbowlspeedway (online processing fees apply), or at the speedway on race night.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, Vt., four miles north of U.S. Route 4, Exit 2, 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, Instagram, and Snapchat at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

Devil’s Bowl Speedway – West Haven, Vt.

Sunday, July 19, 2020

Pepsi Sportsman Modified Feature (30 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

  1. (17) Bobby Hackel, Rensselaer, N.Y.
  2. (3) # Justin Stone, Middlebury, Vt.
  3. (4) Jimmy Ryan, Whiting, Vt.
  4. (6) Justin Comes, Middlebury, Vt.
  5. (1) Alex Bell, Cambridge, N.Y.
  6. (19) Adam Pierson, East Corinth, Vt.
  7. (5) Derrick McGrew Jr., Ballston Spa, N.Y.
  8. (15) Kenny Tremont Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.
  9. (21) Tim LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.
  10. (26) Demetrios Drellos, Queensbury, N.Y.
  11. (23) Frank Hoard III, Manchester Center, Vt.
  12. (12) Brent Warren, Salisbury, Vt.
  13. (16) Joey Scarborough, Brandon, Vt.
  14. (20) Tanner Siemons, Orford, N.H.
  15. (8) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
  16. (7) # Marty Hutchins, Poultney, Vt.
  17. (14) Mike Palmer, Salisbury, Vt.
  18. (22) Jamy Begor, Mooers Forks, N.Y.
  19. (13) Dylan Rabtoy, Swanton, Vt.
  20. (18) Travis Bruno, Morrisonville, N.Y.
  21. (2) # Adam Piper, Leicester, Vt.
  22. (10) Brian Whittemore, Pittsford, Vt.
  23. (9) # Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.
  24. (11) Jake Scarborough, Brandon, Vt.

Heat Winners: Jimmy Ryan, Marty Hutchins, Justin Stone

Consi Winner: Adam Pierson

Pepsi Sportsman Modified B-Feature (12 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

  1. (1) Jack Speshock, Malta, N.Y.
  2. (3) # James Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
  3. (4) Kevin Chaffee, Bradford, Vt.
  4. (2) Marty Kelly III, North Bennington, Vt.
  5. (7) Griffen Mansmith, Gloversville, N.Y.
  6. (5) Bruce Loomis, Queensbury, N.Y.
  7. (6) Chris Murray, Fair Haven, Vt.

Did Not Start: Vince Quenneville, Brandon, Vt.; John St. Germain Jr.; West Sand Lake, N.Y.

O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman Feature (20 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

  1. (2) Anthony Warren, Shoreham, Vt.
  2. (5) Johnny Bruno, Castleton, Vt.
  3. (11) Austin Comes, Middlebury, Vt.
  4. (8) Gary English, Salisbury, Vt.
  5. (9) Matt Bilodeau, Brandon, Vt.
  6. (12) Anthony Ryan, Benson, Vt.
  7. (18) Randy Ryan, Orwell, Vt.
  8. (16) Mike McGinn, Elizabethtown, N.Y.
  9. (14) Jeff White, Rutland, Vt.
  10. (4) Kevin Groff, Wynantskill, N.Y.
  11. (6) Lacey Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
  12. (13) Garrett Given, Orwell, Vt.
  13. (1) Montgomery Tremont, West Sand Lake, N.Y.
  14. (10) Evan Roberts, Fletcher, Vt.
  15. (7) Shawn McPhee, Rutland, Vt.
  16. (3) Scott FitzGerald, West Rutland, Vt.
  17. (15) Bryon Linendoll, West Pawlet, Vt.
  18. (17) Josh Bussino, Mount Holly, Vt.

Heat Winners: Lacey Hanson, Anthony Warren

O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman Feature (15 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

  1. (3) Andrew FitzGerald, West Rutland, Vt.
  2. (5) Bill Duprey, Hydeville, Vt.
  3. (7) Curtis Condon, Queensbury, N.Y.
  4. (6) Cam Gadue, Highgate, Vt.
  5. (4) Jim McKiernan, Moriah Center, N.Y.
  6. (2) Ronnie Alger, Orwell, Vt.
  7. (8) Tony Salerno, Mineville, N.Y.
  8. (1) Russ Farr, Middle Granville, N.Y.

Mini Stock Feature (20 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

  1. (5) Willie Rice, Poultney, Vt.
  2. (6) Katrina Bean, Benson, Vt.
  3. (15) Chris Conroy, Newport, N.H.
  4. (8) T.J. Knight, Wells, Vt.
  5. (9) Tim Simonds, Clarendon, Vt.
  6. (12) Craig Kirby, St. Albans, Vt.
  7. (13) Jake Barrows, Middlebury, Vt.
  8. (1) # Adam Stewart, Benson, Vt.
  9. (7) Brian Blake, Cornwall, Vt.
  10. (2) # Freddy Burch, Middle Granville, N.Y.
  11. (17) # Cody Groesbeck, Fair Haven, Vt.
  12. (18) Joe Malzac, East Middlebury, Vt.
  13. (19) Jake Fountain, Dannemora, N.Y.
  14. (11) Michael Daniels, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
  15. (4) # Tom Severance, Fair Haven, Vt.
  16. (16) Dakota Desabrais, Hampton, N.Y.
  17. (14) # Chris Sumner, Ripton, Vt.
  18. (3) Justin Allen, Forest Dale, Vt.
  19. (10) # Griff Mahoney, Brandon, Vt.

Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint Feature (15 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

  1. (3) Kamden Duffy, Richmond, N.H.
  2. (6) # Troy Audet, Bridport, Vt.
  3. (9) Cody O’Brien, Springfield, Vt.
  4. (7) Samantha Mulready, Cambridge, N.Y.
  5. (1) # Kaidin White, Monkton, Vt.
  6. (8) Austin Chaves, Chester, Vt.
  7. (4) Dakota Green, Cambridge, N.Y.
  8. (5) # Roger LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.
  9. (13) Scott Layton, Poultney, Vt.
  10. (2) John McPhee Jr., Rutland, Vt.
  11. (12) Nadine Coates, Newport, N.H.
  12. (10) # Hunter Given, Orwell, Vt.

Did Not Start: # Arnie Kasuba, Castleton, Vt.

Sources: Justin St. Louis/Devil’s Bowl Speedway PR