Drellos Streaks to Four Straight Wins at Devil’s Bowl Speedway
White, 11, sets new mark as youngest winner in history
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Demetrios Drellos is almost beginning to appear superhuman at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. The Queensbury, N.Y., racer – known as “The Greek Streak” – extended his own streak to four consecutive victories on The Stove Depot Night, Saturday, September 19. Other big moments during the night included wins for Todd Stone, Anthony Warren, Cam Gadue, and Tim Simonds, and 11-year-old Kaidin White reset the record as the youngest feature winner in Devil’s Bowl’s 54-season history.
Drellos scored his win in the 30-lap feature for the Pepsi Sportsman Modified division, but it looked as though young Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald was headed for a career-first win. Wagner-Fitzgerald battled early with veteran Mike Palmer before getting away with the lead on the fifth lap. He built a sizeable advantage over rookie Justin Stone, and he was seven laps away when a caution flag flew.
The cream had begun to rise at that point as Drellos, Justin Comes, and Adam Pierson had each come from 14th starting position or worse to be inside the top five. Wagner-Fitzgerald chose the outside lane for the restart, putting second-place Drellos on the bottom – right where he had made most of his passes through traffic. Drellos easily scooted into the lead and pulled away over the final laps for the win.
Comes nipped Wagner-Fitzgerald at the finish line for the runner-up spot by just three feet, though the third-place finish was far and away a career-best result for Wagner-Fitzgerald in the top-level Sportsman Modified class at Devil’s Bowl. Pierson finished fourth with Stone fifth, ahead of Frank Hoard III, Jack Speshock, Kenny Tremont Jr., John St. Germain Jr., and Alex Bell.
The finish is unofficial pending results of an engine inspection on the Drellos car. Qualifying heat wins went to Comes, Bell, and Pierson, and Bobby Hackel won the last-chance consolation qualifier.
The season’s second Sportsman Modified “Draw Race” was also on the card, providing an alternative, non-points event for outside drivers to compete without the disadvantage of the weekly handicapping system placing them in the rear of the starting order.
Three-time Devil’s Bowl champion Todd Stone pulled the Small Block “358” engine out of his car during the week and installed a Sportsman-legal GM “602” crate powerplant in order to enter the race, and the Middlebury, Vt., racer proved to be dominant. Stone won his qualifying heat and had a big lead in the 25-lap feature before the race’s lone caution period with seven circuits remaining.
Brian Calabrese gave Stone all he could handle at the restart and took the lead on the backstretch, but Stone powered around Calabrese to reclaim the lead and sail to the win. Calabrese settled for second ahead of Jamy Begor, Dylan Rabtoy, and Derek Bornt. The win was the 42nd of Stone’s career at Devil’s Bowl and his first since 2015.
Anthony Warren got back on the winning track in the 20-lap feature for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman division. The Shoreham, Vt., racer made some three-wide moves in the early laps before taking the lead, and then held off a determined Larry Gallipo after the midway point for his third win of the season. Gallipo’s runner-up finish was his best of the year and came in his final start of 2020 before he travels out of state on business.
Point leader Johnny Bruno finished third and Albany-Saratoga Speedway champion Bryce Breault came from 15th starting position to finish fourth in his first Devil’s Bowl start. Lacey Hanson completed the top five, followed by Austin Comes, Matt Bilodeau, Joe Kemp, Josh Bussino, and Shawn McPhee. Bilodeau, Gallipo, and Warren won the qualifying heats.
Cam Gadue scored a popular first win in the Super Stock division, leading every step of the way in a 25-lap feature. The well-liked racer from the Canadian border town of Highgate, Vt., held off four-time champion Bill Duprey over a series of restarts and never wavered. Gadue was in the battle for Rookie of the Year honors in 2019 before losing his father, Kevin, in an ATV accident in August of that year. Many of the Super Stock competitors stopped in victory lane to congratulate Gadue as he collected the checkered flag.
Duprey finished as the runner-up, just in front of an entertaining, race-long battle for third place that ultimately went to Russ Farr. Farr swapped positions with Andrew FitzGerald, Matt Mosher, and Jim McKiernan for nearly the entire distance before claiming the spot. Mosher was fourth ahead of FitzGerald, McKiernan, Michael Wright, Ronnie Alger, Tyler Irwin, and Curtis Condon.
The Mini Stock division saw its 20-lap feature cut five laps short by the predetermined 20-minute time limit was enacted after many yellow flags and a red flag for a flip by Brenden Lauzon, who was uninjured. Tim Simonds of Clarendon, Vt., was much the best throughout the race, driving from sixth to take the lead in six laps, then holding off point leader Chris Conroy for his second win.
Conroy got his first podium finish since the end of July with the runner-up result. Jarrod Colburn finished a strong third, followed by Kyle Davis Jr. and rookie Griff Mahoney. The top 10 was completed in order by Craig Kirby, Chris Lussier (substituting for Katrina Bean), Brian Blake, Dick Stone, and Willie Rice.
Monkton, Vt.’s Kaidin White made history as the youngest feature winner in Devil’s Bowl history at age 11 years, 2 months, 2 days, by copping the 20-lap race for the Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint division. White led every lap and outran Kamden Duffy for the win; Duffy had previously set the age record in July at 12 years old.
Samantha Mulready was third ahead of Austin Chaves and John Smith. Eric Wade, Lynn Sumner, Cody O’Brien, Arnie Kasuba, and John McPhee Jr. were next in line. The Mini Sprint division has a wide array of racers young, old, and in between; third-place Mulready is 31 and ninth-place Kasuba, a rookie, is 62.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway returns to action on Saturday, September 26 at 6:00 p.m. with Championship Night. The 2020 title winners will be crowned in all five weekly divisions, and the final Sportsman Modified “Draw Race” will also be held. Advance sale tickets will soon be available online at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway website.
The Addison County Benefit Pull comes to Devil’s Bowl on Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3 with two full days of truck, tractor, and garden tractor pulls. The 2020 stock car racing season closes with the “Foliage Fun Run” event on Sunday, October 4, with “run what you brung” open competition races for all divisions, plus mechanic races and a 50-lap Enduro.
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 – The Stove Depot Night
Devil’s Bowl Speedway – West Haven, Vt.
Saturday, September 19, 2020
Pepsi Sportsman Modified Feature (30 laps) – UNOFFICIAL PENDING TECHNICAL INSPECTION
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (17) Demetrios Drellos, Queensbury, N.Y.
2. (14) Justin Comes, Middlebury, Vt.
3. (2) Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald, Gansevoort, N.Y.
4. (16) Adam Pierson, East Corinth, Vt.
5. (6) # Justin Stone, Middlebury, Vt.
6. (12) Frank Hoard III, Manchester Center, Vt.
7. (15) Jack Speshock, Malta, N.Y.
8. (22) Kenny Tremont Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.
9. (9) John St. Germain Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.
10. (3) Alex Bell, Cambridge, N.Y.
11. (7) # James Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
12. (1) Mike Palmer, Salisbury, Vt.
13. (10) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
14. (13) # Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.
15. (18) Bobby Hackel, Rensselaer, N.Y.
16. (19) Tim LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.
17. (24) Mike Fisher, Castleton, Vt.
18. (21) Derrick McGrew Jr., Ballston Spa, N.Y.
19. (23) # Adam Piper, Leicester, Vt.
20. (4) Marty Kelly III, North Bennington, Vt.
21. (8) Vince Quenneville, Brandon, Vt.
22. (20) Joey Scarborough, Brandon, Vt.
23. (5) Brian Whittemore, Pittsford, Vt.
24. (11) Jimmy Ryan, Whiting, Vt.
Did Not Start: Tanner Siemons, Orford, N.H.
Did Not Qualify: Greg Snyder, Moira, N.Y.
Heat Winners: Justin Comes, Alex Bell, Adam Pierson
Consi Winner: Bobby Hackel
Pepsi Sportsman Modified Feature – “Draw Race” (25 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
1. (1) Todd Stone, Middlebury, Vt.
2. (2) Brian Calabrese, Johnstown, N.Y.
3. (4) Jamy Begor, Mooers Forks, N.Y.
4. (3) Dylan Rabtoy, Swanton, Vt.
5. (6) Derek Bornt, Poestenkill, N.Y.
6. (7) Greg Snyder, Moira, N.Y.
7. (5) Justin Barber, Gansevoort, N.Y.
Heat Winner: Todd Stone
O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman Feature (20 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
1. (6) Anthony Warren, Shoreham, Vt.
2. (8) Larry Gallipo, West Rutland, Vt.
3. (12) Johnny Bruno, Castleton, Vt.
4. (15) Bryce Breault, Queensbury, N.Y.
5. (11) Lacey Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
6. (10) Austin Comes, Middlebury, Vt.
7. (9) Matt Bilodeau, Brandon, Vt.
8. (20) Joe Kemp, Clarendon, Vt.
9. (5) Josh Bussino, Mount Holly, Vt.
10. (18) Shawn McPhee, Rutland, Vt.
11. (4) Kevin Groff, Wynantskill, N.Y.
12. (13) Evan Roberts, Fletcher, Vt.
13. (17) Montgomery Tremont, West Sand Lake, N.Y.
14. (2) Jeff White, Rutland, Vt.
15. (7) Anthony Ryan, Benson, Vt.
16. (21) Randy Ryan, Orwell, Vt.
17. (3) Gary English, Salisbury, Vt.
18. (25) Bryon Linendoll, West Pawlet, Vt.
19. (19) A.J. Munger, Benson, Vt.
20. (14) Paul DeRuyter, Inlet, N.Y.
21. (1) Dakota Green, Cambridge, N.Y.
22. (22) John Gosselin, Shoreham, Vt.
23. (23) Mike McGinn, Elizabethtown, N.Y.
24. (16) Matt Jordan, Cambridge, N.Y.
25. (26) Terry Lamica
Did Not Start: Scott FitzGerald, West Rutland, Vt.; Garrett Given, Orwell, Vt.
Heat Winners: Matt Bilodeau, Larry Gallipo, Anthony Warren
Super Stock Feature (25 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
1. (2) Cam Gadue, Highgate, Vt.
2. (6) Bill Duprey, Hydeville, Vt.
3. (1) Russ Farr, Middle Granville, N.Y.
4. (14) Matt Mosher, Queensbury, N.Y.
5. (7) Andrew FitzGerald, West Rutland, Vt.
6. (5) Jim McKiernan, Moriah Center, N.Y.
7. (11) Michael Wright, Alburgh, Vt.
8. (4) Ronnie Alger, Orwell, Vt.
9. (9) Tyler Irwin, Peru, N.Y.
10. (10) Curtis Condon, Queensbury, N.Y.
11. (3) Sam Grandchamp, West Rutland, Vt.
12. (15) Jason Barrett, Queensbury, N.Y.
13. (12) Jethro Rossman
14. (8) Bill Fountain, Altona, N.Y.
15. (13) Phil Sherman
Mini Stock Feature (20 laps – cut to 15 laps by time limit) – UNOFFICIAL PENDING SCORING REVIEW
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (6) Tim Simonds, Clarendon, Vt.
2. (7) Chris Conroy, Newport, N.H.
3. (17) Jarrod Colburn, Rutland, Vt.
4. (13) Kyle Davis Jr., Cornish, N.H.
5. (9) # Griff Mahoney, Brandon, Vt.
6. (15) Craig Kirby, St. Albans, Vt.
7. (21) Chris Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt. (substitute for Katrina Bean)
8. (10) Brian Blake, Cornwall, Vt.
9. (14) Dick Stone, Rutland, Vt.
10. (5) Willie Rice, Poultney, Vt.
11. (16) Jake Barrows, Middlebury, Vt.
12. (11) Tom Severance, Fair Haven, Vt.
13. (19) Tyler Baker, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
14. (1) # Freddy Burch, Middle Granville, N.Y.
15. (22) Brenden Lauzon
16. (2) Mary Gardner, Middle Granville, N.Y.
17. (18) # Chris Sumner, Ripton, Vt.
18. (3) Adam Mahoney, Rutland, Vt.
19. (4) T.J. Knight, Wells, Vt.
20. (8) # Adam Stewart, Benson, Vt.
21. (20) Ron Stewart, Benson, Vt.
22. (12) Michael Daniels, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Did Not Start: Car No. 50 – Driver Unknown
Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint Feature (20 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
# – denotes rookie
1. (2) # Kaidin White, Monkton, Vt.
2. (6) Kamden Duffy, Richmond, N.H.
3. (4) Samantha Mulready, Cambridge, N.Y.
4. (7) Austin Chaves, Chester, Vt.
5. (5) John Smith, Poultney, Vt.
6. (3) Eric Wade, Rutland, Vt.
7. (10) Lynn Sumner, Fair Haven, Vt.
8. (8) Cody O’Brien, Springfield, Vt.
9. (9) # Arnie Kasuba, Castleton, Vt.
10. (1) John McPhee Jr., Rutland, Vt.
Sources: Devil’s Bowl Speedway
(Photos by Jeremy McGaffin/Showstopper Photos)
