Tremont Scores Biggest Devil’s Bowl Win with $10,000 Vermont 200 Victory Wagner-Fitzgerald, Calabrese sensational in 150-lap fight for lead – Tanner and Denis picked up wins in winged Sprint Car events

By admin September 5, 2022 Devil's Bowl

WEST HAVEN, VT – Kenny Tremont Jr. was not planning to race in the Fabian Earth Moving Vermont 200 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Sunday, September 4, but a late-night charge left him standing in victory lane $10,000 richer. The 10-time track champion’s triumph came in the biggest Sportsman Modified race in the country, which attracted 86 cars to attempt qualifying for 34 starting positions.

In other action, Matt Tanner and rookie Logan Denis picked up wins in winged Sprint Car events.

Tremont, who started 20^th, was a non-factor until late in the Vermont 200. The show was a non-stop thriller between surprise drivers Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald and Brian Calabrese, who fought for the lead for three-quarters of the race. Wagner-Fitzgerald – a largely unheralded driver with only a few Sportsman wins in his career – took the lead from pole sitter Cedric Gauvreau on the opening lap and held it for 26 circuits. When Calabrese arrived, though, the battle caught fire.

Calabrese – a fast, often-controversial Sportsman veteran who has recently dabbled in the Big Block Modified ranks – nosed ahead on lap 27, igniting a remarkable duel that saw the pair officially trade the lead 17 times over the next 121 laps. Each driver dogged the other and pulled a slide job or two, mostly with Wagner-Fitzgerald running the extreme outside lane as Calabrese searched for grip elsewhere on the smooth, slick surface.

Calabrese took the lead for the final time on lap 148, but Wagner-Fitzgerald stayed in hot pursuit until he slid off the track with 35 laps remaining in the race. He kept his momentum up and rejoined the field inside the top-10 as the race stayed under the green flag, but a second trip off the track after rebounding into the top-five on lap 191 took him out of contention.

With the demise of Wagner-Fitzgerald, West Sand Lake, N.Y., veteran Tremont was able to engage with Calabrese. A restart on lap 174 aided his cause, and Tremont grabbed the lead on lap 176 and held it through the end of the race. Tremont’s entry was a surprise to most, as he was asked just a week before to drive a 2019 PMC chassis with a conventional torsion bar suspension, which has been considered antiquated in recent years. In a stark departure from his traditional red No. 115 car, Tremont drove a black No. 24J for lifelong friend John St. Germain Jr., whose father drove for Ken Tremont Sr. in the 1960s. The St. Germain entry was one of only four Pete Chuckta-built PMC chassis in the 86-car field and it was believed to be the only torsion bar car.

“Of all the races I’ve won – and I guess of all the ones I’ve lost – this is the one I wanted the most these last few years,” an elated Tremont, 60, said after the race. “This deal with John came together fast, and when we tested last week I knew we had a shot. I’m just so happy for these guys.” Tremont had previously finished second in the 2019 edition of the Vermont 200. The win was his 90^th at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, extending his all-time record at the track.

Johnstown, N.Y.’s Calabrese was equally happy with his second-place finish, and local favorite Troy Audet – a rookie from nearby Bridport, Vt. – celebrated a third-place result. Fonda Speedway regular Chad Edwards drove the Kollar Motorsports 10% to fourth place, and Dylan Zacharias completed the top-five after starting the Halmar International-sponsored Tyler Corcoran team car in 24^th place.

Veteran Elmo Reckner – who won Saturday’s non-winners feature – capped a strong weekend in sixth place ahead of Justin Comes, Corcoran, Walter J. Hammond, and defending Devil’s Bowl champion Tim LaDuc. Hammond, who started 29^th, earned the $100 Hard Charger Award posted by Eddie “Elmo” Allen in memory of the late Butch Jelley. Twenty of the 34 starters were running at the finish, and all were on the lead lap. There were 18 caution periods including a competition break at lap 101.

The seven qualifying heats were won by Todd Stone, Alex Bell, Gauvreau, Zach Sobotka, Frank Hoard III, Justin Stone, and Corcocan. The four consolation races were won by Derrick McGrew Jr., Josh LeClaire, Zacharias, and David Rogers, and the two last-chance B-Features were taken by Jim Nagle and Marty Kelly III.

Gansevoort, N.Y.’s Wagner-Fitzgerald finished 16^th but collected $3,200 in lap leader bonuses after pacing a race-high 115 circuits. Calabrese’s take for leading 60 laps was $1,700, and Tremont pocketed an extra $625 for his work in the final 25 laps.

The Sprint Cars of New England (SCoNE) tour made its third and final visit of the 2022 season to Devil’s Bowl with a solid field of 20 cars, but none could touch Stephentown, N.Y.’s Matt Tanner. The 25-lap race went off quickly, and Tanner wasted little time in driving from his third starting position into the lead. He ran away from the pack and scored his fourth Devil’s Bowl SCoNE win in recent years.

Six-time SCoNE champion Chris Donnelly was impressive in qualifying by moving from sixth to first in the first half-lap, but couldn’t repeat that success in the feature, settling for the runner-up finish. Cory Sparks used a smaller 305-cubic-inch engine against the SCoNE 360s to finish in third place ahead of Scott Holcomb and Floyd Billington. The top-10 was completed in order by Jake Williams, Matt Hoyt, Jordan Fornwalt, Lacey Hanson, and Clay Dow. Donnelly and Sparks won the qualifying heats.

The Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint division wrapped up its two-day, three-segment race with the final two 10-lap rounds on Sunday. Rookie Logan Denis of Whiting, Vt., posted the lowest point total in the cumulative scoring, finishing third in Saturday’s first leg and winning both of Sunday’s segments for five points (3, 1, 1). Lane Saville was the runner-up overall with nine segment points (2, 5, 2), and Gage Provencher was third overall with nine points (1, 4, 4). John Smith (12 points) was fourth and Raelin Dunham (16 points) was fifth.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway returns to action on Saturday, September 10 at 6:00 p.m. as Brown’s Quarried Slate and Brown’s Orchard & Farm Stand of Castleton, Vt., present five weekly divisions and a 50-lap Enduro Series race. Grandstand general admission is $12 for adults and free for children aged 12 and under, and Infield drive-in parking is $20 for adults and free for children. Tickets are available at the speedway on race day.

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 Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Fabian Earth Moving Vermont 200

Devil’s Bowl Speedway – West Haven, Vt.

Sunday, September 4, 2022

Sunoco Sportsman Modified Feature (200 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

(20) Kenny Tremont Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.
(7) Brian Calabrese, Johnstown, N.Y.
(4) # Troy Audet, Bridport, Vt.
(10) Chad Edwards, Gloversville, N.Y.
(24) Dylan Zacharias, Palermo, N.Y.
(18) Elmo Reckner, Ballston Lake, N.Y.
(5) Justin Comes, Middlebury, Vt.
(9) Tyler Corcoran, Central Square, N.Y.
(29) Walter J. Hammond, Canaan, N.H.
(12) Tim LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.
(6) Frank Hoard III, Manchester Center, Vt.
(28) Jason Gray, East Thetford, Vt.
(1) Cedric Gauvreau, Chelsea, Que.
(30) Jim Nagle, Rotterdam, N.Y.
(27) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
(2) Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald, Gansevoort, N.Y.
(15) Dylan Rabtoy, Swanton, Vt.
(21) Jimmy Davis, Amsterdam, N.Y.
(31) Marty Kelly III, Shaftsbury, Vt.
(25) David Rogers, LaFargeville, N.Y.
(11) Zach Sobotka, Parish, N.Y.
(13) Alex Bell, Cambridge, N.Y.
(14) Justin Stone, Middlebury, Vt.
(16) Tyler Murray, Hannibal, N.Y.
(23) Josh LeClaire, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
(8) Todd Stone, Middlebury, Vt.
(3) Mike Palmer, Salisbury, Vt.
(19) Fire Swamp, Hogansburg, N.Y.
(34) John Gosselin, Shoreham, Vt.
(17) Kevin Chaffee, Bradford, Vt.
(22) Derrick McGrew Jr., Ballston Spa, N.Y.
(32) Shawn McPhee, Rutland, Vt.
(33) Jimmy Ryan, Shoreham, Vt.
(26) Travis Bruno, Morrisonville, N.Y.

Lap Leaders: Cedric Gauvreau (grid), Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald (1-26), Brian Calabrese (27), Wagner-Fitzgerald (28-34), Calabrese (35), Wagner-Fitzgerald (36-41), Calabrese (42), Wagner-Fitzgerald (43-50), Calabrese (51), Wagner-Fitzgerald (52-55), Calabrese (56), Wagner-Fitzgerald (57-69), Calabrese (70-71), Wagner-Fitzgerald (72-91), Calabrese (92-96), Wagner-Fitzgerald (97-101), Calabrese (102-121), Wagner-Fitzgerald (122-147), Calabrese (148-175), Kenny Tremont Jr. (176-200). (19 lead changes among 4 drivers.)

Cautions: Laps 6-10, 14-18, 22-24, 31-34, 37-39, 46-50, 53-54, 74-78, 81-83, 85, 88-90, 93-94, 101 (red – competition break), 118-120, 125-128, 139-142, 171-174, 188. (18 cautions for 58 laps.)

Heat Winners: Todd Stone, Alex Bell, Cedric Gauvreau, Zach Sobotka, Frank Hoard III, Justin Stone, Tyler Corcoran

Consi Winners: Derrick McGrew Jr., Josh LeClaire, Dylan Zacharias, David Rogers

B-Feature Winners: Jim Nagle, Marty Kelly III

Butch Jelley Memorial Hard Charger $100 Bonus: Walter J. Hammond (+20 positions)

Butch Rogers $100 Bonus for Top Finishing Devil’s Bowl Speedway Regular: Troy Audet (3^rd place)

Bill McGaffin Photos/Showstopper Photos Fast Time Award $200 Bonus: Todd Stone (19.528 seconds)

KillerCrate Racing Engines Hard Luck $50 Gift Certificate: Jimmy Ryan

KillerCrate Racing Engines Worst Draw $50 Gift Certificate: Darryl Mitchell

Did Not Qualify (53 drivers): Ricky Thompson, Brent Warren, Bryce Breault, Joe Judge, Tanner Siemons, Pat Jones, Kyle Devendorf, Brock Pinkerous, Bentley Gray, Cory Castell, Drew Boniface, Josh Masterson, Katrina Bean, Adam LaFountain, Mike McGinn, Daryl Gebo, Jamy Begor, Gary Edwards III, Jeffrey Reis, Tim Davis, John McPhee Jr., Tyler Stevenson, Taylor LaPlante, Brendan Gibbons, Ryan Shanahan, Neil Stratton, Brian Whittemore, Darryl Mitchell, Kamden Duffy, William Duprey, Evan Roberts, Austin Comes, Ron Proctor, Gary English, Remington Hamm, Anthony Warren, Adam Piper, Jason Bruno, Travis Green, A.J. Munger, Buddy Leathley, Vince Quenneville, Walt Hammond Jr., Allan Hammond, Russ Farr, Steve Miller, David Boisclair, Hunter Nutter, Taylor Wason, Wade Acker, Travis Witbeck, Mike Fowler, Alex Layn.

Sprint Cars of New England Feature (25 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

(3) Matt Tanner, Stephentown, N.Y.
(6) Chris Donnelly, Piermont, N.H.
(5) Cory Sparks, Edinburgh, N.Y.
(8) Scott Holcomb, Granby, Conn.
(1) Floyd Billington Jr., South Glens Falls, N.Y.
(2) Jake Williams, Center Ossipee, N.H.
(10) Matt Hoyt, Campton, N.H.
(4) Jordan Fornwalt, Bradford, Vt.
(7) Lacey Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
(12) Clay Dow, Barnstead, N.H.
(14) Kadyn Berry, Ossipee, N.H.
(18) Nick Comeau, Rumney, N.H.
(15) Caleb Lamson, Moretown, Vt.
(11) Ron Davis Jr., Ossipee, N.H.
(17) Wayne Stearns, Bradford, Vt.
(19) Rick Stone, Cornwall, Conn.
(13) Mia Koponen, Mount Holly, Vt.
(20) Mark Reynolds, Lake George, N.Y.
(9) Scott Duell, Bennington, Vt.
(16) Tyler Chartrand, Johnsonville, N.Y.

Heat Winners: Cory Sparks, Chris Donnelly

Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint Feature Overall Finish – (3 segments x 10 laps each)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown-Segment Points

# – denotes rookie

(9) # Logan Denis, Whiting, Vt. – 5 pts.
(7) # Lane Saville, Warrensburg, N.Y. – 9 pts.
(6) Gage Provencher, Bridport, Vt. – 9 pts.
(5) John Smith, Poultney, Vt. – 12 pts.
(10) # Raelin Dunham, Queensbury, N.Y. – 16 pts.
(1) Kevin Smith, Brandon, Vt. – 18 pts.
(3) Vern Woodard, Fair Haven, Vt. – 24 pts.
(4) Ray Hanson, Orwell, Vt. – 25 pts.
(8) # Chayton Young, Wynantskill, N.Y. – 28 pts.
(13) Chris Lennox – 30 pts.
(2) Tommie Kasuba, Castleton, Vt. – 31 pts.
(11) Damen Kasuba, Orwell, Vt. – 33 pts.
(12) Chris Lekberg, Brandon, Vt. – 35 pts.

Heat Winners: Gage Provencher, Vern Woodard

Segment Winners: Gage Provencher, Logan Denis, Logan Denis

Sources: Devil’s Bowl Speedway