Nutter Steals Limited Sportsman 50 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway Wagner-Fitzgerald finally breaks through in Sportsman Modifieds

WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Hunter Nutter had been quietly steady at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in 2023, but on Saturday night he turned the volume up to 11. The Orford, N.H., racer stole the show in the McGee Automotive Family 50-lap special for the Limited Sportsman division, leading the way for a wave of winners that included Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald, Ed Bell, Raelin Dunham, Adam Mahoney, Adam Stewart, and Rob Steele.

Nutter has been an early-season championship contender in the intermediate-level O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman division, but even as he had posted three top-five finishes in the first four races of the 2023 season, he had been viewed as the driver to beat. That just might have changed on Saturday night when he used a fast racecar to put himself in the right position at the right time to win the division’s biggest race of the season.

Anthony Ryan was the star of the race for nearly the entire distance, leading on two occasions for a total of 40 laps. Ryan was head-and-shoulders above the field on lap 47 when disaster struck; the engine of rookie Daryl Gebo’s car blew on the frontstretch, and as the caution flag waved, Ryan was unable to see through the smoke and struck the infield tire barrier. His car suffered major front-end damage and he was forced to retire from the race.

Gary English was the heir apparent for the lead, having worked his way from the 15^th starting position into second place before Ryan’s misfortune with an exciting drive through traffic on the tricky – but faster – outside lane. English chose the inside for the restart, however, allowing Nutter, who came from 14^th, to take the top. When the green flag flew, Nutter used the grip on the high line to inch ahead of English, stealing the victory and a $700 prize.

English settled for the runner-up finish ahead of Bill Duprey, who was a contender all race. Randy Ryan came from 13^th to finish fourth, and Scott Towslee recovered from two separate spinouts for fifth. Justin Lilly was sixth ahead of Jason Quenneville, Bob Kilburn, Alex Layn, and Katrina Bean. The qualifying heats were won by Lilly, Anthony Ryan, and rookie Kamden Duffy. The 50-lap victory was the third win of Nutter’s career at Devil’s Bowl.

The track’s lead division, the Sunoco Sportsman Modifieds, played second fiddle for the evening, but still threw off an exciting 30-lap feature race that went caution-free. Gansevoort, N.Y.’s Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald took his long-awaited first win in the top class at Devil’s Bowl after a strong run up the outside lane. Wagner-Fitzgerald started sixth and passed Austin Comes at the halfway mark to take control, never looking back. The victory backs up a memorable run in the 2022 edition of the Vermont 200 at Devil’s Bowl in which Wagner-Fitzgerald led 115 laps.

Comes took the runner-up finish for the best result of his career in the Sportsman Modified division. Tanner Siemons moved forward from 11^th starting position to take third place ahead of James Hanson and Josh LeClaire, who both had strong runs. Brian Whittemore led the second half of the top 10 finishers, followed by David Boisclair, Anthony Warren, rookie Evan Roberts, and Justin Comes. Heat winners were LeClaire, Warren, and Whittemore.

Ed Bell was both lucky and good in the 20-lap race for the Hoosier Daddy Racing Novice Sportsman division. Bell was in second when leader Allen Hewitt had a heart-stopping slide off the track into the infield pit road area. Bell, of Queensbury, N.Y., took over at lap 10 and held a good lead, but then had to hold off Randy Edson’s last-lap charge for the win; it was Bell’s first win of 2023 and the second of his career.

Edson, the 1994 champion of the former Late Model division at Devil’s Bowl, was second ahead of a solid run by Aaron Clark, Boomer Patterson, and the surging Bobbi Jo Hults, who started 14^th. Tyler Travis was sixth, with Robert Gauthier, Mike Clark, Don Williams, and Derrick Counter close behind, in that order. Heat victories went to Counter, Aaron Clark, and Edson.

Young gun Raelin Dunham scored her first win of the season in the Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint division, leading every step of the way in a non-stop, 15-lap feature. The Queensbury, N.Y., racer started first and stayed there, and rookie John Carleton did the same in second place. Joe Kemp took third place – his best effort aboard the Vern Woodard machine.

Kevin Smith and Roger LaDuc represented “Team Grumpy Old Men” in fourth and fifth, respectively. The balance of the top 10 was made up of Logan Denis, Chayton Young, John Smith, Chris Lennox, and Ray Hanson. Dunham and Carleton were the heat winners.

Whitehall, N.Y.’s Adam Mahoney won the 15-lap Mini Stock feature for his first victory of the year. Mahoney came from seventh starting position to grab the lead on a lap-5 restart, and then held off the snarling pack after the final restart with three laps remaining. Ronnie Alger nipped Craig Kirby in a photo finish for second place, with Levi Cram fourth and Brian Blake fifth; Kirby started 20^th and Blake started 21^st on the 21-car field.

Austin McKirryher finished sixth, followed by Chase Allen, Jake Barrows, Griff Mahoney, and Clemmy Bell. Heat wins were scored by Jakobee Alger, Cody Dion, and Adam Mahoney.

Benson, Vt.’s Adam Stewart was a popular winner in the 8-lap Mini Stock “B” Feature for non-qualifiers; Stewart once served as the scoreboard operator at Devil’s Bowl before entering high school and had never won a race previously. He held off Jake Mallory and Tyler Bell after a green-white-checkered restart.

Bomoseen, Vt.’s Rob Steele became the first two-time winner in the new 9^th State Cannabis Crown Vic division, topping a four-car field. Jackson Ducharme led the first three laps before Steele took over, and then had a second chance at it when there was a restart with four laps left. Ducharme was the runner-up ahead of Norm Morrill and Derek St. George.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway returns to action on Saturday, June 10, at 7:00 p.m. with the annual “Topless Night” event, featuring the Sportsman Modified, Limited Sportsman, and Novice Sportsman classes racing without roofs. The 500cc Mini Sprint and Mini Stock classes are also on the card along with the season’s second 50-lap Enduro Series race. Grandstand general admission is $15 for adults and free for children aged 12 and under. Infield drive-in parking is $20 for adults and free for kids. Pit area passes are $28 for members and $38 for non-members.

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.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Devil’s Bowl Speedway – West Haven, Vt.

Saturday, June 3, 2023

Sunoco Sportsman Modified Feature (30 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

(6) Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald, Gansevoort, N.Y.
(1) Austin Comes, Middlebury, Vt.
(10) Tanner Siemons, Orford, N.H.
(4) James Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
(7) # Josh LeClaire, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
(2) Brian Whittemore, Pittsford, Vt.
(5) Anthony Warren, Shoreham, Vt.
(9) David Boisclair, Watervliet, N.Y.
(3) # Evan Roberts, Fletcher, Vt.
(12) Justin Comes, Middlebury, Vt.
(14) Kevin Chaffee, Bradford, Vt.
(11) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
(13) Frank Hoard III, Manchester Center, Vt.
(15) Jimmy Ryan, Shoreham, Vt.
(22) Tim LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.
(16) Walter J. Hammond, Canaan, N.H.
(8) Vince Quenneville, Brandon, Vt.
(19) Marty Kelly III, Shaftsbury, Vt.
(18) Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.
(23) Adam Piper, Leicester, Vt.
(21) Brent Warren, Salisbury, Vt.
(20) Mike Palmer, Salisbury, Vt.
(17) Walt Hammond Jr., Canaan, N.H.
(24) Floyd Billington, South Glens Falls, N.Y.
(25) Wayne Stearns, Bradford, Vt.
(26) Mike Fisher, Castleton, Vt.

Did Not Start: Allan Hammond, Canaan, N.H.

Heat Winners: Josh LeClaire, Anthony Warren, Brian Whittemore

O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman Feature (50 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

(14) Hunter Nutter, Orford, N.H.
(16) Gary English, Salisbury, Vt.
(1) William Duprey, Hydeville, Vt.
(13) Randy Ryan, Orwell, Vt.
(10) Scott Towslee, Manchester, Vt.
(4) Justin Lilly, Castleton, Vt.
(11) Jason Quenneville, Quechee, Vt.
(20) Bob Kilburn, Fair Haven, Vt.
(6) Alex Layn, New Haven, Vt.
(12) Katrina Bean, Benson, Vt.
(7) # William Lussier Jr., Fair Haven, Vt.
(8) Timmy Aldrighetti, Bethel, Vt,
(3) # Kamden Duffy, Richmond, N.H.
(18) Kyle Kerr, Shoreham, Vt.
(19) Freddie Little, Salisbury, Vt.
(9) Steve Miller, New Haven, Vt.
(5) Anthony Ryan, Benson, Vt.
(17) # Daryl Gebo, Orwell, Vt.
(2) John Gosselin, Shoreham, Vt.
(15) A.J. Munger, Benson Landing, Vt.

Heat Winners: Justin Lilly, Anthony Ryan, Kamden Duffy

Hoosier Daddy Racing Novice Sportsman Feature (20 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

(1) Ed Bell, Queensbury, N.Y.
(8) Randy Edson, Orwell, Vt.
(4) Aaron Clark, Bristol, Vt.
(7) Boomer Patterson, Milton, Vt.
(14) Bobbi Jo Hults, Benson, Vt.
(13) Tyler Travis, Hartland, Vt.
(9) Robert Gauthier, Williston, Vt.
(16) Michael Clark Jr., Salisbury, Vt.
(12) Donald Williams, Ripton, Vt.
(3) Derrick Counter, Salisbury, Vt.
(11) Nick Austin-Neil, Salisbury, Vt.
(15) Adam LaFountain, Starksboro, Vt.
(10) Eric Shaw, Wells, Vt.
(6) Matt Wade, Fair Haven, Vt.
(18) Pat Miner, Monkton, Vt.
(19) Russ Farr, Granville, N.Y.
(2) Allen Hewitt, Rutland, Vt.
(5) Jason Kerr, Shoreham, Vt.
(17) Jeff Haskins, Wells, Vt.

Did Not Start: Holden Bass, Benson, Vt.

Heat Winners: Derrick Counter, Aaron Clark, Randy Edson

Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint Feature (15 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

(1) Raelin Dunham, Queensbury, N.Y.
(2) # John Carleton, Chittenden, Vt.
(5) Joe Kemp, West Rutland, Vt.
(4) Kevin Smith, Brandon, Vt.
(6) Roger LaDuc, Castleton, Vt.
(9) Logan Denis, Whiting, Vt.
(8) Chayton Young, Wynantskill, N.Y.
(7) John Smith, Poultney, Vt.
(11) Chris Lennox, Eagle Bridge, N.Y.
(13) Ray Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
(3) Gage Provencher, Bridport, Vt.
(10) Aiden Benoure, Salisbury, Vt.
(12) Rick Balla, Charlestown, N.H.

Did Not Start: Tommie Kasuba, Castleton, Vt.

Heat Winners: Raelin Dunham, John Carleton

Mini Stock A-Feature (15 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

(7) Adam Mahoney, Whitehall, N.Y.
(8) Ronnie Alger, Orwell, Vt.
(20) Craig Kirby, St. Albans, Vt.
(19) Levi Cram, Leicester, Vt.
(21) Brian Blake, Cornwall, Vt.
(15) Austin McKirryher, Proctor, Vt.
(16) Chase Allen, Fair Haven, Vt.
(13) Jake Barrows, Cornwall, Vt.
(17) Griff Mahoney, Bristol, Vt.
(9) Clemmy Bell, Peru, N.Y.
(11) Mark Mahoney, Brandon, Vt.
(10) Jarrod Colburn, Rutland, Vt.
(5) # Ryan Patch, Rutland, Vt.
(4) Damian Olden, Fair Haven, Vt.
(2) Nick Melotti, Mendon, Vt.
(1) # Justin Cook, Peru, N.Y.
(3) Scott Chandler, Pittsford, Vt.
(18) T.J. Knight, Wells, Vt.
(12) Cody Dion, Rutland, Vt.
(14) Jakobee Alger, Orwell, Vt.
(6) Tom Severance, Fair Haven, Vt.

Heat Winners: Jakobee Alger, Cody Dion, Adam Mahoney

Mini Stock B-Feature (8 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

# – denotes rookie

(5) Adam Stewart, Benson, Vt.
(2) Jake Mallory, Granville, N.Y.
(3) Tyler Bell, Peru, N.Y.
(4) Carl LaPoint, Wells, Vt.
(7) Niclaus Clark, Salisbury, Vt.
(1) Tim Robinson, Center Rutland, Vt.
(9) Mary Gardner, Middle Granville, N.Y.
(8) Alton McCoy, Whitehall, N.Y.
(6) Andrea Noble, Wells, Vt.

Did Not Start: Adam Montville, Saratoga, N.Y.; # Becky Bruce-Girard, Poultney, Vt.

9^th State Cannabis Crown Vic Feature (15 laps)

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

(3) Rob Steele, Bomoseen, Vt.
(2) Jackson Ducharme, Rutland, Vt.
(4) Norm Morrill, North Ferrisburgh, Vt.
(1) Derek St. George, Addison, Vt.