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Hearn Jets From Back to Claim Devil’s Bowl Vermont 200 Win

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WEST HAVEN — Brett Hearn has his name next to many entries in the history books and began another paragraph on Sunday night at Devil’s Bowl Speedway.

One of the most decorated Dirt Modified drivers in history battled back from an early race flat tire to win the $10,000 Vermont 200 Sportsman Modified race.

Hearn took the lead from Bobby Hackel on a restart with 40 laps left in the 200-lap event and ran away with the victory.

The Sussex, N.J. driver set the quickest time during time trials and redrew the pole position. Hearn had set a quick pace early on before he suffered a flat left-front tire during the race’s first caution flag on lap 27 and headed to pit road.

Brett Hearn (20) races side-by-side with Bobby Hackel (97) for the lead and eventual race win on Sunday night at Devil's Bowl Speedway in the Interstate All Battery Center Vermont 200. (Alan Ward photo)From there, “The Jet” jetted his way through the field to sit in the fifth position at the midway break. Hearn would continue his rise through the top-five and sit behind race leader Hackel with 75 laps left.

Hearn would stay behind Hackel over the course of the next 35 laps until he used the race’s final restart to get by Hackel and run to the win.

The win for Hearn came in his first appearance at the West Haven half-mile in over ten years.

Multi-time Bear Ridge Speedway champion Adam Pierson was able to get by Hackel late to secure the runner-up position. The East Corinth, Vt. driver ran inside the top-five for the entire 200 lap distance.

Rensselaer, N.Y. driver Hackel, the 2016 Devil’s Bowl dirt track champion, settled for third while former Devil’s Bowl asphalt Modified ace Jessey Mueller of Olmstedville, N.Y. finished fourth. Veteran driver Danny Johnson finished fifth.

Sportsman Modified standout David Schilling finished sixth with Devil’s Bowl second place point driver Joey Scarborough seventh. Recently crowned King of Dirt Sportsman Modified champion Connor Cleveland finished eighth while Bear Ridge Sportsman Modified point leader Kevin Chaffee raced home ninth. Albany-Saratoga regular Jack Speshock completed the top-ten finishers.

Devil’s Bowl will conclude their 2018 season on Sunday, September 23 with their final point counting event and Mountain Man Enduro 200.

VtMotorMag.com will have more from the Interstate All Battery Center Vermont 200 soon.

PHOTOS:
1 – Brett Hearn celebrates his $10,000 Interstate All Battery Center Vermont 200 win on Sunday night at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. (Alan Ward photo)
2 – Brett Hearn (20) races side-by-side with Bobby Hackel (97) for the lead and eventual race win on Sunday night at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in the Interstate All Battery Center Vermont 200. (Alan Ward photo)

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS — Interstate All Battery Center Vermont 200
Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modifieds
Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, Vt.
Sunday, September 16, 2018

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

1. (1) Brett Hearn, Sussex, N.J.
2. (5) Adam Pierson, East Corinth, Vt.
3. (3) Bobby Hackel, Rensselaer, N.Y.
4. (4) Jessey Mueller, Olmstedville, N.Y.
5. (13) Danny Johnson, Rochester, N.Y.
6. (23) David Schilling, East Greenbush, N.Y.
7. (2) Joey Scarborough, Brandon, Vt.
8. (10) Connor Cleveland, Corinth, N.Y.
9. (9) Kevin Chaffee, Bradford, Vt.
10. (11) Jack Speshock, Malta, N.Y.
11. (14) Paolo Pascarella, Brunswick, N.Y.
12. (16) Kenny Tremont Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.
13. (25) Alex Bell, Cambridge, N.Y.
14. (8) Tim LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.
15. (33) Marty Kelly III, North Bennington, Vt.
16. (22) Vince Quenneville Jr., Brandon, Vt.
17. (17) Travis Billington, South Glens Falls, N.Y.
18. (15) Neil Stratton, Bennington, Vt.
19. (6) Jim Ryan, Shoreham, Vt.
20. (12) John Bellinger, Johnstown, N.Y.
21. (24) Hector Stratton, Bennington, Vt.
22. (7) Scott Duell, Bennington, Vt.
23. (20) Jake Scarborough, Brandon, Vt.
24. (18) Brian Calabrese, Johnstown, N.Y.
25. (30) Josh Sunn, White River Junction, Vt.
26. (26) Allan Hammond, Orange, N.H.
27. (32) James Fadden, Plainfield, N.H.
28. (31) Justin Comes, Middlebury, Vt.
29. (34) Brent Warren, Salisbury, Vt.
30. (27) Chad Edwards, Mayfield, N.Y.
31. (19) Joey Roberts, Fletcher, Vt.
32. (21) Ron Proctor, Charlton, N.Y.
33. (29) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
34. (28) Rocky Warner, Johnstown, N.Y.

The post Hearn Jets From Back to Claim Devil’s Bowl Vermont 200 Win appeared first on VtMotorMag.com.


Porter Caps Big Weekend with Devil’s Bowl Mini Stock Win

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Casey secures King of Dirt Pro Stock crown as Stone wins race

WEST HAVEN — Jason Porter capped off a big weekend with a win on Sunday afternoon at Devil’s Bowl Speedway.

The Freeport, Maine driver earned the overall win in the Four Cylinder season finale less than 24 hours earlier at Bear Ridge Speedway’s to secure his first championship before he ran from a 16th place starting position to win the shortened 25 lap Portland Glass Mini Stock feature.

the win for Porter was his fifth win at Devil’s Bowl this season and his first since early July after work commitments sidelined him for the remainder of the season at the half-mile clay oval.

Glen Ridge Motorsports Park champion P.J. Bleau of Latham, N.Y. finished second to porter while Legion Speedway point leader Erin Aiken of Claremont, N.H. finished third. Devil’s Bowl point leader finished fourth after he ran from a 27th place starting position while Shawn Moquin completed the top-five finishers.

Zach Wood, Johnny Bruno, Mike Lique, Tim Simonds, and Brett Wood finished sixth through tenth, unofficially.

Nick Stone earned the King of Dirt Pro Stock Series win in the Carl Vladyka Memorial 29 lap feature event on Sunday afternoon at Devil's Bowl Speedway. (Alan Ward photo)Nick Stone of Schenectady, N.Y. led all 29 laps in the Carl Vladyka Memorial King of Dirt Pro Stock Series race to earn the win.

Stone started from the pole position and earned the convincing win.

Canaan, Conn. driver Jason Casey secured the King of Dirt Pro Stock Series championship with a second place finish.

Jason Meltz finished third with Rich Crane and Eddie Thompson fourth and fifth. Jay Casey, Jon Routier, Nick Arnold, Darrell Older, and Dave Stickles completed the top-ten finishers.

Devil’s Bowl will conclude its 2018 season on Sunday, September 23 with championship events for the Sportsman Modifieds, Limited Sportsman, Super Stocks, Mini Stocks, and 500cc Mini Sprints, as well as a 200-lap, $2,000-to-win Enduro. Post time is 4:00pm.

PHOTOS:
1 – Jason Porter celebrates his Portland Glass Mini Stock win on Sunday afternoon at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. (Alan Ward photo)
2 – Nick Stone earned the King of Dirt Pro Stock Series win in the Carl Vladyka Memorial 29 lap feature event on Sunday afternoon at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. (Alan Ward photo)

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS — Interstate All Batteries Center Vermont 200
Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, Vt.
Sunday, September 16, 2018

Pos.-Driver-Hometown

Portland Glass Mini Stocks (25 laps)
1. Jason Porter, Freeport, Maine
2. P.J. Bleau, Latham, N.Y.
3. Erin Aiken, Claremont, N.H.
4. Kaleb Shepard, Vergennes
5. Shawn Moquin, Milton
6. Zach Wood, Georgia
7. Johnny Bruno, Castleton
8. Mike Lique, West Lebanon, N.H.
9. Tim Simonds, Clarendon
10. Brett Wood, Georgia

King of Dirt Pro Stocks (29 laps)
1. Nick Stone, Schenectady, N.Y.
2. Jason Casey, Canaan, Conn.
3. Jason Meltz, Ghent, N.Y.
4. Rich Crane, Canaan, N.Y.
5. Eddie Thompson, Rutland
6. Jay Casey, Canaan, Conn.
7. Jon Routhier, Canaan, N.Y.
8. Nick Arnold, Brunswick, N.Y.
9. Darrell Older, Ballston Spa, N.Y.
10. Dave Stickles, Valatie, N.Y.

The post Porter Caps Big Weekend with Devil’s Bowl Mini Stock Win appeared first on VtMotorMag.com.

Hanson Grabs Another Sprint Car Win at Legion

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Hoyt takes lead of title fight over Hull

WENTWORTH, N.H. — Lacey Hanson ran to her second Sprint Cars of New England win of the season on Friday night at Legion Speedway.

The Orwell, Vt. driver passed Mike Kondrat on lap nine of the 25-lap O’Reilly Auto Parts Twilight Racing Challenge feature event and cruised to the win.

The win for Hanson was her second of the season and came just two weeks after a triumphant victory at Bear Ridge Speedway.

Campton, N.H. driver Matt Hoyt took control of the point lead with a runner-up finish while New York Dirt Modified driver Bobby Hackel finished third. Kondrat settled for fourth while Jordan Fornwalt completed the top-five finishers.

Championship challenger Will Hull finished sixth with Dennis McLeod seventh. Troy Comeau, Rick Stone, and Ron Giroux completed the top-ten finishers.

Unofficially, Hoyt will hold a six point advantage over Hull as the series heads to its final events of the 2018 season.

The Sprint Cars of New England will conclude their 2018 season on Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and 23. On Saturday, the Sprint Cars will make their eighth and final appearance of the season at Bear Ridge Speedway. The series will then make its New York state debut as part of the American/Canadian Sprint Car Clash at Airborne Park Speedway on Sunday in a combination event with the Empire Super Sprints.

PHOTO: Lacey Hanson ran to her second Sprint Cars of New England win of the season on Friday night at Legion Speedway. (Alan Ward photo)

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS — O’Reilly Auto Parts 25
Sprint Cars of New England
Legion Speedway, Wentworth, N.H.
Friday, September 14, 2018

Pos.-Driver-Hometown

1. Lacey Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
2. Matt Hoyt, Campton, N.H.
3. Bobby Hackel, Rensselaer, N.Y.
4. Mike Kondrat, Freedom, N.H.
5. Jordan Fornwalt, Bradford, Vt.
6. Will Hull, Plainfield, Vt.
7. Dennis McLeod, Concord, N.H.
8. Troy Comeau, Warren, N.H.
9. Rick Stone, Cornwall, Conn.
10. Ron Giroux, Jewett City, Conn.
11. Christine Boesch, Concord, N.H.
12. Jake Williams, Center Tuftonboro, N.H.

The post Hanson Grabs Another Sprint Car Win at Legion appeared first on VtMotorMag.com.

Hull Earns Come-From-Behind Sprint Car Championship at Bear Ridge

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–by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
VMM Editor

BRADFORD, Vermont — Will Hull wasn’t going to be denied on Saturday night at Bear Ridge Speedway.

The Plainfield driver set fast time in time trials and then posted finishes of second and third in the Newport Chevrolet Twin 20 races to post the overall low score and claim the win.

The win for Hull earned the veteran driver a come-from-behind Sprint Cars of New England championship. Hull also secured the Bear Ridge Sprint Car championship to go along with his Devil’s Bowl Sprint Car championship.

Hull started sixth in the first 20-lap segment and ran to a distant second place finish as Dan Douville ran away with the win. With a full-field invert, Hull started 13th and navigated his way through the field to finish third in segment two. That gave Hull the low score of five points.

“This will be a great ride home tonight,” Hull said. “And we’re off to Airborne tomorrow.”

Hull entered the night six points back of championship point leader Matt Hoyt. Hoyt finished third overall, which flipped the top two in the championship standings and gave Hull the championship.

The win for Hull was his fourth Sprint Cars of New England win of the season, in which all came at the quarter-mile Bear Ridge oval.

Multi-time Bear Ridge Speedway champion Adam Pierson of East Corinth, Vt. earned finished sixth and fourth to earn ten points overall to finish second. Hoyt, of Campton, N.H., ran to a ninth place finish in the first segment and was able to secure second in the second segment to finish third overall with 11 points.

Freshman Sprint Car driver Jordan Fornwalt finished fourth overall with 12 points while Dylan Cook used a segment two win to complete the top-five overall finishers.

Luke Greenwood, Mike Kondrat, and Jake Williams finished sixth through eighth, overall. Douville suffered a mechanical issue in segment two and finished ninth overall while Christine Boesch completed the top-ten overall finishers.

The Sprint Cars of New England will conclude their 2018 season on Sunday, September 23 at Airborne Park Speedway with the first $4,000-to-win American/Canadian Sprint Car Clash combination event with the Empire Super Sprints.

VtMotorMag.com will have more from Bear Ridge Speedway’s Newport Chevrolet Crate Motor Nationals season finale soon.

PHOTO: Will Hull and his family and team celebrate their Sprint Cars of New England win and championship on Saturday night at Bear Ridge Speedway. (T.J. Ingerson/VMM photo) 

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS — Newport Chevrolet Twin 20s
Sprint Cars of New England
Bear Ridge Speedway, Bradford, Vt.
Saturday, September 22, 2018

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown-Score
(# – denotes rookie)

1. (6) Will Hull, Plainfield, Vt. — (2 + 3 = 5)
2. (4) Adam Pierson, East Corinth, Vt. — (6 + 4 = 10)
3. (5) Matt Hoyt, Campton, N.H. — (9 + 2 = 11)
4. (13) Jordan Fornwalt, Bradford, Vt. — (4 + 8 = 12)
5. (7) Dylan Cook, Tamworth, N.H. — (13 + 1 = 14)
6. (2) Luke Greenwood, Hudson, N.H. — (5 + 9 = 14)
7. (9) Mike Kondrat, Freedom, N.H. — (8 + 7 = 15)
8. (3) Jake Williams, Center Tuftonboro, N.H. — (3 + 12 = 15)
9. (1) Dan Douville, Bridgewater, N.H. — (1 + 14 = 15)
10. (11) Christine Boesch, Concord, N.H. — (12 + 6 = 18)
11. (10) Troy Comeau, Warren, N.H. — (7 + 11 = 18)
12. (12) Rick Stone, Cornwall, Conn. — (14 + 5 = 19)
13. (14) Tyler Austin, West Fairlee, Vt. — (10 + 10 = 20)
14. (8) Lacey Hanson, Orwell, Vt. — (11 + 13 = 24)
15. (15) Ron Giroux, Jewett City, Conn. — (15 + 15 = 30)

The post Hull Earns Come-From-Behind Sprint Car Championship at Bear Ridge appeared first on VtMotorMag.com.

Hayward Rides Topside to Bear Ridge Coupe Win

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Hull wins Midgets as Goff claims title; Tucker, Siemons earn Growler wins

–by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
VMM Editor

BRADFORD — Todd Hayward went where the others weren’t and ended in victory lane on Saturday night at Bear Ridge Speedway.

The hometown driver used the outside lane to move past race leader Josh Harrington on lap 49 of the 60-lap Newport Chevrolet Crate Motor Nationals Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe feature to claim the win.

The win for Hayward was his second of the season.

“We got halfway through the race and decided to turn it on the outside,” Hayward said. “I was just trying different things to see if they worked.”

Hayward started fourth in the season finale after the redraw, but had fallen back to sixth by the one-third mark in the event. From there, however, Hayward changed lanes and moved up off the bottom of the track where the rest of the field was and found grip on the topside of the quarter-mile clay oval.

Hayward began his march to the front and had moved into fourth by lap 35. From there, Hayward continued to get stronger on the outside and moved past Brian Chaffee for third and Tad Kingsbury for second by lap 47.

The eventual race winner continued his march on the outside and got next to race leader Josh Harrington on lap 48. Hayward would make then move past Harrington for the race leader on lap 49 and before a caution fell that gave Hayward the advantage.

From there, Hayward stayed out front to claim the win.

Jason Horniak was able to get past Harrington after the lap 49 restart to claim second while the multi-time champion Harrington settled for third. Defending champion Brian Chaffee finished fourth with Chris LaForest fifth.

Jason Colbeth, Matt Ellsworth, Gene Pierson Jr., Bob Shepard, and Earl Maxham completed the top-ten finishers.

Will Hull capped off a big night in Laquerre’s Sport USAC Dirt Midget Association victory lane.

The Plainfield driver earned the win in the Sprint Cars of New England event just prior to earning the overall win in the three-segment Midget event.

Hull used a win in segment two and combined that with finishes of second in segment one and fourth in segment three to earn the overall low score of seven points.

Jason Goff of Preston Hollow, N.Y. finished second overall with finishes of fourth, second, and second, which earned him the USAC Dirt Midget Association championship. The championship for Goff came in his first season in the USAC Dirt Midget Association and after being vacant from the driver’s seat for 16 years.

Former champion Joe Krawiec earned the segment one win to finish third overall while Seth Carlson’s segment three victory helped place him fourth overall. Mike Chaffee completed the top-five overall finishers.

Derek O’Hearn, Tim Gallant, Dan Douville, Justin Phillips, and Coupe ace Harrington finished sixth through tenth, overall.

Robert Tucker earned the win in the 20-lap Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modified “Growler” event for 2018 race winners.

The Bradford driver exited the mandatory pit stop in the fourth position, but reeled in leader Todd Buckwold, who exited the pits first, just past the midway point to take the lead and earn the $500 win.

Newly crowned Sportsman Modified champion Kevin Chaffee finished second with Buckwold third.

Tanner Siemons got out of the pits first and earned the win in the 20-lap Sportsman Coupe “Growler” event.

The Orford, N.H. driver exited far ahead of his competition, but the field was put on his rear bumper after Siemons tangled with a lapped car late. However, the teenage driver was able to stay out front and earn the $500 win.

Hayward finished second with Thomas Placey third.

Brandon Gray of East Thetford made a late pass on Chris LaForest to earn the win in the 75-lap State Farm Mike Estrada Enduro to claim the win.

LaForest settled for second with Four Cylinder champion Jason Porter third. Enduro points leader Frank Putney finished fourth with Donald Beer fifth.

Bear Ridge Speedway’s championship season has concluded, but will hold their second “Fun Day” on Sunday, October 14.

VtMotorMag.com will have more from Bear Ridge Speedway’s Newport Chevrolet Crate Motor Nationals soon.

PHOTO: Todd Hayward in victory lane with a representative of Newport Chevrolet after his win in the 60-lap Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupe feature on Saturday night at Bear Ridge Speedway. (T.J. Ingerson/VMM photo)

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS — Newport Chevrolet Crate Motor Nationals
Bear Ridge Speedway, Bradford, Vt.
Saturday, September 22, 2018

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)

Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes (60 laps)
1. (4) Todd Hayward, Bradford
2. (6) Jason Horniak, Bradford
3 (1) Josh Harrington, Topsham
4. (11) Brian Chaffee, Bradford
5. (3) Chris LaForest, Barre
6. (12) Jason Colbeth, Newbury
7. (9) Matt Ellsworth, Corinth
8. (17) Gene Pierson Jr., East Corinth
9. (10) Bob Shepard, Topsham
10. (16) Earl Maxham, Enfield, N.H.
11. (14) Melvin Pierson, Corinth
12. (7) Tanner Siemons, Orford, N.H.
13. (13) Bob Kilburn, Fair Haven
14. (2) Tad Kingsbury, Corinth
15. (18) Mike Stender, White River Junction
16. (15) Tim Hodge, Vershire
17. (5) Thomas Placey, Bradford
18. (8) Kevin Dickinson, Canaan, N.H.

Laquerre’s Sport USAC Dirt Midget Association (10, 15, & 20 laps)
1. (2) Will Hull, Plainfield — (2 + 1 + 4 = 7)
2. (6) Jason Goff, Preston Hollow, N.Y. — (4 + 2 + 2 = 8)
3. (3) Joe Krawiec, Bristol, Conn. — (1 + 4 + 3 = 8)
4. (1) Seth Carlson, Brimfield, Mass. — (3 + 5 + 1 = 9)
5. (7) Mike Chaffee, East Corinth — (5 + 7 + 7 = 19)
6. (12) Derek O’Hearn, Bristol, N.H. — (10 + 3 + 8 = 21)
7. (8) Tim Gallant, Wales, Mass. — (6 + 12 + 5 = 23)
8. (4) Dan Douville, Bridgewater, N.H. — (8 + 9 + 6 = 23)
9. (9) Justin Phillips, West Suffield, Conn. — (7 + 8 + 10 = 25)
10. (5) Josh Harrington, Topsham — (9 + 11 + 9 = 29)
11. (10) Jeff Horn, Ashland, Mass. — (12 + 6 + 11 = 29)
12. (11) Bobby White, Stonington, Conn. — (11 + 12 + 12 = 33)
13. (13) Tim West, Fairhaven, Mass. — (13 + 13 + 13 = 39)
14. (15) Adam Whitney, Warren — (15 + 14 + 15 = 44)
15. (14) Alex Rose, Keene, N.H. — (14 + 15 + 15 = 44)

Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds Growler (20 laps)
1. Robert Tucker, Bradford
2. Kevin Chaffee, Bradford
3. Todd Buckwold, Canaan, N.H.

Wells River Chevrolet Sportsman Coupes (20 laps)
1. Tanner Siemons, Orford, N.H.
2. Todd Hayward, Bradford
3. Thomas Placey, Bradford

Mike Estrada State Farm Insurance Enduro (75 laps)
1. Brandon Gray, East Thetford
2. Chris LaForest, Barre
3. Jason Porter, Freeport, Maine
4. Frank Putney, Graniteville
5. Donald Beer, Lyndonville

The post Hayward Rides Topside to Bear Ridge Coupe Win appeared first on VtMotorMag.com.

Return Home Nets Gray Big Bear Ridge Modified Win

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Late pass nets Gray win; Chaffee claims championship

–by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
VMM Editor

BRADFORD — Jason Gray was at a crossroads, but a return home paid out in a big way.

The East Thetford driver made a late pass on Adam Pierson to claim the win in the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Newport Chevrolet 100 on Saturday night at Bear Ridge Speedway.

“It’s awesome,” Gray said. “You start fifth in a race against really good guys and they have all the fast guys up front. You work your butt off to get around. It’s a challenge.”

Gray redrew in the fifth position and had moved up to third by lap 20. From there, Gray began a back-and-forth battle in the first 50 laps with former champion Chris Donnelly for the second position.

Gray steered clear of Donnelly and began to catch race leader Pierson, who had led from the drop of the green after he started on the pole position. Pierson stayed glued to the bottom of the race track as Gray worked the outside lane.

The duo would slice their way through lapped traffic, but Gray would look to Pierson’s inside on lap 67. Pierson would steer clear, but Gray mounted the pressure as he slipped by Pierson on lap 69 and lead lap 70.

Pierson, however, didn’t let Gray get away as he kept up the pressure just before a lap 88 restart and after the restart. Gray, however, stayed out in front and secured the win.

“(Pierson) kept going to the bottom and I was running the top and I was thinking ‘the top is good, it’s really good,’” Gray said. “I felt like if we kept going and kept the tires warm, lets see what happened.

“He kept hitting that bump on the entry of both corners and I was catching him and thinking to myself ‘do your stuff.’”

The win for Gray was his tenth career Bear Ridge Sportsman Modified victory and his first since June 2015. He took pride in beating Pierson, who has over 30 Sportsman Modified wins, five Sportsman Modified championships, and 13 overall championships.

“To catch (Pierson) and pass him, he’s one of the legends,” Gray said. “He’s been running here a lot longer than I have. To beat him, it feels good.

“(And) to have him come up and congratulate me, that’s makes me feel good, it’s a lot of respect. Adam and I have had our differences, but there is a lot of respect there. I’d race against him anyday.”

Jason Gray celebrates his Bear Ridge Speedway Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Newport Chevrolet 100 win in victory lane with his daughter, Alice, and a representative of Newport Chevrolet. (T.J. Ingerson/VMM photo)For Gray, the win at Bear Ridge capped off a successful season that saw him win three times at Albany-Saratoga Speedway and a fourth place finish in the championship.

“We’ve raced out at (Albany-Saratoga) all year long and I was like “boys, this year isn’t over yet,” Gray said. “We had a successful year out there and decided lets come back to (Bear Ridge) and see what happens.

“We were here last week and went from 17th to sixth and was like ‘we can fine tune it from there.’”

The return home for Gray may be foreshadowing his future as family and work commitments appear to be altering the 28-year-olds’ racing future.

“It’s kind of a nice feeling to come back in front of the hometown crowds,” Gray said. “Traveling three hours away from home, you don’t have much. Here, it’s home. Everybody welcomes you and everybody says hi and they know who I am.

“You sometimes have to spread your wings and go to different places. But, we’ll be back here quite a bit next year. My daughter is turning one shortly and it’s not as far.”

Pierson, of East Corinth, settled for second after he led the first 69 laps of the 100-lap event.

“The track was super slick,” Pierson said. “Once Jason (Gray) nosed it in there, and I knew he was running coil (springs), I knew was going to have something to get by me.”

Second place point driver Robert Tucker of Bradford battled back from an early race incident to finish third while multi-time champion Donnelly finished fourth. Matt Lashua of Canaan, N.H. completed the top-five finishers.

Hometown driver Kevin Chaffee ran back from mid-race problems to finish sixth and secure the 2018 Sportsman Modified championship. Jordan Fornwalt, Terry Williams, Richie Simmons, and Derek Graham finished seventh through tenth, respectively.

Bear Ridge Speedway’s championship season has concluded, but will hold their second “Fun Day” on Sunday, October 14.

VtMotorMag.com will have more from Bear Ridge Speedway’s Newport Chevrolet Crate Motor Nationals soon.

PHOTOS:
1 – Jason Gray earned his first Bear Ridge Speedway checkered flag in over three years as he claimed the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Newport Chevrolet 100 feature win. (T.J. Ingerson/VMM photo)
2 – Jason Gray celebrates his Bear Ridge Speedway Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modified Newport Chevrolet 100 win in victory lane with his daughter, Alice, and a representative of Newport Chevrolet. (T.J. Ingerson/VMM photo)

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS — Newport Chevrolet 100
Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modifieds
Bear Ridge Speedway, Bradford, Vt.
Saturday, September 22, 2018

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)

1. (5) Jason Gray, East Thetford
2. (1) Adam Pierson, East Corinth
3. (6) Robert Tucker, Bradford
4. (2) Chris Donnelly, Piermont, N.H.
5. (7) Matt Lashua, Canaan, N.H.
6. (4) Kevin Chaffee, Bradford
7. (9) Jordan Fornwalt, Bradford
8. (16) Terry Williams, Wells River
9. (11) Richie Simmons, Bradford
10. (3) Derek Graham, Woodsville, N.H.
11. (19) Tanner Siemons, Orford, N.H.
12. (15) D.J. Robinson, Sharon
13. (12) Mike Dunn, North Haverhill, N.H.
14. (10) Todd Buckwold, Canaan, N.H.
15. (17) Ryan Christian, Canaan, N.H.
16. (18) Mike Ryan, Vershire
17. (13) Steven Flint, Orange
18. (8) Jeremy Huntoon, Newbury
19. (21) Steve Lary, Enfield, N.H.
20. (20) Chris Clark, Vershire
21. (14) Jim Morgan, Woodstock

The post Return Home Nets Gray Big Bear Ridge Modified Win appeared first on VtMotorMag.com.

Poirier Tops Airborne Sprint Car Clash

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Pierson leads New England Sprint Car drivers

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — Steve Poirier came out on top of a thrilling battle with Chuck Hebing on Sunday afternoon at Airborne Park Speedway.

The Quebec driver took the lead back from Hebing on lap 22 in the American/Canadian Sprint Car Clash after Hebing, who took the lead from Poirier just a few laps earlier on the race’s lone restart, ran wide off the top of turn two.

“It was really tricky trying to find if (the track) was rubbering up or not,” Poirier said in victory lane. “I thought eventually that I would have to run the inside.

“On that restart, (Hebing) passed me and I didn’t know where to go or if there really was (grip) on the inside. But it played into our favor. We got into a back-and-forth battle.”

The win for Poirier netted him the $4,000 winner’s prize and came on the weekend in which he was crowned the 2018 Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints champion.

“It’s pretty cool beating (Hebing),” Poirier said. “We were joking that we are the two oldest on the Tour and we have battled for the last ten to 12 years.

“We respect each other, but we don’t give an inch to each other.”

Hebing settled for second after he slipped off of turn two during the head-to-head battle with Poirier.

“I got by by Steve (Poirier) and there was a little rubber on the bottom,” Hebing said. “I just rode myself off of turn two and went over the edge.

“He got back by and that was the end of it.”

Matt Tanner, who won a Sprint Cars of New England event earlier this season at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, finished third with Jeff Cook fourth. Polesitter Billy VanInwegen completed the top-five finishers.

Jason Barney, Alex Vigneault, Alain Bergeron, Matt Billings, and Chad Miller finished sixth through tenth, respectively.

The event was co-sanctioned by the Empire Super Sprints and the Sprint Cars of New England. Eight New England sprint car drivers made the trip to the New York clay oval and Adam Pierson posted the best finish of 11th.

Scott Holcomb (12th), recently crowned Sprint Cars of New England champion Will Hull (13th), Jake Williams (14th), Dan Douville (17th), Dylan Cook (18th), Lacey Hanson (19th), and Jordan Fornwalt (22nd) also competed in the 25-lap event.

Pierson also won the Sportsman Modified event earlier in the day after he made a late pass on Dylan Rabtoy for the win.

PHOTO: Steve Poirier (center) in victory lane at Airborne Park Speedway on Sunday with second place finisher Chuck Hebing (right) and third place finisher Matt Tanner (left). (Photo courtesy Empire Super Sprints Facebook page)

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS — American/Canadian Sprint Car Clash
Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints/Sprint Cars of New England
Airborne Park Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Sunday, September 23, 2018

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

1. (4) Steve Poirier, St-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, Que.
2. (2) Chuck Hebing, Ontario, N.Y.
3. (8) Matt Tanner, Stephentown, N.Y.
4. (6) Jeff Cook, Antwerp, N.Y.
5. (1) Billy VanInwegen, Sparrowbush, N.Y.
6. (7) Jason Barney, Brewerton, N.Y.
7. (10) Alex Vigneault, Trois-Rivieres, Que.
8. (5) Alain Bergeron, St-Pie, Que.
9. (12) Matt Billings, Brockville, Ont.
10. (9) Chad Miller, Amsterdam, N.Y.
11. (11) Adam Pierson, East Corinth, Vt.
12. (16) Scott Holcomb, Granby, Conn.
13. (3) Will Hull, Plainfield, Vt.
14. (15) Jake Williams, Center Tuftonboro, N.H.
15. (19) Dale Gosselin, St-Pie, Que.
16. (18) Paul Pekkonen, Brockville, Ont.
17. (13) Dan Douville, Bridgewater, N.H.
18. (14) Dylan Cook, Tamworth, N.H.
19. (21) Lacey Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
20. (17) Roger Levesque, Bath, Ont.
21. (22) Sean Durand, Brossard, Que.
22. (20) Jordan Fornwalt, Bradford, Vt.

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CHAMPION: Chaffee Scores Elusive Bear Ridge Modified Crown

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–by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
VMM Editor

BRADFORD — Kevin Chaffee returned back home in 2018 and it paid major dividends.

The Bradford driver had competed at various tracks and with various series throughout the northeast for much of the past two seasons, but made the decision based on what the team learned to return back to Bear Ridge Speedway in 2018. That decision helped lead him to the Sabil & Sons DIRTcar Sportsman Modified championship.

“It hasn’t really kicked in. It’s been a long season, and it’s pretty cool,” Chaffee said. “It’s a lot of hard work.

“The (team) does most of the work during the week and I work on it Fridays and Saturdays. They do a good job.”

Chaffee was locked in a head-to-head battle with Robert Tucker for much of the 2018 season and the two posted similar statistics — three wins, 13 and 12 top-five place finishes respectively, 18 top-ten place finishes, and a 4.6 and 4.8 average finish respectively. However, a strong final two months to the 2018 season saw Chaffee visit victory lane twice and see the eventual champion earn a 3.9 average finishing position to Tucker’s 7.1. That difference helped propel Chaffee to his first Sportsman Modified championship.

Kevin Chaffee piloted his Teo Pro Car to his first Bear Ridge Speedway championship. (Alan Ward photo)“(Chassis builder Teo Pro car) were a lot of help,” Chaffee said of his turnaround. “I went down to pick up some parts and they just happened to have come out with some new suspension stuff and they told me take it and try it.

“And the car really hooked up from that.”

From his time racing various series and tracks, Chaffee and his White River Toyota team learned one valuable lesson that tracked the back to Bear Ridge and the championship.

“The most important thing we learned is that you need to race every week,” Chaffee explained. “You can’t just show up and run two or three times a month and think that you’re going to really amount to anything.

“You need time in the car and the guys need time to work on the car and that way you’re ready when you show up.”

For Chaffee, the championship win was surreal as he reflected on previous experiences chasing that elusive crown.

“I’ve finished second so many times, it’s almost like I have to go a couple more weeks,” Chaffee said.  “I would lead the points for half of the season and then (be bad) for a quarter of the season and then come on and try to make up ground at the end.”

Despite the Bear Ridge Speedway season being completed, Chaffee’s season is not. He stated his intention to compete at NAPA Super Dirt Week at Oswego Speedway and the various satellite races that complete the week-long event. He also intends to compete once again at the DRIVEN Racing Oil World Short Track Championship event at the Dirt Track at Charlotte in North Carolina.

PHOTOS:
1 – Kevin Chaffee and his White River Toyota team, seen here earlier this season after a win at Bear Ridge Speedway, earned their first Sportsman Modified championship on Saturday. (VMM file photo)
2 – Kevin Chaffee piloted his White River Toyota Teo Pro Car to his first Bear Ridge Speedway championship. (Alan Ward photo)

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LaDuc Wins Battle, Tremont Wins War at Devil’s Bowl

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WEST HAVEN — Two of Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s all-time winners had reason to celebrate on Sunday, September 23, as Kenny Tremont Jr. and Tim LaDuc stood in Victory Lane in the 2018 dirt track stock car racing season finale.

Tremont extended his track record to nine career championships, leading a parade of title winners that included Brent Warren, Chris Murray, Kaleb Shepard, and Cody O’Brien.

Orwell, Vt., driver LaDuc dominated the final 30-lap race of the season for the Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified division of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.  After driving from eighth place at the start, LaDuc pressured early leader Ron Proctor for several laps before making a pass stick on lap 11.  From there, he drove away uncontested for his second win of the season and the 52nd of his career at Devil’s Bowl. Jake Scarborough, who started in 10th place, was the runner-up.

Tremont, meanwhile, was forced to pit road after an early crash with fellow title contender Joey Scarborough.  Tremont’s car suffered significant suspension damage to the right-front corner, but the West Sand Lake, N.Y., veteran admitted after the race that the bent and broken pieces actually improved the car’s handling.  The proof was in the pudding, as he blasted from 16th at the restart to finish third.

John St. Germain Jr. was part of several competitive battles before finishing fourth, with Vince Quenneville Jr. fifth.  Walter J. Hammond ran as high as second at the middle part of the race before dropping to sixth, ahead of Justin Comes and Billy Lussier.  Hammond’s father, Walt Hammond, finished ninth, and his uncle, Allan Hammond, rounded out the top 10.  Joey Scarborough was credited with 14th place.

Unofficially, Tremont finished with a 54-point advantage for the track title, and also clinched the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division I Vermont State Championship.  LaDuc leapfrogged Joey Scarborough to finish second in track standings, with the top five completed by Comes and Quenneville.  Marty Kelly III of North Bennington, Vt., claimed the track Rookie of the Year title.

Paolo Pascarella of Brunswick, N.Y., was the winner of the 20-lap finale for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman division, running away for a convincing third victory of the season.  The 18 year-old passed Jesse Edwards for the lead at lap 8 and never looked back.  Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald put together a solid drive from 13th to finish second, and Travis Billington was third.  Anthony Warren finished fourth in his first start of the season, with Joey Roberts rebounding from an early spin for fifth place.

Brent Warren of Salisbury, Vt., narrowly won the Limited Sportsman championship after an eighth-place finish.  Warren was one of four drivers – Billington, Roberts, and Pascarella joining him – in a tight battle for the crown, and had several nervous moments in heavy traffic before sealing up the title.

Unofficially, Warren squeaked out the track championship by just five points over Billington, 10 points over Pascarella, and 17 points over Roberts.  Billington, a five-time winner in 2018, scored big in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Division II national standings; under NASCAR’s separate point system that compares drivers at more than 50 sanctioned tracks in North America, the 16 year-old from South Glens Falls, N.Y., landed in second place nationally.

Andrew FitzGerald of West Rutland, Vt., earned the first win of his Super Stock career in the division’s final 20-lap feature, and held off his father, Scott, for the memorable victory.  The 2018 Rookie of the Year led every circuit, but had constant pressure from his dad in the final seven laps.  Chris Murray of Fair Haven, Vt., put the period on his championship season in third place, followed by Kevin Elliott and Justin Severance.

Murray posted 10 wins in 19 starts for an easy stroll to his second-straight championship.  Scott FitzGerald finished second overall, followed by Curtis Condon, Lou Gancarz, and Josh Bussino.

P.J. Bleau of Latham, N.Y., had a perfect two-for-two record in the Portland Glass Mini Stock division, winning the final two races of the season.  Bleau methodically worked from 13th into the lead with four laps remaining.  Mike Lique finished second with early leader Tim Simonds third.  Kaleb Shepard finished his championship season in fourth place and Jake Barrows completed the top five in the race.

Vergennes, Vt., racer Shepard scored five victories during a breakout season and also finished third in NASCAR Division IV national standings.  Shawn Moquin was the runner-up in track championship standings, followed by Mike Preston, Johnny Bruno, and Rookie of the Year Craig Kirby of Winooski, Vt.

Dakota Green of Eagle Bridge, N.Y., tasted redemption with his second win of the season in the Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint division’s 15-lap feature race.  Green took the lead from teammate Samantha Mulready at lap 5 and cruised to the victory, while Mulready matched her career-best finish in second.  Thirteen year-old Cody O’Brien of Springfield, Vt., finished third to clinch the division’s championship and become the youngest title winner in Devil’s Bowl Speedway history.  Evan Roberts and Kevin Smith were next in the finish.

O’Brien had an intense point battle with Austin Chaves through the second half of the season, and the pair raced in close proximity at the finale often separated by just one point.  Chaves made a last-ditch effort to pass O’Brien but slipped out of the groove and finished 10th in the race.  Shawn McPhee was named Rookie of the Year and finished third in championship standings behind Chaves and ahead of Green and Joel Belanger.

Richie Turner of Highgate, Vt., capped the season with a convincing win in the “Mountain Man” Enduro 200. Turner led all but three laps of the grueling survival-of-the-fittest race.  Double-duty driver P.J. Bleau finished second, two laps behind Turner.  Johnny Bruno was third, three laps down, with Russ Farr in fourth place, also three laps behind Turner.  Brett Wood ran in third place for much of the event before sputtering out of fuel in the final moments; he finished fifth, five laps down.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s 2018 season is now complete; dates and locations for rulebook and informational meetings for the 2019 season will be announced in the coming weeks.

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.

PHOTO: Tim LaDuc of Orwell, Vt., in Victory Lane after his second Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified win of the year at Devil’s Bowl Speedway.  (Alan Ward photo)

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS — Championship Night
Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, Vt.
Sunday, September 23, 2018

Pos.-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)

Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modifieds (30 laps)
1. Tim LaDuc, Orwell
2. Jake Scarborough, Brandon
3. Kenny Tremont Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.
4. John St. Germain Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.
5. Vince Quenneville Jr., Brandon
6. Walter Hammond, Canaan, N.H.
7. Justin Comes, Middlebury
8. Billy Lussier, Fair Haven
9. Walt Hammond Jr., Canaan, N.H.
10. Allan Hammond, Orange, N.H.

O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman (20 laps)
1. Paolo Pascarella, Brunswick, N.Y.
2. Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald, Gansevoort, N.Y.
3. Travis Billington, South Glens Falls, N.Y.
4. Anthony Warren, Shoreham
5. Joey Roberts, Fletcher
6. Jesse Edwards, Gansevoort, N.Y.
7. Mike Parodi, South Glens Falls, N.Y.
8. Brent Warren, Salisbury
9. Tanner Forbes, Jay, N.Y.
10. Matt Bilodeau, Pittsford

Super Stocks (20 laps)
1. # Andrew FitzGerald, West Rutland
2. Scott FitzGerald, West Rutland
3. Chris Murray, Fair Haven
4. Kevin Elliott, Rutland
5. Justin Severance, Pittsford

Portland Glass Mini Stocks (15 laps)
1. P.J. Bleau, Latham, N.Y.
2. Mike Lique, West Lebanon, N.H.
3. Tim Simonds, Clarendon
4. Kaleb Shepard, Vergennes
5. Jake Barrows, Cornwall

Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprints (15 laps)
1. # Dakota Green, Eagle Bridge, N.Y.
2. # Samantha Mulready, Hoosick Falls, N.Y.
3. Cody O’Brien, Springfield
4. Evan Roberts, Fletcher
5. # Kevin Smith, Brandon

Enduro (200 laps)
1. Richie Turner, Highgate
2. P.J. Bleau, Latham, N.Y.
3. Johnny Bruno, Castleton
4. Russ Farr, Granville, N.Y.
5. Brett Wood, Georgia

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ARCA Champ Mitchell to Compete at Milk Bowl

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BARRE — Former ARCA Racing Series champion Mason Mitchell has filed an entry for the 56th Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl.

The West Des Moines, Iowa driver has teamed up with Crazy Horse Racing through a friendship with reigning ARCA Racing Series champion and former ACT Late Model Tour winner Austin Theriault. Mason will drive a car owned by seven-time White Mountain Motorsports Park champion Quinny Welch in the two-day event.

The news was first reported by Speed51.com

“I’ve know of the track for a long time and I know it’s a special race that’s coming up,” Mitchell was quoted in a press release issued by Thunder Road. “And with my current situation, I thought, ‘Heck, why not? Let put something together.’

“It’s going to be totally random, but I’m looking forward to it.”

Mitchell’s current situation came to be after he left the driver’s seat following his championship winning season and has competed in sporadic events since. He shut down his team during the 2018 season.

“It might seem like a negative, but it was actually a positive for me,” Mitchell said. “It’s allowing me to regroup and refocus so I can get myself behind the wheel.

“With the situation I was in with my team, we had a lot of success, but I wasn’t able to drive. And the reason I got involved with racing was so I could be driving and enjoy it, and I just wasn’t enjoying it doing what I was doing.”

Mitchell will make his first start at the renowned quarter-mile oval.

“I’ve been watching film as much as I can and taking notes,” Mitchell said. “I’ve been talking to a few local drivers that have more than helpful with any questions I’ve had.

“The team I’m running for obviously has a lot of experience, so I’m leaning on those guys as much as I can to help me get up to speed as soon as I can.”

For Mitchell, the 24-year-old driver is excited to get back behind the wheel in an unfamiliar setting.

“This sounds crazy, but I haven’t been this excited to go to a race track and race probably since my ARCA debut,” Mitchell said. “It’s more than just going to a race for me. It’s the whole element of going up, racing for a team, enjoying myself, and being able to focus on just one thing, and that’s the best job I can possibly do for the team and for the people that helped me put this whole deal together.

“We’ve been working on this for a long time, we’ve been wanting to do the event for a while, and we’ve put it together for a long time. I’ve been so anxious, pumped up, and excited to do this race for months now, and it’s right around the corner.”

The 56th Milk Bowl will begin on Saturday, September 29 with Booth Bros./H.P. Hood Qualifying Day at 1:00pm. Sunday’s 56th Milk Bowl will go green with the last chance qualifier at 12:15pm with opening ceremonies beginning at 1:00pm.

PHOTO: Mason Mitchell, seen here competing at Iowa Speedway earlier this season, will make the trip to Barre, Vermont for the 56th Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Bank. (photo courtesy Mason Mitchell)

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Tight PASS Title Fight Highlights Thunder Road Milk Bowl Friday

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NEMST, Street Stock Showdown Series to compete in 50 lap events

BARRE — A tight PASS North Super Late Model championship fight will highlight Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl Friday at Thunder Road.

Two-time champion D.J. Shaw leads fellow two-time and defending champion Travis Benjamin by 17 points as the series enters the tricky quarter-mile oval for the special Friday Night event.

Benjamin tightened up the championship battle last Sunday at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway with a fifth-place finish as Shaw had a strugglesome day and finished 22nd.

“Thunder Road under the lights should be a blast,” Benjamin said in a PASS issued press release. “That’s one race track I would love to get a win at.

“If we can win, we will gain points and hopefully keep some pressure on D.J. (Shaw) and make it a battle to the end.”

Both drivers have shown success in PASS North competition at Thunder Road. Shaw won the PASS North Memorial Day Classic event while Benjamin earned a pair of podium finishes in the first two events.

One of the top contenders to stall Shaw and Benjamin will be the winner of Memorial Day Classic PASS North event Joey Polewarczyk.

“It’s going to be tough to repeat,” Polewarczyk said in a Thunder Road issued release. “It was tough on Memorial Day, but it’s just about who can get their car driving the best and last the longest.

“Ultimately, that’s what it comes down to. We definitely haven’t set the world on fire with practice times, but it’s a matter of working on the car. If we can sweet, that would be unreal.”

Some of the top contenders at Thunder Road and on the ACT Late Model Tour have stated their intentions to compete in Friday’s 150-lap PASS North Super Late Model event. Defending Milk Bowl champion Jason Corliss, defending ACT Late Model Tour champion Scott Payea, last year’s Thunder Road Late Model champion Bobby Therrien, and multi-time Thunder Road and Milk Bowl champion and 2016 ACT Late Model Tour champion Nick Sweet have stated their intentions to compete for the race win.

Thunder Road regular Matt White has filed an entry to compete in Friday’s event, as has 2016 PASS Thunder Road race winner Glen Luce. The three-time ACT Late Model Tour champion and 2016 Oxford 250 winner Wayne Helliwell Jr. has filed an entry with his Bruce Bernhardt-led team.

Among the PASS notables include recent PASS North winner Ben Rowe, third place point driver Derek Griffith, and PASS regular Garrett Hall. Recently crowned Oxford Plains Speedway champion Gabe Brown has falso filed an entry, as has current Granite State Pro Stock Series point leader Devin O’Connell and last year’s runner-up Scott MacMichael.

In addition to the PASS North Super Late Models, the North East Mini Stock Tour will compete in a 50-lap event that will put championship contenders Emerson Cayer and Cody Leblanc head-to-head on an unfamiliar track.

The Street Stock Showdown Series will also compete in a $1,000-to-win event while Thunder Road’s Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warriors will conclude their season on Friday.

Thunder Road and Northstar Fireworks have also planned a massive fireworks display to cap the evening.

Thunder Road Milk Bowl Friday will begin at 6:00pm on Friday, September 28.

PHOTO: D.J .Shaw (60) will look to extend his tight point lead on Friday night at Thunder Road while Joey Polewarczyk (97) will look to double up on Thunder Road PASS North wins. (Alan Ward photo)

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Corliss Ready to Defend Milk Bowl Title

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(From track press release)

BARRE — Jason Corliss is ready to do it all again.

With just days remaining before the 56th Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Bank at Thunder Road, the hometown racer and his Burnett Motorsports team are hard at work preparing for this year’s edition of the “Toughest Short Track Race in North America” one year after scoring the biggest win of his Late Model career.

Many of the top American-Canadian Tour (ACT)-type Late Model racers will be in Barre on Saturday, September 29 and Sunday, September 30. But perhaps none has accomplished more than Corliss over the last two seasons, with his victory in the $10,000+-to-win Milk Bowl last October the crown jewel.

“For the team, it’s something for them to always cherish and always be proud of,” Corliss said. “It’s one of those races where you can look back on it days, weeks, months, even years afterwards and reminisce about that day. It’s not like a weekly win that kind of gets lost in the shuffle – it’s the Milk Bowl. It’s our Daytona, our big race. To be able to win it was awesome for all the guys. We still talk about it often. But winning it is also a dangerous thing, because it makes you hungrier than ever to go do it again. And that’s what we’re aiming to do this year.”

“There’s so much prestige for this race,” he added. “There always has been and always will be. And it seems like everybody brings their ‘A’ game. It’s the end of the year, and everybody comes in and throws everything they’ve got at this race. To be able to be the guy that’s standing on top at the end is truly an honor.”

Since scoring that Milk Bowl win, Corliss went on to sweep the 2018 ACT Late Model Tour events at Thunder Road, including the $5,000-to-win Labor Day Classic earlier this month. In weekly Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Model competition, he finished a close second in the battle for “King of the Road”. Those achievements came off a 2017 season where he won four races, earned the ACT Rookie of the Year award, and finished third in both weekly and Tour points.

“All the ingredients were there,” Corliss said of his recent success. “The year prior to us actually winning the Milk Bowl, we were in a position late to win that Milk Bowl. Traffic didn’t work out the way we needed it to, and we finished second. So we knew even then that we were a top-notch team capable of winning big races. Even if we hadn’t won the Milk Bowl last year, I don’t think this year would have gone any differently. But it certainly helps as far as keeping people energized, rejuvenated, and excited going into the next pre-season, or going into the next Milk Bowl, where you have a big win that really showcases all their hard work and effort.”

A win in this year’s Milk Bowl would be one more entry on Corliss’s rapidly expanding list of achievements. The Labor Day Classic victory made him one of only 11 drivers to win all of Thunder Road’s “Big 3” events, which includes the Milk Bowl and the Memorial Day Classic. He now looks join an even more exclusive club, as only five drivers have ever gone back-to-back in the Milk Bowl.

In order to repeat, Corliss knows he and his team will need to stay focused. They are facing off against not only the top racers in the region, but the unique Milk Bowl format itself. Time Trials and 50-lap qualifying races on Saturday are part of a day-long battle to set the starting field. Those who make it through Qualifying Day intact have three 50-lap segments in store on Sunday with a full-field invert between each segment. The overall win goes to the driver with the best combined finish in all three segments.

“You can’t think too far ahead,” Corliss noted. “You’re not going to win the Milk Bowl on Friday at noon during practice. You’ve got to go through the process, and part of that process is that you have to enjoy the whole weekend. It’s a lot of work and it’s a lot of stress. But at the same time, you have to enjoy what you’re doing and enjoy that whole process, or else the whole thing’s not going to come to fruition at the end of the weekend. We’re really excited and pumped up, and we can’t wait for the weekend to arrive.”

Before getting to work in earnest on their Milk Bowl bid, the Burnett Motorsports team will start their racing weekend early. They are finishing up work on a new Super Late Model to debut in the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) event on Friday, September 28 as part of “Milk Bowl Friday”. Corliss is one of several Thunder Road and ACT competitors who hope to compete on all three days of Vermont Milk Bowl Weekend.

“It’s definitely going to be a challenge,” Corliss said. “The best part about Friday night for us is that it’s going to be more of a relaxing situation. It sounds kind of foolish, possibly, to say it’s going to be relaxing racing cars in a tough division with a stacked field, and making our guys work an extra night. But for our guys, it’s fun. We enjoy the challenge of trying to race with a different group of cars on our home track. Hopefully a little home field advantage will come into play and help us out, but Friday, we’re going with no expectations. We have not raced this car yet – I haven’t even driven this car yet. So I think it’s a little unrealistic right now to say we’re going to go out and try to win both events. But we definitely hope to go out there Friday, and the goals are to have fun, complete all the laps, and be competitive.”

Corliss will have fierce competition on his busy weekend. Reigning “King of the Road” Scott Dragon, 3-time 2018 winner Cody Blake, former Vermont Governor’s Cup winner Trampas Demers, and track record holder Marcel J. Gravel are some of the local stars who will be on hand for the Milk Bowl. Meanwhile, invaders such as ACT point leader Scott Payea, former Milk Bowl winners Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. and Nick Sweet, 2017 “King of the Road” Bobby Therrien, and former ARCA Champion Mason Mitchell have their eyes on the crown. Friday night, PASS superstars D.J. Shaw, Travis Benjamin, and Derek Griffith will take on the locals.

Vermont Milk Bowl Weekend kicks off Friday, September 28 at 6:00pm with Northfield Savings Bank “Milk Bowl Friday”. Booth Bros./H.P. Hood Qualifying Day goes to post at 1:00pm on Saturday, September 29 with Vermont Milk Bowl opening ceremonies at 1:00pm on Sunday, September 30. Adult admission is $30 for a Saturday/Sunday ticket and $20 for Friday-only. Kids ages 12 and under will be admitted free on all three days.

For more information, contact the Thunder Road offices at (802) 244-6963, media@thunderroadvt.com, or visit www.thunderroadvt.com.

PHOTO: Barre, VT’s Jason Corliss has won more races than any other Late Model competitor at Thunder Road over the past two seasons. (Buzz Fisher photo)

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56th Vermont Milk Bowl Index of Stories

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PASS North Milk Bowl Friday Possible Entries

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POSSIBLE ENTRIES — Northfield Savings Bank 150
PASS North Super Late Models
Thunder Road Speedbowl, Barre, Vt.
Friday, September 28, 2018

No.-Driver-Hometown

1 Evan Hallstrom, Northfield, Vt.
4 Brad Babb, Windham, Maine
4 Ben Rowe, Turner, Maine
5 Bobby Therrien, Hinesburg, Vt.
7 Travis Benjamin, Morrill, Maine
7 Glen Luce, Turner, Maine
12 Derek Griffith, Hudson, N.H.
24 J.P. Josiasse, Ennismore, Ont.
24 Scott MacMichael, Newbury, N.H.
27 Wayne Helliwell Jr., Dover, N.H.
35 Derek Ramstrom, Worcester, Mass.
37 Scott Payea, Milton, Vt.
40 Nick Sweet, Barre, Vt.
42 Matt White, Northfield, Vt.
43 Devin O’Connell, Madison, Conn.
47 Gabe Brown, Center Conway, N.H.
60 D.J. Shaw, Center Conway, N.H.
66 Jason Corliss, Barre, Vt.
91 Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, Que.
94 Garrett Hall, Scarborough, Maine
97 Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Hudson, N.H.

(unofficial)

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56th Milk Bowl Possible Entries

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POSSIBLE ENTRIES — 56th Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl
American-Canadian Tour Late Models
Thunder Road Speedbowl, Barre, Vt.
Saturday/Sunday, September 29/30, 2018

No.-Driver-Hometown

1qc Steve Cote, Ile-Bizard, Que.
1vt Evan Hallstrom, Northfield, Vt.
2vt Stephen Donahue, Graniteville, Vt.
3vt Ricky Roberts, Washington, Vt.
5vt Bobby Therrien, Hinesburg, Vt.
7nh Dylan Payea, Milton, Vt.
7vt Mike Foster, Williston, Vt.
9qc Matheiu Kingsbury, Blainville, Que.
10me Jesse Switser, West Burke, Vt.
10nh Bryan Mason, Stark, N.H.
11ny Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.
11qc Claude Leclerc, Lanoarie, Que.
13vt Boomer Morris, Barre, Vt.
14vt Phil Scott, Berlin, Vt.
16vt Scott Dragon, Milton, Vt.
17vt Darrell Morin, Richmond, Vt.
26vt John Donahue, Graniteville, Vt.
27vt Kyle Pembroke, Montpelier, Vt.
37vt Scott Payea, Milton, Vt.
38vt Tyler Cahoon, St. Johnsbury, Vt.
40vt Eric Chase, Milton, Vt.
41qc Jonathan Bouvrette, Blainville, Que.
42vt Matt White, Northfield, Vt.
46vt Nick Sweet, Barre, Vt.
54vt Mike Ziter, Williamstown, Vt.
58vt Jimmy Hebert, Williamstown, Vt.
64vt Christopher Pelkey, South Barre, Vt.
66vt Jason Corliss, Barre, Vt.
68vt Brooks Clark, Fayston, Vt.
71vt Trevor Lyman, Hinesburg, Vt.
72ma Ryan Kuhn, East Bridgewater, Mass.
72vt Scott Coburn, Barre, Vt.
85vt Trampas Demers, Shelburne, Vt.
86 Marcel Gravel, Wolcott, Vt.
91 Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, Que.
94vt Brendan Moodie, Wolcott, Vt.
97nh Joey Polewarczyk, Hudson, N.H.
98ia, Mason Mitchell, West Des Moines, Iowa
99vt Cody Blake, Barre, Vt.
00vt Mike Bailey, South Barre, Vt.
04vt Matthew Smith, Essex Junction, Vt.

(unofficial)

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Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl Friday Schedule Events

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS – Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl Friday
Thunder Road Speedbowl, Barre, Vt.
Friday, September 28, 2018

10:00am — Pit Gates Open
2:30pm — Spectator Gates Open
6:00pm — Post Time

12:00pm — Late Model practice
2:30pm — North East Mini Stock Tour practice
2:45pm — PASS North Super Late Model practice
3:10pm — Street Stock Showdown Series practice
3:25pm — North East Mini Stock Tour practice
3:40pm — PASS North Super Late Model practice
4:00pm — Street Stock Showdown Series practice
4:15pm — Road Warrior practice
4:25pm — North East Mini Stock Tour practice
4:40pm — PASS North Super Late Model practice
5:00pm — Street Stock Showdown Series practice
5:15pm — Road Warrior practice
5:25pm — Track Closed

6:00pm — North East Mini Stock Tour heats
— Street Stock Showdown Series heats
— PASS North Super Late Model heats
— Road Warrior heats

— Mini-Intermission

— North East Mini Stock Tour feature (50 laps)
— Street Stock Showdown Series feature (50 laps)
— Burnett Scrap Metals Road Warrior feature (30 laps)

— Intermission

— PASS North Super Late Model Northfield Savings Bank 150

— Fireworks

(subject to change)

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Booth Bros./HP Hood Milk Bowl Qualifying Day Schedule of Events

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS — Booth Bros./H.P. Hood Milk Bowl Qualifying Day
American-Canadian Tour Late Models
Thunder Road Speedbowl, Barre, Vt.
Saturday, September 29, 2018

7:30am — Pit Gates Open
10:00am — Spectator gates Open
1:00pm — Post Time

9:00am — Flying Tiger practice
9:15am — Late Model practice
9:45am — Street Stock practice
10:00am — Dwarf Car practice
10:15am — Flying Tiger practice
10:30am — Late Model practice
11:00am — Street Stock practice
11:15am — Dwarf Car practice
11:30am — Flying Tiger practice
11:45am — Late Model practice
12:15pm — Street Stock practice
12:30pm — Dwarf Car practice
12:45pm — Track Closed

1:00pm — Late Model Milk Bowl single car time trials
— Flying Tiger group time trials
— Street Stock group time trials
— Dwarf Car group time trials
— Flying Tiger last chance qualifier (if needed)
— Street Stock last chance qualifier (if needed)

— Late Model Milk Bowl qualifying races (50 laps)

— Dwarf Car Segment #1 (20 laps)
— Street Stock Segment #1 (25 laps)
— Flying Tiger Segment #1 (40 laps)

— Late Model practice

6:00pm — Track Closed
— Junior Champ Karts racing

(subject to change)

The post Booth Bros./HP Hood Milk Bowl Qualifying Day Schedule of Events appeared first on VtMotorMag.com.

56th Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl Schedule of Events

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS — 56th Annual Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl
American-Canadian Tour Late Models
Thunder Road Speedbowl, Barre, Vt.
Sunday, September 30, 2018

8:00am — Pit Gates Open
10:00am — Spectator Gates Open
12:15pm — Milk Bowl LCQ
1:00pm — Opening Ceremonites

9:00am — Driver’s Meeting
10:00am — Flying Tiger practice
10:15am — Late Model practice
10:45am — Street Stock practice
10:55am — Dwarf Car practice
11:05am — Flying Tiger practice
11:20am — Late Model practice
11:50am — Street Stock practice
12:00pm — Dwarf Car practice
12:10pm — Track Closed

12:15pm — Late Model Milk Bowl last chance qualifier

1:00pm — Milk Bowl Opening Ceremonies
1:30pm — 56th Milk Bowl Segment #1 (50 laps)
— Street Stock Segment #2 (25 laps)
— Dwarf Car Segment #2 (20 laps)

— 56th Milk Bowl Segment #2 (50 laps)

— Intermission
— Flying Tiger Segment #2 (40 laps)

— 56th Milk Bowl Segment #3 (50 laps)

(subject to change)

The post 56th Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl Schedule of Events appeared first on VtMotorMag.com.

56th Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl Friday Practice Cars

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FRIDAY PRACTICE CARS — 56th Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl
American-Canadian Tour Late Models
Thunder Road Speedbowl, Barre, Vt.
Friday, September 28, 2018

No.-Driver-Hometown

1qc Steve Cote, Ile-Bizard, Que.
2vt Stephen Donahue, Graniteville, Vt.
3vt Ricky Roberts, Washington, Vt.
5vt Bobby Therrien, Hinesburg, Vt.
9qc Mathieu Kingsbury, Blainville, Que.
9vt Chip Grenier, Graniteville, Vt.
11ny Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.
13vt Boomer Morris, Barre, Vt.
15vt Craig Bushey, Fairfax, Vt.
21vt Reilly Lanphear, Duxbury, Vt.
26vt John Donahue, Graniteville, Vt.
38vt Tyler Cahoon, St. Johnsbury, Vt.
41vt Peyton Lanphear, Duxbury, Vt.
42vt Matt White, Northfield, Vt.
58vt Jimmy Hebert, Williamstown, Vt.
64vt Christopher Pelkey, South Barre, Vt.
71vt Trevor Lyman, Hinesburg, Vt.
72ma Ryan Kuhn, East Bridgewater, Mass.
78nh Mason Mitchell, West Des Moines, Iowa
85vt Trampas Demers, Shelburne, Vt.
86vt Marcel Gravel, Wolcott, Vt.
88vt Nick Sweet, Barre, Vt.
91qc Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, Que.
94vt Brendan Moodie, Wolcott, Vt.
97nh Joey Polewarczyk, Hudson, N.H.
03qc Elie Arseneault, Laval, Que.
04vt Matthew Smith, Essex Junction, Vt.

The post 56th Northfield Savings Bank Milk Bowl Friday Practice Cars appeared first on VtMotorMag.com.

PASS North Milk Bowl Friday 150 Entry List

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ENTRY LIST — Northfield Savings Bank 150
PASS North Super Late Models
Thunder Road Speedbowl, Barre, Vt.
Friday, September 28, 2018

No.-Driver-Hometown

1 Evan Hallstrom, Northfield, Vt.
4 Brad Babb, Windham, Maine
4 Ben Rowe, Turner, Maine
5 Bobby Therrien, Hinesburg, Vt.
7 Glen Luce, Turner, Maine
7 Travis Benjamin, Morrill, Maine
8 Calvin Rose Jr., Turner, Maine
12 Derek Griffith, Hudson, N.H.
24 J.P. Josiasse, Ennismore, Ont.
24 Scott MacMichael, Newbury, N.H.
27 Wayne Helliwell Jr., Dover, N.H.
35 Derek Ramstrom, Worcester, Mass.
37 Scott Payea, Milton, Vt.
40 Nick Sweet, Barre, Vt.
42 Matt White, Northfield, Vt.
43 Devin O’Connell, Madison, Conn.
47 Gabe Brown, Center Conway, N.H.
60 D.J. Shaw, Center Conway, N.H.
66 Jason Corliss, Barre, Vt.
91 Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, Que.
94 Garrett Hall, Scarborough, Maine
97 Joey Polewarczyk, Hudson, N.H.
09 Jeremy Davis, Tamworth, N.H.

The post PASS North Milk Bowl Friday 150 Entry List appeared first on VtMotorMag.com.

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