HAVEN, VT.– Fair Haven’s Justin Comes won Saturday’s 38-lap Vince Quenneville, Sr., ‘Legends Night’ Memorial race at Devil’s Bowl over Josh Masterson, Tanner Seimons and 26 other competitors. Justin Lilly won the O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman feature. Matt Wade, Jakobee Alger, Gage Provencher, Chad Merrill and Chase Allen also picked up feature wins, along with several members of the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modifieds. The night of racing was presented by the Community College of Vermont, one of the speedway’s most dedicated and loyal sponsors.
Comes had the pole position for Saturday’s feature, a 38-lap special paying $2,000 to win in memory of the late Vince Quenneville, Sr. Dubbed “The Flying Frenchman,” Quenneville was a two-time track champion at Devil’s Bowl in 1968 and 1969 during the speedway’s infancy. Already a local hero, his legend became larger than life on opening night in 1970, when he defeated the track anti-hero, Tampa, Florida’s Will Cagle at Devil’s Bowl, to the delight of the crowd. Quenneville continued racing well into the 70’s and 80’s, earning success in the modified ranks all throughout at Devil’s Bowl and beyond. He tragically lost his life in a highway accident in 1987, but his legend continues, both in history and on the track, as his family continues the tradition with Vince Jr., Jason and Quinn.
Comes led the first three laps before surrendering the lead to Brent Warren on a restart. Warren pulled a slide-job from the bottom lane and began to drive away with the lead. A lap-11 caution saw Warren choose the top and Comes went back by him. Justin Stone was marching forward all the while, along with Joey Scarborough and Tanner Siemons. Further back, Vince Quenneville, Jr., was up to 15th from 21st on lap 13.
Josh Masterson, who has been on a roll since late June, quickly came through the pack, working the outside lane and taking 2nd position from Warren on lap 19.
A red-flag period stalled the race for a few minutes at this point, setting up a battle between Comes and Masterson for the last 19 laps. Around the 10-to-go mark, another caution set up one final act. Masterson had stayed with Comes for the entire second half of the race. Comes’ short-run speed appeared better, as Masterson fell back a second off the final restart but closed in to within .2 at the line. Tanner Siemons was 3rd with Warren enjoying his season-best 4th place run. Scarborough finished 5th impressively, driving with a flat left-rear tire for the final 10 laps. Kevin Chaffee went from 29th to 11th, earning Elmo’s Pit Stop Hard Charger bonus of $100.
In the limited sportsman ranks it was Castleton’s Justin Lilly picking up his first win of 2024. Tyler Travis took the lead from Lilly at the start, rim-riding the outside lane until lap 15, when Lilly promoted himself to the top spot. Trouble late in the going took Travis out of the running, along with Cody O’Brien, leaving Lilly to ride off with the win. Alex Layn was 2nd with Fred Little 3rd. Gary English and Marty Hutchins rounded out the top-five. English made Amsoil/CleanEngine Hard Charger honors, going from 19th to 4th, passing 15 cars.
The Hoosier Racing Tire Novice Sportsman ran a feature-only format, lining up by the handicap and going 25 laps. Russ Farr and Wade had the front row with Wade using the outside lane to seize the early lead. It didn’t take long for the young Logan Denis to go from 6th to the front, challenging Wade fiercely from lap six onward. Denis edged Wade out at the line on laps 15 and 16, but Wade powered back around him, picking up his second win of the year. Aiden Benoure was 3rd with Bobbi Hults 4th and Farr 5th.
In the Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprints it was all about Gage Provencher. The Bridport, Vt. driver started 6th and took the lead on lap four from the steadily improving Jenna Zakrzewski. Ray Hanson jumped into the runner-up spot with six laps remaining, but he was nearly three seconds behind Provencher, and wasn’t able to make up the ground. Provencher took the win and now finds himself tied with Hanson for the championship lead. Zakrzewski was 3rd, earning her best result of the year. Quinn Quenneville was 4th with last week’s winner Chris Pierce 5th.
Adam Stewart did his best to earn his first career Fisher Auto Parts Mini Stock A-Main win, leading laps one through four, and again on six, but Jakobee Alger proved too strong on the outside lane, passing Stewart for the lead and going on to win by 1.7 seconds. Points leader Brian Blake was 2nd with Dawson Thompson 3rd. Ryan Patch was 4th and Stewart was right there in 5th. For Alger, it was his third win of 2024. Chase Allen won the B-Main over Anthony Johnson and James Murray.
For the second week in a row, the 9th State Cannabis Crown Vic class saw a brand-new driver reach victory lane in the 20-lap feature. Londonderry, Vt.’s Chad Merrill went from 6th to 1st to score the win over Rob Steele and Eric Friend. Cam Gaude was 4th in his first ever appearance in the class. Merril used the high lane to hold off Steele for a number of laps. Merrill joins Steele, Friend, Norman Morrill, Jackson Ducharme, Brett Wood and Brad Cram on the list of drivers who have won crown vic features since the division’s inception in 2023.
The Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modifieds were in town for their only stop of 2024 at Devil’s Bowl. bringing over 25 cars with them, representing the old days of racing in the region. They ran two races that produced five different class winners: Randy Delaney (modified), Merv Blackwell (Sportsman), Curtis Condon (Late Model), Joe Rando (Mystique) and Don Briggs (Antique).
The New York State Stock Car Association inducted three Devil’s Bowl Speedway drivers and one car owner into their Hall of Fame Saturday at the track. The inductees were Frank Hoard, Sr., Don VanGuilder, Ed Keenan and Clayton Ryan. Special guests of the track for ‘Legends Night’ included Bobby and Beaver Dragon, Ray Hoard, Ron Proctor and Carl Murray.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is back in action on July 27 for some more winged, wild and wicked fast racing from the Sprint Cars of New England. All regular classes will be in action. Crown Vics have the night off. The kids’ backpack giveaway will be held during intermission. Racing is set to begin at 7PM. General admission will be $15 with infield tailgating available for $20. Pit prices are $28 for members and $38 for non-members.
OFFICIAL RESULTS – JULY 27, 2024. Community College of Vermont ‘Legends’ Night’
Vince Quenneville, Sr., Modified Memorial
Pos. (start) driver, hometown
(1) Justin Comes, Fair Haven, Vt.
(13) Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.
(14) Tanner Siemons, Claremont, N.H.
(4) Brent Warren, Salisbury, Vt.
(12) Joey Scarborough, Brandon, Vt.
(6) Josh LeClaire, Bomoseen, Vt.
(20) Justin Stone, Middlebury, Vt.
(9) Marty Kelly, III, North Bennington, Vt.
(19) Bubba McPhee, Rutland, Vt.
(26) Troy Audet, Bridport, Vt.
(29) Kevin Chaffee, Bradford, Vt.
(27) Travis Green, Wallkill, N.Y.
(24) James Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
(3) Brian Whittemore, Pittsford, Vt.
(7) Adam Piper, Leicester, Vt.
(21) Vince Quenneville, Jr., Brandon, Vt.
(17) Tim LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.
(26) Fire Swamp, Akwesasne, N.Y.
(8) Pat Miner, Monkton, Vt.
(22) Anthony Warren, Shoreham, Vt.
(5) Randy Ryan, Orwell, Vt.
(11) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
(21) Bruce Loomis, Salem., N.Y.
(18) Michael Wagner-Fitzgerald, Gansevoort, N.Y.
(2) AJ Munger, Benson Landing, Vt.
(23) Jimmy Ryan, Whiting, Vt.
(28) Johnny Bruno, West Haven, Vt.
(16) Frankie Hoard, III, Manchester, Vt.
(15) Dave Camara, Poultney, Vt.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman Feature (25 laps)
(1) Justin Lilly, Castleton, Vt.
(10) Alex Layn, New Haven, Vt.
(9) Fred Little, Salisbury, Vt.
(19) Gary English, Salisbury, Vt.
(11) Marty Hutchins, Poultney, Vt.
(8) Boomer Patterson, Milton, Vt.
(6) Eric Shaw, Wells, Vt.
(14) Billy Duprey, Hydeville, Vt.
(12) Steve Miller, Vergennes, Vt.
(7) Jason Quenneville, Queehcee, Vt.
(18) Kyle Kerr, Shoreham. Vt.
(16) Bob Kilburn, Fair Haven, Vt.
(20) Ed Bell, Queensbury, N.Y.
(3) William Lussier, Jr., Fair Haven, Vt.
(17) Derrick Counter, Leicester, Vt.
(2) Tyler Travis, Hartland, Vt.
(5) Cody O’Brien, Springfield, Vt.
(4) Kamden Duffy, Richmond, N.H.
(15) Mike Clark, Jr., Salisbury, Vt.
(21) Adam Lafountain, Starksboro, Vt.
(13) Scott Towslee, Manchester, Vt.
Hoosier Racing Tire Novice Sportsman Feature (25 laps)
(2) Matt Wade, Fair Haven, Vt.
(6) Logan Denis, Whiting, Vt.
(3) Aiden Benoure, Salisbury, Vt.
(4) Bobbi Hults, Castleton, Vt.
(1) Russ Farr, Granville, N.Y.
(8) Nick Austin-Neil, Salisbury, Vt.
(9) Raelin Dunham, Queensbury, N.Y.
(5) Matt Cram, Leicester, Vt.
(12) Winston Forbes, Brandon, Vt.
(10) Keegan Tabor, Randolph, Vt.
(11) Jason Kerr, Shoreham. Vt.
(7) Josh Bussino, Fair Haven, Vt.
Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint Feature (15 laps)
(6) Gage Provencher, Bridport, Vt.
(7) Ray Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
(2) Jenna Zakrzewski, Schuylerville, N.Y.
(5) Quinn Quenneville, Brandon, Vt.
(8) Chris Pierce, Orford, N.H.
(1) Kevin Smith, Brandon, Vt.
(4) Chris Lennox, Eagle Bridge, N.Y.
(14) Ashleigh Kulzer, Johnstown, N.Y.
(3) Vern Woodard, Fair Haven, Vt.
(9) Destin St. Clair, Peru, N.Y.
(10) Tucker Jones, Fort Plain, N.Y.
(13) Alex Reed, Proctor, Vt.
(12) Tommy Kasuba, Castleton, Vt.
(11) Brandon Eemrson, Williamstown, Vt.
Fisher Auto Parts Mini Stock A-Main (15 laps)
(10) Jakobee Alger, Orwell, Vt.
(12) Brian Blake, Cornwall, Vt.
(4) Dawson Thompson, Hoosick Falls, N.Y.
(14) Ryan Patch, Rutland, Vt.
(2) Adam Stewart, Benson, Vt.
(16) Griff Mahoney, Benson, Vt.
(9) Damian Olden, Rutland, Vt.
(17) Chris Charbonneau, Rutland, Vt.
(10) Willie Rice, Poultney, Vt.
(20) Craig Kirby, St. Albans, Vt.
(18) Tom Severance, Fair Haven, Vt.
(11) Cody Vanguilder, Rutland, Vt.
(5) Quinton Bishop, Whiting, Vt.
(3) Chris Hewitt, Pittsford, Vt.
(13) Tim Robinson, Center Rutland, Vt.
(21) Caleb Shephard, Vergennes, Vt.
(6) Adam Mahoney, Whitehall, N.Y.
(8) Jeremy Brownell, Greenwich, N.Y.
(1) Cody Dion, Rutland, Vt.
(15) Ronnie Alger, Orwell, Vt.
(7) Chris Sumner, Vt.
Fisher Auto Parts Mini Stock B-Feature (6 laps)
(4) Chase Allen, Fair Haven, Vt.
(3) Anthony Johnsonm, Sandgate, Vt.
(2) James Murray, Proctor, Vt.
(1) Richard Fleury, Poultney, Vt.
(5) Luke Marcheski, Quincy, M.A.
(7) Kyle Jordan, Benson, Vt.
Did not start: Nate Sweet, Nick Melotti, Mark Mahoney
9th State Cannabis Crown Vic Feature (20 laps)
(6) Chad Merrill, Londonderry, Vt.
(9) Rob Steele, Bomoseen, Vt.
(7) Eric Friend, Bristol, Vt.
(10) Cam Gadue, Highgate, Vt.
(5) Norm Morrill, North Ferrisburgh, Vt.
(4) Matt Decker, Castleton, Vt.
(1) Elisabeth Dupont, Moknton, Vt.
(2) Hellen Steele, Bomoseen, Vt,
(3) Scott Cram, Rutland, Vt.
(8) Brad Cram, Rutland, Vt.
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