West Haven, VT-It was a historic night at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday as the 60th season of racing at the famed dirt oval kicked off with the first-ever visit to the Green Mountain State for the DirtCar 358 Modified Series. A star-studded field of some of the best wheelmen in the northeast converged on the Champlain Valley to challenge a handful of track regulars for the right to be crowned “The King of the Clay,” and collect the $5,000 winner’s check.
When the dust settled, “Money” Mat Williamson celebrated in victory lane after securing his 21st Series victory, holding off challenges from Tim Fuller, Alex Payne, and Mike Mahaney. The win brings Williamson within one of Fuller for fourth on the all-time series list.
Fuller and Felix Roy led the field of 29 cars to the green flag, with Williamson firing from the third spot for the 60-lap main event. Williams disposed of Roy on the first lap and went on the hunt for Fuller, who had jumped to the early lead. Caution flew on lap 2 when Adam Pierson had a confrontation with an implement tire, and Williamson was ready to pounce.
Williamson overtook Fuller on the restart, but the yellow flew again on lap 4. When green flag racing resumed, Fuller grabbed the point back and held onto it for the next 20 laps. The caution came out again on lap 24, and Williamson seized the opportunity. He rolled to the outside lane, which had been providing a great deal of grip during the feature, and flew past Fuller to regain the lead. Williamson dominated from that point on.
While Payne, Fuller, and Mahaney waged a thrilling battle for the second, third, and fourth spots, Williams skillfully weaved his way through lapped traffic and extended his advantage. Andrew Buff brought out the final caution with four laps remaining, giving the drivers chasing Williamson a glimmer of hope. Williamson quickly erased those thoughts as he slammed the gas on the restart to overpower Payne and lead the final four laps to capture his first Series checkers of the season.
Payne held off Mahaney for second, with “Smooth Shoe” claiming the final podium spot. Middlebury, VT driver Justin Stone got around Fuller for fourth, with Fuller rounding out the top five.
There was no time to waste as the Sunoco Sportsmen Modified drivers tuned up for their first championship points race next weekend, with a 20-lap shootout with $1,000 at stake. Fair Haven’s Justin Comes understood the urgency in the dash to the finish line as he captured the lead from the pole position and roared to an impressive victory.
Comes battled Joey Scarborough during the early circuits, but the defending division track champion began to fade. Scott Towslee, riding his patented outside line, came up to challenge, but Comes was finding success with that same piece of track real estate. 2025 points runner-up Josh Sunn and Marty Kelly III were sitting on fast pieces as they diced their way through traffic, but neither had enough to run down Comes, who overcame lapped cars and a series of restarts to cruise to the seemingly easy victory.
Sunn placed second, followed by Kelly III, a late-charging Vince Quenneville, and Towslee.
Rising hot shoe Logan Denis, who dazzled the crowd with his memorable run in the 2025 Vermont 200, established himself as a serious contender in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman Division, holding off Gary English in the 25-lap feature. Denis was joined by Michael Danforth on the front row, with Danforth setting the early pace.
The race was red-flagged in the early stages when veteran campaigner “Fast Freddie” Little went for a wild tumble in turn one. After the delay, Denis began to flex his muscles and seemed to be in control. English charged from the eighth position on the grid and survived a hard-fought engagement with “Santa” Bon Kilburn and Kamden Duffy to close the gap on Denis. With Denis cautiously working his way through slower cars, English whittled away at the lead but ran out of time.
Following Denis and English underneath the checkered flag were Danforth, Duffy, and Kilburn.
Longtime racer Scott Bachand added to his growing list of visits to victory lane the last two years by rolling the win in the Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint feature. Bachand hadn’t won a race in the first 40-plus years of his career, but has caught fire since ending the dry spell last season.
Tyler Whittemore provided Bachand some competition in the early laps, but once Bachand got around Whittemore, he was not challenged. Bachand led by as much as half a lap at times during the event. A late caution tightened up the field, giving Whittemore and Quinn Quenneville a last-ditch shot, but Bachand had them covered.
Quenneville passed Whitemore for second, Levi Cram was fourth, and Trevor Jaques fifth.
The mini stocks ran a pair of split field features, with the first one starting as a family feud between Jeremy Brownell and Jeremy Brownell Jr. The senior Brownell led the majority of the 20-lap race, with his son holding down the second spot after leading some early laps. Brownell collected the hardware, with Brownell Jr. dropping to fourth. Zach Audet came from the 13th starting spot to place second. Tyler Bell was third. Brian Blake completed the top five.
In the second 20-lap feature, Kaleb Shepard earned the win from the fifth starting spot. Jake Mallory and Jon Jordan spent time at the front during the early laps of the race, but Shepard wrestled the lead away from Jordan and drove off for the win. Jordan held on for second, Damian Olden was third, Mallory fourth, and Gerard Jordan Jr. fifth.
The night concluded with a 20-lap feature for the Hoosier Racing Tire Novice Sportsman. This division includes several former track champions in various divisions, but that didn’t faze Rob Steves. Steves sprang from the pole and slipped away for a decisive win. Former mini stock champion Chris Sumner tried to reel Steves in late, but to no avail. Gavin Fluery put on an impressive show to earn the third spot. Rob Steele crossed the line fourth, and Mark McGinnis fifth.
The action continues at Devil’s Bowl on Saturday, May 2nd, with the Black Diamond Builders “Matt Bilodeau Memorial” night. All six weekly divisions will be on the card with the Sunoco Sportsman Modifieds competing in the Matt Bilodeau Memorial Race, 32 laps, $3200 to win. There will also be fireworks. Grandstands open at 4:30 p.m. with racing scheduled for 6 p.m.
Official Results-60th Season Opener “King of the Clay” DirtCar 358 Series
Saturday, April 25th, 2026
DIRTCar 358 “King of the Clay” (60 laps)
Pos. (Start) Driver Hometown
1. (3) Mat Williamson St. Catharines, ON
2. (5) Alex Payne Canandaigua, NY
3. (7) Mike Mahaney Elizabethtown, NY
4. (17) Justin Stone Middlebury, VT
5. (1) Tim Fuller Watertown, NY
6. (9) Bobby Hackel East Greenbush, NY
7. (12) Billy Dunn Watertown, NY
8. (11) Peter Britten Brisbane, QLD
9. (8) Kevin Chaffee Bradford, VT
10. (18) Dave Flannigan Jr. Port Robinson, ON
11. (19) Josh Masterson Bristol, VT
12. (13) Jordan McCreadie Watertown, NY
13. (6) A.J. Munger Benson, VT
14. (14) Chris Raabe Alexandria, ON
15. (2) Felix Roy Napierville, QC
16. (16) Lance Willix Theresa, NY
17. (23) Brad Rouse Fort Erie, ON
18. (10) Adam Pierson East Corinth, VT
19. (24) William Racine St-Paul-D’Abbotsford, Quebec
20. (28) Tanner Siemons Orford, NH
21. (21) Brendan Gibbons Amsterdam, NY
22. (22) Dylan Madsen Spencertown, NY
23. (4) Jordan Fornwalt Bradford, VT
24. (15) Andrew Buff Latham, NY
25. (27) Tim LaDuc Orwell, VT
26. (20) Dave Camara Poultney, VT
27. (29) CG Morey Rutland, VT 2
28. (26) Jack Butler Phillipsburg, NJ
29. (25) Todd Morey Castleton, VT
Sunoco Sportsman Modified Shootout (20 laps)
Pos. (Start) Driver Hometown
1. (1) Justin Comes Fair Haven, VT –
2. (9) Josh Sunn White River Junction, VT
3. (11) Marty Kelly III Bennington, VT
4. (8) Vince Quenneville Brandon, VT
5. (3) Scott Towslee Manchester, VT
6. (2) Joey Scarborough Brandon, VT
7. (6) Brent Warren Salisbury, VT
8. (14) Billy Lussier Fair Haven, VT
9. (13) Eric Shaw Wells, VT
10. (15) Randy Ryan Orwell, VT
11. (4) Camron Hotaling Schoharie, NY
12. (16) Adam Piper Leicester, VT
13. (10) Johnny Bruno Orlando, FL
14. (12) Frankie Hoard III Manchester Center, VT
15. (7) Wayne Stearns Bradford, VT
DQ (5) Jim Ryan Whiting, VT
O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman Feature (25 laps)
Pos. Driver Hometown
1. (2) Logan Denis Whiting, VT
2. (8) Gary English Salisbury, VT
3. (1) Michael Danforth Jr. Corinth, VT
4, (5) Kamden Duffy Richmond, NH
5. (6) Bob Kilburn Fair Haven, VT
6. (11) Kyle Kerr Shoreham, VT
7. (10) William Lussier Jr Fair Haven, VT
8. (12) William Duprey Hydeville, VT
9. (16) Don Williams Ripton, VT
10. (20) Russell Farr III Middle Granville, NY
11. (9) Bobbi Hults Castleton, VT
12. (21) Aiden Benoure Bristol, VT
13. (18) Adam Lafountain Starksboro, VT
14. (7) Tyler Travis Hartland, VT
15. (19) Matthew Wade Fair Haven, VT
16. (17) Trevor Hurlburt Bomoseen, VT
17. (13) Ed Bell Queensbury, NY
18. (15) Derrick Counter Leicester, VT
19. (3) Marty Hutchins Poultney, VT
20, (4) Freddie Little Salisbury, VT
21. (14) Anthony Ryan Benson, VT
22. (22) Cody O’Brien –
Hoosier Racing Tire Novice Sportsman Feature (20 laps)
Pos. (Start) Driver Hometown
1. (1) Rob Steves Orwell, VT
2. (4) Chris Sumner East Middlebury, VT
3. (5) Gavin Fleury
4. (2) Rob Steele Bomoseen, VT
5. (9) Mark McGinnis Rutland, VT
6. (3) Matt Little Salisbury, VT
7. (8) Corey Landry Hudson, NY
8. (6) Eric Dingman Corinth, NY
9. (7) James McLellan Wells, VT
10. (11) Christopher Pierce Orford, NH
11. (13) Roger Laduc Castleton, VT
12. (12) Jakobee Alger Orwell, VT
13. (14) Gage Provencher Bridport, VT
14. (15) Ben Williams Brandon, VT
15. (16) Emric Bourque St-Christophe-d’Arthabaska, QC
16. (10) Jason Kerr Shoreham, VT
Friend Construction 500c Mini Sprint Feature (20 laps)
Pos. (Start) Driver Hometown
1. (3) Scott Bachand St Albans, VT
2, (7) Quinn Quenneville Brandon, VT
3. (1) Tyler Whittemore Pttsford, VT
4. (5) Levi Cram Leicester, VT
5. (10) Trevor Jaques Milton, VT
6. (8) Carm Isabella Ballston Spa, NY
7. (6) Alex Reed Proctor, VT
8. (9) John Smith Poultney, VT
9. (4) Tommy Kasuba Castleton, VT
10. (2) Jenna Zak Schuylerville, NY
Mini Stock Feature #1 (20 laps)
Pos. (Start) Driver Hometown
1 .(3) Jeremy Brownell Greenwich, NY
2. (13) Zach Audet Johnson, VT
3. (11) Tyler Bell Peru, NY
4. (4) Jeremy Brownell Jr Greenwich, NY
5. (2) Brian Blake Cornwall, VT
6. (5) Bob Wood Whiting, VT
7. (6) Cody Dion Rutland, VT
8. (14) Chandler Sumner Ripton, VT
9. (7) Jayde Pope Fair Haven, VT
10. (15) Caden Stearns Shoreham, VT
11. (1) Nicholas Melotti Mendon, VT
12. (12) Quinton Bishop Whiting, VT
13. (10) Jerry Jordan Sr Benson, VT
14. (8) Joe Warren Plattsburgh, NY
15. (9) Ron Alger Orwell, VT
Mini Stock Feature #2 (20 laps)
Pos. (Start) Driver Hometown
1. (5) Kaleb Shepard Vergennes, VT
2. (4) Jon Jordan Benson, VT
3. (13) Damian Olden Rutland, VT
4. (2) Jacob Mallory Granville, NY
5. (8) Gerard Jordan Jr Benson, VT
6. (12) Shane Wood West Haven, VT
7. (15) Vincent Kendall Rutland, VT
8. (11) Adam Stewart Benson, VT
9. (6) David Labarge South Glens Falls, NY
10. (7) Kyle Jordan Benson, VT
11.(10) Christopher Hewitt Pittsford, VT
12. (14) Wyatt Renfrow Castleton, VT
13. (1) William Hewitt Castleton, VT
14. (9) Chris Charboneau Rutland, VT
15. (3) Carl Lapoint Clemons, NY
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Devil’s Bowl Speedway
Phone: (802) 236-9141
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