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Bates Gets First Modified Win of 2011

6/19/11: WEST HAVEN, Vt. - Hunter Bates took advantage of a good starting position and avoided some early mayhem to record his first victory of the season Sunday night in the NASCAR Modified feature at Devil's Bowl Speedway. Bates, the defending Champlain Valley Racing Association Driver of the Year, is in his first season in the NASCAR Modifieds after stepping up from the sportsman division, where he notched a pair of wins at the Bowl last year. The feature needed three restarts before one lap was even in the books, but Bates, who had started third, was able to stay ahead of all the trouble.

John Proctor was the victim of one of the early incidents, as he shot off the second turn and never returned. Frank Hoard III grabbed the early lead when the race finally got under full speed, but Bates only needed five laps to get to the front, leaving Hoard, Jessey Mueller, and Ron Proctor, who was coming off a Friday night win at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, and to battle for second.

A caution came out on lap 13, bunching the field, and Proctor pulled even with Mueller two laps later. But that would be the last time that Proctor would get alongside Mueller, as the young driver did a great  job holding his line for the last 10 laps and came across the finish line second, the best run of his young NASCAR Modified career. Proctor finished third, his third consecutive top-five finish in as many starts, with Bobby Hackel IV fourth and Joe Williams fifth. Williams won the first two NASCAR Modified features of the year, but saw his winning streak come to en end.

Frank Monroe broke Bill Dupree's three-race winning streak in the 30-lap feature in the Renegade division. Monroe got to the front quickly and got a little breathing room when Dupree and Rowdy Burch traded paint on lap seven. Monroe maintained a comfortable margin the rest of the way to get his first win of the season.

Chris Wilk returned to victory lane in the pro late model division, picking up his second win in three starts. He was followed by David Emigh and Kevin Elliot. Mark Lindblade was the winner of the Bomber Warrior feature.

All divisions will return to action on Sunday, June 26, on Veterans Night. Anyone with a valid military ID will receive a $5 discount on admission.

NASCAR MODIFIEDS: HUNTER BATES, Jessey Mueller, Ron Proctor, Bobby Hackel IV, Joe Williams, Frank Hoard III, Don Miller, Kevin Wright, Alex Bell, Jake Zakrzewski, Joey Trudeau, Jason Rheome, Dave Snow, Jon Miller, Rob Langevin, Paul Braymer, Billy Mueller, Michael Bush, Matt Atwood, John Proctor.

PRO LATE MODELS: CHRIS WILK, David Emigh, Kevin Elliot, Randy Miller, Hunter Bates.

RENEGADES: FRANK MONROE, Bill Dupree, Rowdy Burch,  Jeremy Jones, Matt Livingston, Jonathan Hayes.

BOMBER WARRIORS: MARK LINDBLADE, Eddie Bruno, Dan Collins, Ray Germain, John Lindblade, John McCarron, 99, 30, Jake Noble, DNS: Matt Monahan.

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