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Stone Back On Top Entering Devil’s Bowl Mid-Season Championships

Late Model, Renegade leaders ahead by only one point; Driver autograph session scheduled

WEST HAVEN, VT – Stock car racer Todd Stone is in a familiar position entering Friday’s Rutland Herald Mid-Season Championships at Devil’s Bowl Speedway: Out front. The Middlebury, VT driver dominated the Bond Auto Parts Modified division in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action last season and though he holds the lead again this summer, his climb to the top hasn’t been as easy as it was a year ago.

In contrast to 2013 – when Stone won 10 of 17 races and only four other drivers carried the checkered flag during the season – parity has been the name of the game this year with seven different winners in the first 10 events. Stone’s 33-point lead on Leon Gonyo is far from safe with double points on the line at the Rutland Herald Mid-Season Championships; the main event pays a whopping 100 points for the victory, setting the stage for a potentially huge momentum shift. Joey Roberts, Vince Quenneville, Jr., and Ron Proctor are also well within striking distance of Stone’s lead.

The Late Model division is enjoying an ultra-close title fight as Josh Masterson of Bristol, VT leads young Emily Packard by just a single point with veteran driver Jamie Fisher only nine markers back. Each has seen victory lane this season, as has Robert Bryant, Jr. in fourth place. It’s the same story in the intermediate Renegade division, as 16 year-old Stephen Donahue of Graniteville, VT has an advantage of just one point on former champion Robert Gordon. Fast-improving rookie Scott FitzGerald of West Rutland, VT runs third.

Sophomore driver Chuck Bradford of Addison, VT won his third event of the season in the Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stock division last Friday, but hasn’t been able to shake defending champion Jake Noble yet; Bradford’s 27-point lead gives him little room to relax. The Mini Stocks have also seen great parity with seven winners in nine races. The open-wheel SK Light division returns for its fifth event on Friday, where Scott MacMichael of Newbury, NH holds a 10-point edge on Bruce Jaycox and 12 points on Norm Forest.

The double-points Rutland Herald Mid-Season Championships features not only all five racing divisions, but also the annual driver autograph session during intermission. Regular general admission on Friday, July 18 is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (age 62+), and free for children age 12 and under. The “Fans First” program will grant free admission to residents of Rutland and West Rutland, VT who present valid identification. Gates will open at 5:00 p.m., with racing at 7:00 p.m.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, VT four miles north of Exit 2 on U.S. Route 4. For more information, call (802) 265-3112 or visit www.devilsbowlspeedwayvt.com. Devil’s Bowl Speedway is on Facebook at facebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway and on Twitter and Instagram at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.

OFFICIAL STANDINGS – Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, VT
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
Entering Rutland Herald Mid-Season Championships – Friday, July 11, 2014

Bond Auto Parts Modified
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver-Hometown-Points-(Wins)
(# - denotes rookie)

1. (1X) Todd Stone, Middlebury, VT – 522 pts. (3 wins)
2. (4) Leon Gonyo, Chazy, NY – 489 pts. (1 win)
3. (50X) Joey Roberts, Fletcher, VT – 481 pts. (1 win)
4. (78) Vince Quenneville, Jr., Brandon, VT – 465 pts. (1 win)
5. (27) Ron Proctor, Charlton, NY – 457 pts.
6. (17) Jason Durgan, Morrisonville, NY – 435 pts. (1 win)
7. (20X) Jamie LaFountain, Plattsburgh, NY – 430 pts.
8. (19) Jessey Mueller, Olmstedville, NY – 346 pts. (2 wins)
9. (61S) Johnny Scarborough, Bomoseen, VT – 337 pts. (1 win)
10. (25) # Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, VT – 330 pts.

Late Model
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver-Hometown-Points-(Wins)
(# - denotes rookie)

1. (11X) Josh Masterson, Bristol, VT – 302 pts. (2 wins)
2. (9ME) Emily Packard, East Montpelier, VT – 301 pts. (1 win)
3. (18) Jamie Fisher, Shelburne, VT – 293 pts. (1 win)
4. (3RB) Robert Bryant, Jr., Brooklyn, CT – 251 pts. (1 win)
5. (20) Bucko Branham, Plattsburgh, NY – 217 pts.
6. (27) Chris Bergeron, Claremont, NH – 215 pts.
7. (2NH) Norm Andrews, Northfield, VT – 194 pts.
8. (19) # Dan St. Hilare, Shelburne, VT – 183 pts.
9. (26) Seth Bridge, Mendon, VT – 159 pts.
10. (4NY) Brandon Atkins, AuSable Forks, NY – 136 pts.

Renegade
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver-Hometown-Points-(Wins)
(# - denotes rookie)

1. (26) Stephen Donahue, Graniteville, VT – 300 pts. (2 wins)
2. (H20) Robert Gordon, Milton, VT – 299 pts. (3 wins)
3. (5) # Scott FitzGerald, West Rutland, VT – 226 pts.
4. (22) Randy Howard, Georgia, VT – 225 pts.
5. (2) Tony Putzier, Jericho, VT – 195 pts.

Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stock
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver-Hometown-Points-(Wins)
(# - denotes rookie)

1. (18) Chuck Bradford, Addison, VT – 450 pts. (3 wins)
2. (8) Jake Noble, Benson, VT – 423 pts. (1 win)
3. (51) John McCarron, Rensselaer, NY – 404 pts. (1 win)
4. (11) Mike Whalen, Jr., Plattsburgh, NY – 393 pts. (1 win)
5. (5) Bobby LaVair, Saranac Lake, NY – 371 pts. (1 win)

SK Light
Pos.-(Car No.)-Driver-Hometown-Points-(Wins)
(# - denotes rookie)

1. (7NH) Scott MacMichael, Newbury, NH – 203 pts. (2 wins)
2. (56) Bruce Jaycox, Hartland, VT – 193 pts. (1 win)
3. (7) Norm Forest, Lebanon, NH – 191 pts.
4. (15) # T.J. Bleau, Troy, NH – 93 pts.
5. (5) Todd Patnode, Richmond, NH – 55 pts. (1 win)

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