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Comes and Pierson Tops at Devil’s Bowl Speedway Labor Day Special

Whittemore, Hull celebrate championships

WEST HAVEN, Vt. – A big holiday crowd packed the grandstands at Devil’s Bowl Speedway to see Justin Comes and Adam Pierson take top honors at The Stove Depot Labor Day Special on Sunday, September 2. Other race winners included Paolo Pascarella, Chris Murray, Mike Preston, and rookie John McPhee Jr., and come-from-behind championship titles were wrapped up by Brian Whittemore and Will Hull.

Comes put on a show in the 30-lap feature race for the Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified division of the weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. The Middlebury, Vt., racer started 10th and worked his through traffic on the far outside lane, living up to his “High Side Hustler” nickname. Comes passed John St. Germain Jr. for the lead at lap 18 and briefly sailed away from the pack, but track championship point leader Kenny Tremont Jr. chased Comes down and caught him in the final two laps.

Tremont pulled even with Comes during the final lap, but Comes was able to hold him off in a furious drive to the finish line. St. Germain posted his best finish of the year by a long shot with third place, and Adam Pierson was fourth.

Low-buck underdog Brian Whittemore finished fifth in the race and clinched the first-ever championship in the five-race Central Vermont Motorcycles “Challenger Series” for drivers who had not won a dirt track feature race at Devil’s Bowl in the modern era since 2010. Whittemore received a big cheer from the crowd in victory lane.

Double-duty driver Pierson scored a career milestone with his first win in a winged Sprint Car, with a dominating performance in the 25-lap race for the visiting Sprint Cars of New England tour. The East Corinth, Vt., driver recently stepped into the Bruce Clattenburg-owned No. 8 car in a fill-in role and needed just three weeks to get to victory lane.

Will Hull and Bobby Hackel had a very entertaining battle for the runner-up spot, which originally went to Hackel, but he was penalized two positions by race control for driving under the inner tire barrier to complete a pass. That put Hull into the second position officially, followed by Matt Hoyt, Hackel, and Dan Douville.

Hull, of Plainfield, Vt., clinched the five-race Sprint Car track championship by overtaking Douville in the point standings, and just 24 hours after a violent flip at Bear Ridge Speedway nearly destroyed his car.

Eighteen year-old Paolo Pascarella of Troy, N.Y., earned his first win in three months in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman division, dominating a 20-lap race. Pascarella shot from fifth place at the start to take the lead from Larry Gallipo five laps into the race, and had no trouble walking away with the win. Travis Billington came from 11th to finish second, ahead of point leader Brent Warren. Joey Roberts was fourth and Gallipo scored his first-ever top-five finish.

It wasn’t even close in the 20-lap Super Stock feature, as Fair Haven, Vt.’s Chris Murray won by more than half a lap for his ninth victory of the season. Curtis Condon rebounded from a trip off the backstretch at the midway point in the race to finish second. Josh Bussino, Scott FitzGerald, and Kevin Elliott completed the top five.

Mike Preston of Panton, Vt., ran to his fourth win of the year in the 15-lap race for the Portland Glass Mini Stocks. Tim Simonds reeled Preston in over the final laps but settled for a career-best second place. Point leader Kaleb Shepard took third over Brad Bertrand and Shawn Moquin.

Thirteen year-old John McPhee Jr. became the latest rookie to break through in the Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint division. The Rutland, Vt., racer led every lap and survived two late restarts against recent winners Colby Beinhaur and Dakota Green, who finished second and third, respectively. Robert Griffin was fourth in his first race since June, and Shawn McPhee – the winner’s twin brother – finished fifth.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway is back in action on Sunday, September 9, as Casella Waste Management presents the Leon Gonyo Memorial 50-lap special for the Sportsman Modifieds – the final tune-up before the historic Interstate All Battery Center Vermont 200 on Sept. 15-16. All five weekly divisions will be on the card, along with the Ladies Mini Stocks. Regular general admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (age 62+), $5 for teens (age 13-17 with proof of age), and free for kids age 12 and under. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and racing starts at 6:00 p.m.

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.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – The Stove Depot Labor Day Special
Devil’s Bowl Speedway – West Haven, Vt.
Sunday, September 2, 2018

Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified Feature (30 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

- denotes rookie

1. (10) Justin Comes, Middlebury, Vt.
2. (14) Kenny Tremont Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.
3. (1) John St. Germain Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.
4. (12) Adam Pierson, East Corinth, Vt.
5. (2) Brian Whittemore, Pittsford, Vt.
6. (15) Jake Scarborough, Brandon, Vt.
7. (21) Joey Scarborough, Brandon, Vt.
8. (4) James Fadden, Plainfield, N.H.
9. (15) Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
10. (13) Josh Sunn, White River Junction, Vt.
11. (3) # Tanner Siemons, Orford, N.H.
12. (5) # Marty Kelly III, North Bennington, Vt.
13. (11) Jimmy Ryan, Shoreham, Vt.
14. (9) Tim LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.
15. (8) Allan Hammond, Canaan, N.H.
16. (19) Vince Quenneville Jr., Brandon, Vt.
17. (18) Jason Gray, East Thetford, Vt.
18. (23) Matt Lashua, Canaan, N.H.
19. (16) Travis Bruno, Morrisonville, N.Y.
20. (17) D.J. Robinson, Sharon, Vt.
21. (24) Walter J Hammond, Canaan, N.H.
22. (6) # Jeff Washburn, Benson, Vt.
23. (20) Ron Proctor, Charlton, N.Y.
24. (22) Chris Murray, Fair Haven, Vt.
    Shiley Fabrication Hard Charger Award: Joey Scarborough (+14 positions)
    Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck Award: Jeff Washburn
    Central Vermont Motorcycles Challenge Series Champion: Brian Whittemore

Sprint Cars of New England Feature (25 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

1. (8) Adam Pierson, East Corinth, Vt.
2. (2) Will Hull, Plainfield, Vt.
3. (4) Matt Hoyt, Campton, N.H.
4. (9) Bobby Hackel, Rensselaer, N.Y.
5. (6) Dan Douville, Bridgewater, N.H.
6. (5) Lacey Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
7. (1) Jake Williams, Center Tuftonboro, N.H.
8. (3) Mike Kondrat, Freedom, N.H.
9. (11) Rick Stone, Cornwall, Conn.
10. (10) Bill Guertin, Westfield, Mass.
11. (14) Tyler Graves, Bolivar, N.Y.
12. (13) Peter Dance, Warren, Conn.
13. (7) Troy Comeau, Warren, N.H.
14. (12) Luke Klob, Rensselaerville, N.Y.
    Heat Winners: Jake Williams, Adam Pierson
    Track Champion: Will Hull

O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman Feature (20 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

1. (5) Paolo Pascarella, Troy, N.Y.
2. (11) Travis Billington, South Glens Falls, N.Y.
3. (9) Brent Warren, Salisbury, Vt.
4. (12) Joey Roberts, Fletcher, Vt.
5. (1) Larry Gallipo, West Rutland, Vt.
6. (13) Mike Ryan, Chelsea, Vt.
7. (8) Adam Piper, Leicester, Vt.
8. (7) Matt Bilodeau, Pittsford, Vt.
9. (10) Tanner Forbes, Jay, N.Y.
10. (3) James Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
11. (4) Montgomery Tremont, West Sand Lake, N.Y.
12. (14) Andy Badger, Enfield, N.H.
13. (2) R.J. Germain, Bristol, Vt.
14. (6) Mike Parodi, South Glens Falls, N.Y.
    Did Not Start: Dylan Jones, Fair Haven, Vt.
    Shiley Fabrication Hard Charger Award: Travis Billington (+9 positions)
    Shiley Fabrication Hard Luck Award: Dylan Jones

Super Stock Feature (20 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

- denotes rookie

1. (6) Chris Murray, Fair Haven, Vt.
2. (7) Curtis Condon, Queensbury, N.Y.
3. (1) Josh Bussino, Mount Holly, Vt.
4. (9) Scott FitzGerald, West Rutland, Vt.
5. (8) Kevin Elliott, Rutland, Vt.
6. (3) Lou Gancarz, North Adams, Mass.
7. (4) Matt Mosher, Queensbury, N.Y.
8. (5) # Andrew FitzGerald, West Rutland, Vt.
9. (11) Ray Hall Sr., Great Barrington, Mass.
10. (12) Gary O’Brien, Great Barrington, Mass.
11. (2) Ronnie Alger, Orwell, Vt.
    Did Not Start: # Dustin Stevenson, Lake George, N.Y.; Garrett Given, Cornwall, Vt.
    Heat Winners: Josh Bussino, Chris Murray

Portland Glass Mini Stock Feature (15 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

- denotes rookie

1. (5) Mike Preston, Panton, Vt.
2. (3) Tim Simonds, Clarendon, Vt.
3. (7) Kaleb Shepard, Vergennes, Vt.
4. (9) Brad Bertrand, Ferrisburgh, Vt.
5. (6) Shawn Moquin, Milton, Vt.
6. (8) Johnny Bruno, Castleton, Vt.
7. (2) # Craig Kirby, Winooski, Vt.
8. (4) Jake Barrows, Cornwall, Vt.
9. (10) Jason Porter, Freeport, Maine
10. (14) Willie Rice, Poultney, Vt.
11. (12) Mike Lique, West Lebanon, N.H.
12. (1) # Chris Guyette, North Clarendon, Vt.
13. (11) # Lynn Denton, Milton, Vt.
    Did Not Start: # Shawn Rogers, Fair Haven, Vt.; Dakota Desabrais, Whitehall, N.Y.
    Heat Winners: Kaleb Shepard, Tim Simonds

Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint Feature (15 laps)
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

- denotes rookie

1. (2) # John McPhee Jr., Rutland, Vt.
2. (10) Colby Beinhaur, Shoreham, Vt.
3. (9) # Dakota Green, Eagle Bridge, N.Y.
4. (12) Robert Griffin, Newport, N.H.
5. (8) # Shawn McPhee, Rutland, Vt.
6. (4) # Joel Belanger, Washington, N.H.
7. (6) Austin Chaves, Chester, Vt.
8. (7) # Kevin Smith, Brandon, Vt.
9. (3) Cody O’Brien, Springfield, Vt.
10. (1) # Tye Vaillancourt, New Ipswich, N.H.
11. (5) # Samantha Mulready, Hoosick Falls, N.Y.
12. (11) # Gordon Sheehan, West Rutland, Vt.
    Heat Winner: John McPhee Jr.

(Photos by Josh Ryan)

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