WEST HAVEN — Jim Ryan is enjoying a sort of asphalt renaissance this summer. The popular Whiting, Vt., entered the 2010 season in the midst of a long drought, but has shown that he hasn’t forgotten how to win.

The driver known as “High Flyin’ Jimmy Ryan” snapped a nine-year winless streak at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta, N.Y., in June, and ended a five year losing skid at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Sunday night.

Ryan started on the pole position of Sunday’s 30-lap CRM Specialties Night Modified feature and cruised to the win in a caution-free race.

“It’s a big win, definitely,” said Ryan, a multi-time dirt track champion racing his first year of asphalt competition. “It definitely gives us a lot of confidence. We didn’t really know what we were in for this year but we’ve been pretty happy with the results. We’re not quite there every week but we keep working at it. I like [asphalt]. I still love the thrill of putting it sideways on the dirt, but racing is racing and it’s a lot of fun.”

Seth Roberts of Averill Park, N.Y., finished a career-best second in a back-up car owned by defending track champion Kenny Tremont. Don Mattison of Wells finished third ahead of Tremont and Mike Bruno. Tim LaDuc, Don Scarborough, Vince Quenneville, Jr., Matt Depew, and Leon Gonyo completed the top ten.

Don Miller of Wells rode the outside lane in the 25-lap Sportsman Modified feature to earn his fifth win of the year. Wells started seventh on the grid but sliced through traffic to take the lead from Jack Swinton on lap eight.

Following a red flag on lap 10 for a hard ride off turn three by Josh Joseph, Miller drove uncontested to the win. Hunter Bates of Middlebury passed Swinton for second place at the lap-10 restart. Swinton finished third ahead of Fred Proctor and John Reome.

Three drivers saw their first Devil’s Bowl starts end in victory lane, as Brandon Emigh, Rob Leitch, and Nelson Richert all won their respective feature races.

Albany-Saratoga regular Emigh, of Ballston Spa, N.Y., dominated the 20-lap Renegade event. Five-time winner Jon Miller finished second over Frank Monroe, Bill Duprey, and Dave Emigh.

Twin State Speedway regular Leitch, of Cavendish, won a late-race battle with Chad Brown to take the Bomber Warrior feature. Nate Woodworth, Kalob Gagnon, and Mike Devino completed the top five. Richert, also of Cavendish, dominated the Duke Stock feature over Garrett Given, Scott Atwood, Erika Lilly, and Brian Bishop, Jr.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS — CRM Specialties Night
Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, Vt.
Sunday, July 25, 2010

(Pos.-Driver-Hometown)

Modified
1. Jim Ryan, Whiting
2. Seth Roberts, Averill Park, N.Y.
3. Don Mattison, Wells
4. Kenny Tremont, Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.
5. Mike Bruno, Bomoseen
6. Tim LaDuc, Orwell
7. Don Scarborough, Brandon
8. Vince Quenneville, Jr., Brandon
9. Matt Depew, Argyle, N.Y.
10. Leon Gonyo, West Chazy, N.Y.

Sportsman
1. Don Miller, Wells
2. Hunter Bates, Middlebury
3. Jack Swinton, Hudson Falls, N.Y.
4. Fred Proctor, Clifton Park, N.Y.
5. John Reome, Corinth

Renegade
1. Brandon Emigh, Ballston Spa, N.Y.
2. Jon Miller, Malta, N.Y.
3. Frank Monroe, Granville, N.Y.
4. Bill Duprey, Hydeville
5. Dave Emigh, Ballston Spa, N.Y.

Bomber Warrior
1. Rob Leitch, Cavendish
2. Chad Brown, Essex Junction
3. Nate Woodworth, Essex Junction
4. Kalob Gagnon
5. Mike Devino, Milton

Duke Stock
1. Nelson Richert, Cavendish
2. Garrett Given, Cornwall
3. Scott Atwood, Castleton
4. Erika Lilly, Castleton
5. Brian Bishop, Jr.