PHOTO: Ron Proctor (yellow car) stole a NASCAR Modified victory at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Sunday after leader Hunter Bates (#9) tangled with the lapped car of Mike Bush (#31) coming to the checkered flag. (Paul Kipphut/MemorEvents.com photo)
(From track press release)
WEST HAVEN — Ron Proctor has been very good at Devil’s Bowl Speedway since the beginning of the 2011 campaign, but sometimes you still need a little bit of luck.
Facing a second-place finish Sunday night, Proctor watched as leader Hunter Bates crashed with a lapped car on the final lap, and then pulled away in a green-white-checker finish to win the 30-lap NASCAR Modified feature at the Bowl.
Proctor has finished in the top three in seven of the nine races at the Bowl this season, including a pair of victories, and he’s yet to finish out of the top five. He also completed a weekend sweep on the Champlain Valley Racing Association as he won Friday night’s feature at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.
Bates, who was looking for his second win of the season, led every lap except the last one. Going into turn four on the final lap, the lapped car of Michael Bush got loose halfway through the turn, and Bates slammed into him, sending both cars into the infield. The Bush car was heavily damaged, but Bates was able to go back to the rear of the field.
That put Proctor into the lead and he easily took the win and moved into the lead in the point standings. Jessey Mueller followed Proctor across the finish line, just as he did Friday night at Albany-Saratoga, and Mike Bruno was third.
Jamie Proctor, making his first appearance of the year at the Bowl, finished fourth and Joey Trudeau was fifth, his best effort of the season.
Chris Wilk took the checkered flag in the Pro Late Model feature. Only three cars were on hand for that race, as the car count was affected by the upcoming American-Canadian Tour race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Bill Duprey had to hold off newcomer Lonnie Rivers to record his third straight win in the Renegade division. Dupree passed leader Jeremy Jones with five to go, and warded off a late run by Rivers, a regular at Airborne Speedway.
The Bomber Warriors feature was postponed because of rain, and the Warriors will run double features on Sunday, Aug. 14, which will be Hometown Heroes Night. The card will also include spectator racing, as well as an Enduro.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS — NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, Vt.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Pos.-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
NASCAR Modified
1. Ron Proctor, Charlton, N.Y.
2. # Jessey Mueller, Olmstedville, N.Y.
3. Mike Bruno, Castleton
4. # Jamie Proctor,
5. Joey Trudeau, Hague, N.Y.
6. Paul Braymer, North Granville, N.Y.
7. # Jeff Haskins, Wells
8. Matt Atwood, Whitehall, N.Y.
9. Hunter Bates, Pittsford
10. Michael Bush, Hudson Falls, N.Y.
Pro Late Model
1. Chris Wilk, Mendon
2. Hunter Bates, Pittsford
DQ: Jacob McGrath, Killington
Renegade
1. Bill Duprey, Hydeville
2. Lonnie Rivers, Cadyville, N.Y.
3. Jeremy Jones, Leicester
4. Curtis Seymour, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
5. Frank Monroe, Granville, N.Y.
