Donnelly goes flag-to-flag to earn $1,000-to-win victory

–by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
 VMM Editor

WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Chris Donnelly lived up to his moniker on Sunday evening at Devil’s Bowl Speedway.

“The Professor” went wire-to-wire to claim the $1,000 payday in the Fabian Earthmoving Green Mountain Sprint Car Nationals.

The Piermont, N.H. started on the pole position by virtue of pulling the number one chip during a redraw after heat race qualifying. From there, Donnelly put on a clinic in the 30-lap Sprint Cars of New England event.

Donnelly would zoom ahead at the drop of the green flag and seemed to be at ease as he faced lapped traffic. Never facing a serious challenge, Donnelly would race under the checkered flag for his second Devil’s Bowl win of the season.

Behind him, Jake Williams and Will Hull were engaged in a back-and-forth battle for the runner up spot. Williams, of Center Tuftonboro, N.H., started in the second spot while Hull, of Plainfield, Vt., started in position number three. Hull would hold the runner-up spot until inside ten laps to go when Williams grabbed hold of the spot for keeps. Hull would settle for third.

Empire Super Sprint regular Chad Miller of Amsterdam, N.Y. finished fourth with two-time Sprint Cars of New England race winner this season Tyler Austin of West Fairlee, Vt. completed the top-five finishers.

Kevin Chaffee and Scott Holcomb finished sixth and seventh, respectively, while Luke Greenwood earned the hard charger honors with a 16th to eighth run. Sportsman Modified regular Bobby Hackel finished ninth while nearby favorite Lacey Hanson completed the top-ten finishers.

While the event was a non-point counting event for the Sprint Cars of New England, the event did count for points for the track’s Sprint Car championship. Donnelley entered the night with a slim 10-point advantage over Hackel and sealed the title with a win.

It is Donnelly’s second track crown this season as he clinched Bear Ridge’s Sprint Car title one week ago during their final Sprint Car event of the season.

The Sprint Cars of New England will conclude their 2016 season on Friday, September 30 at Legion Speedway for a stacked racing card.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway will close their season on Saturday, October 1 with the King of the Clay 100-lap Sportsman Modified event.

VMM will have more from the Fabian Earthmoving night event soon.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Fabian Earthmoving Green Mountain Sprint Car Nationals
Sprint Cars of New England
Dirt Track at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, Vt.
Sunday, September 25, 2016

Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown

1. (1) Chris Donnelly, Piermont, N.H.
2. (2) Jake Williams, Center Tuftonboro, N.H.
3. (3) Will Hull, Plainfield, Vt.
4. (7) Chad Miller, Amsterdam, N.Y.
5. (4) Tyler Austin, West Fairlee, Vt.
6. (5) Kevin Chaffee, Bradford, Vt.
7. (12) Scott Holcomb, Granby, Conn.
8. (16) Luke Greenwood, Hudson, N.H.
9. (13) Bobby Hackel, Rensselaer, N.Y.
10. (8) Lacey Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
11. (10) Matt Hoyt, Campton, N.H.
12. (9) Dennis McLeod, Concord, N.H.
13. (14) Patrick Smith, East Andover, N.H.
14. (17) Marty Hutchins, Poultney, Vt.
15. (11) Lauren Boisvert, Danbury, N.H.
16. (6) Dan Douville, Bridgewater, N.H.
17. (15) Anthony Cain, Fairfax, Vt.
18. (18) Christine Boesch, Concord, N.H.

PHOTO: Chris Donnelly celebrates his Green Mountain Sprint Car Nationals win on Sunday night at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway Dirt Track. (Alan Ward photo)