WEST HAVEN — Marc Johnson needed a win at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, and he got it. The Guilderland, N.Y., driver shrugged off a string of bad luck and won a three-car fight with Tim LaDuc and Mike Bruno for the Modified win before a packed house on Sunday night.

Johnson started outside LaDuc on the front row and closely followed the Orwell veteran, with Bomoseen’s Mike Bruno in tow, for the first half of the 30-lap feature. The battle heated up at the halfway mark as Bruno tried unsuccessfully to take second from Johnson on the inside on lap 19, then Johnson went to work outside LaDuc for the next five laps. He took the lead on lap 24 and drove away for the win.

“That was everything I had,” said Johnson. “There’s been a lot of bad luck here and it’s good to get it back. I wasn’t sure I would be able to get [LaDuc]. The only shot I thought I had was on the outside so I just hoped it stuck. I was close to that wall, I wasn’t sure if I hit it or not. I’ve needed this, the whole team needed this financially and emotionally. It’s a good win for us.”

LaDuc held Bruno off for the runner-up spot. Don Mattison of Wells was fourth, with Kenny Tremont, Jr., of West Sand Lake, N.Y., fifth.

Alex Bell of Cambridge, N.Y., led every lap of the 50-lap Sportsman Modified event, but had to contend with Jack Swinton of Hudson Falls, N.Y., nearly the entire distance. The victory was Bell’s second-straight at Devil’s Bowl. Jared McMahon ran in third place for most of the event before an incident with Andy Durie on lap 44 left him black-flagged and out of the race. Fred Proctor of Clifton Park, N.Y., recovered from a qualifying race crash to finish third. Kevin Wright and Paul Braymer rounded out the top five.

Kim Duell won an entertaining 50-lap Pro Stock/Super Street Challenge event. The Porter Corners, N.Y., driver was one of five to lead the race, squaring off against Fred Little, Jeff Washburn, Mike Scorzelli, and Scott MacMichael. Little ran the majority of the race on the outside lane before fading to third. MacMichael made a late charge for the win but fell short at the finish line. Little finished third over Washburn and Jeremy Houghtaling.

Jon Miller of Malta, N.Y., earned his fourth consecutive Renegade win, with Frank Monroe, Bill Duprey, Rob Gordon, and Dave Emigh second through fifth. Chad Brown of Essex Junction picked up his fourth Bomber Warrior win of the year over Nate Woodworth and Brent Warren. Garrett Given of Cornwall was the Duke Stock winner, followed by Scott Atwood and Erika Lilly.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS — Ace Carting Corp. Night
Devil’s Bowl Speedway, West Haven, Vt.
Sunday, July 4, 2010

(Pos.-Driver-Hometown)

Modified (30 laps)
1. Marc Johnson, Guilderland, N.Y.
2. Tim LaDuc, Orwell
3. Mike Bruno, Bomoseen
4. Don Mattison, Wells
5. Kenny Tremont, Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.
6. Leon Gonyo, West Chazy, N.Y.
7. Derrick McGrew, Ballston Spa, N.Y.
8. Aaron Bartemy, Sheldon
9. Jimmy Ryan, Whiting

Sportsman Modified (50 laps)
1. Alex Bell, Cambridge, N.Y.
2. Jack Swinton, Hudson Falls, N.Y.
3. Fred Proctor, Clifton Park, N.Y.
4. Kevin Wright, Queensbury, N.Y.
5. Paul Braymer, Granville, N.Y.
6. Carl Vladyka, Fair Haven
7. Andy Durie, Stillwater, N.Y.
8. Jared McMahon, Hydeville
9. Don Miller, Wells
10. Matt Atwood, Castleton

Pro Stock/Super Street Challenge (50 laps)
1. Kim Duell, Porter Corners, N.Y.
2. Scott MacMichael, New London, N.H.
3. Fred Little, Salisbury
4. Jeff Washburn, Benson
5. Jeremy Houghtaling, Malta, N.Y.
6. Bruce Jaycox, Hartland
7. Kayla Bryant, Rutland
8. Mike Scorzelli, Malta, N.Y.
9. Bobby Schmidt, Gansevoort, N.Y.
10. Chris Wilk, Mendon

Renegade (25 laps)
1. Jon Miller, Malta, N.Y.
2. Frank Monroe, Granville, N.Y.
3. Bill Duprey, Hydeville
4. Rob Gordon, Milton
5. Dave Emigh, Ballston Spa, N.Y.

Bomber Warrior (15 laps)
1. Chad Brown, Essex Junction
2. Nate Woodworth, Essex Junction
3. Brent Warren, Salisbury
4. Justin Lilly, Castleton
5. Kalob Gagnon

Duke Stock (15 laps)
1. Garrett Given, Cornwall
2. Scott Atwood, Castleton
3. Erika Lilly, Castleton
4. Whitney Martel
5. Jason Barrett

PHOTOS:
1. Marc Johnson (#3J) of Guilderland, N.Y., earned his first Devil’s Bowl Speedway win on Sunday. (Justin St. Louis/VMM photo)