Spring Green at Devil's Bowl - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-

Devil's Bowl Speedway fans rocked the grandstands with exciting season-opening stock car racing at the Spring Green on Sunday afternoon.  Wayne Helliwell, Jr., and Vince Quenneville, Jr., brought the house to its feet with close finishes and emotional landmark wins.  Robert Gordon and Josh Masterson each started the 2012 campaign off in victory lane as well.

Helliwell, of Dover, NH, copped his first career victory on the American-Canadian Tour in a razor-close finish with Joey Polewarczyk, Jr.  Helliwell started the 112-lap main event in third place but was held up in early traffic and fell back almost outside the top then.  He clawed his way back to the front on the outside lane, taking the lead from Polewarczyk just after the halfway point in the race.  Hudson, NH racer Polewarczyk held nothing back during the final laps as he tried to steal the win, but Helliwell persevered for his inaugural ACT Late Model Tour score.  Austin Theriault of Fort Kent, ME drove from 20^th starting position to finish third ahead of Ray Parent and Randy Potter.

Vince Quenneville, Jr., made his return to Devil's Bowl Speedway a popular one with his home track fans, taking the first Bond Auto Parts Modified victory of the year in the 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series feature.  Quenneville, of Brandon, VT, drove into the lead on the outside of defending champion Ron Proctor after a restart with seven laps remaining and never looked back.  Proctor, of Charlton, NY, held off a furious mid-race charge from Leon Gonyo for the runner-up spot.  Jessey Mueller drove from 18^th starting position to finish third, with Gonyo fourth and rookie Joey Roberts completing the unofficial top five.

Rob Gordon of Milton, VT opened the season with a 25-lap score in the Renegade feature.  Gordon beat Lance Rabtoy of Fairfax, VT in a comfortable margin at the finish, but not before two- and three-wide racing in the first half of the race.  Ryan Keith finished third ahead of Frank Monroe and Jeremy Jones.

Rookie Josh Masterson of Bristol, VT started his Bomber division career on the right foot by winning that class' 20-lap feature in his first career start.  Harold LaVair of Gabriels, NY held on for second place.  Ray Germain, Jr., was third, followed by John McCarron and Dan Collins.

---Courtesy Devil's Bowl Speedway Media