With the Modified division getting the night off in preparation for their big race on Friday, the 4th of July, at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway, the Sportsman division took center stage. The speedway was in excellent condition despite late afternoon rain as 24 cars took the Green in the Sportsman feature. Patrick O’Hanlon took the lead from his pole starting position but the race was quickly slowed by a Lap 2 Caution Flag for Mike Ballestero who was making a rare start in the Cottrell #8. Front-end damage sidelined Ballestero. With racing back underway, O’Hanlon continued to lead but Langevin was flying on the outside portion of the speedway as he overtook Tyler Curtis for second on Lap 6 and drew in on O’Hanlon. As they came out of Turn 4 on Lap 9, Langevin motored around O’Hanlon for the lead. Langevin then had smooth sailing until Lap 19 when two lapped cars directly in front of him made contact with each other resulting in Langevin making slight contact with one of them. Luckily, there was no damage to Langevin’s #24.

With two laps to go, Mark Kislowski was making a late-race charge and tangled with second place O’Hanlon. O’Hanlon then shot through the infield at full speed narrowly missing safety trucks, an act that resulted in him being “Black Flagged” for dangerous action. At the Finish Line, it was Langevin getting his fifth career win at the track followed by Kislowski, Mike Ketchum, Chris Busta and Ken Anatriello.

Mechanicville’s D. J. Brundige won his first ever Budget Sportsman feature. Brundige, a rookie in the division, had previously competed in the Limited class but is proving to be a fast learner.

Cullen Howe took the lead on Lap 1 but was passed by Brundige on Lap 2. From their Brundige ran a smooth race to capture the win. Scott Duell passed Peter Carlotto with two to go to take second. Mike Visconti finished fourth and last week’s winner Frank Hoard III finished fifth.

The most exciting race of the night belonged to the Pro-Stock class as the top four finishers crossed the Finish Line less than a second apart. Phil DeFiglio led the first two laps before a mechanical failure ended his night. Chuck Towslee then led with a strong challenge from Jim Monroe but the 00# of Kim Duell was coming in a hurry. Duell passed Monroe on Lap 9 and one lap later was running door-to-door with Towslee. Duell took the lead on Lap 12 as his Lazzaro’s Motorsports teammate “Hollywood” Joe Santoro started to make his move to the front. Once Santoro caught Duell, the two ran side by side for the final ten laps. Duell nipped Santoro at the Finish Line with Lori Langevin and Rob Yetman just a half second behind in third and fourth place. For Duell, the Pro-Stock points leader, it was his second win of the year.

The Limited Division raced 35 laps but the race for the lead only lasted one lap as third starting Dan Petronis took the lead immediately and dominated the extra distance feature. Petronis would lead all 35 laps for his third win of the year. Ken Conroy, Andy Durie, Mike Ostrander and Dan Carlton completed the Top Five.

Jason Dickson won the Mini-Stock race while John Hyderich won the 50-Lap Enduro.

All divisions will be racing this Friday, July 11 in a regular show and it will be Seniors’ Night.  All Seniors 62 years of age and older with appropriate ID will be admitted free. Race time is 6:45 p.m.

CVRA Notes: In other 4th of July racing action on the CVRA last weekend, Kenny Tremont, Jr. held off Ronnie Johnson to win the “C J 101” for a $4,000 payday and Scott Duell passed Frank Hoard III with 2 to go to win the 76-Lap Budget Sportsman feature at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway last Saturday night.