The 4th Turn

~ By Tom Boggie 

Why would anyone want to be the promoter of a dirt rack track?

Mike Bruno went over the top Sunday with the Vermont 200 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, running a 200-lap race for crate sportsman paying $10,000 to win, with at least a $50 bonus for every lap leader, and all he’s heard on social media (I know, you can’t hear anything on social media, bur you get the idea) since the checkered flag dropped has been “Waa, waa, waa.”

Yes, Brett Hearn took the top prize back to New Jersey (his actual take with lap money and product bonuses was $13,100). Yes, Brett Hearn has over 900 career wins (Sunday‘s victory was No. 910). Yes, he did set fast time and drew the pole. Yes, he does have the best equipment available to man.

But he didn’t run away with the race. After suffering a flat tire on lap 31, he restarted 27^th, and had to work his way through the field on a track that he had never run on (don’t forget, this is a new track, not the old half-mile that he last raced on in 2000). He didn’t get the lead again until lap 161. Until then, Bobby Hackel IV, Jessey Mueller and Adam Pierson were the stars of the show.

Hearn haters lament the fact that Hearn was even able to compete. Are you serious? I don’t remember anyone complaining when Tony Stewart pulled into Lebanon Valley Speedway years ago to compete in a 100-lap 358 Series race, which he won. The rules that Bruno set up for the Vermont 200 stated any driver could compete, regardless of experience, which is why Hearn and Danny Johnson took a shot at the $10,000. Hell, if Bruno had wanted to hand over $10,000 to one of his local drivers, he could have done that anytime during the regular season. “Hey, guys. I’m feeling generous tonight. It’s $10,000 to win.” That’s a sure-fire way to go out of business quickly.

If there’s one legitimate complaint about the Vermont 200, it was the length of the show, which reportedly took over nine hours. But this is also the first time Bruno has run a 200-lapper, with 56 entries, as well as a King of DIRT Pro Stock Series race. I’m sure he picked up a few tricks he can use next next year to streamline the show.

Disgruntled fans might be complaining, but I’m sure drivers like Pierson and Hackel are happy. Pierson had the biggest payday of his career, finishing second and taking home $4,000. Hackel (who might have won the race if he didn’t encounter carburetor problems late in the race) was third and, with lap money earned $4,850. Mueller was fourth and pocketed $4,500.

Critics on social media complain about promoters who don’t promote, who just open the gates every Friday or Saturday night and run the same programs week after week. Mike Bruno went out on a limb to put on a high-paying show for drivers who usually don’t get a shot at a huge payday, and he’s raked over the coals.

You can’t win.

As part of the Vermont 200 card, Nick Stone of Schenectady won the Carl Vladyka Memorial race, the finale of the King of Dirt Pro Stock Series, and took home the top prize of $1,029. Jason Casey finished second, which gave him the KOD Series championship.

Ron Proctor was also in victory lane on Vermont 200 weekend. On Saturday, he won the Ron Casey Memorial for non-winners.

Sunday’s mini stock feature winner, Jason Porter, was disqualified from the Portland Glass 50.  Porter was found in post-race inspection to have an electronic computer module that did not match his engine’s specifications.  Porter forfeits all points and money earned in the feature race. P.J. Bleau of Latham, who was the original runner-up, will be credited with the official victory and the $1,000 payday. 

HONDO CLASSIC

Fonda Speedway was back in action Saturday night, with the highlight of the card being the 13^th annual Hondo Classic, a tribute to former pro stock driver Hondo Carpenter.

When the checkered flag flew, 2018 track champion Kenny Gates was in victory lane, the third time he’s won the Classic.

“This is our biggest race of the year,” Gates said in victory lane after his victory. “Hondo was a fantastic guy and was the face of our sport.”

Kelley Keefe deserves a lot of credit for keeping the Hondo Classic going, and somehow managing to make it bigger and better every year.

Pat Ward, who used to haul into Fonda every Saturday night from his home in Genoa, won the 30-lap modified feature, his first win at Fonda in 10 years.

Josh Pieniazek was victorious in the 20-lap CRSA sprint car feature after picking up a weekend ride in the Mike Van Dusen-owned car. “I was pretty much done for the year after blowing the engine in my own car,” said Pieniazek, who also drove Van Dusen’s car at Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Friday, finishing fourth.

Fonda will be back in action this weekend with the two-day Thunder Along the Mohawk card. Tonight will include a 100-lap DIRTcar 358 Series race, a 50-lap DIRTcar Sportsman Series race, street stocks and warmups for modifieds.

Saturday’s card will be highlighted by the 100-lap Super DIRT Series race, which will be a tribute to Jack Johnson, the winningest driver in the history of Fonda Speedway. The winner of “The Jack” will be guaranteed the 12^th starting spot in the Billy Whittaker 200 at Super DIRT Week in Oswego. The Saturday card will also feature a 50-lap DIRTcar Pro Stock Series race, a 30-lap DIRTcar Sportsman Series race and a 25-lap Empire Super Sprints feature.

Racing tonight will begin at 6 p.m., while the first green flag on Saturday will fall at 4 p.m.

AROUND THE TRACKS

One of the area drivers who won’t be going to Oswego is Ronnie Johnson. “It’s just another 200 lap race,” he said on Friday night after winning the King of DIRT 358 Series Small Block Nationals at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. “To me, it’s not Super DIRT Week if it’s not at Syracuse.” I wonder if he’ll change his mind if he winds up with that guaranteed 12^th starting spot.

Eleven-year-old Derrick McGrew was voted the Ultimate Fan Favorite at Glen Ridge Motorsports. McGrew, who won the limited sportsman championship in his first season at the track, was the top overall vote-getter in the fan’s voting for the track’s most popular drivers.

The Ridge will begin its fall schedule Sunday, with racing beginning at 4 p.m.

Young Vermont driver Ricky Davis recorded the biggest win of his career last Saturday, going flag to flag to win the King of DIRT 358 Series race at Lebanon Valley. Allison Ricci, making her first appearance of the year at the Valley, started on the outside pole and finished second, while Ronnie Johnson was third.

Bobby Varin came across the finish line eighth and wrapped up the King of Dirt 358 Series title, his second championship of the season for the Alton and Carole Palmer team. He also went out of his way to praise his car owners and crew. “These guys put their heart and soul into this program,” he said.

A spin at Las Vegas Speedway proved to be costly to Stewart Friesen, who finished 18^th in last Friday night’s Camping World Truck Series race. He then flew to Pennsylvania for the Freedom 76 at Grandview Speedway. He didn’t qualify in his heat, putting him 27^th in the field. He then had to pit twice after being involved in two minor incidents. But he worked his way back up to fifth in his DKM chassis, which he was using at Grandview for the first time.