Roy Doubles Up, Bonnett Scores at Airborne

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -- Martin Roy served notice on opening day last week that he would be a force to be reckoned with in the Airborne Speedway Modified division this year. On Sunday, he backed that statement up.

The Napierville, Que. driver is now two-for-two this season, having won the Modifieds' 30-lap main event at the Spring Green after inheriting the win at the season opener in the technical inspection line. Roy shot like a cannon to the front of the pack on Sunday afternoon, blitzing his way into the lead on lap 2 from his ninth-place starting position. Roy drove three-wide up the backstretch on the opening lap, then completed a breathtaking move under Leon Gonyo for the lead in Turn 1 on the second lap.

"I'm very happy to win my second race of the year," said Frenchman Roy, who speaks limited English. "The car is really good, the track is really good, and it's a good crowd."

Defending track champion Patrick Dupree of Saranac Lake, N.Y. was brought to Roy's bumper following three restarts during the race, but, driving a very loose-handling race car, only mounted one serious challenge for the lead in the final three laps. Dupree slid his car sideways exiting Turn 4 during the closing laps in an effort to catch Roy for the win, with smoke billowing off his right-rear tire.

"It was about all I had left," Dupree said. "The car was loose the whole time, and I kept trying to tighten it up with the panhard bar. I just kind of hung it out there on the last couple laps and melted the tire and took a shot at it. It was fun. [Roy] was fast, I think we've got a little more work to do."

Chazy, N.Y. veteran Gonyo, also a former Airborne champion, held on for third place. Adam Bartemy of Sheldon finished in fourth ahead of Morrisonville, N.Y.'s Andy Heywood. Mike Bruno of Castleton was sixth, followed by Matt Woodruff, Aaron Bartemy, Chris Cayea, and Bryant Trim.

Jason Bonnett of St. Albans dominated the 25-lap Sportsman feature for his first victory of the season. Bonnett took the lead early in the going from Shawn Duquette, then held off an outside-lane charge from Plattsburgh, N.Y. driver Bucko Branham following the race's only restart.

"The car was real good all day long. I was kind of skeptical about the cool weather, but it was really good," said Bonnett, a two-time Airborne champion. "I could tell when [Branham] was outside that he was sticking with it, but I could tell he was tight. I kept checking my mirror and I knew he wasn't really gaining on me until that caution. I was just hitting my marks, taking it easy, trying not to use the tires up too much. I knew if I could keep him there and not let him pinch me down too bad he wasn't going to get by me because I was getting goo bite off the corner."

Branham finished second, while Duquette finished third. Toby Ebersole and Tylor Terry completed the top five.

Swanton's Kevin Boutin won the 25-lap Renegade feature by four feet after a final-lap pass of leader Nick Heywood. Mike Terry finished third. Justin Doner of Keeseville, N.Y. won the 20-lap Mini-Modified feature over Billy Thwaits, while Champlain, N.Y.'s Jayson Blondo won the 20-lap Bomber event.

Scott Payea of Milton won the Spring Green 100 for the ACT Late Model Tour. Payea took the lead from Randy Potter of Groveton, N.H. with five laps remaining and sped to the victory. Brad Leighton, Donald Theetge, and Brent Dragon completed the top five.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS: Furniture World of Vermont Spring Green
Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Sunday, May 10, 2009

Pos.-Driver-Hometown

Modified (30 laps)
1. Martin Roy, Napierville, Que.
2. Patrick Dupree, Saranac Lake, N.Y.
3. Leon Gonyo, Chazy, N.Y.
4. Adam Bartemy, Sheldon
5. Andy Heywood, Morrisonville
6. Mike Bruno, Castleton
7. Matt Woodruff, Bloomingdale, N.Y.
8. Aaron Bartemy, Sheldon
9. Chris Cayea, Mooers Forks, N.Y.
10. Bryant Trim, Morrisonville, N.Y.

Sportsman (25 laps)
1. Jason Bonnett, St. Albans
2. Bucko Branham, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
3. Shawn Duquette, Morrisonville, N.Y.
4. Toby Ebersole, Peru, N.Y.
5. Tylor Terry, Morrisonville, N.Y.
6. Robin Wood, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
7. Ben Hough, Champlain, N.Y.
8. Jim Bushey, Mooers Forks, N.Y.
9. Chris Reeves, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
10. Rick Frenyea, Saranac, N.Y.

Renegade (25 laps)
1. Kevin Boutin, Swanton
2. Nick Heywood, Morrisonville, N.Y.
3. Mike Terry, Grand Isle
4. Lance Rabtoy, Fairfax
5. Rob Gordon, Milton

Mini-Modified (20 laps)
1. Justin Doner, Keeseville, N.Y.
2. Billy Thwaits, Clintonville, N.Y.
3. Dustin Criss, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
4. Randy Martin, Keeseville, N.Y.
5. Tom Santillo, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Bombers (20 laps)
1. Jayson Blondo, Champlain, N.Y.
2. Cody Meyers, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
3. Josh Durivage, West Chazy, N.Y.
4. Josh LeClaire, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
5. Eli Beshaw, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

ACT Late Model Tour (100 laps)
1. Scott Payea, Milton
2. Randy Potter, Groveton, N.H.
3. Brad Leighton, Center Harbor, N.H.
4. Donald Theetge, Boischatel, Que.
5. Brent Dragon, Milton

(Photos: 1. Modified winner Martin Roy celebrates his victory with a dance on the roof of his car; 2. Renegade winner Kevin Boutin (#25) nips Nick Heywood at the finish line -- Leif Tillotson photos)