Heywood punches ticket to Vermont 200, two straight for Mahaney

PLATTSBURGH | Nick Heywood was supposed to work next Sunday. He may have to call in sick. The hometown campaigner drew the pole position and went on to dominate the "Win and You're In the Vermont 200" Sportsman Modified Special on Thursday, Aug. 21, at Airborne Park Speedway. Heywood led 49 of 50 laps to punch his ticket to the biggest Crate race in the Northeast, scheduled for Labor Day weekend with $10,067 plus lap money on the line. It was the third win of the season for Heywood, who entered the night as the points leader in the J&S Steel Sportsman Division. It was the first time in 2025 that someone other than Donovan Lussier sat atop the standings. Lussier started 10th on the grid but had to pit after an issue on lap 15. Heywood pulled away while Travis Bruno, Evan Roberts and Vince Quenneville battled for second. A caution on lap 35 restacked the field. Bruno made an all-or-nothing move on the restart and briefly held the point, but Heywood regained the lead a lap later. Quenneville took second away from Bruno, but his late bid fell short. Bruno held on for third, followed by Roberts — who had his best run of the season — and Jamy Begor. Lussier rallied from the back to finish sixth. Mike Mahaney stayed red hot since the birth of his son Emjay, who has become a good-luck charm, as he stormed through the field to win his second Hartson Total Opening DIRTcar 358 Modified main event. Mahaney started 10th, but it was quickly evident he had a rocket ship as he rode the outside line to pick off car after car. Tanner Siemons set the pace in the opening laps before a mechanical issue ended his evening. Jordan Fornwalt grabbed the lead on lap nine and appeared to be in control, but Mahaney was lurking. Fornwalt held the top spot until lap 19, when Mahaney, the defending track champion, seized command and drove off for the win. Felix Roy started slowly but came on strong late to challenge Mahaney, even attempting to slide underneath the eventual winner. Still, Mahaney found another gear to fend off the challenge and pull away in the closing laps. "Smooth Shoe" and "Hollywood" entered the night tied in points, and their title battle looks destined to go down to Championship Night in September. Fornwalt crossed third, with Thomas Cook and Tim Fuller completing the top five. If David Johnson were a baseball hitter, his stats would put him among the all-time greats. Johnson is batting .500 early in his career, claiming his second Limited Sportsman win in just four starts. Johnson's only previous racing experience came in an Enduro car, but he is settling into open-wheel competition quickly. As in his first victory a couple of weeks ago, Johnson started in the fourth shoot and quickly worked past Parker Dermody, Adam LaFountain and Garin Thompson. Once Johnson reached the front, it was all over but the shouting as he pulled away to a straightaway lead and cruised to the win. LaFountain finished second, followed by Dermody, Kobe Hernandez and Brogan Roberts. If fans didn't know better, they might have thought there was a full moon over "The Big A" during the 9th State Cannabis feature. A series of unusual events unfolded. When the checkered flag flew, Shawn Duquette had earned his fourth victory of the season. Early in the race, points leader Tylor Terry — who rarely suffers issues — saw his car lose power and come to rest in the infield. Several drivers spun under caution, which is almost never seen. Tyler Irwin in the No. 54 truck appeared headed for his first win before contact with Brad Bushey triggered a turn one incident that also collected Josh Terry and Shawn Fountain. Roland Guay inherited the lead after the restart and looked to back up his brother Nataniel's win a week earlier, but Duquette had other plans. The defending track champion outdueled Guay in the closing laps. Guay settled for second, with Josh Terry third, Nate Guay fourth and Billy Thwaits fifth. The mini stock feature started with a bang — literally — as several cars tangled in turn one early in the 20-lap race. Once things settled, Jake Fountain held off a late charge from Ryan Senecal to win for the second time this season. Jeremiah King and Haiden Bordeau squared off in the opening laps, with King eventually taking the point, but Fountain and Senecal were on the move. Fountain reeled in King and took the lead, with Senecal making a late bid but unable to get around him. King finished third, followed by Junior LaPorte and Tyler Bell. Action moves to a special night next week as racing at Airborne Park will be contested Wednesday, featuring the annual "Kids Backpack Giveaway." The 358 Modifieds, Sportsman Modifieds, Limited Sportsman, Renegades and mini stocks will all be on the card. Admission is $15, kids 12 and under free. Pit passes are $30 for members and $40 for nonmembers. Racing begins at 7 p.m.

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Heywood punches ticket to Vermont 200, two straight for Mahaney

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