Top Drivers Glorified at Devil’s Bowl Banquet

RUTLAND, VT – Devil’s Bowl Speedway spectacularly concluded its 50th racing season with a two-night Banquet of Champions extravaganza on February 3-4. The ceremonies were held in the magnificent Grand Ballroom at the Holiday Inn Rutland-Killington in Rutland, Vt., where nine stock car racing champions, top drivers, and special award recipients from the two tracks at the West Haven, Vt., facility were honored. An overwhelming number of more than 400 guests attended these weekend gatherings.

On Friday, February 3, awards for the 3/10-mile Dirt Track at Devil’s Bowl Speedway were presented. Bobby Hackel from Rensselaer, N.Y., emerged as the youngest lead-division champion in Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s 50-season history. This 22-year-old, a fourth-generation racer, clinched the Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified title in the first season of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series-sanctioned racing at the Dirt Track. Tim LaDuc claimed the runner-up position, with Kenny Tremont Jr. coming in third.

Chris Donnelly of Piermont, N.H., bagged the first-ever championship awarded for a winged Sprint Car division at Devil’s Bowl. Bill Duprey of Hydeville, Vt., was recognized as a four-time champion in the Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade division, and Mike Ryan of Chelsea, Vt., seized his first Portland Glass Mini Stock title. Rookie of the Year honors went to Justin Severance (Sportsman Modified), Hackel (Sprint Car), Josh Bussino (Renegade), and Cameron Kennedy (Mini Stock).

Sportsmanship and Most Improved Driver awards, determined by a vote of the drivers, were also bestowed. Sportsmanship awards were given to Tremont, Donnelly, Bussino, and Mini Stock driver Jason Porter, while Most Improved laurels were awarded to Sportsman Modified driver Chad Miller, Sprint Car favorite Lacey Hanson, Renegade veteran Matt Mosher, and Mini Stock runner Derrick Counter.

Tribute was also paid to driver Ron Casey of Manchester Center, Vt., who tragically passed away after an accident at the track on July 3. It was announced that a special “Ron Casey Memorial” race would be held on Tuesday, June 13, for drivers who have not won a Sportsman Modified feature; the race would consist of 20 laps – a homage to Casey’s car number.

The focus shifted on Saturday, February 4, to the 1/2-mile Asphalt Track at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. Jason Durgan of Morrisonville, N.Y., claimed the first championship of his career in the Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified division of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Durgan surpassed Vince Quenneville Jr. after a tiebreaker, with Proctor finishing third overall.

Josh Masterson of Bristol, Vt., was acknowledged as the first-ever two-time champion of the Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model division at Devil’s Bowl. Jim McKiernan of Moriah Center, N.Y., collected his first title in the Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegades, and Eric “Mongo” Messier of Hinesburg, Vt., took the Portland Glass Mini Stock crown. Cory Gray of Rutland, Vt., was awarded his first championship in the Enduro Series, which conducts races on both track surfaces at Devil’s Bowl.

Rookie of the Year honors went to Chuck Bradford (Sportsman Modified), Austin McKiernan (Renegade), and Messier (Mini Stock), while Sportsmanship awards were presented to Quenneville, Masterson, Renegade racer Scott FitzGerald, and Mini Stock driver Brett Wood. Most Improved awards went to Travis Bruno (Sportsman Modified), Robert Bryant Jr. (Late Model), Matt Monaghan (Renegade), and Brendan “Roo” Forrest (Mini Stock).

Several special annual awards were presented over the weekend, including the track’s highest honor, the John Bruno Award. The trophy was conferred upon veteran driver Ron Proctor of Charlton, N.Y., on Saturday night, in recognition of his significant lifetime contributions to racing while maintaining lofty standards of conduct and respect both on and off the track.

The award came as a shock to everyone present, especially to Proctor, who was presented the trophy by his car owner, Debbie Eddy, the previous year’s John Bruno Award recipient. The laid-back Proctor – a two-time Devil’s Bowl Speedway champion with numerous victories throughout his 40-year career – received a standing ovation.

The annual Award of Excellence and the yearly Dedication Award were also given on each night. Volunteer staff member and safety crew member Rick Murray was honored with the Award of Excellence on Friday night, while Saturday’s award went to sponsors Walter and Lynn Manney of the Sugar & Spice restaurant, the creators of the wildly popular “Great North American Pancake Eating Championship” held each year at Devil’s Bowl. Friday night’s Dedication Award was presented to longtime Devil’s Bowl pit road and safety crew stalwart David Ward, with Saturday’s honors going to Food & Beverage manager Helen “Chip” Alexander.

Quenneville was recognized for winning his second consecutive NASCAR Vermont State Championship – just days after a ceremony with Governor Phil Scott, himself a long-time driver, at the Vermont State House in Montpelier – and Jackie Brown Jr. was also applauded for his NASCAR Vermont State Rookie of the Year title.

Bonus and contingency awards were presented on behalf of NASCAR, Bond Auto Parts, Central Vermont Motorcycles, Portland Glass, Five Star Race Car Bodies, Shiley Fabrication, Crazy Horse Racing, and American Racer Tires. As the top-performing driver under the age of 18, Forrest was named the winner of NASCAR’s Youth Achievement Award for both track surfaces; he collected two plaques, two bonuses of $500 cash, and two $500 scholarships to The University of Northwestern Ohio.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s 51st season of racing will once again showcase NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action on the Asphalt Track primarily on Saturday nights and on the Dirt Track primarily on Sunday nights in 2017. The complete schedule is available at the speedway’s official website at www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway is situated just 20 minutes from Rutland, Vt., on Route 22A in West Haven, Vt., four miles north of Exit 2 off of U.S. Route 4. For more information, visit www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com or call (802) 265-3112. Devil’s Bowl Speedway is on Facebook at facebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway and on Twitter and Instagram at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.

DEVIL’ S BOWL SPEEDWAY – BANQUET OF CHAMPIONS AWARD WINNERS

Friday, February 3, 2017 & Saturday, February 4, 2017

Holiday Inn Rutland-Killington, Rutland, Vt.

Special Annual Award Winners

John Bruno Award:

Ron Proctor, Charlton, N.Y.

Award of Excellence:

Rick Murray, Poultney, Vt.

Walter & Lynn Manney, Sugar & Spice Restaurant, Mendon, Vt.

Dedication Award:

David Ward, Fair Haven, Vt.

Helen “Chip” Alexander, Whitehall, N.Y.

Asphalt 1/2-mile – NASCAR Whelen All-American Series

Track Champions:

Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified – Jason Durgan, Morrisonville, N.Y.

Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model – Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.

Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade – Jim McKiernan, Moriah Center, N.Y.

Portland Glass Mini Stock – Eric Messier, Hinesburg, Vt.

Rookies of the Year:

Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified – Chuck Bradford, Addison, Vt.

Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade – Austin McKiernan, Moriah Center, N.Y.

Portland Glass Mini Stock – Eric Messier, Hinesburg, Vt.

Sportsmanship Awards:

Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified – Vince Quenneville Jr., Brandon, Vt.

Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model – Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.

Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade – Scott FitzGerald, West Rutland, Vt.

Portland Glass Mini Stock – Brett Wood, Georgia, Vt.

Most Improved Driver Awards:

Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified – Travis Bruno, Morrisonville, N.Y.

Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model – Robert Bryant Jr., Brooklyn, Conn.

Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade – Matt Monaghan, Colchester, Vt.

Portland Glass Mini Stock – Brendan “Roo” Forrest, West Rutland, Vt.

Dirt 3/10-mile – NASCAR Whelen All-American Series

Track Champions:

Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified – Bobby Hackel, Rensselaer, N.Y.

360 Sprint Car – Chris Donnelly, Piermont, N.H.

Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade – Bill Duprey, Hydeville, Vt.

Portland Glass Mini Stock – Mike Ryan, Chelsea, Vt.

Rookies of the Year:

Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified – Justin Severance, Pittsford, Vt.

360 Sprint Car – Bobby Hackel, Rensselaer, N.Y.

Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade – Josh Bussino, Mount Holly, Vt.

Portland Glass Mini Stock – Cameron Kennedy, Rochester, Vt.

Sportsmanship Awards:

Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified – Kenny Tremont Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.

360 Sprint Car – Chris Donnelly, Piermont, N.H.

Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade – Josh Bussino, Mount Holly, Vt.

Portland Glass Mini Stock – Jason Porter, Freeport, Maine

Most Improved Driver Awards:

Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified – Chad Miller, White River Junction, Vt.

360 Sprint Car – Lacey Hanson, Orwell, Vt.

Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade – Matt Mosher, Queensbury, N.Y.

Portland Glass Mini Stock – Derrick Counter, Leicester, Vt.

Enduro Series

Series Champion:

Cory Gray, Rutland, Vt.

Contingency Award Winners

Bond Auto Parts Champion & Hard Charger Awards:

Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified (Asphalt) – Jason Durgan

Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified (Dirt) – Bobby Hackel

Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model (Asphalt) – Josh Masterson

360 Sprint Car (Dirt) – Chris Donnelly

Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade (Asphalt) – Bill Burlingame, Scott FitzGerald, R.J. Germain, Jim McKiernan, Matt Monaghan, Richie Turner, Jason Woodard

Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade (Dirt) – Brian Bishop Jr., Bill Duprey, Matt Mosher, Josh Terry

Portland Glass Mini Stock (Asphalt) – Brad Bertrand, C.J. LaVair, Eric Messier, Dale O’Neil, Mike Whalen Jr., Zach Wood

Portland Glass Mini Stock – Chris Charbonneau, Wayland Childs, Chris Conroy, Jesse Durkee, Mike Lique, Mike Ryan, Kaleb Shepard, Kyle Watrous, Zach Wood

Crazy Horse Racing Winner’s Circle Challenge:

Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model (Asphalt) – Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.

Five Star Race Car Bodies Certificates:

Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified (Asphalt) – Chuck Bradford, Addison, Vt.

Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified (Dirt) – Brian Whittemore, Pittsford, Vt.

Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model (Asphalt) – Seth Bridge, Mendon, Vt.

Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade (Asphalt) – R.J. Germain, Bristol, Vt.

Shiley Fabrication Hard Charger & Hard Luck Awards:

Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified (Asphalt) – Jamy Begor, Alex Bell, Matt Bilodeau, Chuck Bradford, Travis Bruno, Jason Durgan, Bob Kilburn, Billy Lussier, Ron Proctor, Vince Quenneville Jr., Joey Roberts, Dave Snow, Chad White

Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified (Dirt) – Codie Aubin, Jackie Brown Jr., Kevin Chaffee, Justin Comes, Bobby Hackel, Tim Hodge, Tim LaDuc, Rob Lanfear, Darryl Mitchell, Chris Murray, Lenny Pillsbury, Vince Quenneville Jr., Justin Severance, Kenny Tremont Jr., Brian Whittemore

University of Northwestern Ohio Youth Achievement Award & Scholarship:

Portland Glass Mini Stock (Asphalt) – Brendan “Roo” Forrest, West Rutland, Vt.

Portland Glass Mini Stock (Dirt) – Brendan “Roo” Forrest, West Rutland, Vt.