{"id":21301,"date":"2017-02-06T20:50:37","date_gmt":"2017-02-07T01:50:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/16\/?p=21301"},"modified":"2017-02-13T10:14:43","modified_gmt":"2017-02-13T15:14:43","slug":"top-drivers-honored-at-two-night-devils-bowl-speedway-banquet-of-champions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/16\/2017\/02\/top-drivers-honored-at-two-night-devils-bowl-speedway-banquet-of-champions\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Drivers Honored at Two-Night Devil\u2019s Bowl Speedway Banquet of Champions"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Top Drivers Honored at Two-Night Devil\u2019s Bowl Speedway Banquet of Champions
\nNine track champions crowned; John Bruno Award to Ron Proctor<\/strong><\/p>\n

RUTLAND, Vt. \u2013 Devil\u2019s Bowl Speedway officially draw the curtain on its 50th racing season during a two-night Banquet of Champions gala on February 3-4. Ceremonies were held in the Grand Ballroom at the Holiday Inn Rutland-Killington in Rutland, Vt., honoring nine stock car racing champions, top drivers, and special award winners at two tracks at the West Haven, Vt., facility; well over 400 guests attended the weekend gatherings.<\/p>\n

Awards for the 3\/10-mile Dirt Track at Devil\u2019s Bowl Speedway were presented on Friday, February 3, when Bobby Hackel of Rensselaer, N.Y., was crowned as the youngest lead-division champion in Devil\u2019s Bowl Speedway\u2019s 50-season history. The 22 year-old, fourth-generation racer won 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 took runner-up honors with Kenny Tremont Jr. third.<\/p>\n

Photos – https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pg\/NERacing\/photos\/?tab=album&album_id=10153993901607134<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

Chris Donnelly of Piermont, N.H., collected the first championship ever awarded for a winged Sprint Car division at Devil\u2019s 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., took 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).<\/p>\n

Sportsmanship and Most Improved Driver awards, which were decided by a vote of drivers, were also presented. Sportsmanship awards were given to Tremont, Donnelly, Bussino, and Mini Stock driver Jason Porter, while Most Improved laurels went to Sportsman Modified driver Chad Miller, Sprint Car favorite Lacey Hanson, Renegade veteran Matt Mosher, and Mini Stock runner Derrick Counter.<\/p>\n

Tribute was also paid to driver Ron Casey of Manchester Center, Vt., who passed away after an accident at the track on July 3. It was announced that a special \u201cRon Casey Memorial\u201d race will be held on Tuesday, June 13, for drivers who have not won a Sportsman Modified feature; the race will be 20 laps \u2013 a nod to Casey\u2019s car number.<\/p>\n

The attention shifted on Saturday, February 4, to the 1\/2-mile Asphalt Track at Devil\u2019s Bowl Speedway. Jason Durgan of Morrisonville, N.Y., collected the first championship of his career in the Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified division of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Durgan topped Vince Quenneville Jr. after a tiebreaker, with Proctor third overall.<\/p>\n

Josh Masterson of Bristol, Vt., was recognized as the first-ever two-time champion of the Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model division at Devil\u2019s Bowl. Jim McKiernan of Moriah Center, N.Y., collected his first title in the Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegades, and Eric \u201cMongo\u201d 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 runs races on both track surfaces at Devil\u2019s Bowl.<\/p>\n

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 \u201cRoo\u201d Forrest (Mini Stock).
\nSeveral special annual awards were presented during the weekend including the track\u2019s highest honor, the John Bruno Award. The trophy was bestowed upon veteran driver Ron Proctor of Charlton, N.Y., on Saturday night, in recognition of his significant lifetime contributions to racing while maintaining high standards of conduct and respect on and off the track.<\/p>\n

The award came as a surprise to everyone in attendance but especially to Proctor, who was presented the trophy by his car owner, Debbie Eddy, last year\u2019s John Bruno Award recipient. The easy-going Proctor \u2013 a two-time Devil\u2019s Bowl Speedway champion with dozens of victories across his 40-year career \u2013 received a standing ovation.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s award went to sponsors Walter and Lynn Manney of the Sugar & Spice restaurant, creators of the wildly popular \u201cGreat North American Pancake Eating Championship\u201d held each year at Devil\u2019s Bowl. Friday night\u2019s Dedication Award was presented to longtime Devil\u2019s Bowl pit road and safety crew fixture David Ward, with Saturday\u2019s honors going to Food & Beverage manager Helen \u201cChip\u201d Alexander.<\/p>\n

Quenneville was recognized for winning his second-straight NASCAR Vermont State Championship \u2013 just days after a ceremony with Governor Phil Scott, himself a longtime driver, at the Vermont State House in Montpelier \u2013 and Jackie Brown Jr. was also applauded for his NASCAR Vermont State Rookie of the Year title.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Devil\u2019s Bowl Speedway\u2019s 51st season of racing will once again feature 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 full schedule is available at the speedway\u2019s official website at www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com.<\/p>\n

Devil\u2019s Bowl Speedway is located 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\u2019s Bowl Speedway is on Facebook at facebook.com\/DevilsBowlSpeedway and on Twitter and Instagram at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.<\/p>\n

DEVIL\u2019 S BOWL SPEEDWAY \u2013 BANQUET OF CHAMPIONS AWARD WINNERS
\nFriday, February 3, 2017 & Saturday, February 4, 2017
\nHoliday Inn Rutland-Killington, Rutland, Vt.<\/p>\n

Special Annual Award Winners
\nJohn Bruno Award:
\n\u00b7 Ron Proctor, Charlton, N.Y.<\/p>\n

Award of Excellence:
\n\u00b7 Rick Murray, Poultney, Vt.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Walter & Lynn Manney, Sugar & Spice Restaurant, Mendon, Vt.<\/p>\n

Dedication Award:
\n\u00b7 David Ward, Fair Haven, Vt.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Helen \u201cChip\u201d Alexander, Whitehall, N.Y.<\/p>\n

Asphalt 1\/2-mile \u2013 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
\nTrack Champions:
\n\u00b7 Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified \u2013 Jason Durgan, Morrisonville, N.Y.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model \u2013 Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade \u2013 Jim McKiernan, Moriah Center, N.Y.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Portland Glass Mini Stock \u2013 Eric Messier, Hinesburg, Vt.<\/p>\n

Rookies of the Year:
\n\u00b7 Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified \u2013 Chuck Bradford, Addison, Vt.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade \u2013 Austin McKiernan, Moriah Center, N.Y.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Portland Glass Mini Stock \u2013 Eric Messier, Hinesburg, Vt.<\/p>\n

Sportsmanship Awards:
\n\u00b7 Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified \u2013 Vince Quenneville Jr., Brandon, Vt.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model \u2013 Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade \u2013 Scott FitzGerald, West Rutland, Vt.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Portland Glass Mini Stock \u2013 Brett Wood, Georgia, Vt.<\/p>\n

Most Improved Driver Awards:
\n\u00b7 Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified \u2013 Travis Bruno, Morrisonville, N.Y.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model \u2013 Robert Bryant Jr., Brooklyn, Conn.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade \u2013 Matt Monaghan, Colchester, Vt.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Portland Glass Mini Stock \u2013 Brendan \u201cRoo\u201d Forrest, West Rutland, Vt.<\/p>\n

Dirt 3\/10-mile \u2013 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
\nTrack Champions:
\n\u00b7 Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified \u2013 Bobby Hackel, Rensselaer, N.Y.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 360 Sprint Car \u2013 Chris Donnelly, Piermont, N.H.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade \u2013 Bill Duprey, Hydeville, Vt.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Portland Glass Mini Stock \u2013 Mike Ryan, Chelsea, Vt.<\/p>\n

Rookies of the Year:
\n\u00b7 Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified \u2013 Justin Severance, Pittsford, Vt.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 360 Sprint Car \u2013 Bobby Hackel, Rensselaer, N.Y.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade \u2013 Josh Bussino, Mount Holly, Vt.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Portland Glass Mini Stock \u2013 Cameron Kennedy, Rochester, Vt.<\/p>\n

Sportsmanship Awards:
\n\u00b7 Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified \u2013 Kenny Tremont Jr., West Sand Lake, N.Y.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 360 Sprint Car \u2013 Chris Donnelly, Piermont, N.H.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade \u2013 Josh Bussino, Mount Holly, Vt.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Portland Glass Mini Stock \u2013 Jason Porter, Freeport, Maine<\/p>\n

Most Improved Driver Awards:
\n\u00b7 Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified \u2013 Chad Miller, White River Junction, Vt.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 360 Sprint Car \u2013 Lacey Hanson, Orwell, Vt.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade \u2013 Matt Mosher, Queensbury, N.Y.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Portland Glass Mini Stock \u2013 Derrick Counter, Leicester, Vt.<\/p>\n

Enduro Series
\nSeries Champion:
\n\u00b7 Cory Gray, Rutland, Vt.<\/p>\n

Contingency Award Winners
\nBond Auto Parts Champion & Hard Charger Awards:
\n\u00b7 Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified (Asphalt) \u2013 Jason Durgan<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified (Dirt) \u2013 Bobby Hackel<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model (Asphalt) \u2013 Josh Masterson<\/p>\n

\u00b7 360 Sprint Car (Dirt) \u2013 Chris Donnelly<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade (Asphalt) \u2013 Bill Burlingame, Scott FitzGerald, R.J. Germain, Jim McKiernan, Matt Monaghan, Richie Turner, Jason Woodard<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade (Dirt) \u2013 Brian Bishop Jr., Bill Duprey, Matt Mosher, Josh Terry<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Portland Glass Mini Stock (Asphalt) \u2013 Brad Bertrand, C.J. LaVair, Eric Messier, Dale O\u2019Neil, Mike Whalen Jr., Zach Wood<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Portland Glass Mini Stock \u2013 Chris Charbonneau, Wayland Childs, Chris Conroy, Jesse Durkee, Mike Lique, Mike Ryan, Kaleb Shepard, Kyle Watrous, Zach Wood<\/p>\n

Crazy Horse Racing Winner\u2019s Circle Challenge:
\n\u00b7 Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model (Asphalt) \u2013 Josh Masterson, Bristol, Vt.<\/p>\n

Five Star Race Car Bodies Certificates:
\n\u00b7 Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified (Asphalt) \u2013 Chuck Bradford, Addison, Vt.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified (Dirt) \u2013 Brian Whittemore, Pittsford, Vt.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Central Vermont Motorcycles Late Model (Asphalt) \u2013 Seth Bridge, Mendon, Vt.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Rosen & Berger Auto Recyclers Renegade (Asphalt) \u2013 R.J. Germain, Bristol, Vt.<\/p>\n

Shiley Fabrication Hard Charger & Hard Luck Awards:
\n\u00b7 Bond Auto Parts Sportsman Modified (Asphalt) \u2013 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<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Central Vermont Motorcycles Sportsman Modified (Dirt) \u2013 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<\/p>\n

University of Northwestern Ohio Youth Achievement Award & Scholarship:
\n\u00b7 Portland Glass Mini Stock (Asphalt) \u2013 Brendan \u201cRoo\u201d Forrest, West Rutland, Vt.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Portland Glass Mini Stock (Dirt) \u2013 Brendan \u201cRoo\u201d Forrest, West Rutland, Vt.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Top Drivers Honored at Two-Night Devil\u2019s Bowl Speedway Banquet of Champions Nine track champions crowned; John Bruno Award to Ron Proctor RUTLAND, Vt. \u2013 Devil\u2019s Bowl Speedway officially draw the curtain on its 50th racing season during a two-night Banquet of Champions gala on February 3-4. Ceremonies were held in the Grand Ballroom at the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devils-bowl","category-vermont"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/16\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/16\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/16\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/16\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/16\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21301"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/16\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21301\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21322,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/16\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21301\/revisions\/21322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/16\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/16\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/16\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}