SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Top dirt track driver Tim LaDuc and a legendary racing couple – Frank Hoard Sr. and Lula Hoard – headlined the 2023 Devil’s Bowl Speedway Banquet of Champions before a full room of more than 330 guests on Saturday, December 2. The Vermont track’s racing fraternity gathered at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., for the annual dinner and celebration.
The Hoards received Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s highest annual honor, the John Bruno Award, in recognition of their lifetime contributions to the sport of stock car racing while maintaining high standards of conduct and respect. Manchester, Vt., native Frank Hoard Sr. began racing go-karts in 1960 and went on to regional prominence in open-wheel Modifieds through the 2010s. The couple spearheaded a racing family that included their son, daughter, and grandsons each driving successfully, most often running on a shoestring budget and overachieving with victories at several tracks including Devil’s Bowl.
LaDuc collected the $5,000 champion’s check in the top-tier Sunoco Sportsman Modified division, punctuating his fifth overall Devil’s Bowl title and second in three years. The Orwell, Vt., native captured his crown despite a winless season, but he registered five runner-up finishes and 16 Top 10s in 21 starts; he was joined on stage by his championship-winning car owner, Steve LaRose.
Justin Comes finished second in Sportsman Modified point standings for the third-straight year and he also collected the driver-voted Sportsmanship Award. Kevin Chaffee, Tanner Siemons, and Frank Hoard III rounded out the top five drivers, with sixth-place driver Billy Lussier earning the Most Improved Driver Award. Plattsburgh, N.Y., native Josh LeClaire grabbed Rookie of the Year honors.
A second Orwell, Vt., driver, Randy Ryan, was also honored as a track champion, taking his title in the intermediate-level O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman division. Ryan dominated his class with four victories while having never finished worse than 11th in 20 races, mathematically clinching his championship two weeks before the end of the season.
Alex Layn was second in the standings ahead of Gary English Jr., Jason Quenneville, and Anthony Ryan – the champion’s cousin – with Manchester, Vt.’s Scott Towslee taking the Rookie of the Year title.
Hartland, Vt.’s Tyler Travis collected his first championship in the Hoosier Daddy Racing Novice Sportsman division, doing so in his first full-season effort. Travis had a win among his perfect record of 19 Top 10 finishes in 19 races. Adam LaFountain was the runner-up, followed by Don Williams, Randy Edson, and Josh “Boomer” Patterson. Former motorcycle racer Eric Shaw of Wells, Vt., copped the Rookie of the Year plaque.
Fifteen-year-old Logan Denis accepted the award for his second consecutive championship in the Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint division. The Whiting, Vt., youngster ran to four wins and finished sixth or better in every race during the year. Ray Hanson finished second ahead of John Smith, Roger LaDuc, and Gage Provencher.
Cornwall, Vt.’s Brian Blake captured his first Mini Stock title on the strength of a three-win season and a consistent season-long run. Jakobee Alger was the runner-up and received the Most Improved Driver Award. Craig Kirby was third with Mark Mahoney and Austin McKirryher close behind.
The new 9th State Cannabis Crown Vic division crowned Bomoseen, Vt.’s Rob Steele as its inaugural champion, and Steele indicated in his acceptance speech that his mother is ready to begin her racing career as his teammate in 2024. Norm Morrill finished second in points and Jackson Ducharme was third.
Bristol, Vt.’s Kevin Pearsall was the champion of the Five Star Roofing Enduro Series.
Joining Justin Comes as recipients of the peer-voted Sportsmanship Awards were Bob Kilburn (Limited Sportsman), Boomer Patterson (Novice Sportsman), Kevin Smith (500cc Mini Sprint), and Mark Mahoney (Mini Stock). Along with Billy Lussier and Jakobee Alger, Most Improved Driver Awards were given to A.J. Munger (Limited Sportsman), Bobbi Hults (Novice Sportsman), and John Smith (500cc Mini Sprint).
The New York State Stock Car Association organization presented its annual “Top Performer” awards to member-drivers Frank Hoard III, Anthony Ryan, Don Williams, Ray Hanson, and Craig Kirby. Marty Kelly III received the NYSSCA Dedication to Racing Award for his efforts as a Top 10 Sportsman driver, part-time announcer, and budding media personality.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s annual Award of Excellence and Dedication Award were presented to Justin St. Louis and Austin Bruno, respectively. St. Louis, who was moonlighting as emcee of the Banquet of Champions, was surprised with the Award of Excellence; he is the former full-time media and marketing director for the speedway. Bruno was also taken by surprise by the Dedication Award; she is the daughter of Devil’s Bowl Speedway owners Mike and Alayne Bruno, and she has taken on a significant role in the daily operations of the facility in recent years.
News regarding the 2024 schedules, rulebooks, and other information will be announced in the coming weeks and months. Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, Vt., four miles north of U.S. Route 4, Exit 2, just 20 minutes from Rutland, Vt. For more information, visit www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com. Follow Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Facebook at facebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway, and on X/Twitter and Instagram at @DevilsBowlSpeed or with the #DevilsBowl hashtag.
DEVIL’ S BOWL SPEEDWAY BANQUET OF CHAMPIONS
Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs – Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Saturday, December 2, 2023
DEVIL’ S BOWL SPEEDWAY AWARD WINNERS
John Bruno Award:
- Frank Hoard Sr. & Lula Hoard, Manchester, Vt.
Award of Excellence:
- Justin St. Louis, Bridport, Vt.
Dedication Award:
- Austin Bruno, West Haven, Vt.
Track Champions:
- Sunoco Sportsman Modified – Tim LaDuc, Orwell, Vt.
- O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman – Randy Ryan, Orwell, Vt.
- Hoosier Daddy Racing Novice Sportsman – Tyler Travis, Hartland, Vt.
- Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint – Logan Denis, Whiting, Vt.
- Mini Stock – Brian Blake, Cornwall, Vt.
- 9th State Cannabis Crown Vic – Rob Steele, Bomoseen, Vt.
- Five Star Roofing Enduro Series – Kevin Pearsall, Bristol, Vt.
Rookies of the Year:
- Sunoco Sportsman Modified – Josh LeClaire, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
- O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman – Scott Towslee, Manchester, Vt.
- Hoosier Daddy Racing Novice Sportsman – Eric Shaw, Wells, Vt.
- Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint – John Carleton, Chittenden, Vt.
- Mini Stock – Ryan Patch, Rutland, Vt.
Sportsmanship Awards:
- Sunoco Sportsman Modified – Justin Comes, Fair Haven, Vt.
- O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman – Bob Kilburn, Fair Haven, Vt.
- Hoosier Daddy Racing Novice Sportsman – Josh “Boomer” Patterson, Milton, Vt.
- Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint – Kevin Smith, Brandon, Vt.
- Mini Stock – Mark Mahoney, Brandon, Vt.
Most Improved Driver Awards:
- Sunoco Sportsman Modified – Billy Lussier, Fair Haven, Vt.
- O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman – A.J. Munger, Benson Landing, Vt.
- Hoosier Daddy Racing Novice Sportsman – Bobbi Hults, Castleton, Vt.
- Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint – John Smith, Poultney, Vt.
- Mini Stock – Jakobee Alger, Orwell, Vt.
New York State Stock Car Association Awards:
- NYSSCA Dedication to Racing Award: Marty Kelly III, Shaftsbury, Vt.
- Sunoco Sportsman Modified “Top Performer” – Frank Hoard III, Manchester Center, Vt.
- O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman “Top Performer” – Anthony Ryan, Benson, Vt.
- Hoosier Daddy Racing Novice Sportsman “Top Performer” – Don Williams, Ripton, Vt.
- Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint “Top Performer” – Ray Hanson, Orwell, Vt.
- Mini Stock “Top Performer” – Craig Kirby, St. Albans, Vt.