Banquet of Champions at Holiday Inn in Rutland on January 31
WEST HAVEN, VT – Devil’s Bowl Speedway will officially wrap up its 2014 stock car racing season with the annual Banquet of Champions on Saturday, January 31. The event will again be held in the Ballroom at the Holiday Inn Rutland/Killington in Rutland, VT.
Champions and top drivers from the weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series asphalt half-mile, the inaugural “Battle at the Bowl” dirt track series, the Northern Modified Challenge Series, and the Enduro Series will be honored, along with several special award winners.
For the first time, winners of the annual Sportsmanship Awards and the all-new Most Improved Driver Awards in each of the four NASCAR divisions will be decided upon by a vote of competitors, track officials, and media. A total of 37 drivers have been nominated for the awards.
In the headline Bond Auto Parts Modified division, Sportsmanship Award nominees include Leon Gonyo, Jamie LaFountain, Vince Quenneville Jr., Cody Sargen, Rookie of the Year Billy Lussier, and Track Champion Todd Stone. Most Improved Driver selections include LaFountain, Lussier, and Sargen, along with Jason Durgan, Jason Reome, and Joey Roberts.
In the Late Model class, Seth Bridge, Tommy Eriksen Jr., and Carol Parker are each nominated for both honors. Jamie Aube, Bucko Branham, and Champion Jamie Fisher join them on the Sportsmanship ballot, while Robert Bryant Jr., Emily Packard, and rookie Scott Coburn are on the Most Improved ticket.
Sportsmanship Award nominees in the Renegade division include Jared Blake, Tony Putzier, and Champion Robert Gordon, while Ray Benoit, Richard Lowrey III, and Jim McKiernan are up for Most Improved. Stephen Donahue, Randy Howard, and Rookie of the Year Scott FitzGerald sit on both ballots.
The Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stock class has Lance Masterson and Kyle Watrous nominated for both awards. Sportsmanship candidates also include Matt Monaghan, Jake Noble, Rookie of the Year Andrew FitzGerald and Champion Chuck Bradford, while Most Improved contenders include John McCarron, Kyle Sorensen, Harold LaVair, and rookie Shaylynn Senecal.
Other prestigious annual honors to be presented include the Dedication Award, the Award of Excellence, and the John Bruno Award – Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s highest honor.
Tickets for the Devil’s Bowl Speedway Banquet of Champions are now available. For more information, visit www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com, or call (802) 265-3112. For hotel information, including room reservations, contact the Holiday Inn Rutland/Killington toll-free at 1-800-462-4810 or visit www.hivermont.com.
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 2014 Award Nominees
Bond Auto Parts Modified – Sportsmanship: Leon Gonyo, Jamie LaFountain, Billy Lussier, Vince Quenneville Jr., Cody Sargen, Todd Stone
Bond Auto Parts Modified – Most Improved Driver: Jason Durgan, Jamie LaFountain, Billy Lussier, Jason Reome, Joey Roberts, Cody Sargen
Late Model – Sportsmanship: Jamie Aube, Bucko Branham, Seth Bridge, Tommy Eriksen Jr., Jamie Fisher, Carol Parker
Late Model – Most Improved Driver: Seth Bridge, Robert Bryant Jr., Scott Coburn, Tommy Eriksen Jr., Carol Parker, Emily Packard
Renegade – Sportsmanship: Jared Blake, Stephen Donahue, Scott FitzGerald, Robert Gordon, Randy Howard, Tony Putzier
Renegade – Most Improved Driver: Ray Benoit, Stephen Donahue, Scott FitzGerald, Randy Howard, Richard Lowrey III, Jim McKiernan
Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stock – Sportsmanship: Chuck Bradford, Andrew FitzGerald, Lance Masterson, Matt Monaghan, Jake Noble, Kyle Watrous
Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stock – Most Improved Driver: Harold LaVair, Lance Masterson, John McCarron, Shaylynn Senecal, Kyle Sorensen, Kyle Watrous
PHOTO: Renegade driver Scott FitzGerald of West Rutland, VT is among the drivers nominated for both the Sportsmanship Award and the Most Improved Driver Award at Devil’s Bowl Speedway for 2014. (MemorEvents photo)