Lussier leads the way again; vote of drivers to determine winners at February gala
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Devil’s Bowl Speedway has announced a diverse list of 59 racecar drivers from six states who have been nominated for the track’s special annual awards. Voting ballots for the yearly Sportsmanship and Most Improved Driver trophies have been circulated to competitors from both the 1/2-mile Asphalt Track and the 3/10-mile Dirt Track at Devil’s Bowl, and the winners will be announced at the two-night Banquet of Champions on February 3-4 in Rutland, Vermont.
The Sportsmanship Award is given each year to one driver in each racing division who displays a consistent commitment to competitiveness, fairness, and respect. The Most Improved Driver Award goes to someone who has made big gains in their competitiveness from previous efforts. Track officials nominate drivers in each division, and the award winners are decided upon by a vote of drivers.
Among the 59 total racers nominated across eight divisions, 23 of them appear in multiple categories. Thirty-one drivers were nominated for one or more awards for the first time in their careers including 10 drivers from the Sprint Cars of New England (SCoNE) series. Sportsman Modified driver Billy Lussier of Fair Haven, Vt., has the most nominations for the second consecutive year, gaining a nod in all four categories for which he was eligible including the Sportsmanship and Most Improved trophies for both the paved and clay ovals.
Other drivers with multiple nominations include Sportsman Modified competitors Codie Aubin, Jackie Brown Jr., Chuck Bradford, Bob Kilburn, Chad Miller, and Vince Quenneville Jr.; Renegade racers Austin McKiernan, Josh Bussino, Curtis Condon, Lou Gancarz, Matt Monaghan, Matt Mosher, and Tony Salerno; Mini Stock drivers Chris Cardarelli, Derrick Counter, Andrew FitzGerald, Roo Forrest, Eric Messier, and Brett Wood; and Late Model runners Seth Bridge, Jesse Carris, and Mark Norris.
Additional special award recipients to be named at the Banquet of Champions include Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s highest honors: The Award of Excellence, the Dedication Award, and the John Bruno Award, presented to a person or group who has made significant lifetime contributions to racing while maintaining high standards of conduct and respect on and off the track.
Tickets for the Banquet of Champions are now available. Single-event pricing remains at $45 for adults and $25 for children age 13 and under. Discount two-night tickets are $75 for adults and $45 for kids. To order tickets, CLICK HERE; tickets must be ordered by Friday, January 27, 2017. Drivers must purchase a ticket and be present in order to receive their awards.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, Vt., four miles north of Exit 2 on 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 Special Award Candidates:
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES – ASPHALT SPORTSMAN MODIFIED
Jackie Brown Jr., Chuck Bradford, Bob Kilburn, Billy Lussier, Vince Quenneville Jr., Jimmy Ryan
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES – DIRT SPORTSMAN MODIFIED
Codie Aubin, Jackie Brown Jr., Billy Lussier, Chad Miller, Vince Quenneville Jr., Kenny Tremont Jr.
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES – ASPHALT LATE MODEL
Jamie Aube, Seth Bridge, Jesse Carris, Josh Masterson, Steve Miller, Mark Norris
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES – DIRT SPRINT CAR
Christine Boesch, Chris Donnelly, Dan Douville, Will Hull, Dennis McLeod, Patrick Smith
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES – ASPHALT RENEGADE
Bill Burlingame, Scott FitzGerald, Austin McKiernan, Matt Monaghan, Tony Salerno
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES – DIRT RENEGADE
Josh Bussino, Curtis Condon, Bill Duprey, Aaron Fachini, Lou Gancarz, Matt Mosher
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES – ASPHALT MINI STOCK
Andrew FitzGerald, Roo Forrest, Eric Messier, Kaleb Shepard, Brett Wood
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES – DIRT MINI STOCK
Chris Cardarelli, Chris Conroy, Derrick Counter, Robert Garney, Jason Porter
MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD NOMINEES – ASPHALT SPORTSMAN MODIFIED
Matt Bilodeau, Chuck Bradford, Travis Bruno, Bob Kilburn, Billy Lussier
MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD NOMINEES – DIRT SPORTSMAN MODIFIED
Codie Aubin, Jason Bruno, Justin Comes, Billy Lussier, Chad Miller, Justin Severance
MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD NOMINEES – ASPHALT LATE MODEL
Seth Bridge, Robert Bryant Jr., Jesse Carris, Mark Norris
MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD NOMINEES – DIRT SPRINT CAR
Tyler Austin, Luke Greenwood, Lacey Hanson, Matt Hoyt
MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD NOMINEES – ASPHALT RENEGADE
R.J. Germain, Austin McKiernan, Jim McKiernan, Matt Monaghan, Tony Salerno
MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD NOMINEES – DIRT RENEGADE
Josh Bussino, Curtis Condon, Lou Gancarz, Matt Mosher
MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD NOMINEES – ASPHALT MINI STOCK
Bradley Bertrand, Andrew FitzGerald, Roo Forrest, Eric Messier, Brett Wood, Zach Wood
MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD NOMINEES – DIRT MINI STOCK
Chris Cardarelli, Eric Castiglioni, Chris Charbonneau, Derrick Counter, Cameron Kennedy
(Photo by Nicole Laffond/Devil’s Bowl Speedway)