Lussier grabs three nominations; vote of drivers to decide winners for January banquet
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Devil’s Bowl Speedway has revealed a list of 50 stock car drivers who have been nominated for the track’s special annual honors. Voting ballots have been distributed to drivers from both the half-mile paved oval and the three-tenths-mile clay oval at Devil’s Bowl, and winners of the Sportsmanship and Most Improved Driver awards will be announced at the Banquet of Champions on Saturday, January 30 in Rutland, Vt.
The Sportsmanship Award is given annually to one driver in each racing division who has shown a consistent commitment to competitiveness, fairness, and respect. The Most Improved Driver trophy, initiated for asphalt drivers last year, goes to someone who has shown a marked improvement in competitiveness from their previous efforts on the track. Each award is decided by a vote of drivers in all divisions.
Fifteen racers have been nominated for multiple awards, with Fair Haven, Vt., native Billy Lussier leading the charge. The hometown favorite is nominated in both categories in the asphalt Modified division as well as the Sportsmanship trophy in the dirt Sportsman Modified class. Other Modified drivers earning multiple nominations include Rookie of the Year Bob Kilburn, up-and-comer Dave Snow, and veteran Jimmy Ryan.
Three drivers in the asphalt Late Model class are on both the Sportsmanship and Most Improved ballots, including Seth Bridge, Richard Lowrey III, and Chad White. Renegade drivers on both lists are Jared Blake, Jimmy Bushey, Scott FitzGerald, and Matt Monaghan, while Mini Stock double-nominees are Bradley Bertrand, Andrew FitzGerald, Kyle Sorensen, and Kyle Watrous. Lowrey, Monaghan, and Bertrand each won Rookie of the Year honors in their respective divisions.
Other special awards to be announced 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 at $45 for adults and $25 for kids age 12 and under. To order, contact Justin St. Louis at (802) 355-3282; tickets must be ordered by Friday, January 22.
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 MODIFIED
Bob Kilburn, Billy Lussier, Ron Proctor, Vince Quenneville Jr., Jimmy Ryan, Dave Snow
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES – ASPHALT LATE MODEL
Chris Bergeron, Seth Bridge, Richard Lowrey III, Steve Miller, Todd Stone, Chad White
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES – ASPHALT RENEGADE
Jared Blake, Jimmy Bushey, Scott FitzGerald, Robert Gordon, Matt Monaghan, Tony Salerno
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES – ASPHALT MINI STOCK
Bradley Bertrand, Chuck Bradford, Andrew FitzGerald, Chris LaVair, Kyle Sorensen, Kyle Watrous
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES – DIRT SPORTSMAN MODIFIED
Jackie Brown Jr., Bobby Hackel, Tim Hodge, Billy Lussier, Josh Sunn, Kenny Tremont Jr.
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES – DIRT RENEGADE
Curtis Condon, Bill Duprey, Aaron Fachini, Lou Gancarz, Matt Mosher, Darrell Older
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD NOMINEES – DIRT MINI STOCK
Brian Bishop, Justin Bishop, Chris Cardarelli, Robert Garney, Jason Porter, Justin Severance
MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD NOMINEES – ASPHALT MODIFIED
Codie Aubin, Jason Furman, Bob Kilburn, Billy Lussier, Jimmy Ryan, Dave Snow
MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD NOMINEES – ASPHALT LATE MODEL
Seth Bridge, Robert Bryant Jr., Walter J. Hammond, Richard Lowrey III, Mark Norris, Chad White
MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD NOMINEES – ASPHALT RENEGADE
Jared Blake, Jimmy Bushey, Scott FitzGerald, Shawn Franklin, Matt Monaghan, Dylan Rabtoy
MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD NOMINEES – ASPHALT MINI STOCK
Bradley Bertrand, Tanner Crary, Andrew FitzGerald, Harold LaVair Jr., Kyle Sorensen, Kyle Watrous