By Lou Modestino
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.