Bell wins Budget Sportsman Championship


MALTA – Alex Bell rang loud and clear Friday night at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

Bell jumped into the lead on lap five and survived a rash of cautions to win the 50-lap New York State Budget Sportsman Championships at Albany-Saratoga Speedway. The victory was worth $500.

Prior to the racing card, Albany-Saratoga also held its annual Points Party under a tent at the speedway, handing out awards and cash to champions and outstanding performers in each division in the Champlain Valley Racing Association. Bell was also recognized during the pre-race ceremonies, as the Bell Racing Family received a CVRA Outstanding Effort award in the budget sportsman division.

Bell's win in the 50-lap feature was his second in a row and capped off a season of determination. Bell had picked up a win early in the season, but was disqualified for a rules violation after the race. But Bell never lost his focus to succeed, and capped off the year with back-to-back wins and a special award.

Following Bell across the finish line in the 50-lap feature was Fred Proctor, who also picked up a CVRA Outstanding Effort award. Frank Hoard III, Paul Dunham Jr., who was the overall CVRA budget sportsman champion in the first season of the division, and Bryan Davis completed the top five.

Mike Ostrander drove to his second win of the season in the 20-lap limited feature, holding off D.J. Brundige to get the victory. Bill Duprey, a regular at Devil's Bowl Speedway, hauled in and got on the podium with a third-place finish.

The mini-stocks were also in action on Friday night, with Jason Dickson coming away with his first victory of the season. Michael Kamm won the 50-lap enduro.

In addition to honoring track champions at both Albany-Saratoga and Devil's Bowl, the Points Party was also a time for handing out special awards. Salisbury Chevrolet received the Judith L. Richards Memorial Award, while the CVRA Lifetime Achievement Award went to Gerald Kearns.

Albany-Saratoga Speedway has one more Friday night racing card on its schedule, holding a Fun Run on September 21. The card will include competition for sportsman, budget sportsman, pro-street stocks, limiteds and mini-stocks. Racing will begin at 6:45 p.m.

CVRA Special Awards

Drivers of the Year: Ken Tremont Jr. and Lori Cary.

Rookies of the Year: Rob Langevin and Angela Hoard.

Outstanding Effort Awards: Chuck Towslee (pro-street stocks), Bell Family Racing (budget sportsman), Fred Proctor (budget sportsman).

Albany-Saratoga Awards.

Owner of the Year: Tim Delaney

High Performance Awards :Matt DeLorenzo (modifieds), Kim Duell (pro-street stocks), Mike Ketchum (sportsman), John Filarecki (limiteds).

Outstanding Effort Awards: Brett Hearn, Josh Hohenforst, Darryl Carl.

Harry Peek Sportsmanship Award: A.J. Romano

Most Improved Driver: Marc Johnson.

Devil's Bowl awards:

Owner of the Year: Ken Tremont Sr.

High Performance Awards: Tim Laduc (modifieds), Fred Little (pro-street stocks), D.J. Brundige (limiteds).

Outstanding Effort Awards: (Todd Stone, Vince Quenneville Jr., Cale Kneer.

H.T. Cameron Sportsmanship Award: George Morse.

Friday night results

NEW YORK STATE BUDGET SPORTSMAN CHAMPIONSHIP: ALEX BELL, Fred Proctor, Frank Hoard III., Paul Dunham Jr., Bryan Davis, Jeremiah Munson, Mike Visconti, Frank Hoard Jr., Ralph Denison, Jared McMahon, Adam Pierson, Kale Groff, Matthew Hyde, Robert Cole Jr., Rick LaMont, Mike Bruto, Jon Bates, Angelo Dicarlo, Kris Bradbury, Ken Towne, Angela Hoard, Pierre Bordeleau, Stephan Williams, Dennis Pennock, Nick Hotaling, Chuck Allen.

LIMITEDS: MIKE OSTRANDER, D.J. Brundige, Bill Duprey, Ken Conroy, Andy Durie, Mark Burch, Mark Lester, Mark Dwyer, Tony Condon, Jeremy Jones, Dan Petronis, C.J. Vitagliano, Ben Durie, Rich Holmes, Bill Decker, Charlie Koenig, Nick Lussier.

MINI-STOCKS: JASON DICKSON, Erin Older, Rusty Palmateer, Mike Cranston, Ron Zagata, Phil DeFiglio, Jason Rheome, Brette Osgood, Dan Older Jr.