Sports

Quenneville, Atkins to be recognized at NASCAR awards gala in N.C.

Courtesy of MemorEvents

Photo One: Vince Quenneville Jr. of Brandon, Vt., joined in victory lane by Lauren Wescoat, NASCAR senior manager of the weekly racing operations, will be crowned as the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Vermont State Champion and Devil’s Bowl Speedway Track Champion on Dec. 11 in Charlotte, N.C.

Photo Two: Greg Atkins of Clintonville, N.Y., will be honored as the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Vermont State Rookie of the Year on Dec. 11 in Charlotte, N.C.

Devil’s Bowl Speedway stock car drivers Vince Quenneville Jr. and Greg Atkins will be honored in Charlotte, N.C. as NASCAR celebrates the top Whelen All-American Series drivers of 2015. Two full days of events culminate on Friday, Dec. 11, as the NASCAR Hall of Fame hosts a black-tie dinner and awards gala.

The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (NWAAS) sanctions weekly short track racing at nearly 60 asphalt and dirt tracks throughout the United States and Canada, including Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, Vt. Each track designates its Division I class and drivers compete under a common point structure for track, state, provincial, and national championships.

Quenneville, of Brandon, Vt., will be honored in Charlotte as both the Modified asphalt Track Champion at Devil’s Bowl Speedway and the NWAAS Division I Vermont State Champion. Quenneville earned five feature race victories during the season, beating former champion Ron Proctor by 34 points (908-874) for the track title and 53 points (405-352) for the state crown.

Atkins, of Clintonville, N.Y., will be honored as the Vermont State Rookie of the Year. The first-time NASCAR Division I license holder beat Jimmy Ryan for the title by an impressive 133 points (333-200). Atkins also won the New York State Rookie of the Year title and finished third in national rookie standings.

“I’m extremely excited to get back to Charlotte,” Quenneville said. He was previously recognized as the NWAAS Vermont State Rookie of the Year in 2012. “NASCAR really makes it a special event and I’ll have more of my team members and family with me this time. Being there with drivers from across the country makes you really feel like you’ve accomplished something important. We’re all looking forward to it for sure.”

Free live video coverage of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards ceremony will be streamed online at www.FansChoice.tv on Friday, Dec. 11 beginning at 5 p.m.

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