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Proctor Adds To Stature With Multiple Titles

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A 25-year dirt Modified racing veteran made the transition to pavement racing and enjoyed a career-best season in 2011.

Ron Proctor, 58, of Charlton, N.Y., spent almost his entire career racing on dirt until 2010 when his home tracks switched to pavement. Prior to 2010 he had raced his dirt Modified on pavement only twice.

With the support of his wife Marcy and car owners Deborah Eddy and Ron White, Proctor decided to commit to full-time pavement racing at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, Vt., in 2010. The former half-mile dirt track had just been paved and reconfigured. Except for the tires, the race cars remained just about the same. Dirt Modifieds on asphalt became a hit with fans. The notoriety of the unique style of racing increased when Proctor’s tracks joined the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series in 2011.

“When Bob Duvall from NASCAR came up and spoke at our meeting to introduce us to the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, we knew an opportunity was there for all us drivers,” Proctor said. “When he spoke it felt like he was being up front with us. He said good things were going to happen and we believed NASCAR would make them happen. He opened a few eyes.

“I envisioned having a good season,” Proctor said. “It turned out being exceptional.”

He won the first track championships of his illustrious career in 2011 at Devil’s Bowl and its former sister track Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta, N.Y. He also won the Vermont state championship, and as a first-year NASCAR Division I license holder, the state Rookie of the Year Awards in both Vermont and New York. In all, his NASCAR Whelen All-American Series point fund awards for track and state championships and state rookie awards totaled nearly $11,000. His combined racing record between the two states included six wins, 21 top fives and top 10s in all 24 starts.

Proctor followed his dad George into racing, and competed for the first time in a Late Model at Devil’s Bowl in 1976. He’s been racing in the Modified division since 1982. In all, Proctor has won features at Devil’s Bowl in four different decades. He credits his dad’s knowledge and experience for contributing to his own success, as well as his entire team.

“I’ve been driving for Ron and Debbie since 2000 and we’ve been very successful,” Proctor said. “Our crew chief Al DiCarlo and I communicate well and he’s been around for at least 20 years.”

Other team members include the driver’s brothers Tom and Jeff, brother George and his son Jamie who have their own Modified, wife Marcy and father George. Sister Mary Mann is in the stands every week. Daughter Kirsten works with another kind of horsepower, she’s a winning trainer in thoroughbred and harness racing.

“Our sponsors Timco Transportation and Biondi Crane & Rigging have helped us maintain the best equipment,” Proctor said. “I keep up with reading and studying set-ups everywhere we go. You take all that and the seat-of-the-pants feel of the car, put it all together and we keep going fast.”

Devil’s Bowl Speedway has new ownership and Proctor is confident in the track’s future. Mike and Alayne Bruno are the new track operators. They moved the track’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series weekly race night to Friday for 2012. Several special events on other weeknights dot the schedule. The Brunos plan to build on the track’s reputation for great racing, family entertainment and NASCAR affiliation.

“We support what Mike and Alayne are doing to elevate the stature and awareness of what everyone does on the track at Devil’s Bowl Speedway,” Proctor said. “We’re looking forward to the new year.”

The track opens for its 46th season on May 6, and its new website is www.devilsbowlspeedwayvt.com.