THE RACING BRUNO FAMILY

     At the end of the Fairmont Speedway era, there began to be some appearances from the operator of a small local towing and garage business from Castleton Corners, Vermont - Johnny Bruno. Bruno's initial forays to the Fair Haven track did not lift many eyebrows because his number, 222, had been run for some time in the late model [or hobby] division by another car owner.
    Some time after Johnny started running blue Chevies in the CVRA ranks, brother, Ralph, also got involved. Most of the original Bruno brothers' race efforts were not Fairmont, but rather at the newly - built Devils Bowl, up Route 22A. Ralph would achieve his high water mark of success when - for a while - Devils Bowl was put off by C.J. Richards and Tom Perry re-opened the track as West Haven Speedway [a somewhat confusing name in light of the more established track of the same name in Connecticut].
    Johnny, the more prominent of the two, went through considerable success in late models, moving up to modifieds by the 1980's. He campaigned a Lape - built Champ car, among others, campaigning at the Bowl, at Malta, and Airborne, to name a few locales. Johnny's race participation was prematurely ended when, on a wrecker call, he was struck and killed by a motorist. Ralph also ended his career by the 1980's.
    Today, Johnny's son, Mike, enjoys not only a noteworthy racing career, having won races on both dirt and pavement - in modifieds at Airborne and on the ACT tour. The Bruno sons have also expanded Johnny's towing and garage business into one of the largest in Vermont. Many of the photos on this page are courtesy of Ralph's son , Dan.

Bruno Family Photo Johnny and Al Cram with an earlier D Bowl late model.	Bruno Family Photo Looks like the same car winning a race.	Bruno Family Photo Johnny looks over a tangle on the front stretch at D Bowl. Don't know who 442 is - likely a Valley car.	Courtesy of Ed Fabian Johnny, with an early car [but not his first]	Courtesy of Ed Fabian 2 Johnnies - Williams and Bruno collide.	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's Johnny and a earlier late model take green in this grainy old 8MM footage.
From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's Johnny and Bomoseen, VT neighbor Vern Hall take green in this grainy old 8MM footage.	Bruno Family Photo Johnny and Butch Rogers at an early D Bowl banquet.	Bruno Family Photo A Devil's Bowl win with one of the early late models.	Courtesy of Marty Kelly Johnny and a Camaro, 1981 D Bowl practice day.	Bruno Family Photo Johnny and a later late model.	Bruno Family Photo John, flanked by Chuck Ely and Ray Nutting. D Bowl 1968 banquet, I'm guessing
Bruno Family Photo Johnny and D Bowl regular Vince Quenneville talk with Dan Perez and Dan Bridges during the Northern NASCAR late model era.	Lebanon Valley Classics Johnny is seen behind here at the Valley. Quite a combo: Claude Hoard, Tim Baker's car, and the sought - after Durick sponsorship.	A & A Ward Photo Johnny in an early 80's Bowl late model race.	Bruno Family Photo Johnny and a later late model, at speed.	Photo via Otto Graham Johnny plying the Fonda oval with the Carmaro.	Coville Family Photo Johnny fielded a car for legendary CD Coville.
Bruno Family Photo Super C.D. wins one at the Bowl with John's car.	Bruno Family Photo Johnny's #22 Champ Car modified.	A & A Ward Photo Johnny's #22 Champ Car is wrinkled at Airborne during practice. He was not fun company after that.	Bruno Family Photo A 1980's modified.	Bruno Family Photo Johnny's and his driver, CD Coville.
Bruno Family Photo Ralph, with one of his Devils Bowl trophies.	Bruno Family Photo Ralph, at speed at the Bowl.	Bruno Family Photo Ralph's Camaro	Bruno Family Photo Ralph, with one of his earliest cars.	Bruno Family Photo Ralph, at Devils Bowl.	Bruno Family Photo Lou Bruno.
Bruno Family Photo Johnny's #22 is honored by a very young Mike Bruno.	Bruno Family Photo Maybe a year later.	Bruno Family Photo Mike with one of Johnny's trophies.	Bruno Family Photo One of Mike's modifieds - with maybe the sponsor or owner.	Greg Chelak Photo Mike's Busch North car.	A&A Ward Photo Mike's ACT car at T Road with crew chief Tony AndrewMcDonalds and Kinney - how much better could sponsorship get ?
Bruno Family Photo Mike wins an early modified race - maybe sportsman. With Johnny.	Bruno Family Photo Mike works on the Kinney/ McDonald LMS.	Bruno Family Photo Mike wins an ACT Tour race at Ste. Croix.	Bruno Family Photo Mike with Tony Andrews and a slew of Brunos.	Mike Watts, Sr Photo Mike with the Dick Nephew 22 Cricket's car - racing George Foley on the pavement at Airborne.	Lief Tillotsom Photo Mike with the Dick Nephew 22 Cricket's car - racing Richard Tisseur on the pavement at Airborne.
Bruno Family Photo Mike's beginning car at the Bowl. Little did he know he'd own it some day.	Howie Hodge Photo Mike and Alayne with a family shot.	Marty Kelly Photo Mike with an early modified style car.	Howie Hodge Photo via Alayne Bruno At speed with the BGNN car.	Marty Kelly Photo A full - fledged modified.	Justin St Louis Photo Mike with the ACTG car following Dion under Dan Beede.
Justin St Louisy Photo Leading Brian Hoar in an ACt race.	Bruno Family Photo Johnny working in Mike's ACt pits.	TJ Ingerson Photo Mike with Alayne as Devil's Bowl new ownership team.	TJ Ingerson Photo Mike speaks at the first news conference as head of Devil's Bowl new ownership team.	Speed 51.com Photo Mike, as D Bowl track owner, with NASCAR's Jerry Cook - former multi - time champion and now official .	Speed 51.com Photo Mike, as D Bowl track owner, with competitor Jamy Begor.