Courtesy of MemorEvents
Emily Packard returns to Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday, June 6, for the American-Canadian Tour’s People’s United Bank 100.
WEST HAVEN – Stock car driver Emily Packard, age 18, returns to Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday night with a mission: win the People’s United Bank 100. The East Montpelier, Vt., native will use the annual American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Model event to kick off a big week and hopes that she can celebrate with what would be an historic breakthrough ACT victory.
The People’s United Bank 100 opens a busy stretch for the 18-year-old that includes her graduation from U-32 High School in Montpelier. Packard is also simultaneously completing her freshman year at the Community College of Vermont, where she has made the Dean’s List while working toward a business degree.
“I’m really excited to get back to Devil’s Bowl. I’ve been in Rutland a lot for college, but I’ve missed racing there,” Packard said. “A lot of Devil’s Bowl fans have asked me where I’ve been, so it’ll be good to see them. My team goes to every race thinking we have a shot to win, but especially at Devil’s Bowl. We have a lot of laps there and we know what the track conditions are like at night. I hope that gives us an advantage.”
History is on Packard’s side, as she has finishes of second and third in the last two 100-lap Late Model races under the lights at Devil’s Bowl. She will try to become only the second woman to win an American-Canadian Tour event at the People’s United Bank 100, and the first since Tracie Bellerose won 14 years ago.
Packard will face fellow ACT stars Wayne Helliwell Jr., Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Brian Hoar, Nick Sweet, Brandon Atkins, Travis Stearns, and Brad Babb, as well as home track drivers Josh Masterson and top rookie Richard Lowrey III. Helliwell and Hoar have combined to win all five previous ACT events at Devil’s Bowl, while Sweet has three 100-lap victories there. Atkins won a 50-lapper on opening night at Devil’s Bowl last month, and Masterson won on May 23 and holds the point lead in the weekly standings.
The event Saturday, June 6, will also see action for the Modified, Renegade, and Mini Stock divisions, along with a kids’ racecar poster drawing contest. General admission is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and free for kids age 12 and under. Green flag racing begins at 6 p.m.
Devil’s Bowl is located on Route 22A in West Haven.w
For more information, visit www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com.
