Courtesy of MemorEvents
Devil’s Bowl Speedway will host its 50th season of stock car racing in 2016 on both its asphalt and dirt tracks.
WEST HAVEN–Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s landmark 50th season in 2016 will be one to remember. Officials have overhauled the stock car racing schedule for the historic Rutland County facility, and the calendar will be packed with NASCAR-sanctioned events on both of Devil’s Bowl’s race tracks–a fast half-mile paved oval and a tight three-tenths-mile clay oval–situated on Route 22A in West Haven, Vt.
This is the first time ever that the Vermont track will host weekly NASCAR-sanctioned events on both the asphalt oval and the dirt track, operating both surfaces as part of the national NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (NWAAS) sanctions nearly 60 paved and dirt weekly short tracks throughout the United States and Canada. Each track designates a “Division I” class to compete for track, state, provincial, and national championships under a common point structure.
The two-track sanction at Devil’s Bowl Speedway creates an interesting and unique opportunity for competitors. Drivers in the two Division I classes–Modifieds on asphalt and Sportsman Modifieds on dirt–will compete directly with each other for the NWAAS Vermont State Championship, and several drivers are expected to participate on both surfaces in pursuit of the titles.
Drivers in all four weekly Devil’s Bowl divisions will earn points toward NWAAS National Championships in Divisions I-IV. The double sanction at Devil’s Bowl also means double the post-season awards, and as much as $40,000 in total point funds will be posted by NASCAR for drivers competing at Devil’s Bowl.
“Devil’s Bowl Speedway is in a unique position within the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series with having both an asphalt track and a dirt track at the same facility,” said Kevin Nevalainen, NASCAR director, weekly racing operations. “Devil’s Bowl racers and fans have been great supporters of the NASCAR program, and we’re excited to be able to build on that in Vermont in 2016 and beyond.”
Devil’s Bowl Speedway promoter Mike Bruno said that he anticipates a handful of drivers in each division to compete on both surfaces in 2016.
“The two-track NASCAR sanction is exciting for everyone at Devil’s Bowl,” Bruno said. “It’s rare these days for drivers to switch between surfaces, but I think we’ve created something special and exciting that the teams really want to be a part of. It’s going to be very interesting to watch.”
The asphalt will make a big change as it moves to a new Saturday night slot at 6 p.m. beginning on May 21; the track had previously operated on Fridays. The Modified division will again headline the program in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, along with Late Models, Renegades, and Mini Stocks.
Highlight events will include the return of the American-Canadian Tour Late Models for the People’s United Bank 100 on June 4, the Firecracker Spectacular on July 2, the fifth annual C.J. Richards Memorial 67 Modified event on Aug. 6, and the Vermont 200 Championship Weekend on Sept. 10-11.
The Dirt Track at Devil’s Bowl will also see big changes in its third season as the schedule sees a major expansion to 13 events primarily on Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. The Dirt Track is scheduled to open on Sunday, May 22 and will also compete under NASCAR Whelen All-American Series sanction with the Sportsman’s Modified class as the headline division. Support classes will include the Renegade and Mini Stock divisions and appearances by other divisions including the Sprint Cars of New England tour.
“This schedule is something that we’re really proud of, and I personally can’t wait for the 50th season of racing at Devil’s Bowl,” promoter Mike Bruno said. “There are still many more announcements that we’ll be making during the winter that will only add to the excitement.”
Devil’s Bowl Speedway will honor its champions and top drivers from the 2015 season at the Holiday Inn Rutland-Killington in Rutland, Vt. on Saturday, Jan. 30. For more information, visit www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com.
