Devil’s Bowl owner Bruno accepts management position at Airborne
PLATTSBURGH, NY – Two of the North Country’s prominent asphalt stock car racing tracks – Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, VT and Airborne Park Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY – will be closely aligned in 2014. Devil’s Bowl owner Mike Bruno and Airborne owner Jamie Atkins have formed a partnership aimed at strengthening both tracks for the immediate and distant future.
Bruno has accepted a management position at the 4/10-mile, D-shaped Airborne Park Speedway. Effective immediately, Bruno will assume the roles of Race Operations Manager and Competition Director at Airborne, working closely with Atkins, general manager Sherm Hamel, the veteran Airborne staff, and race teams in all divisions at the speedway. Bruno plans to activate similar strategies at Airborne that have helped to significantly improve Devil’s Bowl Speedway since he took control of the track in October 2011.
Both tracks are sanctioned by the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, and both tracks feature similar racing classes with many of the same competitors in their weekly programs. Bruno brings intimate knowledge of the NASCAR program and has many long-lasting relationships at the track from his years as a competitor; he won championships there in 1997 and 2006.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the Airborne community, and at the same time I’m excited about the benefits for both Airborne and Devil’s Bowl as we work together,” Bruno said. “My family’s history at the track goes back more than 30 years, so it’s a home away from home for me. I can’t wait to help bring Airborne into the next phase of its future with Jamie Atkins and the staff.”
“I’m looking forward to working with Mike Bruno,” Atkins said. “Our challenge is to embrace the changing short track industry while building upon our strengths to keep the future of our sport exciting and affordable for fans and competitors alike. Having both tracks pointed in the same direction will help us sustain Airborne as a family entertainment destination in the North Country.”
Airborne Park Speedway’s 61st season opens on Saturday, May 3, followed on Sunday, May 4 by Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s 48th season opener, the historic American-Canadian Tour Spring Green. Devil’s Bowl runs weekly Friday night events during the summer, with Airborne running weekly on Saturday nights.
Airborne Park Speedway is located on Broderick Road in South Plattsburgh, NY, one mile from Exit 36 on Interstate 87. For more information, call (518) 647-4444 or visit www.airborneparkspeedway.com.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, VT, four miles north of Exit 2 on U.S. Route 4. For more information, call (802) 265-3112 or visit www.devilsbowlspeedwayvt.com.