PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The future of Airborne Park Speedway is on solid ground. The historic North Country stock car racing facility will be operated by Mike and Alayne Bruno effective immediately. The West Haven, Vt., couple, who have owned and promoted Devil’s Bowl Speedway in their hometown since November 2011, have entered a multi-year lease from Airborne owners Steve Fuller and Jamie Atkins.
The track will open for its 70th anniversary season in 2024, reverting to its original name – Airborne Park Speedway – which was born with the track in 1954. It hosted the NASCAR Cup Series in 1955, and it has been a weekly home for national champions and Hall of Fame-caliber drivers as both a dirt and asphalt track ever since.
The racy, 4/10-mile, D-shaped dirt track, is situated in New York’s beautiful Adirondack Park region, just minutes from Downtown Plattsburgh and Lake Champlain, and a short commute from Montréal, Lake Placid, and Burlington, Vt. On-site amenities include modern grandstands and food concessions, impressive VIP tower suites, a large midway display area, a family-friendly go-kart track, a campground with full hookups, dozens of large advertising billboards, a spacious inspection garage, offices, and more.
While the facility is impressive in both physical stature and competition history, it has seen a troubling record of inconsistency during its lifespan – especially in the last decade – undergoing countless changes in names, track surfaces, and promotional groups. In fact, the Brunos’ new lease marks the sixth operator change in the last 10 years.
Mike Bruno said that his goal is to provide stability and a focus on long-term progress for Airborne Park Speedway, rather than just short-term survival.
“Airborne is one of the best short track facilities in North America, and it has been frustrating for the racers and fans to not know what’s happening there one year to the next,” Bruno said. “Alayne and I have a long history at the track over the years. We’re fortunate to be in a position right now that we can provide the stability that Airborne needs, and we are thrilled to have made the deal work with Jamie and Steve.”
Mike Bruno won track championships at Airborne Park as a driver in 1997 and 2006, and his late father, John, was a top driver there in the 1980s. After retiring from full time driving in 2011, Mike Bruno and wife Alayne purchased Devil’s Bowl Speedway in their native West Haven, Vt., where they have since taken a facility that was out of business and built it into a prominent and highly successful weekly attraction with important marquee events; the annual Vermont 200, for instance is consistently the number-one event in New England in terms of car count.
The Brunos were previously involved in operating Airborne Park Speedway in 2014 and 2015, working as managing partners during the two-year span. While that agreement ended earlier than anticipated, the parting was amicable and the Brunos left Airborne in a financially viable position.
“We love Airborne and the people who race in Plattsburgh,” Alayne Bruno said. “We are so excited to be back, and to give the racing community some peace of mind for at least the next five years that we’re not going anywhere. As a racing family, it’s a relief that we know the track has a future, as much as it is a personal milestone for us as business owners.”
An informational meeting for race teams has been set for Wednesday November 15 at 7pm at the Comfort Inn & Suites State Rt 3, Plattsburgh, NY. Items such as divisional lineups, rules, the 2024 schedule, membership, and more will be discussed. A website and social media pages are being established; for more information in the meantime, email airborneparkspeed@gmail.com or call (802) 236-9141.