PHOTO: Jessey Mueller (#19) will lead the Bond Auto Parts Modified division to the People’s United Bank Memorial Day Special at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Friday night. (MemorEvents, Leif Tillotson photos)
Summer schedule begins at People’s United Bank Memorial Day Special event
WEST HAVEN, VT – The summer stock car racing season starts with a bang – literally – at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Friday night, as People’s United Bank presents a full card of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing and a spectacular Memorial Day fireworks show, Friday, May 25 at 7:30pm. The People’s United Bank Memorial Day Special is the fourth event of 2012 at the West Haven, VT track, but will begin a new tradition as it kicks off the Friday-night summer schedule.
A full field of Bond Auto Parts Modifieds is expected for a special Twin 20-lap main event. The ground-pounding open-wheel cars will start the event lined up according to handicapped positions, with high-point drivers near the back of the field. After the initial 20-lap sprint, the winner will be given one point, the runner-up two points, etc., and the finish order will be inverted to start the final 20 laps. A second set of points will be awarded using the same format, and the driver with the lowest overall score will be declared the People’s United Bank Memorial Day Special winner.
The format has been used on occasion at tracks around the country for many years, and was used in the Renegade division at Devil’s Bowl Speedway at the Central Vermont Motorcycles Trophy Dash last Sunday. The exciting format places an emphasis on passing as many cars as possible, and left the top-three Renegade drivers just one point apart after two rounds. A tie-breaker – a driver’s better final-segment finish – was needed to determine the overall winner.
A great mix of young racers and championship-winning veterans has made the competition exciting at Devil’s Bowl. Half of the top six drivers in championship points – Hunter Bates, Alex Bell, and overall leader and previous feature winner Jessey Mueller – are all age 20 or younger. The balance of the top half-dozen includes Vince Quenneville, Jr., Donald Scarborough, and defending track champion Ron Proctor – Quenneville is the youngest of the trio at 46 years old.
Joining the Modifieds at Friday night’s People’s United Bank Memorial Day Special will be the J&S Steel Late Model, Renegade, and Bomber divisions, along with a giant holiday fireworks display. Gates open at 6:00pm, with green flag racing set for 7:30pm. General admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (62+), and free for children 12 and under.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, VT, six miles north of Exit 2 on US Route 4. For more information, call (802) 265-3112 or click www.devilsbowlspeedwayvt.com.