Fireworks, SCoNE Sprint Cars, Sportsman 50 highlight holiday program
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Devil’s Bowl Speedway has announced plans for expanded spectator participation on Thursday, July 2, for its annual “Firecracker Spectacular” Independence Day celebration event. While working within the State of Vermont’s COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, the Rutland County dirt track has been able to increase its spectator capacity for one of its most important annual races, offering three locations for fans to watch the holiday racing and fireworks program, which begins at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday night.
All tickets will be sold in advance of the event through Ticket Tailor, a third-party, online ticket seller. Ticket options include three grandstand sections, an infield drive-in parking area, and drive-in parking in the outer parking lot. The lap-by-lap action from the track’s public address system will be broadcasted within the Devil’s Bowl facility via radio transmitter at 87.7 FM, to enable fans to listen in their vehicles while in the drive-in areas, or with a headset in the grandstand seats.
One of the area’s most anticipated fireworks displays highlights the full, six-division racing program that features the traveling Sprint Cars of New England (SCoNE) tour and a 50-lap, $1,500-to-win race for the track’s weekly Pepsi Sportsman Modified division. The O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman, Super Stock, Mini Stock, and Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint divisions will also be in action.
Grandstand seating has been increased to a maximum of 450 people on Thursday. Three grandstand sections will be limited to 150 people each – currently the state’s largest allowable group size. Each section has been isolated from other areas of the facility to prevent mixing of groups, and face masks will be required. Each grandstand section has its own restrooms, wash station, hand sanitizer dispensaries, and food and beverage concession service.
Infield drive-in parking will put fans right in the thick of the action, as vehicles will be parked in the center of the racetrack. Vehicles will be parked a minimum of six feet apart to ensure social distancing, behind the existing inner concrete retaining wall and new fencing that has been installed. Temporary restrooms and hand washing stations will be available. Food concessions will not be available in the infield, so infield drive-in spectators are encouraged to bring food or grills for a tailgate experience. Social distancing will be enforced, and masks are highly recommended in the infield.
Outer parking lot drive-in parking is designed to give an option for prime fireworks viewing for non-racing fans, as Devil’s Bowl Speedway will be hosting one of only a handful of fireworks displays available for public viewing in the region. Carloads are $50 each and include the FM radio broadcast of the racing action as well as a holiday music selection during the fireworks portion of the program. Temporary restrooms will be available, and outside food and drink is allowed.
Tickets for all options are available for advance sale online until 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, and outer parking lot drive-in parking will open for new arrivals beginning at 8:30 p.m. Grandstand seating is $21.60 per person, infield drive-in parking is $26.75 per person, and outer parking lot drive-in carloads are $50 each. Due to the limited seating restrictions, no discounted senior or child tickets will be offered. No pets are allowed. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and racing begins at 7:00 p.m.
• TICKET LINK: https://buytickets.at/devilsbowlspeedway
Per state regulations, spectators must remain within their chosen viewing sections to prevent mixing of groups. Pit pass holders will not be permitted to enter the general admission grandstand seating sections.
The Pepsi Sportsman Modified division’s 50-lap “Firecracker” event will be the first extra-distance event of the season. A stellar field has come to Devil’s Bowl for the first three events of the year, which were won by Adam Pierson, Bobby Hackel, and Justin Comes. Top contenders so far have included Demetrios Drellos, Joey Scarborough, Tanner Siemons, Frank Hoard III, Tim LaDuc, Robert Bublak Jr., Jack Speshock, and 10-time champion Kenny Tremont Jr., among many others.
The SCoNE Sprint Car tour kicks off its 2020 season at Devil’s Bowl on Thursday night, which also serves as the opening round of the tour’s annual “Triple Crown” holiday weekend. An increased field is expected including multi-time champions Will Hull and Chris Donnelly, top New York driver Matt Tanner, and double-duty racers Adam Pierson and Lacey Hanson.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, Vt., four miles north of U.S. Route 4, Exit 2, and just 20 minutes from Rutland, Vt. For more information, visit www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com or call (802) 265-3112. Devil’s Bowl Speedway is on Facebook at facebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway, and on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.