Sugar & Spice presents double features, pancake contest at final Friday night race
WEST HAVEN, VT – Devil’s Bowl Speedway welcomes a NASCAR legend on Friday, August 22, as six-time national Modified champion Jerry Cook makes a special meet-and-greet appearance. The Rome, NY native will take part in an autograph session during intermission at the final NASCAR Whelen All-American Series regular weekly event of the summer, presented by Sugar & Spice Restaurant of Mendon, VT.
Cook’s résumé is among the greatest ever compiled in short track racing. He won NASCAR’s national Modified championship in 1971-72, then reeled off four consecutive titles in 1974-77, all while battling with fellow Rome-based legend Richie Evans. In a 20-year career spanning 1963-82, Cook won 342 NASCAR-sanctioned main events – a full 23% of his 1,474 starts. He stayed active following his retirement from driving, serving as the series director for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour during its inaugural 1985 season; he is currently a NASCAR competition administrator.
Cook has appeared on the nomination ballot for the NASCAR Hall of Fame each year since 2011. He was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998, and was ranked third on NASCAR’s list of All-Time Top 10 Modified drivers in 2003. He has already been inducted into three halls of fame – the International Motorsports Hall of Fame (2009), the New York State Stock Car Association Hall of Fame (1993), and the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame (1989).
Cook’s pursuit of national NASCAR points led him to Devil’s Bowl Speedway for the “Schaefer 300” Modified/Late Model doubleheader on September 16, 1973. He finished fourth in the 150-lap Modified portion of the event behind fellow legends Bugsy Stevens, Evans, and Leo Cleary; future Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year Ron Bouchard was fifth. Cook was a winner at both Catamount Stadium in Milton, VT and current Devil’s Bowl partner track Airborne Park Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY during his career.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway wraps up its regular Friday night season on August 22 with “Double Stack Night” presented by Sugar & Spice Restaurant. All four of the track’s weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions will race double features, and Sugar & Spice will also present the third annual Great North American Pancake Eating Championship. Regular general admission is just $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (age 62+), and free for children age 12 and under. The “Fans First” program will give free admission to residents of Poultney, VT who present valid identification. Gates open at 5:00 p.m., with racing at 7:00 p.m.
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. Devil’s Bowl Speedway is on Facebook at facebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway and on Twitter and Instagram at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.
PHOTO: Jerry Cook won 342 NASCAR-sanctioned races in his famous red #38 Modifieds. He’ll visit Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Friday night for the first time since competing there in 1973. (Photo courtesy vintagemodifieds.com)
TOP PHOTO: Six-time NASCAR national Modified champion Jerry Cook, of Rome, N.Y., will visit Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Friday night for a meet-and-greet autograph session with race fans. (Photo courtesy NASCAR Hall of Fame)