PHOTO: The Downtown Rutland Partnership will host the second annual “Devil’s Bowl Downtown Fan Festival” on Saturday, May 4 in Rutland City, VT. The Devil’s Bowl Speedway season opens with the “Spring Green” on Sunday, May 5 in nearby West Haven, VT.
Racecars and drivers to line Rutland City streets before Spring Green opener
RUTLAND, VT – One of Vermont’s largest cities will rumble with the sound of stock car engines on Saturday, May 4 as the Downtown Rutland Partnership hosts the second annual “Devil’s Bowl Downtown Fan Festival.” One day before Devil’s Bowl Speedway in nearby West Haven, VT opens for its 39th annual “Spring Green” event, as many as 50 sparkling new race machines will line Merchants Row – in the heart of the shopping, dining, and entertainment district of the city – beginning at 9:00am. Admission is free.
Cars and drivers from the Bond Auto Parts Modified, Late Model, Renegade, and Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stock divisions of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series will be on hand, along with Late Model teams competing in the American-Canadian Tour championship. Fans can meet the drivers, collect autographs, and enter to win a Devil’s Bowl Speedway 2013 Season Pass at the Fan Festival and are encouraged to support surrounding businesses including the Farmers Market on nearby West Street.
New features highlighting the work done by each race team’s crew members have been added to this year’s Fan Festival, including Best Appearing Car awards and a Pit Stop Competition. Best Appearing Car awards will be decided by a panel of officials judging overall workmanship; winners will be announced at the Spring Green event at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Sunday, May 5. The Pit Stop Competition, scheduled for 11:00am, will see race teams go head-to-head in a timed two-tire pit stop on Merchants Row. The Fan Festival wraps up with a parade of racecars through the city streets at 12:00 noon.
In cooperation with the Downtown Rutland Partnership (DRP), the Fan Festival will also include a show-and-shine for vintage, classic, custom, and all other types of street vehicles.
“Last year nearly 1,000 fans attended [and] we thought it would be great for those enthusiasts to participate directly with their own cars,” DRP Marketing Coordinator Laura Conti said. “It might be a vintage Mustang, a Model T, an antique truck … or if you have a great new car, you can enter that, too.” For information on the street car show, call (802) 773-9380 or visit www.rutlanddowntown.com.
The 2nd annual Devil’s Bowl Downtown Fan Festival will be held 9:00am to 12:00 noon on Saturday, May 4, followed by a practice session at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. The 39th annual Spring Green begins at 1:30pm on Sunday, May 5. General admission is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors (62+), and free for children 12 and under. Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, VT – a short 20-minute drive from Rutland – 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 at @DevilsBowlSpeed.
