PHOTO: Chris Bergeron leads the Devil’s Bowl Speedway Late Model division as Vermont State Late Model Championship Series invaders come in for Friday’s People’s United Bank 100. (MemorEvents photo)
Vt. State Championship Series at Devil’s Bowl Friday; rain date Sunday
WEST HAVEN, VT – The second battle of Vermont’s four-round stock car racing civil war will be waged on Friday, June 28 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. The fast half-mile Rutland County track will host the People’s United Bank 100 at 7:00pm, with more than 30 race teams expected to clash in a high-horsepower turf war. In case of inclement weather, the rain date is Sunday, June 30 at 2:00pm.
The first 100-lap round of the fight was held at Thunder Road International Speedbowl on Memorial Day, with rookie driver Derrick O’Donnell winning for the home crowd. O’Donnell and the rest of the Thunder Road invaders won’t have it easy at the People’s United Bank 100, though: One year ago, Devil’s Bowl champion Craig Bushey used his knowledge of the track to fend off the outsiders and win the race.
Bushey returns to Devil’s Bowl on Friday to represent the home team, and he’ll be joined by top drivers Chris Bergeron, Kevin Elliott, Hunter Bates, Robert Bryant, Jr., Dan Petronis, outstanding rookies Josh Masterson and Brandon Atkins, and many more. The event carries double the pressure for the local squad, as it will also award championship points for Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Bergeron has a 13-point lead over Elliott and Chris Curtis, who are tied for second.
O’Donnell leads the Vermont State Late Model Championship Series by seven points over two-time Thunder Road champion Nick Sweet, with Trampas Demers third. Glen Luce of Maine sits fourth overall, with Chip Grenier fifth. Grenier and Brent Dragon are expected to be among the strongest of the invaders; the two finished inches apart in the Vermont State Championship finale at Devil’s Bowl on Vermont 200 Weekend last September with Dragon taking the win.
The Bond Auto Parts Modified and Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stock divisions will also be in action at the People’s United Bank 100 on Friday, June 28 at 7:00pm. General admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, and free for children 12 and under. If rain is a factor, the event will be made up on Sunday, June 30 at 2:00pm.
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, visit www.devilsbowlspeedwayvt.com or call (802) 265-3112. Devil’s Bowl Speedway is on Facebook at facebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway and on Twitter at @DevilsBowlSpeed.