PHOTO: Todd Stone can wrap up the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national rookie championship with a pair of solid finishes at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Vermont 200 Weekend. (MemorEvents photo)
Modified Twin 50s at Devil’s Bowl Speedway to decide national rookie champion
WEST HAVEN, VT – Devil’s Bowl Speedway may be celebrating one of its drivers as a national NASCAR champion at the Vermont 200 Championship Weekend on Sunday, September 15. On the strength of nine main event victories in 2013, Todd Stone of Middlebury, VT leads the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (NWAAS) “Division I” national rookie standings entering the final event of the year.
Stone has been a dominant force in the Bond Auto Parts Modified division at Devil’s Bowl and is in a tight race for the national Rookie of the Year presented by Jostens award with Late Model driver Bobby McCarty of Summerfield, NC. Unofficially, Stone leads McCarty by just nine points (519-510), but has two opportunities to gain points in twin 50-lap Modified races at the Vermont 200 Weekend and clinch the title.
The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series sanctions 55 tracks under a common point structure including Devil’s Bowl Speedway; each track designates its Division I class, with the open-wheel Modifieds holding the title at Devil’s Bowl. Under the NWAAS point structure, race winners receive two points for every car in the event up to 20 cars. Second place receives two fewer points and so on through the field. Race winners also receive an additional five points. For example, if 20 cars are in the field, the winner receives 45 points, second place 38, and third 36. If there are 15 cars, the winner receives 35 points, second 28, and third 26.
A NASCAR Division I driver’s best 18 results through the September 15 closing date count toward their state and national point totals and the champions are decided on overall point total. First-time NASCAR Division I license holders are considered rookies in the NWAAS program. Late Model driver Lee Pulliam of Semora, NC unofficially clinched the overall national championship with a victory at Motor Mile (VA) Speedway last Saturday; McCarty finished 11th in the race.
The Vermont 200 Championship Weekend is Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s final event of the year and crowns season champions in all four divisions. Shootout races and first-round qualifying begin at 1:30pm on Saturday, Sept. 14, followed by a barbeque, music, and a bonfire at 6:00pm. Championship main events are on Sunday, Sept. 15, with action beginning at 1:30pm. One-day adult general admission is $10 on Saturday and $20 on Sunday, with a discount two-day ticket available for $25; admission is free for kids 12 and under both days. Free camping is open Friday, Sept. 13 at 12:00 noon through Monday, Sept. 16.
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.