Downtown Rutland to host Devil’s Bowl Speedway Car Show
Community celebration kicks off Vermont track’s new era
RUTLAND CITY, VT — The cars and stars of Devil’s Bowl Speedway are coming to the heart of one of Vermont’s biggest cities. On Saturday, May 5, stock cars and drivers from four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions will line the streets of Downtown Rutland to usher in a new era of racing at the nearby track. The inaugural Downtown Rutland car show will be in support of the Spring Green 112, the track’s season-opening event, on Sunday, May 6.
From 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon on Saturday, May 5, as many as 50 race cars will line Merchants Row for a “meet and greet” car show between Washington Street and Center Street. Race fans will have a chance to get up close and personal with not just the fire-breathing race machines from Devil’s Bowl Speedway, but also with the local men and women who dare to drive them each week at the fast asphalt half-mile oval. Show-goers are also encouraged to support the businesses and restaurants along Merchants Row and throughout Downtown Rutland during the car show.
Michael Coppinger, Executive Director of the Downtown Rutland Partnership, helped make the event become a reality.
“Downtown Rutland is honored and excited to play host to the first Devil’s Bowl Speedway welcome party ever in Rutland City. Stock car racing is one of the most popular sports in the country and because of that we feel this event will draw many spectators into the downtown from all over our region,” Coppinger said, hinting at possible future opportunities with track owners Mike and Alayne Bruno. “We wish the new owners of Devil’s Bowl Speedway the best of luck and look forward to working with them in the future.”
Cars and drivers from Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s Bond Auto Parts Modified, J&S Steel Late Model, Renegade, and Bomber divisions will be on hand at the Downtown Rutland show, along with select American-Canadian Tour Late Model teams. An open practice session will follow at the race track.
On Sunday, May 6, Devil’s Bowl Speedway opens its 46th racing season with the Spring Green 112. Opening ceremonies begin at 1:30 p.m., with qualifying set for 2:00 p.m. General admission is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors (62+), and free for children 12 and under; discount season passes are available.
Rutland is the third largest city in Vermont and is easily accessed by U.S. Routes 4 and 7, by rail on Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express (New York City), and by air on Cape Air (Boston). Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, VT, six miles north of Exit 2 on U.S. Route 4, and just 20 miles from Downtown Rutland. For more information, call (802) 265-3112 or click www.devilsbowlspeedwayvt.com.
Sources: Devil’s Bowl Speedway
PHOTO: Race cars and race fans from Devil’s Bowl Speedway will line busy Merchants Row in Downtown Rutland on Saturday morning, May 5. The car show is the first of its kind in the city.