Vermont State Late Model Championship Series Returns
Four-Race Schedule Set for Thunder Road and Devil’s Bowl
After its resurgence in 2012 following a 25-year hiatus, the Vermont State Late Model Championship Series will be back in 2013 for a four-race schedule split evenly between Barre, VT’s Thunder Road and West Haven, VT’s Devil’s Bowl Speedway.
The first event will be held at Thunder Road during the 51st Annual Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic on Sunday, May 26. Last year the event saw eventual King of the Road Nick Sweet take the victory in dominating fashion, picking up his first of two wins in the series. After that, the VSLCS will turn to the fast Devil’s Bowl half-mile on Friday, June 7 for the second jewel of the Vermont State Late Model Championship Series crown.
For the third race, the series will return to Thunder Road for the Vermont Lottery Governor’s Cup on Thursday, July 11, and the series finale will be held at Devil’s Bowl where the 2013 Vermont State Late Model Champion will be honored during their Vermont 200 weekend of September 14/15. Last year’s championship came down to a paint-trading last lap of the finale, leaving Champion Dave Pembroke and runner-up Brent Dragon just a single point apart.
“We were so close last year, it was heartbreaking to come up one-point shy the way we did,” said Dragon. “It was great to win that final race at Devil’s Bowl, though. I love both of these tracks, so we’ll go out and try to win these races and see if we can’t gain that extra point this time around,” he finished.
King of the Road Nick Sweet may also be looking for redemption.
“We came in tied with Dave (Pembroke) for the point lead in that final race at Devil’s Bowl, and we really felt like we had a good shot,” said Sweet, who won both races at Thunder Road in the series in 2012. “We just had a bad day with the car down there, it’s a tricky place, but we’re getting better. I’m excited to get started and get down there again,” he finished.
The Vermont State Late Model Championship Series kicks off at Thunder Road on Sunday, May 26 for the 51st Annual Mekkelsen RV Memorial Day Classic.
2013 Vermont State Late Model Championship Series Schedule
# Date Event Track
1. Sunday, May 26 51st Annual Memorial Day Classic Thunder Road
2. Friday, June 7 VSLCS Event #2 Devil’s Bowl
3. Thursday, July 11 VT Governor’s Cup Thunder Road
4. Sat./Sun. Sept. 14/15 Vermont 200 Weekend Devil’s Bowl
Sources: ACT PR