Sprint Cars Return to Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday Following Successful Test
Hanson, Austin make first laps around new 1/3-mile dirt track
WEST HAVEN, VT – The winged warriors of the Bond Auto Parts Sprint Cars of New England (SCoNE) tour will make their official debut at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday, October 18, joining the AutoSaver Ford/Springfield Buick-GMC “Vermont Freedom & Unity” event. A successful test was completed by two teams on Wednesday, drawing rave reviews.
Lacey Hanson, a veteran of season seasons with the SCoNE series, and 16-year-old rookie Tyler Austin each turned laps in order to help gather information for their teams and competitors alike. For Hanson, whose team is based just 10 minutes from the track in Orwell, VT, it was a productive day.
“It was great. I was glad we got to come out and practice and see what the track is like,” she said. “I think it’s going to be a great show.”
Hanson and Austin agreed that the new 1/3-mile, paperclip-shaped dirt track at Devil’s Bowl is a unique venue on the SCoNE schedule, and drives differently than the quarter-mile tracks at Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford, VT and Legion Speedway in Rumney, NH.
“It’s got tight corners like Legion, but the longer, faster straightaways aren’t something that we’re really used to,” Hanson said. She felt that the track will demand a well-handling car and a strong engine, along with a finely tuned skillset from every driver. “This track might level the playing field,” she said.
Austin, of West Fairlee, VT was first on the track and was quickly up to speed. He kissed the wall in Turn 4 in the first warm-up session, but rebounded to run many solid laps.
“It was fun, the track was smooth and fast,” he said. “I’m looking forward to Saturday.”
The AutoSaver Ford/Springfield Buick-GMC “Vermont Freedom & Unity” event is packed with action and includes a 100-lap Sportsman Modified feature that will crown champions for the three-race “Battle at the Bowl” dirt track series and the season-long Northern Modified Challenge Series. Also on tap are Renegade and Mini Stock championship finales and a special event for Bear Ridge Speedway’s Sportsman Coupe division. Vermont Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott will serve as the Grand Marshal.
General admission for the Saturday, October 18 event is $20 for adults and free for kids 12 and under. Grandstands open at 12:00 noon with hot laps at 1:00 p.m., Sportsman Modified time trials at 1:30 p.m., and green flag racing at 2:00 p.m.
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 and Instagram at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl and #BattleAtTheBowl hashtags.
Sources: Justin St. Louis/Devil’s Bowl Speedway PR