Packard Returning to Devil’s Bowl Speedway for People’s United Bank 100
Three-time winner looking for ACT milestone at Rutland County track
WEST HAVEN, VT – Stock car driver Emily Packard returns to Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday night with a mission: Win the People’s United Bank 100. The East Montpelier, VT native will use the annual American-Canadian Tour Late Model event to kick off a big week and hopes that she can celebrate with what would be an historic breakthrough ACT victory.
The People’s United Bank 100 opens a busy stretch for the 18-year-old that includes her graduation from U-32 High School in Montpelier. Packard is also simultaneously completing her freshman year at the Community College of Vermont, where she has made the Dean’s List while working toward a business degree.
Packard is focusing solely on the ACT Late Model Tour schedule in 2015, but racked up three wins as a weekly competitor at the Rutland County track last year. While the People’s United Bank 100 marks the sixth ACT time has visited Devil’s Bowl, it is the first ACT race to be held at night on the fast half-mile; Packard hopes that her experience at the track will give her an advantage over the touring ACT stars.
“I’m really excited to get back to Devil’s Bowl. I’ve been in Rutland a lot for college, but I’ve missed racing there,” Packard said. “A lot of Devil’s Bowl fans have asked me where I’ve been, so it’ll be good to see them. My team goes to every race thinking we have a shot to win, but especially at Devil’s Bowl. We have a lot of laps there and we know what the track conditions are like at night. I hope that gives us an advantage.”
History is on Packard’s side, as she has finishes of second and third in the last two 100-lap Late Model races under the lights at Devil’s Bowl. She will try to become only the second woman to win an American-Canadian Tour event at the People’s United Bank 100, and the first since Tracie Bellerose 14 years ago.
Packard will face fellow ACT stars Wayne Helliwell Jr., Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Brian Hoar, Nick Sweet, Brandon Atkins, Travis Stearns, and Brad Babb, as well as home track drivers Josh Masterson and top rookie Richard Lowrey III. Helliwell and Hoar have combined to win all five previous ACT events at Devil’s Bowl, while Sweet has three 100-lap victories there. Atkins won a 50-lapper on opening night at Devil’s Bowl last month, and Masterson won on May 23 and holds the point lead in the weekly standings.
The People’s United Bank event on Saturday, June 6 will also see action for the Bond Auto Parts Modified, Brileya’s Chrysler-Jeep Renegade, and Portland Glass Mini Stock divisions, along with a kids’ racecar poster drawing contest. General admission is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and free for kids age 12 and under. Green flag racing begins at 6:00 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 hashtag.
Sources: Devil’s Bowl Speedway
(MemorEvents photo)