Five major races highlight 24-event season
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Devil’s Bowl Speedway has blown out all the stops for its 2021 season schedule. The historic Vermont dirt track will open its 55th season on Saturday, May 1, and will race 24 straight weeks through October 2. Several special events will help to further cement Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s status as the Northeast’s leading facility for crate-engine Sportsman Modifieds, and five key dates promise to be major events in the region.
A previously announced switch to weekly Saturday-night events (with a Sunday rain date) for 2021 has been received with overwhelmingly positive reaction, and Devil’s Bowl promoter Mike Bruno feels that the track can continue to safely build off the momentum of a successful 2020 season – even during the height of the pandemic.
“This is the most ambitious schedule that we’ve ever created through our first 10 years owning and operating Devil’s Bowl Speedway,” Bruno said. “What we’ve put together is really exciting, and we believe that we can have a lot of fun and some huge events while maintaining health and safety guidelines. We’ve heard from drivers and fans all over the Northeast who are looking forward to the Devil’s Bowl season. It feels good to have that support.”
The Saturday run begins on May 1 – the earliest opener in 31 years – and to celebrate, Bruno has posted a big purse of $2,500 to win for the regular-distance, 30-lap feature. The weekly Limited Sportsman, Super Stock, Mini Stock, and 500cc Mini Sprint divisions will also be there to kick their seasons off in style.
Saturday night racing continues through the season, with many special events including a handful of exciting Sunday and weekend shows. The first of five major events arrives on Memorial Day weekend on May 29-30, as the 12th annual “Northeast Crate Nationals” gets a new date and an all-new format. The race returns to a 100-lap distance and will pay a record $5,000 to the winner, doubling the previous highwater mark. Qualifying begins on Saturday for Sportsman Modifieds and Devil’s Bowl’s weekly classes. The Sprint Cars of New England (SCoNE) tour will race on Sunday along with second-round and last-chance qualifying, weekly features, and the Northeast Crate Nationals 100.
A brand-new event is ready for Saturday, July 3, with the “Independence Day Sprint Car Spectacular.” For the first time ever, SCoNE and the New York-based CRSA Sprints officially come together for a “Challenge” race, featuring the 360-cubic-inch engines of SCoNE and the 305 c.i. powerplants of CRSA. Several 305 teams have competed at Devil’s Bowl against SCoNE in recent years, and the little engines have scored two wins; CRSA driver Cory Sparks very nearly made it three in 2020. The race pays $1,200 to win with a total posted purse of $8,000. Also on the program are all five weekly divisions, a 50-lap Enduro, and Vermont’s best fireworks show.
The Big Block and Small Block Modifieds will make their first of two stops in 2021 on Sunday, August 8. Fans and drivers alike have flocked to Devil’s Bowl for a handful of independent Big Block/Small Block events in recent years, and a retooled 75-lap, $7,500-to-win event promises to provide plenty of excitement. Recent Devil’s Bowl winners Mat Williamson, Matt Sheppard, Tim Fuller, Jessey Mueller, and Anthony Perrego are expected to return.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s signature event, the “Vermont 200” weekend is ready for the Labor Day holiday on September 4-5. The biggest crate Sportsman Modified race in North America will pay $10,000 to win plus lap leader bonuses, as everyone will try to dethrone 2020 winner and track champion Demetrios Drellos. An all-time track record 89 cars attempted to qualify last year. Weekly divisions will compete on Saturday night along with the Sportsman Non-Winner’s Shootout, while all Sportsman qualifying and the 200-lap main event will be on Sunday, along with the SCoNE Sprint Cars.
The final event of the five majors in 2021 will be the second annual “Slate Valley 100” for Big Block/Small Block Modifieds, on Sunday, September 26. Canadian star Mat Williamson outdueled Mike Mahaney for the $10,000 score last season in a thrilling late-race battle, defeating a stacked field of 40 entries. Championships will also be decided for the Sportsman Modified, Limited Sportsman, and Mini Stock divisions at the event.
Featured attractions highlight the entire schedule, including “Legends Night” on Saturday, July 24, with a 67-lap Sportsman Modified race paying $2,500 to win. The Mid-Season Championships are on July 10, the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series visits on July 17, there will be six Enduro races, and the season wraps up with the second annual “Foliage Fun Run” Open Competition day on Saturday, October 2.
Competitor registration forms and membership licenses are available, and information for season passes for both general admission grandstand seating and the pit area will be revealed soon.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is located on Route 22A in West Haven, Vt., four miles north of U.S. Route 4, Exit 2, and just 20 minutes from Rutland, Vt. 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, Instagram, and Snapchat at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.
DEVIL’S BOWL SPEEDWAY – 2021 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (subject to change)
(Sat., April 17 – Open Practice)
(Sat., April 24 – Open Practice)
Sat., May 1 – 55th Season Opener – Sportsman 30 Laps – $2,500 To Win!
Sat., May 8 – Mother’s Day Special – Ladies Spectator Races!
Sat., May 15 – Weekly Event + Enduro
(Sun., May 16 – TBA)
Sat., May 22 – Limited Sportsman Special – $500 To Win!
Sat., May 29 – Northeast Crate Nationals – First-Round Qualifying
Sun., May 30 – Northeast Crate Nationals – Sportsman 100, SCoNE Sprint Cars, Weekly Features
Sat., June 5 – Mini Stock Special + Enduro
Sat., June 12 – Sportsman Modified Twin 20s
Sat., June 19 – Father’s Day “Topless” Night
Sat., June 26 – Weekly Event
Sat., July 3 – Independence Day Sprint Car Spectacular (SCoNE vs. CRSA) + Fireworks & Enduro
Sat., July 10 – Mid-Season Championship (Double Points)
Sat., July 17 – Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series
Sat., July 24 – Legends Night – Sportsman 67 Laps – $2,500 To Win!
Sat., July 31 – Super Stock Special + Enduro
Sat., Aug 7 – Limited Sportsman Special – $500 To Win!
Sun., Aug 8 – Big Block/Small Block Modified 75 Laps – $7,500 To Win!
Sat., Aug 14 – 500cc Mini Sprint Special
Sat., Aug 21 – Double Feature Night – All Divisions
Sat., Aug 28 – Sportsman Modified “Win & You’re In!” + Enduro
Sat., Sept 4 – Vermont 200 – Weekly Divisions & Sportsman Non-Winners Shootout
Sun., Sept 5 – Vermont 200 – Sportsman Qualifying & Main Event + SCoNE Sprint Cars
Sat., Sept 11 – Weekly Event – Spectator Races!
Sat., Sept 18 – Championship Night for Super Stocks & 500cc Mini Sprints
(Sat., Sept 25 – No Racing on Saturday)
Sun., Sept 26 – Big Block/Small Block Modified “Slate Valley 100”
Sat., Oct 2 – “Foliage Fun Run” Open Competition + Enduro
Sources: Devil’s Bowl Speedway
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Devil’s Bowl Speedway has blown out all the stops for its 2021 season schedule. The historic Vermont dirt track will open its 55th season on Saturday, May 1, and will race 24 straight weeks through October 2. Several special events will help to further cement Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s status as the Northeast’s leading facility for crate-engine Sportsman Modifieds, and five key dates promise to be major events in the region.