Story By: JUSTIN ST. LOUIS / DEVIL’S BOWL SPEEDWAY – WEST HAVEN, VT – The buzz is getting louder around Devil’s Bowl Speedway for the new stock car racing season, and lots of attention is being centered on the King of Dirt Racing Series (KOD) coming to the Vermont facility. One of the fastest-growing dirt track racing organizations in the country, KOD begins its third season of competition in 2017 and its three exciting classes will each make their Devil’s Bowl debut during the year.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway opens its 2017 Dirt Track schedule on Sunday, May 28, with the KOD/DIRTcar East 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Sportsman Modifieds presented by Dean’s Electrical Services and Dodson Construction. The “Green Mountain State Clash” event should certainly live up to its billing as local NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Sportsman drivers will defend the home turf against the KOD invaders. The 35-lap race is expected to draw a large field of stout entries from across New England and New York.
Devil’s Bowl champion Bobby Hackel will have his hands full with home-track stars Kenny Tremont Jr., Tim LaDuc, Vince Quenneville Jr., Justin Comes, 2016 Rookie of the Year Justin Severance, and more. KOD Sportsman stars expected include defending champion Connor Cleveland, 2015 titleholder Rocky Warner, David Schilling, Michael Sabia, Cody Bleau, Mark Mortensen, Kevin Chaffee, Brian Pessolano, Scott Duell, and more. The KOD Sportsman tour carries DIRTcar Eastern Region sanctioning, and drivers seeking the prestigious Mr. DIRTcar title may also enter the event.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway fans will witness King of Dirt Series history on June 13 with a special Tuesday night event as the all-new Elmo’s Auto Body King of Dirt Small Block Modified tour will run its first race ever at the “Vermont Modified Mayhem” 40-lapper. In addition to being the kickoff to the KOD Small Block series, the event marks the return of the high-horsepower 358-Modifieds to Devil’s Bowl for the first time since 2014.
Top Small Block racers expected to be at Devil’s Bowl include familiar names Matt DeLorenzo, Brian Gleason, Marc Johnson, Keith Flach, Don Ronca, Frank Hoard III, Brett Haas, Olden Dwyer, Demetrios Drellos, Elmo Reckner, Matt Depew, and more. Several Devil’s Bowl regulars have indicated a possible run in the Small Block event including Kenny Tremont Jr. and Vince Quenneville Jr.
The Devil’s Bowl season wraps up on Sunday, September 17, with the Lazzaro’s Auto Body King of Dirt Pro Stocks. KOD will crown its Pro Stock champion on neutral territory at Devil’s Bowl for the first time ever at the inaugural “Carl Vladyka Memorial” event, which pays tribute to the late three-time Devil’s Bowl champion with a special 29-lap finale in honor of his famous car number.
Top Pro Stock talent expected for the event includes defending KOD champion Robbie Speed, 2015 champion Nick Stone, Rob Yetman, Dean Charbonneau, Daniel Sanchez, Dan Older, Brandon Emigh, Walt Brownell, Chuck Towslee, Jay Corbin, Jason Meltz, Josh Coonradt, and veteran full-fender wheelman Kim Duell.