Busy “Shootout Saturday” Highlights Vermont 200 Weekend at Devil’s Bowl Speedway
First-Round Qualifying, Non-Winner Shootouts, North East Mini Stock Tour debut on tap
WEST HAVEN, VT – Stock car racing fans will get far more than their money’s worth at the Mekkelsen RV Vermont 200 Championship Weekend at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on September 13-14, with two jam-packed days of action ahead. While feature races and championship celebrations highlight the Sunday portion of the event, the annual “Shootout Saturday” program has also become a can’t-miss.
The action begins at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 13 with qualifying heats for the Bond Auto Parts Modified, Renegade, and Central Vermont Motorcycles Mini Stock divisions. Non-Winner Shootouts are on tap for all four weekly Devil’s Bowl divisions, giving competitors who have yet to find victory lane a chance to shine. The Modified, Late Model, Renegade, and Mini Stock classes will each have a 10-lap Shootout race for drivers who have competed at the track prior to the Vermont 200 Weekend without having won a feature.
The Texas Roadhouse North East Mini Stock Tour will invade the Devil’s Bowl half-mile for the first time on Saturday with qualifying heats and a 25-lap main event, bringing a variety of cars and drivers from all parts of the region. The NEMST has a diverse schedule that includes asphalt and dirt tracks, as well as both the “Magic Mile” oval and the 1.6-mile road course at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Toby Wells of Dublin, NH leads the standings over former champion Emerson Cayer, followed by Justin Larsen, Nicholas Anderson, and Joe Baxter; drivers from all six New England states rank inside the top 10 in standings including seventh-place Matt Sonnhalter of Thetford, VT.
The “Shootout Saturday” program will wrap up with optional practice sessions for the Modified and Late Model divisions, followed at 6:30 p.m. by the annual pig roast barbeque party, a massive bonfire, and the inaugural Mekkelsen RV “Cornhole” Tournament.
Sunday’s events begin at 1:30 p.m. and include qualifying and a 100-lap finale for the Vermont State Late Model Championship Series and twin 50-lap features for the Northern Modified Challenge Series. NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track champions will also be crowned in all four divisions. Two-day general admission is just $25 for adults and free for children age 12 and under. The Saturday-only ticket is $10, while the Sunday-only ticket is $20. Two-day pit area admission is $40 and includes admission to the Saturday night party. Grandstand gates open at 11:00 a.m. on both days with racing at 1:30 p.m.