WEST HAVEN, VT – Devil’s Bowl Speedway has been forced to delay the opening of its Berlin Optical Expressions Dirt Track Series due to severe water damage. The five-race special event series was scheduled to begin on Sunday, June 7 with a four-division program presented by Interstate All Battery Center and Sherwin-Williams. The event has been moved to Sunday, August 30.
The 3/10-mile clay infield track sustained a major washout and flooding during heavy rains on May 30-June 1. The rain has created a natural underground spring that has wreaked havoc with the racing surface in Turn 2 and part of the backstretch, and standing water has flooded most of the infield track. The surface will be repaired, though it will not be ready in time for Sunday’s event.
The asphalt half-mile at Devil’s Bowl Speedway has not been affected by the weather, and the People’s United Bank 100 for the American-Canadian Tour will be run as planned on Saturday, June 6 at 6:00 p.m.
“The Dirt Track at Devil’s Bowl has been learning experience since it was built last September, and we know better than to chance it with the type of clay that we have,” promoter Mike Bruno said. “We could get the track back in shape for Sunday, but the surface would be as soft as the one we had at our event last October, or possibly worse. The racers and fans deserve better and we will make the track right before we race on it.”
The Interstate All Battery Center/Sherwin-Williams event was scheduled to host the Liberty Street Discount Beverage & Deli Sportsman Modifieds, Renegades, and the Portland Glass Mini Stocks. All three divisions will be in action at the August 30 make-up event. The Lucas Oil POWRi Outlaw Midget Series was scheduled to make its Devil’s Bowl debut on Sunday; a make-up date for the series will be announced soon.
The Dirt Track at Devil’s Bowl is now scheduled to open with an Independence Day special on Sunday, July 5 at 6:00 p.m., presented by WhistlePig Straight Rye Whiskey. The Sprint Cars of New England tour and a 50-lap Sportsman Modified race will headline the card, along with Renegades, Mini Stocks, and a huge holiday fireworks display.