WEST HAVEN, VT – Some of Devil’sBowl Speedway’s most accomplished stock car racing champions will climb behindthe wheel again at Friday’s C.J. Richards Memorial event presented by Carrara Masonry& Concrete. All-star drivers fromthe West Haven, VT half-mile will strap into cars from the track’s Daredevilclass for a special showdown as part of the event that features a 67-lap racefor the headline NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Bond Auto Parts Modifieddivision.
Among the entrants in theDaredevil event is Butch Jelley of Andover, VT. Jelley raced at Devil’s Bowl Speedway when Richards opened the track in1967. Jelley’s highlights include sixconsecutive Modified wins in 1969 and the 1975 track championship. He’ll be joined by past Modified and LateModel standouts Tim LaDuc, Jimmy Ryan, Ray Hoard, Lee Nutting, Fred Little,Charlie Brown, Ralph Bruno, and Don Mattison. Together, the group accounts for over 150 feature victories and 10 trackchampionships. The drivers will competein track-owned Daredevil cars – virtually street-legal race cars with only safetymodifications – which offer fans, sponsors, and members of the community theopportunity to race.
“This showdown is somethingfun and exciting that will really bring C.J. Richards’ legacy to theforefront. These drivers are the onesthat built Devil’s Bowl into what it was under C.J.’s watch,” Devil’s Bowl Speedwayowner/promoter Mike Bruno said. Brunoexplained that the event will be run in three parts: A pair of five-car heatraces will each qualify two drivers to the final round. “The cars may not be 600-horsepower Modifieds,”Bruno chuckled, “but I’m sure these guys will drive them like they are.”
The comeback stars are notlimited to just the Daredevils, though; Todd Stone of Middlebury, VT returns tothe Modifieds after finishing third one week ago in his first start at Devil’sBowl Speedway since 2009. In theintermediate Renegade class, former Modified champion Don Miller of Wells, VTwill drive a car owned by top racer Frank Monroe, who was sidelined by surgery lastmonth.
Also on the card alongwith racing for the entry-level Bomber division is a silent auction to benefitthe Rutland Regional Medical Center Marrow Donor Program. Items for bid include autographed memorabiliafrom local racers Beaver Dragon and Ron Proctor and NASCAR Sprint Cup Seriesstars Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Mark Martin, and more. For more information or to place a bid byemail, contact Kerry Ellis of the RRMC Marrow Donor Program at [email protected].
Regular general admissionfor the C.J. Richards Memorial 67 presented by Carrara Masonry & Concrete onFriday, July 20 is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors (62+), and free for children12 and under. Gates open at 5:00pm withracing scheduled to begin at 7:30pm. TheC.J. Richards Memorial Vintage Festival presented by 101.5 “The Fox” forclassic race cars and hot rods will be held on Saturday, July 21 at 12:00 noonand Sunday, July 22 at 11:00am. Admissionfor the two-day show is $20 for exhibitors and competitors, $10 for adults andseniors, and free for kids 12 and under. Call (802) 265-3112 or email [email protected] for more information.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway islocated on Route 22A in West Haven, VT, four miles north of Exit 2 on US Route4. For more information, call (802)265-3112 or click www.devilsbowlspeedwayvt.com. Devil’s Bowl Speedway is on Facebook at facebook.com/devilsbowlspeedwayand Twitter at @DevilsBowlSpeed