by | Apr 30, 2014 | ACT, Thunder Road, Touring Series News, Vermont
Podium finish for Packard at Thunder Road in Merchants Bank 150
Patience; that’s what was stressed to Emily Packard during the 16th Annual Merchants Bank 150 this past Sunday April 27tt and did it ever pay off. In only the second race of the American Canadian Tour season, Packard took her time, picking her way through the field and drove her 9X Northstar Fireworks/Packard Fuels sponsored car to a third place finish.
“The race went absolutely awesome, I couldn’t ask for a better day,” said Packard on her podium finish. “To be able to be racing up front with these guys that I have looked up for so long was amazing. I just tried to stay calm, cool and collected and keep us up front. “ Earlier in the day Packard started second in the first ACT heat and comfortably maintained that position, getting herself into the race so that the team could focus on preparing the car for the race.
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by Jay | Apr 30, 2014 | Devils Bowl, Vermont
101.5 The Fox Presents Spring Green Weekend in Rutland County
Rutland’s Rock Station to present Devil’s Bowl Speedway opener for third straight year
RUTLAND, VT – The spring air will be filled with two awesome sounds when Devil’s Bowl Speedway opens its gates on May 3rd and 4th – racecars and rock music. Rutland’s Rock Station, 101.5 The Fox, will present the weekend festivities of the Spring Green stock car event for the third consecutive year, and welcomes the Rutland County community to get to know the stars of the American-Canadian Tour and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
Spring Green weekend opens Saturday, May 3 with the third annual Downtown Fan Festival on Center Street in the heart of Rutland City. Fans have the opportunity to see racecars up close and meet the drivers at a free car show beginning at 9:00 a.m. The annual Pit Stop Competition cranks the dial up at 11:00 a.m., putting the skills of the mechanics to the test in a timed two-tire changeover. The show goes out with a rumble at 12:00 noon when the engines fire up for a rolling sendoff through the streets of Rutland.
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by Jay | Apr 28, 2014 | ACT, New England, Thunder Road, Touring Series News, Vermont
Wayne Helliwell, Jr. Wheels His Way to Merchants Bank Win
Barre, VT – Wayne Helliwell, Jr. of Dover, NH used a cross over move on Jimmy Hebert with about 15 laps to go to claim his first career Thunder Road win in the 16th annual Merchants Bank 150 on Sunday, April 27. Hebert held on for second while 17 year old Emily Packard came home third.
Hebert led for the majority of the event after taking the lead on lap 26 from his third place starting position. He held off two former Thunder Road Late Model Champions in Nick Sweet and Derrick O’Donnell in a fierce battle, while protecting the low lane. With just under 20 laps to go, Sweet and O’Donnell made hard contact on the backstretch, bringing out the ninth caution of the event. Sweet would be done to the day with front end damage, while O’Donnell returned after changing a flat. (more…)
by | Apr 14, 2014 | Bear Ridge, Vermont
BRADFORD, VT –With the snow is FINALLY melting, we are prepping the track, and beginning to spruce up the facility for the competitors and fans who are getting revved up to see the first green of the 2014 season on Saturday, May 3rd after the annual Bear Ridge Car show at the Bradford Jiffy Mart in Bradford VT. Before we swing open the gates be sure to check out the cars and stars at the 13th annual Upper Valley Car show this year being held at the JC Penney Plaza in front of the old Shaws in West Lebanon, NH. With drivers itching to hit the dirt this show is sure to pack a punch for the fans as those competitors participating in the show will be able to enjoy an exclusive practice.
Opening night for the 99Rock Weekly Racing Series could set the tone for the season for a few lucky competitors as double points will be on the line for all five divisions, making the action doubly exciting.
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by | Mar 22, 2014 | Devils Bowl, Vermont
Veteran is first Late Model driver to seek back-to-back championships
WEST HAVEN, VT – Stock car racer Chris Bergeron isn’t backing off any time soon. In his first season at Devil’s Bowl Speedway last summer, the veteran driver posted four victories and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model division championship. He wants even more success this year, and he’s willing to get it the hard way.
“I’m going for it,” Bergeron said. “If there’s an opening on the outside lane – even if I only have a ten-percent chance of passing the car in front of me – I’m going to try.”
A sizzling summer-long battle with rookie Josh Masterson came down to final lap of the season, and Bergeron won by just four points. The Claremont, NH runner says he won the championship – the fifth of his career – with a mix of hard-charging runs, respect for his competitors, and a touch of perspective.
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by | Mar 19, 2014 | Devils Bowl, Vermont
Open-wheel asphalt-style Modified cars to run limited schedule
WEST HAVEN, VT – Stock car racing fans will have a new group of stars to cheer for at Vermont’s Devil’s Bowl Speedway, as the “SK Light Modified” division makes its way to the racy half-mile. The division will make several appearances during the summer to complement the weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series in 2014.
The division features the same style of low-slung, open-wheel cars that compete on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, but with cost-containing differences in engines and tires. Preliminary talks with competitors have been positive, and a schedule of nine events has been planned. An exhibition event was staged at Devil’s Bowl in August 2013, and racers and fans alike were impressed.
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