WEST HAVEN, Vt. — For the first time in its 33-year history, the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series will visit the “Green Mountain State.”
The series makes its debut at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Saturday, April 25, for the King of the Clay. Drivers will contend for a $5,000 prize in a 60-lap feature.
Joining the DIRTcar 358 Modified Series are the track’s Sportsman, Limited Sportsman, Novice Sportsman, Mini Sprint and Mini Stock divisions.
No Stranger to the Bowl
While there hasn’t been a DIRTcar 358 Modified Series event in Devil’s Bowl since the series’ inception, a few drivers in Saturday’s field have plenty of experience at the Vermont oval.
That starts with Mike Mahaney, who finished third in last week’s series opener at Lebanon Valley Speedway.
The Elizabethtown, N.Y., driver earned a victory at Devil’s Bowl last season and scored a checkered flag there in 2024. “Smooth Shoe” is searching for his third series win.
Felix Roy, who beat Mahaney for the 2025 358 Modified track title at Devil’s Bowl on a tiebreaker, also earned a win there last season. The Napierville, Quebec driver also finished third in the track’s Slate Valley 67 last year. A win for Roy would be his first series victory.
Along with Roy and Mahaney, Peyton Talbot was the third driver to score a 358 Modified feature win at the track last season. Talbot, from South New Berlin, N.Y., won in his only start at the half-mile oval. He’s coming off a 26th at Lebanon Valley.
The Comeback Tour
After finishing 29th at Lebanon Valley, defending series champion Mat Williamson will have an uphill climb to earn a third series title in 2026.
The St. Catharines, Ontario, driver sits 48 points behind points leader Andy Bachetti after one Feature and will need a strong finish on Saturday to vault himself back into championship contention.
“Money Mat” is a three-time winner at the Vermont track in his career, including last year’s Slate Valley 67 win. He’s aiming for his 21st series victory.
Veteran Momentum
With strong runs last weekend at Lebanon Valley, two drivers gained momentum entering this weekend’s King of the Clay at Devil’s Bowl.
Chris Raabe, the 2016 Series champion, finished second after leading the first 18 laps of the Feature at a track he’d never been to prior to the race. The Alexandria, Ontario, driver has made two starts at Devil’s Bowl in his career, finishing 14th and 26th in the last two Slate Valley 67’s.
Raabe is searching for his sixth series win.
Lance Willix, meanwhile, finished sixth at Lebanon Valley after starting 19th. The Theresa, N,Y., driver has made four starts at the track, earning three top 10s. Willix will be a three-time series winner if he reaches victory lane this weekend.
