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Floyd Billington (69K) and Caleb Lamson (68) are among the many Sprint Cars of New England racers expected to challenge for the season-opening win at Devil's Bowl Speedway on Saturday. (Alan Ward Photo)
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Sprint Cars Of New England Ready For 20th Season Opener

May 8, 2023

WEST HAVEN, Vt. — The Sprint Cars of New England tour is ready to lift the lid on its landmark 20th season at Devil’s Bowl Speedway this Saturday.

A strong field of drivers is expected to chase a $1,000 payday at the half-mile oval. 

The SCoNE tour’s 10-race season begins with qualifying heats and a 25-lap feature event at the series’ biggest and fastest track. Located on the western border of New England, Devil’s Bowl Speedway has become a melting pot for sprint cars and routinely draws invaders from New York State and beyond.

Two-time SCoNE champion Will Hull owns three Devil’s Bowl wins including last July’s event. The Plainfield, Vt., speedster has a remarkable record of consistency there, finishing sixth or better in all 15 of his starts at the track.

Stephentown, N.Y.’s Matt Tanner leads all drivers in SCoNE victories at Devil’s Bowl since its current half-mile layout opened in 2018. The Empire Super Sprints regular won twice at the track in 2022 and has four wins overall.

Floyd Billington, of South Glens Falls, N.Y., and two-time SCoNE tour champion Clay Dow of Barnstead, N.H., each have seven top-five finishes with SCoNE at Devil’s Bowl. Billington has raced there since the early 1990s and was a SCoNE winner in 2019. His son, Travis, scored two runner-up finishes on the SCoNE tour last year and is a past winner in Limited Sportsman competition at Devil’s Bowl. Dow was the 2021 Devil’s Bowl Sprint Car track champion.

Canadian star Jordan Poirier has announced that he plans to make his first SCoNE appearance on Saturday night. Poirier has won races on five different tours in the U.S. and Canada. Home track favorite Lacey Hanson won a championship at Devil’s Bowl’s former infield short track, and has won on the half-mile in a variety of divisions including a SCoNE race in 2019.

SCoNE regulars ready to defend their home tour include 2009 champion Tunk Berry and his 15-year-old nephew, Kadyn Berry, the 2022 SCoNE Rookie of the Year.

New Hampshire veterans Jake Williams, Jim Lowrey, Troy Comeau, and Doug McPhail will each be on the hunt for a win, along with Vermont youngster Caleb Lamson. Incoming rookies in 2023 include former asphalt racer Ron Davis Jr., from Meredith, N.H., and former Devil’s Bowl 500cc Mini Sprint winner Lane Saville.Â