WEST HAVEN — Devil’s Bowl Speedway will open its 55th season this Saturday at 7 p.m., with Mike’s Fuels of Bridport sponsoring the dirt-track racing.
The West Haven track will offer racing in five divisions, including the headline Sportsman Modified class, which will offer a $2,500 winner’s purse on opening night.
That feature event has been extended from 30 laps to 32 to honor the car number of Brandon driver Matt Bilodeau, who died in early April.
Reigning division champion Demetrios Drellos of Queensbury, N.Y., will return for opening night, and he will be one of many drivers honored during a special awards ceremony. 
Drellos won five Sportsman races at Devil’s Bowl last year en route to his first title. “The Greek Streak” will have dozens of challengers trying to dethrone him, including former Devil’s Bowl champion Adam Pierson and his father, Gene, who will run at the venue for the first time in his long career.
Veterans who have registered for the full season include local drivers Tim LaDuc, Justin Comes, Joey Scarborough, Jimmy Ryan, and Vince Quenneville.
Talented young area racers joining in include Justin Stone, Josh Masterson and Anthony Warren. 
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Limited Sportsman division numbers into the 30s. The championship battle is wide open, including, according to track officials, leading contenders Anthony Ryan, Austin Comes, Evan Roberts, Scott FitzGerald and Larry Gallipo.
The Super Stock division is expected to continue its recent growth, with plenty of challengers for defending champion Andrew FitzGerald of West Rutland.
The Mini Stock division — with new sponsor Summit Up Construction of Ripton — could reach up to 30 entries at the opener. Chris Conroy of Newport, N.H., returns to defend his title.
The Friend Construction 500cc Mini Sprint division, like the Super Stocks, is poised for growth with participation numbers into the mid-teens. With champion Cody O’Brien moving up to a higher division, Austin Chaves of Chester aims for his second title. 
Grandstand admission is $12 for ages 13 and up and $5 for children 12 and under. Infield drive-in parking, weather permitting, will be $20 for adults. Pit area admission is $25 for members and $35 for non-members. State-mandated restrictions remain in place; face masks are required, though vaccination cards aren’t.
A cap will be placed on grandstand ticket sales per state guidelines, and fans are encouraged to buy tickets in advance online at buytickets.at/devilsbowlspeedway; an online processing fee will apply at the time of purchase. Infield tickets and pit passes are not available online and will only be sold at the speedway on race day.
For more information, visit DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com or call (802) 265-3112.