WEST HAVEN, Vt. – Brett “The Jet” Hearn is coming back to Devil’s Bowl Speedway.
The dirt track racing legend has confirmed that he will attempt to defend his victory in the Interstate All Battery Center Vermont 200 on Sunday, Sept. 1.
The Kinnelon, N.J., superstar just notched the 918th win of his career and will try to raise that total as he returns to Devil’s Bowl for the biggest race in the country for Crate Sportsman Modified cars.
Hearn pocketed $10,000 plus bonuses in last year’s 200-lap race and will try for the same this weekend. Hearn has momentum on his side at Devil’s Bowl this year, too, as he scored a trifecta during the Battle at the Bowl big block/small block modified challenge event.
He finished first, second and third in his three feature races on Aug. 11, telling the crowd, “I love this place!” in victory lane and reporting that he’ll be ready for Sunday’s big event with the car that he used to win the Battle at the Bowl small-block feature.
Should a regular weekly sportsman competitor from Devil’s Bowl or any other track win the race, promoter Mike Bruno has promised an extra $2,000 bonus to bring the winner’s minimum purse to $12,000.
Adding in more than $5,000 in lap leader bonuses, the race is the richest and longest sportsman event anywhere in North America.
The competition at Devil’s Bowl will be very tough when Hearn arrives on Sunday, and he’ll have his work cut out for him.
Hearn’s longtime rival, Kenny Tremont Jr., leads the weekly Pepsi Sportsman Modified title chase at Devil’s Bowl and has six victories in 2019, including a pair of 100-lap scores.
Young gun Jack Speshock has been hot as well, with wins in each of the last two weeks.
Among the Vermonters expected put up a fight are Joey Scarborough, Frank Hoard III, Adam Pierson, Jimmy Ryan, and Justin Comes, and dozens of other Devil’s Bowl regulars from New Hampshire and New York are also expected to defend their home turf.
All indications point to a field approaching last year’s 56 race day entries, with interest also shown from drivers in Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.