By kyohnson 
WEST HAVEN, Vt. – During the winter months in the Northeast, stock car racing enthusiasts typically don’t have much to cheer about. However, Devil’s Bowl Speedway in the snowy landscape of Vermont is breaking this trend. A weekly live talk show dubbed “Let’s Talk Racing!” – which airs every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. on Facebook’s “Live” video platform – has successfully engaged both fans and racers in an energetic and interactive program through the positive utilization of social media.
Track promoter Mike Bruno and media director Justin St. Louis host the hour-long show on Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s official Facebook page. Since its debut on December 15, “Let’s Talk Racing!” has evolved into a platform for discussing news and information about the Rutland County facility, but its focus is not limited. The hosts have a list of topics, yet viewers are actively encouraged to participate in the show by posting questions and comments during the broadcast. Several drivers have been guests, and a few episodes have even been broadcast live from drivers’ race shops and garages. The planned guest for Thursday, March 9, is Lyle DeVore, the promoter of Howard Commander’s renowned Albany-Saratoga and Lebanon Valley Speedways in New York State.
The show is free to watch and take part in. The production is extremely budget-friendly – in fact, no money has been spent to date – and the show is simply streamed via a cell phone camera. Over its first 12 weeks, “Let’s Talk Racing!” has attracted an average weekly audience of nearly 3,000 unique viewers and well over 330,000 impressions on Facebook through shares, likes, and comments.
“I give Mike all the credit – the show was his idea,” St. Louis stated. “I don’t think either of us anticipated it to gain such momentum as quickly as it has. The viewers and the drivers have been a great source of entertainment and we aim to keep the show running in one form or another throughout the racing season this summer.”
Bruno has been pleasantly astonished by the wide reach the show has achieved. “We’ve received feedback from viewers all across the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Australia, England, and Brazil. It’s truly astonishing to think about,” Bruno remarked. “It’s not intended to be a high-end Hollywood production; it’s just something enjoyable and it has genuinely given us something to look forward to during the winter. People tune in to have a great time and to discuss something they are passionate about, regardless of whether they visit Devil’s Bowl or not. That was our sole objective from the outset.”
“Let’s Talk Racing!” airs Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. on Devil’s Bowl Speedway’s official Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway. The track’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season commences on Sunday, May 7 at 1:30 p.m. with the historic “Spring Green” event; weekly racing begins on Memorial Day weekend.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway is situated on Route 22A in West Haven, Vt., four miles north of U.S. Route 4, Exit 2. For more information, visit www.DevilsBowlSpeedwayVT.com or call (802) 265-3112. Devil’s Bowl Speedway can be found on Facebook at Facebook.com/DevilsBowlSpeedway and on Twitter and Instagram at @DevilsBowlSpeed; follow the action using the #DevilsBowl hashtag.