RPW Exclusive: Bobby Hackel Is Enjoying Racing…Anywhere He Can

Column By: DYLAN FRIEBEL / RPW – MALTA, NY – Bobby Hackel used to call Lebanon Valley home, nowadays he calls Albany-Saratoga home, however he used Saturday as a test session for his Killer Crate house car that he will run up at Devils-Bowl.

The 2016 Track Champion plans his return to the 1/2 mi. Vermont Clay Oval, while it was not the night Hackel and Crew wanted, he is ready to once again compete at Devils Bowl.

“I really like what Mike (Bruno), his family, Justin (St. Louis) and all of them are doing up there.” He said “They have some big purses, sponsors, and everything. When we went last year for the Vermont 200 the track was good, so we want to go back and try to redo what we did in 2016.”

While Hackel & Crew have made trips up to The Bowl since his championships, it was with the Brandon Wright Owned No. 24 305 Sprint Car.

“I do miss going up there” He said. “It’s nice on a Sunday, it’s a very scenic drive. It’s always been a nice facility, and when I have ran it with the sprint car it makes me miss it running it with the modified. When we showed up at the 200 I had no seat time on the big track and we lead a lot of laps and finished good so I hope we can still compete up here.”

With the 4th generation driver, it looks as if this year up at Devils Bowl will renew a friendly rivalry between Hackel and Kenny Tremont as well as the stout field who competes there on a weekly basis. Only time will tell if he can replicate his 2016 magic.