Alayne and Mike Bruno of Devil’s Bowl Speedway in W. Haven, VT have partnered with the Airborne Speedway in Plattsburg, NY in an effort to strengthen both venues.(Credit: Louis Verriccho photo)

By Lou Modestino

Airborne Park Speedway has taken another step toward the future, as Mike Bruno has joined the track’s business ownership group. Bruno served as the Competition Director at Airborne in 2014 and will expand on that role moving forward; he has partnered with Jamie Atkins and Steve Fuller to form the ownership group.

Effective immediately, Bruno will take over day-to-day business operations as the track’s General Manager, while Atkins will step back from the daily operations and take on a support role. Bruno co-owns and promotes Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Vermont with his wife, Alayne, and says that the two tracks will continue building on a partnership that began last season.

“I obviously have a deep interest in the success of Devil’s Bowl, but I also want to see Airborne thrive. We made big strides this year and I’m excited for the future,” Bruno said. “The two tracks share a lot of the same competitors and fans, and both are part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, so it just makes sense to take this next step. Airborne has always been one of my home tracks and I’m just as committed to its growth as I am to Devil’s Bowl’s.”

Nearly the entire core staff at Airborne remains intact including administrator Peg Bombard, technical inspector Bob Miller, and many other key contributors, though Sherm Hamel – the interim general manager in 2014 – has transitioned out of the company.

“We are all committed to growing Airborne now and for the future,” Jamie Atkins said. “Our team of officials and employees really jelled this summer, and we know that Mike Bruno and some of the Devil’s Bowl staff were an important part of turning the entire business around. We’re moving in a positive direction and we’re very enthusiastic about continuing that trend toward a bright future.”