Cody Blake Lands Governor’s Cup with First Career Win
Barre, VT — The spotlight was on NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Clint Bowyer at Thunder Road Thursday (July 11), but when the night ended, it was Barre’s Cody Blake who was hoisting the Vermont Lottery Commission Governor’s Cup in victory lane.
21-year-old Blake in his North Country Federal Credit Union No. 99 spent the final laps with a mirror full of Nick Sweet, who was weaving at his bumper looking for a chance to pounce. “I told him on the radio – stay on the bottom, he can’t get you,” father Greg Blake said. “There wasn’t any emotion from him until the last two laps.”
“He drove a phenomenal race,” Sweet said. “My car was really good and I was all over him. I hope we gave the fans a good show.”
“It’s a dream come true,” Blake said in victory lane where he was presented the trophy by Gov. Peter Shumlin. “It’s just amazing.”
[Photo Gallery] by Crystal Snape
Blake started fourth behind Jean-Paul Cyr, who grabbed the lead from the outside pole and led the first 69 laps through three restarts. The third caution flew for Bowyer, who went around after contact with Blair Bessett. Bowyer had risen to 11th, but pitted for adjustments under the second yellow on lap 54.
The race was red-flagged on lap 79 when Joey M. Laquerre slid down the front stretch on his roof and came to stop in turn one. The East Montpelier teenager was not injured and returned to action 45 laps later.
Bowyer started 16th in the 802 Toyota No. 15 prepared by Richard Green’s ACT team. He pulled into the infield on lap 133 with a tire going down and unofficially finished 23rd. In Late Model qualifying, Bowyer drew the pole in the second heat and scampered off to an easy win making him the first Kansan in Thunder Road history to do so. Matt White and Trampas Demers were also Late Model heat winners.
Rookie Derrick O’Donnell of North Haverhill, NH rallied late to finish 3rd. Chip Grenier, in contention throughout, was 4th, a car-length ahead of Dave Pembroke. Brooks Clark, Demers, Cris Michaud, Joey Laquerre and Jamie Fisher finished 6-10.
The VT Lottery Commission Governor’s Cup 150 was the third of four Vermont State Late Model Championship events. Sweet’s 2nd-place run kept him atop the series point lead. The Vermont State Late Model Championship finale is set for Sunday, September 15 at Devil’s Bowl Speedway.
Randy Gonyaw of South Barre outlasted Eric Badore of Milton to win a 35-lap Tiger Sportsman thriller. Gonyaw and Badore swapped the lead over a dozen times as they dueled just ahead of Mike Martin-3rd, Jason Woodard-4th and Adam Pierson-5th. The win was Gonyaw’s first of the season and the third of his career.
Greg Adams survived a rough and tumble Allen Lumber Street Stock feature with multiple crashes and spins to post his third straight win. It was the first Street Stock three-peat performance in over a decade and Adams’ 8th career win. Bunker Hodgdon was the runner-up. Dean Switser Jr. finished third.
The “Nation’s Site of Excitement” Thunder Road will be back in action next Thursday night with Safelite Auto Glass Night. Post time is 6:30pm.
VT Lottery Commission Governor’s Cup Unofficial Results
VT State Late Model Championship Event #3
Thunder Road – Barre, VT
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Pos. (Start) Driver, Hometown, Laps Completed
1. (4) Cody Blake, Barre, VT, 150 Laps
2. (5) Nick Sweet, Barre, VT, 150 Laps
3. (3) #Derrick O’Donnell, N. Haverhill, NH, 150 Laps
4. (7) Chip Grenier, Graniteville, VT, 150 Laps
5. (13) Dave Pembroke, Middlesex, VT, 150 Laps
6. (14) Brooks Clark, Fayston, VT, 150 Laps
7. (9) Trampas Demers, S. Burlington, VT, 150 Laps
8. (19) Cris Michaud, E. Montpelier, VT, 150 Laps
9. (20) Joey Laquerre, E. Montpelier, VT, 150 Laps
10. (10) Jamie Fisher, Shelburne, VT, 150 Laps
11. (25) Emily Packard, E. Montpelier, VT, 150 Laps
12. (2) Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton, VT, 150 Laps
13. (17) Brett Gervais, Island Pond, VT, 150 Laps
14. (1) Kyle Pembroke, Montpelier, VT, 150 Laps
15. (18) Lance Allen, Barre, VT, 150 Laps
16. (11) Jim Morris, Barre, VT, 150 Laps
17. (27) Mike Bailey, South Barre, VT, 150 Laps
18. (8) Scott Payea, Milton, VT, 150 Laps
19. (24) Hunter Bates, Pittsford, VT, 148 Laps
20. (22) Eric Chase, Milton, VT, 148 Laps
21. (21) Joey Becker, Jeffersonville, VT, 147 Laps
22. (26) #Jason Corliss, Barre, VT, 147 Laps
23. (16) Clint Bowyer, Emporia, Kansas, 132 Laps
24. (15) Matthew White, Northfield, VT, 132 Laps
25. (12) #Joey M. Laquerre, E. Montpelier, VT, 106 Laps
26. (6) Phil Scott, Middlesex, VT, 79 Laps
27. (23) Rick Roberts, E. Barre, VT, 78 Laps
28. (28) Blair Bessett, Worcester, VT, 67 Laps
Lap Leaders: Jean-Paul Cyr, 1-69; Cody Blake, 70-79; Cyr, 80; Blake, 81; Cyr, 82; Blake, 83-88; Cyr, 89-90; Blake, 91; Cyr, 92-95; Blake, 96; Cyr, 97-98; Blake, 99-150.
Time of Race: 1:01:49
Margin of Victory: .363 seconds
Cautions: 5 (laps 9, 54, 68, 79 (red), 123)
Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen Unofficial Results
Pos. Driver (Car #) Hometown
1. Randy Gonyaw (22) S. Barre, VT
2. Eric Badore (04) Milton, VT
3. Mike Martin (01) Craftsbury Common, VT
4. Jason Woodard (68) Waterbury Ctr., VT
5. Adam Pierson (85) Bradford,VT
6. Mike Billado (8) Essex, VT
7. Jason Allen (29) Barre, VT
8. Brendan Moodie (94) Wolcott, VT
9. Mike Ziter (26) Williamstown, VT
10. John Lambert (2) Northfield, VT
11. Josh Demers (10) Montpelier, VT
12. Matthew Potter (23) Marshfield, VT
13. Shawn Fleury (31) Middlesex, VT
14. Chris Roberts (9) Washington, VT
15. Scott Coburn (1) Barre, VT
16. Joe Steffen (00) Grand Isle, VT
17. Christopher Pelkey (64) South Barre, VT
18. #Cameron Ouellette (90) Barre, VT
19. Jeffrey Bousquet (60) Worcester, VT
20. Doug Crowningshield (14) Barre, VT
21. #Chris Judd (51) Springfield, VT
22. Tucker Williams (11) Hyde Park, VT
23. Darrell Morin (71) Essex Jct., VT
24. Clem Despault (3) Waterbury, VT
25. Ty Gagne (17) Fairfax, VT
26. Eric Johnson (20) Randolph Center, VT
Allen Lumber Street Stocks Unofficial Results
Pos. Driver (Car #) Hometown
1. Greg Adams (38) Hardwick, VT
2. Bunker Hodgdon (83) Wolcott, VT
3. Dean Switser, Jr. (16) Lyndonville, VT
4. Jamon Perry (62) Hardwick, VT
5. Donnie Yates (05) N. Montpelier, VT
6. Kevin Dodge (8) Barre, VT
7. Jennifer Getty (25) Cambridge, VT
8. Jaden Perry (02) Hardwick, VT
9. Daniel Brassard (32) E. Randolph, VT
10. Jamie Davis (43) Wolcott, VT
11. Scott Maynard (59) Burlington, VT
12. Gary Mullen (29) Tunbridge, VT
13. #Tyler Austin (5) E. Calais, VT
14. Tommy Smith (50) Williamstown, VT
15. #Tommy Elwood (88) Morrisville, VT
16. #George Butler (9) Randolph, VT
17. Kyle Streeter (37) Waitsfield, VT
18. Alan Maynard (10) Fairfax, VT
19. #Patrick Tibbetts (48) Barre, VT
20. Marvin Johnson (19) Essex Jct., VT
21. Keith Fortier (35) Hinesburg, VT
Sources: Thunder Road Speedbowl PR