Sweet Eyes History in Vermont Governor’s Cup 150
Barre, VT – The VP Fuels Vermont Governor’s Cup 150 for Thunder Road’s American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Models takes the green this Thursday, July 9. Numerous former Thunder Road Champions and winners are expected to challenge for the victory in the special long-distance event, but Barre’s Nick Sweet will try to do one better and further cement his place in Governor’s Cup history.
Sweet has won three of the last five Vermont Governor’s Cups, including the most recent event in 2014. A fourth win on Thursday would tie Sweet with six-time ACT Pro Stock Tour Champion Robbie Crouch atop the all-time winner’s list.
“Robbie’s obviously a legend in Northeast racing,” Sweet said. “To be on a plateau with him would be a dream come true – something you’d never thought you would do.”
Sweet finished second and third in the recent Independence Day weekend doubleheader features at Thunder Road. He now sits second in the point standings, just 12 back of fellow two-time “King of the Road” Derrick O’Donnell. The back-to-back efforts, which included a charge from 19th to 2nd on July 2, has Sweet believing his team is rounding back into championship form.
“We’re definitely chipping away, and the car is definitely getting faster and faster,” Sweet said. “I’ve just got to make good choices. I think as of late I’ve been making pretty good choices. Now we’ve just got to put a show on for the fans and try to get a win.”
A full field of accomplished drivers are ready to spoil Sweet’s run at history. Former Governor’s Cup winners John Donahue and Cody Blake have both visited Victory Lane this season and are trying to add their names to the championship picture. N. Haverhill, NH’s O’Donnell is looking for his first Governor’s Cup win to go with the two Memorial Day Classic triumphs on his resumé.
Scott Dragon will try to join his father Bobby Dragon and uncle Harmon “Beaver” Dragon on the list of Governor’s Cup winners while regaining his early-season momentum. Drivers such as Emily Packard, Tyler Cahoon, and Chip Grenier will also challenge the weekly Thunder Road competitors for supremacy.
The Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen and Allen Lumber Street Stocks are also on the card, and both divisions have seen tight point battles all season. Wolcott’s Brendan Moodie took over the Tiger Sportsman point lead with his third victory of the season on Sunday, but has just a two-point edge over Craftsbury Common’s Mike Martin. Barre’s Doug Crowningshield sits an additional two points behind in third.
Defending Tiger Sportsman Champion Jason Woodard is fourth in the standings, 19 points behind Moodie, with Chris Pelkey another three points back. Stephen Donahue continues to lead the Rookie of the Year standings, but his margin over Derek Barker has shrunk to five points.
The Street Stocks have proven to be a deep division, with just 37 points separating the top eight drivers. Waitsfield’s Kyle Streeter sits at the top with an eight-point gap back to Tyler Austin. Fellow youngsters Jaden Perry and Marcel J. Gravel are third and fourth, with a group of veterans including Jamie Davis, Alan Maynard, Gary Mullen, and Garry Bashaw just behind.
The 36th VP Fuels Vermont Governor’s Cup at Barre’s Thunder Road is on Thursday, July 9 at a special 6:00pm post time. Pits open at 2:30pm and the front gates at 4:30pm. Admission is $20 for adults and free for kids age 12 and under.
For more information contact the Thunder Road offices at 802.244.6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.
Sources:Michael Stridsberg/Thunder Road PR