Top Competition Ready to Take on Preece at Governor’s Cup This Thursday
Locals and Invaders Awaiting Chance to Race Against NASCAR Star
Barre, VT — The 42nd Essex Equipment Vermont Governor’s Cup hits the high banks of Barre’s Thunder Road this Thursday, July 15 at 6:30pm. NASCAR Cup Series star Ryan Preece is taking on both the local Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Model stars and several high-profile invaders that are relishing the chance to compete against one of the country’s brightest motorsports talents.
Preece, who has wins on both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series, is the latest high-caliber NASCAR name to come to Thunder Road. He joins a list that includes NASCAR Cup champions Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart plus Clint Bowyer, Christopher Bell, Ken Schrader, Kenny Wallace, and David Ragan over the past 20 years.
However, the appearance by Preece has a slightly more personal feel. As a native of Berlin, CT and a championship-winning Modified racer, his name was known and respected by many in the region before he ever turned a lap with one of NASCAR’s top three series. That makes Thursday a little more special as drivers get to compete against a New England “native son” who also happens to be a nationally known star.
“It’ll be a good opportunity to run against him,” East Bridgewater, MA’s Ryan Kuhn said. “He’s one of the few who’s really earned his way into NASCAR from hard work. A lot of people look up to that, and we try to get as many opportunities to race against people like that as we can.”
Kuhn, a former American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Rookie of the Year and last year’s Vermont Milk Bowl polesitter, is one of the regional racers taking advantage of that opportunity. As a current Kulwicki Driver Development Program (KDDP) finalist, Kuhn knows a good run against a stout field including a NASCAR standout could open doors for his racing career. As such, the 20-year-old has been putting the work in to elevate his team for the Governor’s Cup and for the rest of the Northeast season.
“I’m feeling good (about Thursday),” Kuhn said. “We’re playing with some stuff, and I think our program is getting a lot better. We did some testing, and we’ve gotten it to the point where we can tweak on the car be really good, and hopefully not have to worry about making too many adjustments — just go in there right out of the box and be fast.”
Preece will also have to contend against a weekly Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Model field that rates as one of the most competitive in the country. In six point-counting features, 16 different drivers have at least one top-five finish. Only two racers — point leader Jason Corliss of Barre and number-three-point man Trampas Demers of Shelburne — have finished in the top-10 of every feature, which speaks to the field’s caliber. Those racers are just as excited to race against Preece, knowing they only get so many chances to be on the same track as a “big-time” racer.
The Vermont Governor’s Cup also comes during a crucial stretch for the track championship battle. With 150 laps this Thursday and the double-point Midseason Championships the following Thursday, a lot can change in just eight calendar days.
Although Corliss has a seemingly comfortable 38-point lead over Pelkey, that lead is anything but safe. Including qualifying, a Late Model driver can earn up to 245 total points over the next two events. That means Pelkey, Demers, Stephen Donahue, Tyler Cahoon, and the rest of the top-10 are still legitimate championship contenders.
A win on Thursday could well be the start of something even bigger. In the process, the Governor’s Cup winner will join a prestigious list of past champions that includes Dave Dion, Joey Kourafas, Robbie Crouch, Joey Polewarczyk Jr., and Nick Sweet. At least five former Governor’s Cup champions — Corliss, Demers, Scott Dragon, Brooks Clark, and Cody Blake — are expected to try and earn another crown this year.
The Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers and RK Miles Street Stocks are offering some thrills of their own on the undercard. The Flying Tigers continue to be the most competitive support division in North America. The top 11 drivers are separated by 43 points with Middlesex’s Logan Powers at the top of the heap. Seven features have seen seven different winners and 15 different podium finishers, giving nearly everyone reason to believe this could be their year.
The Street Stocks are currently a two-man dance between 2014 champion Tommy “Thunder” Smith of Williamstown and sophomore Kaiden “Tropical Storm” Fisher of Shelburne. The two could not be farther apart in terms of age, size, and experience — but once they strap into their Mustangs, none of that has mattered. Still, fans shouldn’t count out racers such as Kyler Davis, Luke Peters, and Jamie Davis who have the speed and skill to make a run.
The Essex Equipment Vermont Governor’s Cup featuring NASCAR’s Ryan Preece is this Thursday, July 15 at Barre’s Thunder Road. The Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models go 150 laps in the 42nd edition of the historic event. They’re joined by the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers and RK Miles Street Stocks. Qualifying begins at 6:30pm.
Admission to the Vermont Governor’s Cup is $20 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6-12, and $40 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 kids). Advance tickets are available at www.happsnow.com/event/Thunder-Road-Speedbowl. All Thunder Road events are also live-streamed on FloRacing for those with a monthly or yearly subscription.
For more information, contact the Thunder Road offices at (802) 244-6963, media@thunderroadvt.com, or visit www.thunderroadvt.com. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter at @ThunderRoadVT. For more information about FloRacing, visit www.FloRacing.com.
Sources: Thunder Road Speedbowl PR
(IMG_9091.JPG): Regional invaders such as East Bridgewater, MA’s Ryan Kuhn (#72MA) are coming to Thunder Road this Thursday, July 15 to race against NASCAR’s Ryan Preece in the Essex Equipment Vermont Governor’s Cup. (Alan Ward photo)
(tr06242134.JPG): The 150-lap Vermont Governor’s Cup could have big implications for the 2021 “King of the Road” fight, giving local racers another reason to be on their game. (Alan Ward photo)