Barre’s own Nick Sweet won the 35th annual Vermont Governor’s Cup 150 presented by VP Small Engine Fuel in dominant fashion at Thunder Road on Thursday, July 10. Sweet led every step of the way and lapped over half the field in the process. NASCAR star Clint Bowyer spun just after halfway in the 150-lap event and went down a lap late in the race. He finished 14th, the first car down one lap.
Two-time “King of the Road” Sweet earned the pole position with a +3 the unique Plus/Minus handicap system. Derrick O’Donnell started third on the 31-car starting field and kept Sweet in sight throughout the event but couldn’t quite get to Sweet as they worked heavy lapped traffic for the majority of the event. It was Sweet’s first win of 2014 and his 12th all-time at Thunder Road.
Jason Corliss came from the 9th starting spot to take over the final podium spot late in the event. Former Thunder Road Champion Jean-Paul Cyr and Trampas Demers completed the top five. Irish John Donahue charged from 30th in the field to claim sixth, followed by Brooks Clark, Phil Scott, Cody Blake and Dave Pembroke in the top ten.
The event was completed in 47 minutes and 31 seconds with just four cautions. There were 25 of the 31 cars that started the event on the track for the checkered flag, with 13 completing all 150 laps.
Sweet earns the $1,000 Bond Auto ACT Invitational bonus and qualifies for the Bond ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 20.
Eric Johnson of Randolph earned his second Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen win of the season. He got by Dylan Payea, who settled for second, while Jeff Bousquet completed the podium. Mike Martin and Doug Crowningshield rounded out the top five.
Jason Kenison of Groveton, N.H. came from 16th in the Allen Lumber Street Stock field to take the win in his first appearance at Thunder Road in 2014. He got around Tommy Smith on the final restart. Smith was followed by defending champion Bunker Hodgdon in third. Donny Yates and Garry Bashaw completed the top five.
Kevin LaForest of Barre took home his third straight Rough Rider win.
This Thursday, July 17 is the Times Argus Mid-Season Championships featuring double points for the Late Models, Bond Auto Tiger Sportsmen and Allen Lumber Street Stocks. Also during intermission will be the annual Driver Autograph session. Post time will be 6:30pm.
