RPM Motorsports: VT Governor’s Cup
Brian Hoar Thunder Road Race Report
Brian Hoar of Williston, Vt., finished 10th in the Vermont Governor’s Cup 150 at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vt., on Thursday, July 12. Hoar started deep in the 30-car field after qualifying for the main event through the B-feature, pitted later than most leaders in the RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge and emerged with the Top-10 finish. It was the first time Hoar had raced on the banked quarter-mile track since a traction compound was added to the outside groove.
WHO: Brian Hoar, Williston, Vt.
TEAM: RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge Charger
CREW CHIEF: Rick Paya, Georgia, Vt.
WHAT: Vermont Governor’s Cup 150
WHERE: Thunder Road International Speedbowl, Barre, Vt. (.25-mile banked oval)
STARTED: 23rd
FINISHED: 10th
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BRIAN, WHAT WAS DIFFERENT FOR YOU THIS TIME AROUND AT THUNDER ROAD?
“One of the problems was that they gouped up the track (with traction compound) and changed the racing there drastically. It’s always been two grooves, and imagine little tiny Thunder Road with three-grooves now. Two cars could run side-by-side forever – I mean, forever. Like 40 laps in row. It was tough racing. You had to have a lot of patience.
“We got boxed in in our consi and you just couldn’t go anywhere. I kept coming in and coming in (after qualifying rounds) and the guys would ask how the car was. I was like, ‘Faster than the guys in front of me.’ But I really couldn’t stretch my legs out. It was pretty neutral, maybe a little tight, and you just didn’t know what was going to happen with that goup.”
DID IT HAVE A ROLE IN HOW THE RACE PLAYED OUT?
“They turned it into a pit stop race. Guys were worried about tire problems – though I didn’t hear about any after. But we all got a schooling the other night – what used to be good pit strategy for the old track was just not as good for the new track. Track position was just so crucial.”
HOW HARD IT IS IT TO REMAIN PATIENT IN A RACE THAT’S NOT FOR ACT LATE MODEL TOUR POINTS?
“I think usually it might be a little bit more difficult to be patient in one of those deals where there’s no points on the line, anyway – but it doesn’t matter if it’s for points or not now. It’s a tough deal to stay patient for that long.
“Ten laps, 15 laps, 20 laps – that’s being patient, and even that feels like an eternity to a driver inside the car. Forty laps? That’s insane. That’s the definition of insanity – you keep doing the same thing over and over and over and expect different results.”