By Phil Whipple
When it came to the biggest race of the summer for hometown boy Nick Sweet, he had them covered when it counted most.
Sweet powered his St. Jay Auto entry past former champion Cries Michaud on lap 108 and pulled away to win the 33rd annual Vermont Governor’s Cup 150 Thursday night at Thunder Road International Speedway.
David Pembroke chased Sweet during the final green-flag run yet settled for second, while Scott Payea charged his way to third. Second generation driver Cody Blake and veteran John Donahue completed the top five.
“I owe this win to all the guys who work on this car,” said a quick-to-praise others Sweet. “They all put in a ton of effort to get this thing ready, and they got it just perfect for tonight. It would handle up high or down low, so working through traffic was a little easier. To win the Cup means a great deal, I’m thrilled for my guys and our great sponsors. I hope this makes their hard work and support worthwhile.”
American-Canadian Tour (ACT) star Joey Polewarczyk Jr. led the first seven circuits before Sweet took control for the first time. As the race rattled off an excellent 46-lap green flag run, Sweet set sail and started lapping cars around lap 40. Polewarczyk elected to hit pit road during a caution at lap 53, and was never a factor from that point on.
When chief starter Mike Wilder waved the yellow rag yet again just five laps later, Sweet hit pit road for right side tires. The move put his car head and shoulders above the field, and he began a methodical march back to the front.
Finishing sixth through 10th in the Vermont Lottery Commission Governor’s Cup 150 was Polewarczyk, Eric Chase, Cris Michaud (led six laps), Chip Grenier and eight-time ACT champion Brian Hoar. Sweet’s margin of victory was a scant .365 seconds over Pembroke, a typical finish on the Barre high-banks.
Fifteen of the 30 starters finished on the lead lap, while 27 were still running at the finish. Despite five cautions to slow the pace, the race was completed in slightly less than 59 minutes.
Thunder Road continues its exciting 2012 season of Thursday night racing with the Times Argus Mid-Season Championships next week. With nearly perfect weather conditions and several big names in the field, the stands were packed atop Quarry Hill.
Official finish:
VT Lottery Commission Governor’s Cup 150
Thunder Road Int’l. Speedway – Barre, VT
Thursday, July 12, 2012
1. Nick Sweet, Barre
2. Dave Pembroke, Middlesex
3. Scott Payea, Milton
4. Cody Blake, Barre
5. John Donahue, Graniteville
6. Joey Polewarczyk Jr., Hudson
7. Eric Chase, Milton
8. Cris Michaud, E. Montpelier
9. Chip Grenier, Graniteville
10. Brian Hoar, Williston
11. Eric Williams, Hyde Park
12. Jay Laquerre, Barre
13. Jamie Fisher, Shelburne
14. Jimmy Hebert, Williamstown
15. Trampas Demers, So. Burlington
16. Brent Dragon, Milton
17. Joey Becker, Jeffersonville
18. Jamie Aube, No. Ferrisburg
19. Brooks Clark, Fayston
20. Jerry Lesage, Winooski
21. Phil Scott, Berlin
22. Ricky Rolfe, Albany Township, ME
23. Mike Bailey, So. Barre
24. Matt White, Northfield
25. Dave Whitcomb, Essex Jct.
26. Brett Wheeler, Waterbury
27. Derek Ming, Island Pond
28. Jim Morris, Barre
29. Derrick O’Donnell, No. Haverhill, NH
30. Lance Allen, Barre