Brian Hoar: VT Governor’s Cup
Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl Race Report
BARRE, Vt. – Brian Hoar of Williston, Vt., finished sixth in the Carquest VT Governor’s Cup 100 at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vt., on Sunday, June 26. Hoar, who was driving the No. 6 Merchants Bank Ford for Thunder Road regular Cris Michaud, started deep in the field and used some late-race confusion on the part of some competitors to inch closer to the front at the finish. Hoar got the call to drive after the non-ACT Late Model Tour race was originally rained out on Thursday, June 23, leaving Michaud unable to compete due to a family conflict.
WHO: Brian Hoar, Williston,Vt.
TEAM: No. 6 Merchants Bank Ford
WHAT: Carquest VT Governor’s Cup 100
WHERE: Thunder Road International Speedbowl, Barre, Vt. (.25-mile banked oval)
STARTED: 30th
FINISHED: 6th
LED: 0 times for 0 laps
ACT Late Model Tour
LAST RACE: Saturday, June 4, The Big Jab 150, Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford, Maine (2nd)
NEXT RACE: Saturday, July 9, Twin State 100, Twin State Speedway, Claremont, N.H. (.333-mile oval)
POINTS POSITION: 1st
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BRIAN, IT WAS KIND OF AN INTERESTING DAY FOR YOU.
“It was kind of an adventure. The guys had had some struggles with the car the first few weeks of the season, and then they got the car tore up last week and had some new things in it.
“It was really about me getting used to a new car, obviously – one built around Cris. We had to spend some time getting it adjusted for me, and we missed the whole first practice. The car wasn’t bad, but I just had no confidence in it for the feature. But I gave my best feedback I could and they made a couple of really good adjustments, and the car came alive in the race.
“It probably took me the first 20 laps to get used to it, and the last 75 laps it was on rails. It was unreal.”
HOW DID YOU END UP DRIVING CRIS MICHAUD’S CAR?
“Cris called me last Thursday after the rainout. I was originally planning on going to help out with the (RPM Motorsports) race team – not that they really need my help. I didn’t make a commitment to drive it until I checked with (RPM owner Rick Paya). He didn’t have any problem, so at that point I called Cris back. He had his daughter in a hockey tournament, and he said he might not make it back for the race. He left it up in the air – if I can drive the practices and heat races, then he may or may not make it back for the feature.
“When I got to the track, they told me, ‘No, he’s not going to make it race,’ and I was going to drive it.”
YOU BENEFITED FROM SOME CONFUSION ON LAP 84.
“Obviously, we had a little luck there. I think I was about 10th when the ‘not-a-real-caution’ came out, and I passed a couple of guys. It was pretty clear to everybody that Nick (Sweet) was the class of the field at that point.
“I don’t know if we had a car as good as (race winner John Donahue) or Nick, but I probably could have chased them down. I thought the 55 was holding me up a little but, but you know what they say – getting to a guy and passing a guy are two different things. Who knows? But it was a good day, and I was glad I could help Cris out.”