Kyle Busch Takes the Pole for 20th Annual LENOX Industrial Tools 301
Kyle Busch earns top spot as last Cup qualifier
Kyle Busch picked up his 100th career NASCAR victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last July. This July, he’s put himself into a great position to add another victory to that list as the pole-sitter for Sunday’s 20th annual LENOX Industrial Tools 301 Sprint Cup Series race.
The fastest in practice, Busch was the last driver to take the track on Friday afternoon. Busch zipped the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota around the 1.058-mile in 28.548 seconds (133.417 mph), followed by Kasey Kahne, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer.
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Derek Ramstrom rumbles to PASS Thompson win
Derek Ramstrom inherited the race lead on lap 62 of Thursday night’s Pro All Stars Series (PASS) North California Paints 75 at Thompson (CT.) International Speedway and the home track hero kept DJ Shaw and Travis Benjamin in his mirror to the checkers. Thompson regular Mike O’Sullivan raced home fourth and Cassius Clark survived a wild ride down the front stretch to finish fifth.
Ramstrom put himself in position to win early on, racing in the top five at the fastest track that PASS North visits. At the green it looked like Ben Rowe would finally toss that Gorilla off his back, racing past the all Thompson front row of Larry Gelinas and O’Sullivan. The RMR 4 was flying and the three time Thompson PASS winner was able to hold both Gelinas and Ted Christopher at bay. But on lap 47 the dreaded off song sound of a cylinder heading south suddenly appeared , drop kicking Rowe through the field until his engine finally gave up the ghost on lap 67.
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Preece Scores 5th Season Sunoco Modified Victory While Ramstrom Earns PASS Checkers
Preece Scores 5th Season Sunoco Modified Victory While Ramstrom Earns PASS Checkers
Thompson, CT: Thompson International Speedway hosted a PASS North 75-lap event that featured hometown hero Derek Ramstrom in victory lane. Ramstrom previously won two track championships at Thompson. Ryan Preece held off Keith Rocco for the Sunoco Modified win while Tommy O’Sullivan, John Lowinski-Loh, Scott Sundeen, Troy Talman and Dave Trudeau were all victorious in other NASCAR Whelen All American Series action.
Worcester, Mass.-native and local favorite Derek Ramstrom came from a fifth place starting position to earn the victory in the 75-lap PASS North feature event. Ramstrom inherited the lead following a lap 61-accident that took out Larry Gelinas, who dominated just prior to that.
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Nick Sweet Flies High, Steals Second Governor’s Cup
Badore, Whitcomb Bounce Back for Feature Victories
Barre’s hometown hero Nick Sweet continued a dominating 2012 with a dazzling victory in the Vermont Governor’s Cup 150 presented by the VT Lottery Commission at Thunder Road on Thursday (July 12). Sweet was hounded by defending Champion Dave Pembroke, and perennial front runner Scott Payea picked up third place. Young sensation Cody Blake crossed the line fourth, with 2011 Governor’s Cup winner John Donahue rounding out the top five.
American Canadian Tour front-runner Joey Polewarczyk Jr., snatched the early lead from the second starting position, but it only took 6 laps for Sweet to pull to the front from fourth. Sweet dominated the next 46 circuits, looking well on his way to victory, when he stunned the large hometown crowd and pitted on a lap 53 caution, taking the top five with him and leaving East Montpelier’s Cris Michaud at the point. Michaud spent the next 46 laps in a duel with South Burlington’s Trampas Demers, but it was all for not when the familiar #88 of Sweet returned to reclaim the lead on lap 100 of the 150 lap event, and went on to power through a late race surge from Pembroke to take the Governor’s Cup by just .365 seconds. Top Vermont State Championship Series runners Brent Dragon, Phil Scott, and Ricky Rolfe struggled to 16th, 22nd, and 21st place finishes respectively.
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