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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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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RYAN NEWMAN: On Racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Describe what it meant to you to accomplish your personal mission by getting the U.S. Army to victory lane at New Hampshire last July?
“We’d tried so hard for two-and-a-half years to get the U.S. Army in victory lane. We’d been close, but we hadn’t been able to do it. It was disappointing because it’s a very personal and honorable thing to represent a million Soldiers, and we wanted to make them proud by getting their racecar into victory lane. When the checkered flag waved and I realized we had finally accomplished the mission of getting the U.S. Army a win, I was so happy. If it weren’t for the Soldiers who protect and serve our country, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. Carrying the American flag in my racecar after that win was very special and something I will never forget. I hope we can make them proud again this weekend.”
You have six poles and three wins at New Hampshire. What makes you so good at New Hampshire?
“That’s actually kind of funny because I used to say New Hampshire was my least favorite racetrack. But it’s far from that now. It’s still not my favorite racetrack, but I really look forward to coming back there each year. New Hampshire has always been a good place for me. I’m not 100 percent sure why. It’s the place of my first win, and when I hadn’t won in a long while, 70-some races, I won again there. Last July, we were able to qualify and finish 1-2 at Stewart-Haas. (more…)
Nick Sweet dominates Governor’s Cup 150 at Thunder Road
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.
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