Former track champion ends near two-year winless streak with second Governor’s Cup win
–by T.J. Ingerson (@TJIngerson)
VMM Editor
BARRE — Scott Dragon shined the brightest light on Thursday night at Thunder Road.
The Milton driver took the lead from Trampas Demers after a back-and-forth battle through two restarts and set sail to claim his second VP Fuels Vermont Governor’s Cup win.
The win for Dragon was the fifth of his Thunder Road Late Model career.
“We knew coming in that (the car) was really good,” Dragon said. “It felt super good in the heat race and we didn’t mess with it. We just left it alone.
“The car was a little tight in the heat and we figured with the temperatures cooling down tonight, instead of adjusting the car, we’d let the temperature do it’s thing. It worked out well.”
Under the track’s new lighting system, Dragon pulled away from Demers after he took the lead for keeps on lap 28. From there, he and Jason Corliss pulled away from the field and lapped half the field through a lengthy green flag run until lap 116.
Two ensuing restarts — first on lap 116 and again on lap 138 — saw Corliss put forth a fierce challenge as he took the slight advantage, but Dragon fought back on the inside and quickly reclaimed the lead.
“Corliss is a good race car driver and I was pretty nerved up out there,” Dragon said. “After I beat him on that first one, I was kind of feeling a little better on that second one. I knew what I needed to do. Once I got clear of him, I kind of figured (we had it).
“My spotter, (car owner) Richard Green, he keeps good eye on what’s going on out there. He said ‘you just keep laying down laps like that and nobody is going to catch you.’”
Dragon’s Governor’s Cup win was his first in nearly two years. His last win came during his 2016 championship season in early August during a 75-lap event.
“A win is great and I’m really psyched that we won this one,” Dragon said, “the Governor’s Cup.”
“It’s nice to get a win. We’ve run good here, but the way the handicap system works, and I think it works really well, but when you run well, you start toward the rear. It makes it really hard to get to the front before the end of the race.”
The win for Dragon also helps shed a few points off of his deficit as the division enters the double point counting Times Argus Mid-Season Championships. Dragon sits third in the championship standings, 19 points back of point leaders Cody Blake and Trampas Demers.
“This puts us back in it,” Dragon said. “Not that we were out of it, but we have a shot.”
Corliss, of Barre, finished second after he dogged Dragon for much of the long green flag run and challenged him on the two late race restarts. Hometown favorite Cody Blake finished third while polesitter Demers settled for fourth after he led much of the first part of the event. The sitting Governor of Vermont, Phil Scott, rallied back from an early race spin to finish fifth.
Josh Masterson drove back from an early race incident to finish sixth while 16-year-old Evan Hallstrom ran inside the top-ten for the entire 150-lap distance to finish seventh. Brooks Clark, Christopher Pelkey, and Matt White completed the top-ten finishers.
Thunder Road will host their Mid-Season celebration on Thursday, July 26 with the double point counting Times Argus Mid-Season Championships. Post time is set for 7:00pm.
VtMotorMag.com will have more from the VP Fuels Vermont Governor’s Cup 150 soon.
PHOTOS:
1 – Scott Dragon celebrates his VP Fuels Vermont Governor’s Cup win on Thursday night at Thunder Road. (T.J. Ingerson/VMM photo)
2 – Scott Dragon (16) was challenged numerous times by Jason Corliss (66) throughout the VP Fuels Vermont Governor’s Cup on Thursday night at Thunder Road. Dragon would hold Corliss off to claim the win. (Alan Ward photo)
3 – Scott Dragon (kneeling) and the Richard Green Racing team celebrate their VP Fuels Vermont Governor’s Cup win at Thunder Road. (T.J. Ingerson/VMM photo)
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS — VP Fuels Vermont Governor’s Cup 150
Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models
Thunder Road Speedbowl, Barre, Vt.
Thursday, July 19, 2018
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown
(# – denotes rookie)
1. (3) Scott Dragon, Milton
2. (7) Jason Corliss, Barre
3. (6) Cody Blake, Barre
4. (1) Trampas Demers, South Burlington
5. (8) Phil Scott, Middlesex
6. (14) Josh Masterson, Bristol
7. (5) Evan Hallstrom, Northfield
8. (10) Brooks Clark, Fayston
9. (2) Christopher Pelkey, South Barre
10. (16) Matt White, Northfield
11. (11) Boomer Morris, Barre
12. (9) Stephen Donahue, Graniteville
13. (15) Mike Bailey, South Barre
14. (13) Marcel Gravel, Wolcott
15.(18) # Brendan Moodie, Wolcott
16. (17) Eric Chase, Milton
17. (4) Kyle Pembroke, Montpelier
18. (20) Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, Que.
19. (19) Tyler Cahoon, St. Johnsbury
20. (12) Darrell Morin, Richmond
