Rich Lowrey wants to win the CARQUEST Vermont Governor's Cup 100 on Thursday

The Vermont Governor’s Cup event has had a quirky history of on-again-off-again seasons since its inception in 1961.

The race was bounced between Thunder Road and the former Catamount Stadium in Milton during its early years and featured several different types of race car, but the list of past champions reads like a “who’s who” of short track racing.

“The Governor’s Cup is one of the races I circled on my calendar over the winter, there is a lot of history there,” said Lowrey.  “Robbie Crouch, Bobby Dragon, and Dave Dion have won it a bunch of times, and it would be an honor to have my name on the list with them.  I’ve won the Mid-Season Championship at Thunder Road twice, and that’s special, but I’d really like a big win like the Governor’s Cup.”

Late Model rookie Chip Grenier took the Charter Communications Triple Crown on Thursday

Grenier took the lead from polesitter Brooks Clark on the opening lap of the feature race, then cruised mostly uncontested to his first career win.  The only competition for the rookie came during the race’s six restarts when the field was bunched closely together.

“This win is dedicated to the effort that my whole team puts in on this car,” said Grenier in the winner’s circle.  “My father, Alain, is an Iraq veteran, and when he should have been celebrating on the fourth of July yesterday, he was side-by-side with me working on this race car until 11:00 pm.  It’s a great feeling to win for this team.”

Washington County Senator Phil Scott of Middlesex finished second for his best result of the 2007 season.  Dennis Demers of Shelburne edged Essex Junction driver Dave Whitcomb by inches at the finish for third place.  Kip Stockwell of Braintree recovered from an early crash to finish fifth.  Jamie Fisher, Dave Pembroke, Clark, Dwayne Lanphear, and Cris Michaud rounded out the unofficial top ten in order.