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Brian Hoar claims NH Governor’s Cup 150 at Lee USA Speedway

By Phil Whipple

Staff Writer

LEE, NH — Seven-time and defending points champion Brian Hoar put his years of experience and a great deal of patience to work Sunday, winning the American-Canadian Tour’s (ACT) New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150 at the Lee USA Speedway.

Hoar, of Williston, VT, started 18^th on the 30-car grid, powered his way by Scott Dragon on lap 117 and hung on for top honors. Maine native and 2010 Rookie-of-the-Year Brad Babb (Windham) came from dead last to cross the line in second, yet officials put him back to ninth after discovering an unregistered tire on his car in post-race inspection.

ACT stalwart John Donahue was moved up to second, while short track veteran Fulton Mountain was awarded third. Lee veteran Wayne Helliwell Jr. battled up front the entire race and settled for fourth, while Dragon faded in the closing laps and rounded out the top five.

“The car was way too loose in the heat race, and we knew we had to make some adjustments,” Hoar said. “We certainly went the right way, the car was balanced good all day. Last year, I thought I had a car that could win here but with 30 to go it was used up. I was in a conservation mode from about halfway on today.”

Hoar’s drive for a record eighth championship in 2011 couldn’t have started on a better note. The victory in Round 1 makes it clear the No. 37 team will be tough to beat again in 2011. “This is a really nice way to get the season started,” Hoar continued. “Everybody is always asking me how important it is to get off on the right foot. My goal has always been to win early, build as big a point lead as possible and have any bad luck later. So this is perfect, and we’ll work to keep this momentum going at Thunder Road.”

Donahue did not have the kind of ACT season he wanted in 2010, yet seems to be dialed in as the new season gets rolling. His familiar No. 26 National Guard/Subway Ford entry looked like the fastest thing out there at one point, and he came from deep (25^th) in the pack to contend.

“Our car was pretty good, we just hoped it would stay the same the whole race,” Donahue said. “It did stay consistent for us. We pitted to try and make it better, it worked, and here we are in the top three. I couldn’t be any happier.”

Finishing sixth through 10^th in the New Hampshire Governor’s Cup 150 was Randy Potter, Austin Theriault, Karl Allard, Babb and Mark Lamberton. Potter started outside of Scott Dragon on the front row, ran up front for the first 75 laps before fading in the second half.

Some of the big names who struggled in the ACT season opener include Joey Polewarczyk Jr. of Hudson, New Hampshire. Polewarczyk was involved in an accident with Brent Dragon and Craig Bushey on lap 46 and would finish a disappointing 26^th on the day. Seven-time ACT champion Jean Paul Cyr, of Milton, VT, had a rough day at Lee, as well, completing just over half the race and coming away with a 23^rd-place finish.

Several Maine drivers ventured south to Lee over the weekend with various levels of success. Oxford regular Shawn Martin started third in the Governor’s Cup 150. Martin ran inside the top 10 for most of the event before fading to a disappointing yet respectable 14^th-place finish. Two-time Oxford Late Model champion Dennis Spencer Jr. finished right behind Martin in 15^th after starting deep in the field. Oxford veteran Shane Green failed to qualify Geoff Low’s beautiful new No. 0 machine (built by Mitch and the boys at Crazy Horse), as did OPS regular Ben Ashline. Green will give it another whirl at Thunder Road early next month.

Over 50 cars (52) were on hand at Lee to kick off the 2011 ACT season. Despite a slow rebound in this ever-struggling economy, interest in Late Model racing is growing. Those who struggled at Lee will now regroup and prepare for Round 2, scheduled for Sunday, May 1, at the famed Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, Vermont.