BARRE, VT – New Hampshire stock car racer Joey “Pole” Polewarczyk, Jr. will compete in the 25th CARQUEST Vermont Governor’s Cup 100 at Barre’s Thunder Road on Thursday. The 19 year-old Hudson, NH driver holds the one-lap time trial record at the historic ¼-mile oval, and is one of the leading members of the “New Breed” of Late Model racers in New England.
“We’re hoping to win the Governor’s Cup at Thunder Road,” said Polewarczyk. “Dave Dion’s race shop is in Hudson about ten minutes from where I live, and he’s won the Governor’s Cup three times. I think it would be pretty cool to bring the win back to Hudson.”
Polewarczyk broke the Thunder Road Track Record with a lap of 12.935 seconds in qualifying at the Vermont Milk Bowl last fall, and scored his best career finish in the American-Canadian Tour’s “White Mountain 150” at White Mountain Motorsports Park on June 30. Polewarczyk drove from 19th place to finish second, hot on the heels of winner Brent Dragon. Similar in size and shape to Thunder Road, many drivers use the North Woodstock, NH facility as a proving ground for Thunder Road, and vice versa.
“I like both tracks a lot. There are things you can learn at White Mountain and use at Thunder Road, and it works both ways,” explained the second-generation driver. “We had a great run at White Mountain last time out, and this team is ready to win. We’re looking forward to Thunder Road, and we would love to get our first win there.”
Other “New Breed” drivers expected to challenge “Joey Pole” at the CARQUEST Vermont Governor’s Cup 100 on Thursday include feature winners Marcel Gravel of Wolcott and Chip Grenier of Northfield, as well as Shawn Fleury of Middlesex, Mike Bailey of Barre, and Brooks Clark of Fayston. Former “Kings of the Road” Phil Scott of Middlesex, Cris Michaud of Williamstown, and Dave Whitcomb of Essex Junction, will try to fend off the youngsters, as will current point leader Dave Pembroke of Montpelier.
Green flag qualifying action for the 25th CARQUEST Vermont Governor’s Cup 100 begins at an early post time of 6:00pm on Thursday, July 12. Tiger Sportsmen, Allen Lumber Street Stocks, and Power Shift Junkyard Warriors will also be in action, and general admission for the special event is $12 for adults, $5 for children (6-12), and only $25 for a family of four. For more information, call (802) 244-6963 or visit www.thunderroadspeedbowl.com.