Grill gets Governor’s Cup

Augie Grill in the winner’s circle with the Governor’s Cup (photo by: Rodney Meyering)

New Smyrna Beach, Fla. — Michigan’s Johnny VanDoorn led a field of 29 Super Late to the green flag Saturday night for the 47^th running of Florida’s Governor’s Cup.  Van Doorn, who earlier set fast time, led Augie Grill into turn 1 and led the first the first eight laps

(photo by: Rodney Meyering)

when our first caution of the night came out.  The restart would prove to be the turning point of the race as Grill made contact with VanDoorn  and led the next 185 laps.  VanDoorn lost a lap pitting to change a flat tire from contact with Grill.  Pinellas Park resident Steven Nasse would challenge Grill, as would Scott Heckert, Auton Theriault, Matt Tift and others.

Johnny VanDoorn (81) runs side by side, neck to neck with Augie Grill on Saturday Night in New Syrmna. Grill went on to win the 47th Governor’s Cup (photo by: Rodney Meyering)

After the halfway break, Grill would continue to lead by as much as half a straightaway. VanDoorn charged his way into the free pass spot by lap 115 and a caution on lap 120 would get him that free pass, putting him back on the lead lap.  Once back on the lead lap, VanDoorn would charge to second place by the ¾ mark of the race, ruffling some feather’s along the way, particularly former Governor’s Cup winner Tim Russell, who would be forced to retire from the race.  The final 50 laps would be run caution free, seeing Grill pull away from VanDoorn, Theriault, Tift, Kenzie Ruston, Hunter Robbins, and the last car on the lead lap, Rich Clouser. 

Augie Grill (photo by: Rodney Meyering)

Unofficial Results: 

1st  112 – Augie Grill 200
2nd  81 – Johnny VanDoorn 200
3rd  29T – Austin Theriault 200
4th  89 – Matt Tifft 200
5th  39 – Kenzie Ruston 200
6th  18 – Hunter Robbins 200
7th  9 – Rich Clouser 200
8th  51 – Stephen Nasse 199
9th  9K – Kevin Henry 199
10th  29 – Spencer Davis 199
11th  72 – Scott Heckert 197
12th  20 – Anthony Sergi 196
13th  00 – CJ Castetter 189
14th  14 – Mario Maresca 188
15th  71 – Jimmy Doyle 152
16th 36 – Timmy Russell 137
17th  22 – Dusty Cornelius 124
18th  08 – Jake Griffin 119
19th  31 – Terry Senneker, Jr. 119
20th  27 – Bobby Good 106
21st  11 – David Rogers 105
22nd  30 – Bobby Knox, Jr. 96
23rd  96 – Ben Kennedy 66
24th  19 – Ray Black, Jr. 60
25th  26 – Travis Cope 53
26th  07 – Jeff Scofield 27
27th  97 – Patrick Staropoli 8
28th  38 – Robert Glover 7
29th  26 – Preston Peltier DQ