Choquette Wins Governors Cup at New Smyrna Speedway
by Jane Smith
Fans turned out despite the chill, Jimmy Cope signs autograph, State Senator Bill Posey with Dave Westerman, Dick Anderson
Samsula, Fla. - It was a typical weekend for the annual Governor's Cup. Cold at night but perfect during the day. The event began on Friday night, November 16, when thirty Super Lates came to New Smyrna Speedway to practice for the 200 lap event.
As the temperature dropped, the track got colder and colder which did cause one car to hit the wall in practice after putting on new tires and being to cold when it came up to speed.
Chris Staggs brought his brand new car for the Governor's Cup but after hitting the wall in turns 3 and 4 found it had too much left side damage to be fixed overnight. Staggs pulled out to go home and was back early Saturday morning with his old car.. Thinking he had problems with his battery, Staggs chose not to qualify but after more inspection, it was found that he had a problem with the motor forcing him to withdraw from the race.
Dustin Skinner, who was definitely fast, hit the wall during qualifying and was seen up on the upper deck working away trying to fix the 5 Super Late. But there was just too much damage for a quick repair and he was forced to also withdraw from the race leaving a field of 32 cars for the annual event.
With no inversion for a 200 lap event, it was fast qualifier Tim Russell on the pole with Travis Cope on outside pole. Second row was third fastest qualifier B.J. McLeod with Sam Watts on the outside followed by fifth fastest qualifier Jeff Choquette.
After an on-track autograph session and opening ceremonies, it was time for the command for "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines" and the 42nd Annual Governor's Cup was green.
Travis Cope quickly jumped to the point over Russell, Watts, McLeod, and Jeff Scofield. McLeod passed Watts taking third as Scofield challenges Watts for fourth, takes it with Choquette passing Watts for fifth. Action is hot until lap 6 when the yellow comes out for Martin Pierce, visiting New Smyrna Speedway from Huntsville, Alabama, Dwayne Dempsey, Kurt Jett and B.J. McLeod all make quick visits to pit road during the yellow for crew attention.
The race goes back green on lap 11 as Cope leads the way over Russell, Choquette, Wayne Anderson, and Sam Watts. Suddenly Scofield slows on lap 12 with obvious mechanical problems and goes in the back entrance to the pits for crew attention. Not how he wanted his race to go nor bring out the yellow for his limping car. Both Scofield and McLeod ended their nights with mechanical problems.
Once again the green is thrown as Cope leads the way over Russell, Choquette, Anderson, Watts, Patrick Conrad, Justin Larson, Ricky Carmichael, Joe Winchell and David Rogers in the top ten. But it is another short green as John Coffman and Blake Lehr get together in turn 1 bringing out the yellow. Once again it is another short green as Travis Towell and Dusty Cornelius bring out the yellow on lap 34 as they spin in turn 4.
The race once again goes green as Cope leads the way but it is another short run as the yellow is thrown for Richard Douglas and Dusty Cornelius on lap 44. Cope leads the way on the green followed by Russell, Choquette, Anderson and Conrad. On lap 49 the TM Ranch 11 of David Rogers is seen on pit road ending his night with mechanical problems. The cold night air has taken it's toll on the cars.
Choquette begins putting the heat on Russell for second but Russell shuts the door. The caution comes out on lap 72 for Jerry Artuso when he spins in turn 2. Artuso, who was a regular last year in the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series, is making his first and only start this year in the Sunbelt Series after racing up North most of the year. During this caution, a number of cars pit taking on fuel and tires.
As the green comes back out, it is Russell, Conrad, Larson, Watts, Winchell, Carmichael, Fain Skinner, Dwayne Dempsey and Robert Yoho in the top ten. Conrad begins his hunt for the lead as he looks high and low on Russell. Russell shuts the door and continues on the point. Jimmy Cope puts pressure on Yoho for tenth as they go side-by-side with Cope taking over tenth.
Lap 93 sees the 73 of Watts bring out the caution as he spins on the front stretch. At this time it is noted that Artuso has a possible miss in the motor retiring our Canadian friend from the race. As the race goes back green, leader Russell finds a very hard charging Conrad right on his tail once again.
Each time Conrad looks, Russell shuts the door but it is not over yet for Conrad's hunt. Newly married Jay Middleton, who is running sixth, finds his hands full with Choquette who is giving him some great side-by-side action. Middleton slides up as Choquette takes over sixth and Middleton settles into ninth.
The yellow comes out for Robert Yoho who is in the wall between turns 1 and 2. Yoho has problems with the right front suspension and finds his night done also after a very nice run. With the caution, a number of cars go on pit road for their pit stops for fuel and tires.
When the race goes back green, we have a new leader Patrick Conrad followed by Choquette, Cope, Anderson, Middleton, Watts, Dempsey, Carmichael, Larson and Russell. Watts challenges Middleton for fifth and takes it as Middleton goes to sixth. Racing is hot and heavy as the caution comes out on lap 135 for debris on the track.
As the race goes green once again, it is Choquette as the new leader followed by Cope, Anderson, Watts, and Russell. On lap 156 the yellow is once again shown as Brock Burns spins his 40 right at the entrance to pit road. Sixteen cars are left out of the 32 car field.
USE THE CONTROLS ABOVE TO LISTEN TO THE WINNERS CIRCLE INTERVIEW WITH JEFF CHOQUETTE AND DICK ANDERSON..Conducted by Dave Westerman
Choquette continues to lead the pack in the 92 of Dick Anderson over Cope, Russell, Anderson, and Watts. By lap 165 it is Choquette, Cope, Russell, Watts, Dempsey, Larson, Carmichael, Freed, Winchell, Conrad, Finney, Burns, Cornelius, Middleton and Coffman. Fifteen laps to go as the yellow comes out on lap 187 for Dusty Cornelius, the 2006 Super Late Model Champion at Orlando SpeedWorld. Cornelius has hit the turn 2 wall hard but is fine and done for the night.
On the restart, Sam Watts slows as if out of fuel and the caution comes out once again to push the 73 into the pits. Not how Watts wanted to end his good run for the night. Choquette holds the point on the restart and with no more yellows, sails to the checkered for his second win in the Governor's Cup followed by Travis Cope, Tim Russell, Wayne Anderson and Dwayne Dempsey.
Choquette and Dick Anderson celebrate in Victory Circle for their win as the fans are introduced to the 2007 Sunoco Sunbelt Super Late Model Champion Tim Russell of Longwood and Rookie-of-the-Year Corey Freed of Orlando as the fans see the end of the 2007 Sunoco Sunbelt Super Late Model season. What a day and what a night for all.
FASCAR owner Robert Hart with event winner Jeff Choquette
OFFICIAL RESULTS NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY NOVEMBER 17, 2007 42ND ANNUAL GOVERNOR'S CUP 200
1. #92 Jeff Choquette, Loxatachee 2. #26 Travis Cope, Bronson 3. # 36 Tim Russell, Longwood 4. #84 Wayne Anderson, Wildwood 5. #59 Dwayne Dempsey, St. Petesburg 6. #88 Justin Larson, Safety Harbor 7. #4x Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee 8. #2 Patrick Conrad, Clermont 9. #64 Joe Winchell, Dade City 10. #12 Corey Freed, Orlando 11. #80 Brian Finney, Merritt Island 12. #40 Brock Burns, Winter Haven 13. #74 Jay Middleton, Gainesville 14. #73 Sam Watts, Winter Springs 15. #22 Dusty Cornelius, Cocoa 16. #4 Blake Lehr, Orlando 17. #1 Fain Skinner, Live Oak 18. #58 John Coffman, Live Oak 19. # 61 Jimmy Cope, Pinellas Park 20. #00 Robert Yoho, Pinellas Park 21. #9 Kurt Jett, Orange Park 22. #5x Jerry Artuso, Sault Ste Marie 23. #39 Ryan Sieg, Tucker, GA 24. #14 Travis Towell, Sanford 25. #30 Ricky Moxley, West Palm Beach 26. #75 Martin Pierce, Huntsville, AL 27. #7 Vince Keeler, Sebastian 28. #11 David Rogers, Orlando 29. #60 Richard Douglas, Christmas 30. #07 Jeff Scofield, Plant City 31. #78 BJ McLeod, Watchula 32. 56 Chris Staggs, Clermont DNS 33. 5 Dustin Skinner, Port Orange DNS
With no inversion for a 200 lap event, it was fast qualifier Tim Russell on the pole with Travis Cope on outside pole. Second row was third fastest qualifier B.J. McLeod with Sam Watts on the outside followed by fifth fastest qualifier Jeff Choquette.
The race goes back green on lap 11 as Cope leads the way over Russell, Choquette, Wayne Anderson, and Sam Watts. Suddenly Scofield slows on lap 12 with obvious mechanical problems and goes in the back entrance to the pits for crew attention. Not how he wanted his race to go nor bring out the yellow for his limping car. Both Scofield and McLeod ended their nights with mechanical problems.
The race once again goes green as Cope leads the way but it is another short run as the yellow is thrown for Richard Douglas and Dusty Cornelius on lap 44. Cope leads the way on the green followed by Russell, Choquette, Anderson and Conrad. On lap 49 the TM Ranch 11 of David Rogers is seen on pit road ending his night with mechanical problems. The cold night air has taken it's toll on the cars.
Lap 93 sees the 73 of Watts bring out the caution as he spins on the front stretch. At this time it is noted that Artuso has a possible miss in the motor retiring our Canadian friend from the race. As the race goes back green, leader Russell finds a very hard charging Conrad right on his tail once again. 
When the race goes back green, we have a new leader Patrick Conrad followed by Choquette, Cope, Anderson, Middleton, Watts, Dempsey, Carmichael, Larson and Russell. Watts challenges Middleton for fifth and takes it as Middleton goes to sixth. Racing is hot and heavy as the caution comes out on lap 135 for debris on the track.
