The 51st Annual Florida Governor’s Cup takes place this weekend at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Our resident “Stat Boy” Elgin Traylor takes a look at the race “by the numbers.”
3: A pair of drivers enter this Sunday’s Governor’s Cup looking for their third Governor’s Cup victory. Jeff Choquette has done really well in the Jett Motorsports machine having won several Pro Late Model events and is a two-time winner of the race. Fellow two-time race winner Angie Grill is returning to form after running a somewhat abbreviated schedule in the spring.
11: According to unofficial records, David Rogers has run the Governor’s Cup 27 times. But truth be told, it’s more like 35 times as full results for some past events are not complete. Rogers is a two-time winner and has 11 top-five finishes under his belt.
12: Harrison Burton will return to New Smyrna for the Governor’s Cup after winning the pole and finishing third in 2014. Burton is a six-time winner at New Smyrna Speedway in World Series action and now looks to get a win at the Gov Cup.
51: This is the 51st Annual Governor’s Cup. Speed51.com will have live Trackside Now coverage of the race on Saturday and Sunday.
91: Ty Majeski is back for another round at the Florida Governor’s Cup 200. Last year he took the win and went on to win the Super Late Model Speedweeks title in February. Majeski has had a fine season with nearly 30 wins and another ARCA Midwest Tour title to had to his impressive list of accomplishments.
100: The night before the big show Pro Late Models will race for 100 laps at New Smyrna. Daniel Keene Jr. is former winner of this race and he will be in the Grand American Race Cars house car looking to add another win.
200: The Florida Governor’s Cup 200 is 200 laps, making it the longest race of the season at New Smyrna Speedway.
247: The number of laps led by Stephen Nasse in the Governor’s Cup. He’s due for his first win after having won the most recent Super Late Model race at the track. Nasse has never finished in the top five in the race despite several strong runs. \
$15,000: The amount of money awaiting the winner of the Florida Governor’s Cup 200. This is one of the richest races not only in Super Late Model racing, but in all of asphalt racing.
Calling All Winners & Challengers: Ty Majeski will be back along with Augie Grill, David Rogers, Jeff Choquette, Jeff Scofield, and we expect Travis Cope. Checking out some driver websites and the entry lists adds Stephen Nasse who is a proven winner at Smyrna, Steve Wallace, Harrison Burton and Cole Anderson. An impressive list to built on come this weekend.
Record Year: Cole Anderson was a surprise winner of the Red-Eye 100 and the Orange Blossom 100. He also picked up a Speedweeks Pro Late Model win. If he capped off his season at New Smyrna with a Gov Cup win perhaps no one would be surprised.
Past Winners
2015 Ty Majeski
2014 Travis Cope
2013 Augie Grill
2012 Augie Grill
2011 Erik Jones
2010 David Rogers
2009 Tim Russell
2008 Wayne Anderson
2007 Jeff Choquette
2006 Jeff Scofield
2005 Mike Fritts
2004 Jeff Choquette
2003 Wayne Anderson
2002 Mike Fritts
2001 James Powell, III
2000 Jimmy Cope
1999 Wayne Anderson
1998 Billy Bigley, Jr.
1997 David Rogers
1996 Jack Cook
1995 David Russell
1994 Pete Orr
1993 Pete Orr
1992 Bobby Gill
1991 Bobby Gill
1990 Bobby Gill
1989 Dick Anderson
1988 Dick Anderson
1987 No Race
1986 No Race
1985 No Race
1984 No Race
1983 Leroy Porter
1982 Jimmy Cope
1981 Mike Eddy
1980 No Race
1979 Jim Fenton
1978 Dick Trickle
1977 Robert Hamke
1976 Ed Howe
1975 Ed Howe
1974 Ed Howe
1973 Wayne Reutimann
1972 Ed Howe
1971 Jack Arnold
1970 Don Gregory
1969 Robert Hamke
1968 Gary Balough
1967 Dumont Smith
1966 Bobby Brack
1965 Wayne Reutimann
-By Elgin Traylor, Speed51.com Southeast Correspondent – Twitter: @ElginTraylor
-Photo credit: Speed51.com
