Picking the winners of big short track races throughout the country is a tradition that our staff at Speed51.com has enjoyed for many years. With one of the biggest Late Model races of the Northeast racing season being held this weekend at Thunder Road (VT), we decided to challenge our staff once again.
This week we asked members of our Speed51.com team, “Who are you picking to win the 56th Vermont Milk Bowl?”
The answers we received varied, but when all the votes were tallied it was Nick Sweet and Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. (five votes each) who were named the favorite to win the big race. Overall, eight different drivers received votes from our panel of 18 experts.
Check out our full list of staff picks for the Milk Bowl below.
Aaron Creed, Speed51.com National Correspondent
Pick: Joey Polewarczyk, Jr.
Although he has not competed as much in 2018, this guy is always a threat for the win no matter when or where he shows up. In addition, he won in PASS North competition at the legendary Thunder Road earlier this year.
Adam Mackey, Speed51.com Correspondent
Pick: Mason Mitchell
Mason Mitchell gets a chance to run the Milk Bowl and he will make the most of it. Mitchell is a talented driver and proves that about every time he gets behind the wheel.
Bob Dillner, Speed51.com Executive Editor
Pick: Nick Sweet
He’s done me right a couple times already, so why not pick him again?
Brandon Paul, Speed51.com Editor
Pick: Scott Dragon
The two-time “King of the Road” is hungry for a win in Thunder Road’s biggest race. Dragon was the driver to beat throughout the year during 50-lap races, so I expect him to be the best when it comes to racing to the front in each of the 50-lap segments.
Connor Sullivan, Speed51.com Northeast Editor
Pick: Scott Payea
The No. 37 team has once again come out as the mightiest force to be reckoned with on the American-Canadian Tour, where he is always able to come through the field in due course. That is an advantage that will pay dividends with the inverts for the final two segments. This is the year Payea finally gets his date with the cow.
Dakota Geyer, Speed51.com State Editor (IN & MI)
Pick: Scott Dragon
I may not know much about ACT-style Late Model racing, but I do know Dragon is one of the top drivers at Thunder Road. Look for him to add a Milk Bowl victory.
Daryl Canfield, Speed51.com / MoJo Photos
Pick: Jason Corliss
Defending Milk Bowl winner and Labor Day Classic winner is all I need to hear in order to make this pick. Obviously, Corliss knows how to get around Thunder Road and can win the big ones. He’ll do it again on Sunday.
Duane Canfield, Speed51.com / MoJo Photos
Pick: Jason Corliss
You can’t bet against the hot hand. Corliss has been exactly that over the last three years at Thunder Road, and I believe that trend will continue this weekend.
Elgin Traylor, Speed51.com Southeast Correspondent
Pick: Joey Polewarczyk, Jr.
Joey Pole is long overdue to kiss the cow again. I think his time away will only make him better in this battle.
Evan Canfield, Speed51.com / MoJo Photos
Pick: Joey Polewarczyk, Jr.
I have to go with Joey Pole for this one. He ran well at the Oxford 250, and I think he can carry his success over to the ACT Late Model during this weekend’s Milk Bowl.
Jeremy Anders, Speed51.com Northwest Editor
Pick: Joey Polewarczyk, Jr.
Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. will take the win at the Milk Bowl. He’s a former winner of the event and has run really well this year when he has competed. He also has a lot of success at Thunder Road over the years.
Kevin Peters, Speed51.com Southwest Editor
Pick: Nick Sweet
Sweet is synonymous with winning at Thunder Road, especially in the Milk Bowl. In nine starts he has three wins and only one finish outside the top 10. I look for that trend to continue in 2018.
Madison Mabry, Speed51.com Southeast Correspondent
Pick: Jimmy Hebert
Hebert has been competitive all year long with the American-Canadian Tour and picked up a few wins. He will be the driver kissing the cow come Sunday afternoon.
Mark Keeler, Speed51.com Operations Manager
Pick: Nick Sweet
When it comes to kissing cows, Nick Sweet is an expert. And when you’re a race car driver from Barre, Vermont, that’s a good thing. I expect Sweet to earn his fourth kiss and fourth Milk Bowl win this weekend.
Patrick Hahe, Speed51.com Great Lakes Editor
Pick: Nick Sweet
Nick Sweet has shown he is a proven winner, winning the Milk Bowl three out of the last five years.
Rob Blount, Speed51.com Associate Editor
Pick: Trampas Demers
Trampas has a VT Governor’s Cup win on his resume and after this weekend he’ll have a Milk Bowl win too. He’s also going to be hungry after losing last year’s Milk Bowl as the result of a tiebreaker.
Ryan McCollough, Speed51.com Southeast Correspondent
Pick: Nick Sweet
Nick Sweet has won three of the last five Milk Bowl events. While he has been chasing checkers on the PASS tour most of the year, look for him to return to his old stomping grounds and kiss the cow for a record-tying fourth time.
Tom Ryan, Speed51.com Digital Manager
Pick: Joey Polewarczyk, Jr.
Joey Pole will be kissing the cow for a second time Sunday afternoon in Barre, Vermont.
-Text by Speed51.com Staff
-Photo credit: VTMotorMag.com
