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Race Results
 Auburndale Winter Series Underway

 Randy Korte Storms to Front For Crate Late Model Win

 Korte Kaptures Krate Kash

 Mathews & Beck Top Friday Night East Bay Mains

 Cooper Tops USA Modified Special Show

 Santos Wins PRA Event at USA International

 Hendry County Back In Action

 Big night for Kile at Charlotte County

 Brandon Johnson wins Hopkins Family Truckers 200 at SpeedWorld

 Schrader Leads East Bay Win Parade

 David Wilson Takes First Win, Choquette Secures Championship

 FAST Results From Charlotte County

 Campi Grabs Two Wins in Trucks, Morris Gets Late Model Victory

 Neumann & Cannon Share Citrus Twin 50 Mod Wins

 East Bay Welcomes December With Warm Hearts and Hot Racing

 James Wright III Gets Auburndale Road Warrior Win

 David Wilson tops AACS at Desoto Super Speedway

 Staropoli Wins Race, Morales gets 2006 Pro Truck Championship at New Smyrna Speedway

 Brandon Johnson tops 75 lap Enduro at SpeedWorld

 Larson captures FMSC Win at New Smyrna Speedway;Thornton Takes Championship!

 Scofield Wins 2006 Governors Cup

 Doug Moff big LLM Winner at Desoto

 Nosbisch returns to East Bay Victory Lane

 Scofield wins 41st Annual Governor's Cup 200 and 2006 Sunbelt Super Late Model Championship

 Auburndale Results

 Danny Anderson Wins DeSoto Trucks; Late Gets Late Model Win

 NOSBISCH RETURNS TO EAST BAY VICTORY LANE

 Sarppraicone "Jr" Makes Tire Gamble Pay Off, Wins Q Auto and Injury OWM "Race of Champions"

 Bruce Durden leads Wire to Wire to Take Sprint Feature Win

 Seven Championships decided at Citrus Saturday in Season Finale

 

Citrus County Speedway

Southern Short Track Stock Car Racing




Motorheads Directory of MotorSports


 Columns & Editorials

October 18, 2001

Rebirth of the Governor's Cup

By Jane Smith

In the heart of every local racer is a dream, a dream of that one big race. In Florida, we are lucky, we have three big racing events. The first is the Governor's Cup, the second is the Triple Crown, and the third is the Snowball Derby. Each has a long history of it's on but this past weekend, fans and racers alike felt the pomp and grandeur of the Governor's Cup race of years gone by, thanks in no small past to Don Nerone.

Don Nerone has been in racing for many years. He has seen the good and the bad, the grand and the small. Don knows the history of the Governor's Cup and the Triple Crown and what they use to be. This year, he set himself a goal, a goal to bring back the past and start a new present.

The first step of bringing back the past was writing to Governor Jeb Bush and inviting him to be the Grand Marshall for the 2001 Governor's Cup race. Of course other Governors in the past have been invited to throw the green but it was Governor Jeb Bush who wrote back and said "yes".

Of course Governor Bush got a lesson in what this race used to be from Don Nerone and State Senator Bill Posey, who also is a racer. The Cup use to be standing room only, reserved seats ordered at least a month before the race or you would not get a seat. And the most important information of all, the race was commissioned by a Governor thirty six years ago.

Once Don Nerone received the reply from the Governor, plans had to be made on making this "The Race" of the year. Robert Hart, owner of the speedway, had new main grandstands built, a new press box put up, new speakers wired and new fencing put up. The track took on a whole new look.



Governor Jeb Bush gets his Pennzoil racing uniform
A grand parade was planned, one that has not been seen in many years at the Cup race. Each driver was introduced first to the fans and then to the Governor. And to the Governor's surprise, he was presented his own driving suit from Pennzoil and helmet, signed by each of the Cup drivers. Don's dream was truly coming true.

The pomp and grandeur of the past is now the present. Although we may not always have a Governor to throw the green, the fans will look forward to the 37th Annual Governor's Cup race because one man cared enough that he wanted the past to come back alive.

36th ANNUAL GOVERNOR'S CUP PHOTO GALLERY ONE!

36th ANNUAL GOVERNOR'S CUP PHOTO GALLERY TWO!

Spend an hour with Don Nerone enjoying the racing insights and plenty of the humor of Florida's top promoter.

-Jane Smith


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