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Jeff Scofield Wins 41st Annual Governor's Cup 200
by Jane Smith
Samsula, Fla. (November 18, 2006) It was a perfect day, not hot but pleasantly cool for a November afternoon in
Florida. By evening and race time, fans had on their coats and hats and plenty of blankets to keep them warm.
Jimmy Cope (61) tried in vain to hold off Choquette (70) and Scofield(07)
Thirty two Super Lates were on hand for the 41st Annual Governor's Cup 200 but only 26 took qualifying time. Scotty Crocket from Land O'Lakes was good at
practice Friday night but Saturday morning found a problem with his new engine and car and had to withdraw from the race. Dusty Cornelius of Cocoa hit the
frontstretch wall during practice after having his transmission lock up on him.
Doc McKinney of Ft. Pierce tried but could not get his car right and withdrew
before qualifying as well as Marty Pierce of Huntsville, Alabama who said if he raced his car, it would most definitely end up in the wall and he did not want that.
 B.J. McLeod of Watchula, driving Dick Anderson's Super Late, looked to have probably the fastest Super
Late in the field. But on his first lap during qualifying the hub broke putting B.J. hard into the turns 3 and 4 wall. B.J. went to the hospital to be checked out since his neck
hurt but came back and watched the race. Not the way he intended his night to go.
It was Travis Cope of Bronson who set fast time out of 27 Super Lates with a 17.836. The top ten were Jeff Scofield, Wayne Anderson, Mike Bresnahan, Jeff Choquette, James Powell, Brian
Finney, Tim Russell and Mr. Excitement Jimmy Cope. Since it was a 200 lap event, no inversion was made, the field would start straight up.
After an on-track autograph session with both the Super Late Models and Mini Stocks, it was time for the pre-race show when State Senator Bill Posey of Rockledge apologzied to the fans for the
tardiness of the Grand Marshall, newly elected Lt. Governor Jeff Kottcamp of Cape Coral.
......... REST OF THE STORY! |
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The Florida Governor's Cup
was  commissioned by then Governor Haydon Burns and was first awarded to Wayne Reutimann in 1965. The Cup was created to pay tribute to Al Keller, long time promoter of Florida
stock car tracks. The Cup continues to be the premier race of the season through all these years in spite of set backs and the immense changes our state has gone through.
The race was originally run at
Golden Gate Speedway in Tampa until environmental issues forced the temporary closing of the track in 1979.
Sunshine Speedway hosted the
race in 1979, with the race moving back to Golden Gate for the next three years, under the direction of Don Nerone. The DeSoto Speedway hosted the race until 1987, though the Cup
was not officially competed for. It was at that time that Clyde Hart, the builder and owner of New
Smyrna Speedway stepped forward and revived both the race
and it's history. The race has been run at New Smyrna's half-mile ever since. In 1998 the Governor's Cup was promoted for television by Terry Wall and Jack Smith, and
was shown for the first time to fans all through the South via FOX and Sunshine Networks |
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In Memory of Al Keller
Al Keller migrated from White Plains, N.Y., to Tampa in 1948. He immediately began an association with frank Dery, Jr. not only as a race
driver, but also as a partner in the speed equipment  business.
Keller drove Dery's modified at Plant Field, Speedway Park, Phillips Field and many other tracks in Florida. His famous flame set many records at local tracks. Al Later set his sights on
the Indy 500 and in 1961 qualified 26th in afield of 33 cars. He finished 5th.
Late in 1961 Keller journeyed to Phoenix, Arizona, to the famous
one mile dirt track there. On his way to the races he stopped briefly in Tampa and talked to Dery on the phone. He went to Phoenix and set a one lap record that fateful Sunday. Later,
during the 100 mile race Keller received fatal injuries in a crash.
The racing fraternity lost a fine competitor and gentleman with the
death of Al Keller. It a a fine tribute by the State of Florida, and by our Governor, to honor him.
-Jim King |
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The 2001 Governor's Cup 200 at New Smyrna Speedway was very special indeed. Governor Jeb Bush was the Grand Marshall and in the wake of the September 11 attacks
his appearance was both inspiring for the fans and gave a much needed lift for all in attendance.The newly refurbished Grandstands at the New Smyrna Speedway were ready and an awesome field of the
very best Late Model teams put on the show of the year for Florida race fans. 
