Payea earns second consecutive Merchant's 150

By CINDY HUMISTON WEED | Milton Independent Race Reporter

Scott Payea gets a big hug after winning in Barre on Sunday, May 4.

Just one year ago, Scott Payea got his fi rst American-Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Model Sportsman win at Thunder Road. On Sunday the 26 year-old repeated last year’s feat and earned his second consecutive Merchant’s 150 on Barre’s high banked oval. Canadian Patrick Laperle was second, David Pembroke of Montpelier third, Phil Scott of Montpelier fourth and defending champion Jean Paul Cyr of Milton fifth.

“We got off to a good start; we started on the outside row,” said Payea, of Milton. “We jumped right out to the lead.”

Payea endured a challenge by the Thunder Road track champion, David Pembroke, of Montpelier, for almost the entire race event. Pembroke overtook the eventual winner around the 100- lap mark but Payea was destined to take it back.

“Pembroke was there right from the get-go,” said Payea, “My car kind of went away in the middle of the race – when he got by us – but we didn’t panic, stayed behind him, waited and saw that he was getting worse. We were able to get back by him on the outside on a restart and held him and them all off on the following restarts. It surprised me, how good it was on the outside. I could really drive it down in there, get a good bite coming off and make the pass.”

“We were matched up pretty even,” said Pembroke. “It was fun. I had a blast racing with Scott. He’s a great racer and a lot of fun to race with. You know that you can run outside of him and behind him. There were a few donuts here and there but no rough stuff. It’s a lot of fun when it’s like that.”

Canadian Patrick Laperle effectively snuck by Pembroke late in the race.

“We were hanging on a little bit at the end; I used it up a little early,” said Pembroke, who started fi fth. “I was trying to set a pace to wear them out but I think I wore myself out.”

For Payea, a great starting spot and patience equaled sweet success.

“Luckily we got a good starting spot.” Payea added. “We didn’t have to come up from the back and pass cars, that’s really when the outside groove comes into play. Fortunately we didn’t have to worry about that today.”