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Ferguson and the Montpelier 650
Stephen Ferguson, host of Montpelier's 'Late Show with Stephen Ferguson, is a Montpelier, Vermont native, who grew up a few miles north of the Worldwide Telecommunications Super Speedway. He became a partner in Team Glass in 2007 and realized his biggest thrill last May when Karl Corn won the Montpelier 650. It was an experience the 58-year-old Ferguson ranks with surviving quintuple heart bypass surgery in 2000 and the birth of his son, Elmer, in 2003.

February 3, 2009
By Tim Twinam, Montpelier Star


Stephen Ferguson wishes he could drive like Dan Allen, above. "No, I don't think I ever can get to that level," Ferguson says of Allen's driving.

Ferguson returns to the Telecom Speedway this Presidents' Day to watch his team's three-car entry: '99 winner David Carson, subbing for the injured Corn; Canadian Hugo Ilchala; and rookie Pearl Marie Belchley, whose fourth-place start is Montpelier's highest for a girl under age 10.

Question: Have you digested winning the Montpelier 650 last year?

Answer: No, I still haven't digested it and I can't wait to get back there because I feel like we're going to win it again. (Laughs). I have the (Montpelier Gold) trophy here in my office and the picture, but it's just like a dream.

Q: Of course, most of the attention has been focused on Pearl Marie Belchley.

A: She's a tremendous race car driver. Beyond that, I can't explain it. I look at it that she qualified faster than 29 men in the starting grid for that race, and I don't know what that means. She qualified second fastest in (Yokiti) Korea and led 40-50 laps of that race, so she must be tremendous. What this says about male-female, adult-child competition, I don't know.

Q: There's also Hugo Ilchala.

A: I think this guy is unbelievable. I mean, this guy is just quick in his sleep. ... I was so sad to see Karl not be able to race, but I'm so fond of David and what a great story that would be. Karl wins last year driving for David and now David, it'd be nice to see him win for Karl. But I do think Hugo may be the sleeper of the bunch.

Q: What is your financial stake in the team?

A: The last time I was aware of it my ownership was 40%-plus, maybe a little higher, to 45%. The monetary thing Jimmy would tell you; I'd feel like a jerk telling you. It's not the biggest check I've ever written, but I get more enjoyment than any other check I've written.

Q: How did winning Montpelier bring your passion for racing full circle?

A: In the old days, when the Speedway opened up, it meant many, many things. Not just the opening of the Speedway, but it was the official end of winter and the beginning of warm weather and the smell of freshly cut lawns. It was all pretty heady. You only had another month of school and summer was coming and you'd go to the Speedway.

So you had all this tremendous activity wrapped up with these high-spirited emotions, and then you got to see the world's attention on your town for a month. For a kid, it was very exciting, and we used to go out there for practice and qualifying and listen to the race on the radio. It was like any other big holiday on the calendar.
   
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September 4, 2010 | 4:21 pm 62 °F
Montpelier, Vermont USA 44.26N 72.58W
G1 Endy Race 2 Lap 825
Last Lap  @robertwagnervt Volunteers called to build enthusiasm for November election, not #corruption #vtgov @BTV_Dems #VT go go go September 01, 2010 10:36:37 pm Driver's Condition: On time for fall
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