Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gaye Symington is in a race of another sort tonight. Her car - the one she's sponsoring with her name on the side, not the one she drives - makes its debut at Thunder Road in Barre.
Number 90 will compete in the Tiger Class Sportsman Division. It will not be driven by race car driver/state senator Phil Scott, (a Republican), but instead by Barre native Tony Rossi, also a regular on the circuit.
Republican Gov. Jim Douglas also sponsors a car at Thunder Road. It will debut this year at the Governor's Cup later this month.
Progressive Anthony Pollina also has a car, which will be racing June 21 at Riverside Speedway in Groveton, N.H.
In the form of a news release, Symington said:
"It will be fun to be at such an exciting sports event with so many other
Vermonters, especially because I'll have a chance to root for Tony Rossi and the
Symington car.
The release also says, when asked whether she thought Rossi would win, Symington said, "I'm only prepared to predict the winner of one race this year in Vermont, and that one happens in November." She did not divulge who she is predicting will win, however.
No doubt Symington is trying to reach a crowd she might not normally be tight with. Is it hypocritical for Symington, who drives a hybrid Camry, to embrace the race-track burning of high-priced fuel?
- Terri Hallenbeck