On a picture perfect day for racing it was Jeremy Davis once again standing in victory lane at Speedway 51. A strong field of cars was on hand but after an exciting 100 lap main event, no one was better than Davis.
First on the days schedule was time trials and the Crazy Horse Racing race for the pole. This being the first race at the Groveton NH speed plant in the GSPSS time trial era, it was time for a new track record. After all the competitors had their shot at the clock, the driver who holds the first Speedway 51 GSPSS track record is Joey Doirin with a time of 12.564 seconds.
Next out on the speedway where a pair of hotly contested twelve lap heat races won by Joey Doiron and Matt Frahm. The top four from each heat race redrew and Luke Hinkley drew the pole for the J.P. Sicard 100.
As the field of rolled out onto the racing surface, a brief rain shower pushed through the area but fortunately for the fans in the grandstands it was brief and the race got under way.
Pole sitter Luke Hinkley led the first few laps but the trio of Joey Doiron Matt Frahm and Jeremy Davis moved past and would show the way through the mid-point of the event.
A lap 33 caution for the 00 driven by Jimmy Renfrew Jr slowed the field and allowed several cars to pit for adjustments. During the cleanup the rains returned and it looked for a brief minute like Mother Nature would be the winner, but once again the skies cleared and racing resumed.
Once the field went back to green flag racing, the top three remained the same but where now joined by Todd Stone and 2018 series Champion Devin O’Connell, as the top five began to separate themselves from the rest of the field.
Contact between Davis and Frahm just past half way cost Frahm a considerable amount of track position as he gathered his car up but fell to the back of the top ten. He would eventually work his way back to the top five but not the finish he felt he deserved.
Late in the going, Davis was able to work is way to the outside of Doiron and after a side by side battle over several laps, take over the top spot. Davis would open up a comfortable lead and cruise to the victory.
When asked about his setup and the whole sale changes he made at the track, Davis said “we’ve been trying some pretty crazy stuff and it hasn’t really worked. We went to a setup we used last fall in Claremont and it seemed to work.” Davis then added “I just really love this place and its nice to get back to victory lane”.
Doiron would hold on to finish second while Todd Stone would garner his best finish of the season in third. After the race Doiron would comment on the handling of his race car saying “We were just too loose on entry to hold off Jeremy. He had a really good car”.
Devin O’Connell would come across the finish line in fourth despite pressuring Stone for the last quarter of the event. Matt Frahm would battle back to finish fifth despite never getting the caution he needed to gain back his track position.
Ray Christian III ran a steady race coming home in sixth followed by Luke Hinkley who battled back from a lap 33 pit stop to finish in seventh. Behind them Josh King, Dennis Spencer and Jake Matheson completed the top ten.
Up next for the Granite State Pro Stock Series is the EKeys4Cars 100, just part of the Lee USA Speedway Fourth of July celebration. Pro Stocks, NASCAR weekly racing series action and a giant fireworks display will all be on the card Friday night July fifth.
For more information and an up to date schedule follow the series at GSPSS.com or on Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat.
Granite State Pro Stock Series contingency awards:
ARB Hard Luck Award $100.00: 00 Jimmy Renfrew
O’Reilly Auto Parts last car on the lead lap $75.00: 52 Jake Matheson
O’Reilly Auto Parts 7th place finisher $75.00: 31 Luke Hinkley
American Racer N.E Hard Charger One Free Tire at the next event: 21 Josh King
Sunoco Heat Race Winners 5 gal of Sunoco Race Fuel : #1 73Joey Doiron,#2 14 Matt Frahm
VDL 5th Place $100.00: 14 Matt Frahm
Crazy Horse Racing Fast Time:
1st 73 Joey Doiron $125.00
2nd 14 Matt Frahm $75.00
3rd 16 Travis Stearns $50.00
J.P. Sicard 100 Official Finish
1. 09 Jeremy Davis
2. 73 Joey Doiron
3. 1x Todd Stone
4. 43 Devin O’Connell
5. 14 Matt Frahm
6. 93 Ray Christian III
7. 31 Luke Hinkley
8. 21 Josh King
9. 46 Dennis Spender Jr.
10. 52 Jake Matheson
11. 17 Kevin Folan
12. 16 Travis Stearns
13. 08 Mike O’Sullivan
14. 00 Jimmy Renfrew Jr.
15. 29 Barry Gray
