MacDonald a winner again at Thompson’s World Series

The Granite State Pro Stock Series held a fifty lap event at Thompson Speedway this weekend, and to no one’s surprise it was “The Outlaw” Eddie MacDonald taking home the win. Macdonald is always a favorite at the 5/8 mile oval proved why once again.

   The Granite State Pro Stock Series was one of many divisions to compete at the World Series of Stock Car Auto Racing at Thompson Speedway in Thompson CT. Unfortunately the story of the weekend was weather, as all competition was washed out on Friday making for a jam packed Saturday.

   One practice session was held on Friday and the fastest pro stock to take time was Ray Christian III. Christian, the previous weeks third place finisher, loves the larger, faster race tracks so his trip to the top of the charts was no surprise.

   On Saturday, a crowded pit area, two days’ worth of racing and a weather delay to start the day lead to a crowded schedule and the cancelation of all qualifying rounds for the GSPSS. As a result, the fifty lap feature was lined up per the rule book putting point leader Joey Doiron on the pole with his nearest competitor, Christian, to his outside.

   At the drop of the green, Christian got by Doiron using the heavily favored outside line and set sail. Through a couple of caution periods for minor spins, Christian was able to get the jump on the restarts and get out to as much as a twenty plus car length lead.

   The final caution fell at about the two thirds mark of the race and lined Christian up beside MacDonald. When the green came out it looked as though Christian’s car was just a little better than MacDonalds. As the two fought side by side for the lead, Macdonalds car got loose on several occasions and forced the Rawley MA driver to lift out of the throttle and settle in behind Christian.

   After regrouping for a couple of laps, MacDonald mounted another charge to the inside of the track and pull out in front. From there to the checkers it was all MacDonald as he opened up a lead of a few car lengths and picked up his second win with the GSPSS at the World Series.

   Cory Casagrande has run well at every race he has attended in 2019 and Thompson was no different. The Stafford Springs CT driver loves racing in his home state and ran a solid race finishing third after starting mid pack.

   Second Generation driver Ryan Kuhn had a busy weekend as he ran with two series. Kuhn battled hard all evening long and wound up with a fourth place finish to show for his efforts.

   Reid Lanpher and his family team made the trek down from Manchester ME and sat through the long weekend to test their metal against the GSPSS regulars. Due to this being the teams second start and lining up by owners points, Lanpher started deep in the field. By the end of fifty laps he had fought forward to a top five finish.

   Jimmy Renfrew Jr would wind up finishing sixth despite a turn three spin off the bumper of eventual eighth place finisher Devin O’Connell. Vermont driver Josh King would split the two youngsters in seventh Position.

   Rounding out the top ten would be point leader Joey Doiron and Tommy O’Sullivan making his first start of 2019. Doiron goes into the last race of the year at Claremont Motorsports Park with a comfortable, but not insurmountable lead in the championship hunt.

   Next up for the series is the fall challenge at Claremont Motorsports Park on Thrasher Rd in Claremont NH. The traveling pro stocks will hold their event on the Sunday of this two day show, with the Crazy Horse Racing race for the pole taking to the track at 2pm. Heat races and several features will follow, highlighted by the GSPSS championship race.

   For more information go to www.gspss.net or check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Granite State Pro Stock Series contingency awards:

ARB Hard Luck Award: None, will be drawn at Claremont

O’Reilly Auto Parts last car on the lead lap: $75.00 17 Kevin Folan

O’Reilly Auto Parts 7th place finisher :  $ 75.00 21 Josh King

American Racer N.E Hard Charger: 17 Eddie MacDonald

Sunoco Heat Race Winners : None

VDL 5th Place: $100.00 59 Reid Lanpher

Crazy Horse Racing Fast Time: none

Thompson Speedway World Series Official Finish

1- 17 Eddie MacDonald

2- 93ct Ray Christian III

3- 7 Cory Casagrande

4- 72 Ryan Kuhn

5- Reid Lanpher

6- 00 Jimmy Renfrew Jr

7- 21 Josh King

8- 43 Devin O’Connell

9- 73 Joey Doiron

10- 16 Tommy O’Sullivan

11- 18 Jeff Fagan

12- 4o Mike Mitchell

13- 39 Nick Lascuola

14- 17 Kevin Folan