NEW ENGLAND MOTORSPORTS SOUTH
By Lou Modestino
The 2015 season is fast approaching, as the Granite State Pro Stock Series (GSPSS) begins their fourth full season at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park on April 10-12, and two drivers are itching to capture the first wins of their GSPSS careers.
Hudson, New Hampshire young gun Derek Griffith had a respectable season, finishing fourth on the season, with six (6) top-five and ten (10) top-ten finishes in eleven (11) races, but the elusive “W” has evaded the LCM Racing Engines team. Griffith is trying to change that in 2015.
Griffith states “The 2014 season was definitely an improvement, but not even close to the full potential of the LCM crew. Our goals this season are wins, and, possibly, a championship. We will try to keep our consistency.”
Griffith isn’t just a rising star on the track, but the 18 year-old has a heart way beyond his years. Griffith has become a fixture at benefit go-kart races, as well as remembrance of someone special.
“My sisters Friend, Nicole Jacques, was with me on the side of the car untouched almost all season,” Griffith states. Jacques passed away after an illness early in 2014. Griffith handed out stickers to all GSPSS competitors at his home track, Hudson International Speedway, in remembrance of his family friend.
Griffith also entered the Race to End Vanishing White Matter Disease go-kart event, a benefit to boost awareness and research of Vanishing White Matter Disease, and earned his way into the DT100, a go-kart event which raises money for the NH Make-A-Wish Foundation. Griffith was challenged to raise $1000 to race in the closed event, in less than a week. The youngster picked up the final portion of the donation at the event, and earned a spot in the charity event.
“I’m so glad stuff like these events exist,” said Griffith. “If I was in their shoes, and a bunch of racecar drivers were supporting me, I would be astonished! These benefits are amazing, and I hope to bring more to the table next year for them.”
For Mike Parks, his eighth place finish in the final standings in 2014 was not indicative of the team’s effort. Parks said “We had terrible luck. We had a fast car most of the time, and the finishes just didn’t show it. We were just never able to shake the monkey off our back.”
Parks has purchased a new Distance chassis in the off-season, and is looking to pick up a win in the new ride. With the changes to the 2015 schedule, Parks is looking to capitalize at the return of his home track.
“We are looking forward to all of the tracks, but especially to the return of Claremont Speedway, as that is where I got my start in racing,” comments Parks. “I always look forward to my favorite track on the schedule, Monadnock Speedway, but going back to Star Speedway is up there as well. We finally figured it out at Star with a good setup.”
The Granite State Pro Stock Series will begin the eleven (11)-race schedule on April 10-12 at the IceBreaker, at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.
Eddie MacDonald of Rowley has gone on to win just about every major regional Late Model race, including championship efforts in the NASCAR K&N Series, the Oxford 250 (twice), Bond Auto ACT Invitational at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (twice), Thunder Road’s famous Milk Bowl, and recently he swept the triple 100 lap features in a very competitive field at the World Series of Asphalt Racing at New Smyrna Speedway.
“Eddie Mac” carries the moniker “the Outlaw”, a well-deserved nick-name, as the likeable, smoother-than-silk driver, who doesn’t have the appearance of a nasty outlaw type, but his race day mission is intense, professional, and he races smart, and with respect. The Hancock Electric-Grimm team pays attention to detail, led by long-time crew chief, Rollie Lachance.
Director of Competition for ACT, Dean Gallison, said, “They are like bees hovering around a nest as far as work ethic. When they hit the track they can put a sting on any competition. They pay no attention to what other teams are doing, they are not afraid to try different combinations during a typical race day. But when the racing is for real, they seem to always have things sorted out for that particular track and race. I think the “Outlaw” handle they seem to have gotten is because they don’t race for points or championships, they race to win—every time. And they certainly are getting that done. When you know Eddie and Rollie are in town, best bring your “A” game if you want to beat them.”
MacDonald will face the best ACT has to offer on opening day 2015 at this home track. Starting with the Milk Bowl last October, the non-ACT Fall Brawl in November, and the New Smyrna Speedway triple wins, the Freddy Petersen owned team is 5 in a row on top of the podium. A follow up win at Lee would set a Late Model standard unlike any other in the long 30 year history of ACT. Past glories went to drivers like Dion, Crouch, Cabana, Hanley, Cyr, and Hoar. They have high race pedigrees, but none has ever strung 6 major events together in a row. Teams like Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., Hudson, NH; Wayne Helliwell, Jr., Dover, NH; Alex Labbe, St. Albert, QC; former NH Governor Cup winner Jimmy Hebert, Williamstown, VT; and dozens more will try and stop the “Outlaw” at Lee USA, this April 12th.
Tom Curley, President of ACT said, “I think the remarkable run Eddie and his team are having is just great. It forces our very best teams to dig deep, and it uses his success as motivation for all our teams going into the season. We will get better racers and races. The fans ultimately win. The intensity showed during the New Smyrna trip is just what short track fans like, and what we need in our business. For the talented depth of young upcoming teams we have racing in ACT, the present “Outlaw” run should serve as an example of what hard work, dedication to your craft, and a positive attitude can do to improve and continually challenge a racing program at all stages of development.”
MacDonald will join an expected field of 40 teams for opening day of the 2015 season. The New Hampshire Governor’s Cup is Sunday, April 12, 2015. Post time is 1 pm. Practice will take place from noon until 5pm on Saturday, April 11, 2015.