Mike O’Sullivan Takes Gate City Classic 100
HUDSON, NH — The always exciting Granite State Pro Stock Series traveled to Hudson Speedway for event number five of their 2013 tour. A sweltering day and a packed grand stand welcomed 19 of the finest. After heat races the first six redrew for starting positions, with Barry Gray of Belchertown, MA pulling the #1 out of the hat. Veteran Phil Meany of Gardner, MA would start outside pole. Popular Jeremy Davis of Tamworth, NH, Mighty Mike O’Sullivan of Springfield, MA, Mike Parks of Walpole,NH and newcomer Craig Weinstein of Walpole, MA rounded out the top six starters.
At the drop of the green Barry Gray soared to the front followed by Jeremy Davies, Mike O’Sulllivan and Tommy O’Sullivan. A lap 7 yellow flag for a spin by Meany in turn 2 slowed the track action briefly. When racing resumed Davis outran Gray putting the #09 in clean air with the lead, while Frahm picked his way past competitors from his fifth row starting spot to gain fourth place. While Davis went out to a five car length lead, the heavy hitters were stacking up behind Gray, whom had just enough to hold them off. On lap 18 a suspension part broke on the #82 of John-Michael Shenette, causing him to slide off turn 1 and into the sand.
Now things tightened up behind Davis and when the green flag flew Gray couldn’t come up to racing speed quick enough, so Mike O’Sullivan, Matt Frahm and Larry Gelinas all drove by Gray on the inside dropping the #29 back to fifth. A lap later Gray lost another spot to Tommy O’Sullivan. On lap 24 Frahm worked over then sailed by Mike O’Sullivan for second, setting his sights on the black #09 of Davis. Weinstein and the local hot shoe Derek Griffith of Hudson, NH teamed up on Gray, moving themselves into sixth and seventh, respectively.
[Photo Gallery] by Crystal Snape
By lap 34 the leaders strung out into tire and equipment saving mode, while they picked their way through lapped traffic. By lap 48 Mike O’Sullivan was done saving and passed Davis, becoming the third and final leader of the event. The last caution came on lap 53 for a spin by Bobby Baillargon in turn 2. While the pack was traveling under yellow, the brand new #12 of Griffith suffered a fuel pick up problem and was pushed to the pits, dropping him from the event. The restart saw Gelinas muscle his way from fourth to second but Mike O’Sullivan had no trouble keeping the pack behind him. On lap 62 Frahm dove under Tom O’Sullivan for fourth and for the next 20 laps the first four cars broke away from the rest.
With 15 laps to go Gelinas closed in on Mike O’Sullivan, but Mike just powered away keeping distance between the two, while Frahm caught and worked over Davis, finally passing him for third on lap 93. With only 5 laps to go Tom O’Sullivan put pressure on Davis but could not find the power he needed to pass Davis. With the checkered in the air Mike O’Sullivan came off turn 4, made slight contact with a lapped car and cruised across the finish line for the win. Larry Gelinas finished second and Matt Frahm third.
In a post-race interview, O’Sullivan said “This place is a lot like Monadnock, and I learned a lesson at Monadnock: Not to go too hard too early. I set a nice even pace and the whole time I was saving the car.”
Granite State Pro Stock Series
Hudson Speedway, Hudson, NH
July 7, 2013
Order of finish
Fin. ## Driver
1. #08 Mike O’Sullivan
2. #48 Larry Gelinas
3. #14 Matt Frahm
4. #09 Jeremy Davis
5. #16 Tommy O’Sullivan
6. #36 Jay Sands
7. #90 Craig Weinstein
8. #29 Barry Gray
9. #46 Jake Vanada
10. #5MA Phil Meany
11. 87 Eric Sands (last lead lap car)
12. #44 Austin Brehio
13. #66 Mike Parks
14. #59 Mike Rivard
15. #82 Robert Baillargeon
16. #12 Derek Griffith
17. #95 Ron Smith
18. #82ct John-Michael Shenette
Sources: Jim Snape/YankeeRacer.com