Granite State Pro Stock Series at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park: A Closer Look at the Numbers
Walpole, NH – The Granite State Pro Stock Series will travel to Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, April 11-12, for the Ice Breaker. The Ice Breaker will be the first event of the 12-race season, and will be the fifth time the Granite State Pro Stock Series has visited the facility since 2013, including the World Series. The following is a closer look at the numbers of the Granite State Pro Stock Series (GSPSS), Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (TSMP), and the Ice Breaker.
THOMPSON SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS PARK NOTES:
The track first opened in 1940, after a hurricane known as “The Long Island Express” ripped through the land owned by John Hoenig in 1938, who chose to clear his land and build a race track. The 2015 season will be the 75th year in existence.
TSMP’s nickname is “Indianapolis of the East”.
Not only is the 5/8th mile oval in use, but there is a 1.7 mile road course, 1.5 mile road course configuration, 1/10th mile Midget oval, a 4.5 acre autocross area, and 18 hole golf course, all on the facility.
THOMPSON SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS PARK DATA:
ICEBREAKER: Race 1 of 12 on 2015 season
LENGTH: .625 mile oval
BANKING: 26 degrees
RACE LENGTH: 40 laps
THOMPSON SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS PARK STATS:
There have been four winners in four different racers at TSMP (George Bessette, Larry Gelinas, Mike O’Sullivan, Derek Ramstrom).
TSMP has been the opening race in the GSPSS season since 2013.
TSMP has averaged 22.5 drivers taking the green flag in feature events for the GSPSS.
Five drivers have competed in all four previous events (M. O’Sullivan, Gelinas, Billy Brady, Mike Parks, Bessette)
SERIES LEADERS AT THOMPSON SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS PARK:
RACES
T1. Mike O’Sullivan 4
T1. Larry Gelinas 4
T1. Billy Brady 4
T1. Mike Parks 4
T1. George Bessette 4
WINS
T1. George Bessette 1
T1. Larry Gelinas 1
T1. Mike O’Sullivan 1
T1. Derek Ramstrom 1
TOP 3s
T1. Mike O’Sullivan 3
T1. Larry Gelinas 3
T3. George Bessette 1
T3. Glenn Tyler 1
T3. Tommy O’Sullivan 1
T3. Matt Frahm 1
T3. Derek Ramstrom 1
TOP 10s
T1. Mike O’Sullivan 3
T1. Larry Gelinas 3
T1. George Bessette 3
T1. Dillon Moltz 3
AVERAGE FEATURE FINISH (minimum 2 races)
1. Mike O’Sullivan 4
2. Jim Banfield 4.5
3. Larry Gelinas 5.5
4. Dillon Moltz 6
5. Matt Frahm 6.67
DRIVER NOTES
#12 Derek Griffith
Has seven top 3s, and fourteen top 10 finishes in twenty-one total races with the GSPSS.
Finished a career-best 2nd three times (Monadnock 2012, Hudson 2013, Monadnock 2014).
Has two 8th place finishes in two attempts at TSMP.
Earned the Most Improved Driver award in 2014, finishing 4th in the championship standings.
#66 Mike Parks
Has earned three top 3s, and fifteen top 10 finishes in twenty-eight career GSPSS events.
Finished a career-best 2nd twice (Hudson 2012, Monadnock 2013).
Owns two top ten finishes at TSMP, with including a 7th in the inaugural event at the track in 2013, with an average feature finish of 11.75 in four races.
Finished 8th in the championship standings in 2014.
#29 Barry Gray
Has recorded three wins, five top 3s, and twenty top 10 finishes in twenty-seven career GSPSS events.
His three wins have come in each of the three full GSPSS seasons (2012-14), and all at Monadnock Speedway.
Has two top ten finishes at TSMP, including a 7th at the IceBreaker (2014), for an average feature finish of 7.5 in two attempts.
Finished 6th in the championship point standings in 2014.
#71NH Cory Robert
Owns two top 3s, and five top 10s, in eleven career GSPSS starts.
Career best 2nd (Canaan 2012).
Finished 9th in the only feature at TSMP (2014).
Finished 9th in the championship standings in 2014.
#37 Larry Gelinas
Has tallied two wins, nine top 3s, and eighteen top 10 finishes in twenty-three races with the GSPSS.
His two victories were at TSMP (2013) and Hudson International Speedway (2014).
The victory at TSMP was at the World Series 2013, and owns an average feature finish of 5.5 at the facility.
Ended the 2014 season sitting 3rd in the championship standings, just 12 points out of first.
#08 Mike O’Sullivan
The 2013 series champion has earned three victories, eight top 3s, and fourteen top 10s in twenty career GSPSS starts.
His three victories (Monadnock 2012, Hudson 2013, TSMP 2014) are second on the all-time win list in the GSPSS.
His win at the IceBreaker in 2014 at TSMP is joined by two 2nd place finishes in four starts, giving “Magic Mike” a 4.5 average feature finish at the facility.
O’Sullivan ran part-time in 2014, spending time with family after welcoming a third son, Cameron.
#16 Tommy O’Sullivan
Has one top 3, and eleven top 10s in seventeen career GSPSS feature starts.
His career best finish of 3rd was notched at TSMP (2013).
In three races, O’Sullivan owns an average feature finish of 10 at TSMP.
Finished 7th in the championship standings a year ago.
#5 Dillon Moltz
Last year’s champion picked up Rookie of the Year honors, as well, posting a win, three top 3s, and eleven top 10s in 12 starts in the GSPSS.
His lone victory came at Star Speedway, as part of the Star Classic weekend.
Moltz ran the final event at TSMP in 2013, the World Series, and 2014’s two stops to the facility, and boasts an average feature finish of 6, which includes a 5th place finish at the IceBreaker in 2014.
Added the 2014 GSPSS crown to his resume, for car owner Mark Brackett.
For more information on the Granite State Pro Stock Series, visit www.gspss.net.
Sources: Shawn Sicard/GSPSS PR