Points Leader Gray and Recent Winner Shaw Lead the Way into Star Classic 100
WALPOLE, N.H. — The Granite State Pro Stock Series (GSPSS) is headed to Star Speedway in Epping, New Hampshire this Saturday night Sept. 10 for the running of the Star Classic 100.
The 51st annual classic will take place on Saturday, as the GSPSS helps headline the night of action alongside the International SuperModified Association (ISMA) and their 150-lap feature race.
The 100-lap feature event for the GSPSS is expected to be a hotly contested battle, especially since the championship chase is coming down to the stretch of the season and is close at the top. Following the Star Classic, just two races remain on the 2016 schedule.
The series will visit Monadnock Speedway next Saturday, August 17, then visit New London-Waterford Speedbowl on Bemer’s Big Show weekend, Oct. 22-23.
During the Star stop in 2015, current second place points driver D.J. Shaw captured the victory behind the wheel of his No. 60 in just his second start of the season.
Shaw is also the most recent winner on the series, capturing the win in the inaugural stop at Wiscasset Speedway last Sunday afternoon and is hoping to continue his success on Saturday.
Coming into the event, Shaw trails Belchertown, Massachusetts driver Barry Gray by just four points in the championship battle. Gray struggled some at Wiscasset Speedway last weekend, coming home with a finish outside the top-10 and allowing Shaw to close the gap.
Gray finished eighth at Star last season while Shaw was able to capture the big trophy. In 2014, former series champion Dillon Moltz took down the win in the Classic 100.
Expected entries for Saturday’s race include point contenders Mike Mitchell, Cory Casagrande, and Mike Parks, along with reigning series champion Derek Griffith, who has had his own success at Star in the past. Griffith captured a victory on the series at Star in June of 2015 and finished second in last year’s event.
Adding onto the already impressive list of bonus awards for drivers that the series has compiled, well-known auto racing newspaper Area Auto Racing News — based in New Jersey — will award the top three finishers in the Star 100 with a 20-week subscription to their weekly edition newspaper.
On Saturday, pit gates will open at 10:00 a.m. GSPSS teams will practice from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m., along with a final practice session from 2:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Heat racing begins at 4:15 p.m., with the 12 lap qualifying rounds for the GSPSS up first. Feature racing begins at 5 p.m. and the GSPSS is scheduled for the second to last feature race of the night.
For more information on the GSPSS, fans are encouraged to visit www.gspss.net
QUICK FACTS: Star Classic 100 at Star Speedway
TRACK FACTS:
1. 1/4 mile oval located in Epping, New Hampshire
2. Holds weekly racing card on Saturday nights
3. Will hold the 51st annual Star Classic this weekend
RACE FACTS:
1. Star Classic 100 lap feature event
2. 12 lap heat races
3. 24 guaranteed starters
EVENT SCHEDULE:
1. Pit gates open at 10 a.m.
2. Practice from 1:30-2, then 2:45-3
3. Heat races at 4:15
4. Features begin at 5 p.m., GSPSS is second to last in the order
Sources: Mike Parks/GSPSS PR