Rocky Ridge 150 up next for the GSPSS
Up next for the Granite State Pro Stock Series is the second annual Rocky Ridge 150 at the Claremont Motorsports Park in Claremont NH. This is the second year for what is fast becoming the series’ most anticipated event, and with the winner’s share of the purse being upped to $5000, excitement is high.
For the second year in a row, Springfield GMC and their Rocky Ridge line up of trucks have come on board as the title sponsor for this event. Springfield GMC will be offering some fantastic deals on the full line of Rocky Ridge trucks as well as deals on any new or used vehicle in their inventory. Race fans will also have the opportunity to purchase the GSPSS 2019 pace truck at a greatly reduced price.
Last year’s event was settled between Jeremy Davis and eventual winner DJ Shaw in a battle for the ages. The two rivals battled side by side on the tight third-mile oval for most of the second half of the event, showing a great deal of respect for each other the whole time. In victory lane, both competitors talked about how much fun they had and neither could remember racing that hard in a long time.
For 2019 the series has upped the purse, upped the laps and upped the intensity. An additional fifty laps and more prize money spread throughout the finishing order has caught the eye of many competitors from throughout New England and beyond.
Several local competitors have filed entries including Luke Hinkley who will try to welcome his new son to the racing world with a win. Hinkley was in contention for most of the 2019 event but faded late and hopes to pick up his first win in a pro stock at his home track.
Ricky Bly returns to GSPSS competition for this event. The Sunapee NH driver has been running his L.M.S. car this summer but hopes to run several GSPSS races this fall. Also entered is Guy Caron who hopes to contend at the track that he grew up racing at as he makes a rare start in his pro stock.
Joey Doiron returns to the third-mile speed plant as the point leader and the most recent GSPSS winner at the third-mile oval. Doiron chose to start at the rear and drove all the way to the win last time the series raced in Claremont. The driver from the state of Maine made it look fairly easy and picked up an extra $1000 in the process. He will be challenged by the likes of Davis, Matt Frahm, Hinkley and Ray Christian III who will be breaking out a new car for this event.
Other notables expected include 2018 series champ Devin O’Connell, two-time series champ Mike O’Sullivan, and many time Claremont Motorsports Park winner Barry Gray and former track regular Josh King. A surprise entry is Joe Squeglia and his 03 team. Squeglia is a multi-time series winner and normally only competes at the Lee, Star and Waterford Speedbowl events. The Derry NH driver will try to take the win and its $5000 prize back to southern NH with him.
Joining the action on Sunday, September 1st will be five other divisions. There will be two Battle for the Belt races as the Mini Stocks will make their only visit of the season to the NH speed plant and the Street Stocks will go 73 laps in memory of the late Richard Tetreault. Both races are expected to draw healthy fields of cars and the Street Stocks will see an increased payout due to the efforts of Joe Tetreault and Mike Parks who have come together to make this race a fitting tribute to a great husband, father, grandfather and a true racer. A top prize of at least $1000 has been announced to go along with numerous bonus payouts and money for the top three heat race finishers.
Also in action will be the Granite State Legends in a national event qualifier which is expected to bring competitors from Connecticut, Maine and all states in between. The always exciting Pro Truck Challenge will be in action and the night will conclude with a wild and crazy red neck enduro.
Racing will kick off at 4:45 pm with The Crazy Horse Racing race for the pole followed by heat races and all of the feature action. Adult tickets will be just $20, six to twelve will be $10 and under six free.
Pre Entry List (As of 8/28)
1. 43 Devin O’Connell
2. 21 Josh King
3. 1x Todd Stone
4. 00 Jimmy Renfrew Jr.
5. 14 Matt Frahm
6. 08 Mike O’Sullivan
7. 93 Ray Christian III
8. 16 Tommy Rosati
9. 73 Joey Doiron
10. 52 Jake Matheson
11. 46 Dennis Spencer Jr.
12. 29 Barry Gray
13. 8 Angelo Belsito
14. 12 Bobby Pelland
15. 40 Mike Mitchell
16. 09 Jeremy Davis
17. 7 Cory Casagrande
18. 03 Joe Squeglia
19. 8 Guy Caron
20. 28 Ricky Bly
21. 31 Luke Hinkley
22. 16 Austin Blais
For more information got to GSPSS.net or check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Sources: Mike Parks/Granite State Pro Stock Series PR