Rocky Ridge 150 Goes to DJ Shaw Again
Claremont NH – DJ Shaw continued his mastery of Claremont Speedway going two for two in the Rocky Ridge 150. The Conway NH driver took home the richest purse of the season for the Granite State Pro Stock Series for the second year in a row.
The evening’s competition began with the Crazy Horse Racing race for the pole and once again it was Joey Doiron setting fast time. Doiron has become the master of time trialing in 2019 and when asked how, he said “we found a couple of things we were doing wrong so we changed what we do”. “The big thing is what we do with our tires before time trials” he added.
After time trials were a pair of heat races and in both, the competition was fierce. DJ Shaw was able to come out on top of the first heat while the fastest man in practice, Angelo Belsito, picked up the win in heat number two.
Up next was the Rocky Ridge 150 with a cool five grand on the line. After the GSPSS redraw the front row was made up of point leader Joey Doiron and Rhode Island driver Mike Mitchell. Doiron would get away with the early lead until a lap four caution for the spinning Angelo Belsito.
Just two more cautions would fly between lap four and lap one thirty four. In that time four drivers would separate themselves from the rest of the field. Eventual winner DJ Shaw, Mike O’Sullivan, Hometown driver Luke Hinkley, and Doiron would all lead laps and at times seem to be the car to beat.
Over the last 16 laps, the intensity level would be on the rise. Several cautions for action in the middle of the pack would keep the front four bunched up and cause the lead to change several times. In the end, it would come down to a battle between Shaw and O’Sullivan as they lined up side by side for the last few restarts.
In the end, Shaw would win the final restart and as a result the race. In Victory lane, Shaw spoke highly of the event that series president Mike Parks is building. “I love this place and this event is really cool. Mike O’Sullivan raced me with total respect like he always does and we were able to win this event both times it has happened”. Shaw then added “I can’t wait to come back and try to win the third one”
O’Sullivan chased Shaw to the checkers while Luke Hinkley would end the day in third. Hinkley in victory lane for the first time with his three week old son was a picture of mixed emotions. “We tightened the car up just a little too much,” said Hinkley in Victory lane. “It’s cool to have my son here for the first time but we really wanted to win. We’ll get one” he added.
Polesitter and point’s leader Doiron would keep the leaders in sight but had nothing for them, in the end, finishing fourth. After a steady run, defending champion Devin O’Connell would round out the top five as he tries to chase down Doiron for the 2019 championship.
Mike Mitchell would battle all night long to finish sixth just ahead of Jimmy Renfrew Jr and Ray Christian III in seventh and eighth. Ricky Bly and Cory Casagrande, both making just their second starts of the season, would complete the top ten.
Up next for the Granite State Pro Stock Series is the fendered Friday portion of the annual Star Classic at the Star Speedway in Epping NH. The Crazy Horse Racing race for the pole is scheduled for just before 7:00 with heats and features to follow.
For more, follow the GSPSS on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well as at www.gspss.net.
Granite State Pro Stock Series contingency awards:
ARB Hard Luck Award: 52 Jake Matheson $100.00
O’Reilly Auto Parts last car on the lead lap: 88 Kevin Casper $75.00
O’Reilly Auto Parts 7th place finisher: 00 Jimmy Renfrew Jr $75.00
American Racer N.E Hard Charger: 08 Mike O’Sullivan One Free Tire at the next event
Sunoco Heat Race Winners :
#1 60 DJ Shaw 5 gal Sunoco Race Fuel
#2 8 Angelo Belsito 5 Gal Sunoco Race Fuel
VDL 5th Place: 43 Devin O’Connell $100.00
Crazy Horse Racing Fast Time:
73 Joey Doiron $125.00
8 Angelo Belisito $75.00
60 DJ Shaw $50.00
Rocky Ridge 150 Official Finish
1- 60 DJ Shaw
2- 08 Mike O’Sullivan
3- 31 Luke Hinkley
4- 73 Joey Doiron
5- 43 Devin O’Connell
6- 40 Mike Mitchell
7- 00 Jimmy Renfrew Jr
8- 93 Ray Christian III
9- 28 Ricky Bly
10- 7 Cory Casagrande
11- 14 Matt Frahm
12- 21 Josh King
13- 88 Kevin Casper
14- 12 Bobby Pelland
15- 8 Angelo Belsito
16- 47 Gabe Brown
17- 03 Joe Squeglia
18- 52 Jake Matheson
19- 29 Barry Gray
20- 16 Austin Blais
21- 09 Jeremy Davis
Sources: Mike Parks/GSPSS PR
Tom Morris Photos