Christian III Goes Three in a Row with the GSPSS on the 4th of July
Ray Christian III kicked off the 2020 Independence Day weekend with his third GSPSS win in a row at Claremont Motorsports Park.
The Granite State Pro Stock Series took to the track for the second time of the season with an Independence Day celebration for the ages. Weekly racing, a massive fireworks display, and 100 laps of pro stock action were on the card and non-disappointed.
Angelo Belsito looked to be the man to beat as he was quick in practice, fastest in the Crazy Horse Racing fast time challenge, and handily won his heat race. It was an all Belsito kind of night until it came time for the GSPSS redraw. Eight drivers redrew and Belsito pulled the number 8.
Local favorite Luke Hinkley won heat race number two in dominant fashion and looked to have the car to finally pick up that elusive first series win. He would not fare a lot better in the redraw as he pilled pill number 5.
Two-time series champion Mike O’Sullivan would start from the pole with another former champion, Barry Gray on the outside of row one. Winner of the last two series events, Christian III would start from the fourth position in his attempt to make it three in a row.
O’Sullivan rocketed to the lead at the drop of the green flag while Gray spun his tires and stacked up the outside line allowing Jake Matheson and Luke Hinkley to move past. Hinkley quickly moved past Matheson for second and then took the lead from O’Sullivan.
Hinkley would lead the middle half of the race setting a torrid pace and running away from the field. He looked to have the car to beat as no one could match his pace.
A late-race restart and hard racing would ruin the day for both Hinkley and Belsito who had worked his way to second and then the race lead. Contact between the two would result in Belsito spinning off turn two and Hinkley being sent to the rear for his involvement in the spin. Hinkley would battle back for a top ten finish while a gear oil leak was found on Belsito’s mount ending his night.
Joey “Pole” would hang on for second with defending series champion Joey Doiron battling an ill-handling race car to third. Mike O’Sullivan would hang on to fourth while Cory Casagrande would start in tenth and quietly, methodically, work his way into the top five and finish fifth.
Second-year driver Jake Matheson would hang on to finish sixth while Hinkley would battle back for seventh. Rookies Cody Leblanc and Casey Call would finish eighth and ninth with Ryan Lineham in tenth.
The next event for the series will take place at the Hudson Speedway on Sunday, July 12th. The tight quarter-mile bullring in Hudson NH has become a series favorite and always provides for outstanding racing.
To follow the series go to www.gspss.net or follow the series on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Results:
1 – 93ct Ray Christian III
2 – 97 Joey Polewarcyk
3 – 73 Joey Doiron
4 – 08 Mike O’Sullivan
5 – 7ct Cory Casagrande
6 – 52nh Jake Matheson
7 – 31nh Luke Hinkley
8 – 55 Cody Leblanc
9 – 90nh Casey Call
10 – 48 Ryah Lineham
11 – 29 Barry Gray
12 – 88 Kevin Casper
13 – 12 Bobby Pelland
14 – 18 John Lowinski-Low
15 – 8b Angelo Belsito
16 – 11 Bryon Baker
17 – 40 Mike Mitchell
18 – 8nh Guy Caron
Contingency Awards :
Sunoco Race Fuels heat race winners – 5 gallons of race fuel – 31nh Luke Hinkley, 8b Angelo Belsito
AR Bodies hard luck award – $100 product certificate – 40 Mike Mitchell
Crazy Horse Fast Time Challenge – 1st $125 -8b Angelo Belsito – 2nd $75 – 31nh Luke Hinkley – 3rd $50 – 73 Joey Doiron
Magnus Performance Parts – 7th place finisher $100 product certificate – 31nh Luke Hinkley
Matco Tools: product certificates – winner $75 – 93ct Ray Christian III – Random Draw $75 – to be drawn at the next event
Bassett Wheels – 3rd $50 product certificate – 73 Joey Doiron
VDL Fuel Systems – 5th $100 product certificate – 7ct Cory Casagrande
American Racer Hard Charger – one free tire – 55 Cody LeBlanc
Speed 51 leader at lap 51 – $51 – 31nh Luke Hinkley
Sources: Mike Parks/Granite State Pro Stock Series PR
Tom Morris Photos