Belsito Continues to Roll at Claremont
The Granite State Pro Stock Series descended on the Claremont Motorsports Park for a final tune-up for the Granite State nationals to be held Labor Day weekend. Ten teams opted to take advantage of the opportunity to work on setups and adjustments that might give them an advantage when they compete for $10,000. At the end of the day, it was Auburn NH’s Angelo Belsito who made it two in a row with the GSPSS.
Ray Christian III came into the event looking to make it four in a row at the NH third-mile oval and in practice it looked like he and his team were prepared to do so. The Uncasville CT driver laid down fast laps in both practice sessions and looked like the man to beat heading for The Crazy Horse Racing fast time challenge. Unfortunately, a technical infraction just beforehand, caused his time to be disallowed, relegating him to the back of the heat race.
Angelo Belsito would wind up as the fastest man in time trials and lead the heat race to green. Home town driver Luke Hinkley would get to the front early and take down the heat race win.
After the GSPSS redraw it was Joey “Pole” Polewarczyk who would start on the pole alongside second-year driver Jake Matheson. Pole would lead the first several laps as Matheson fought his car and fell out of the top five.
Angelo Belsito would move to the lead early and pace the field for the majority of the event. He would lead a four-car pack also consisting of “Pole” Christian III and Luke Hinkley. Those four would pull away from the remainder of the field and settle the top spots among themselves.
Hinkley would move around Christian III late in the going but was unable to mount a substantial charge for the win. Joey “Pole” would take over the third spot late in the going relegating Christian III to fourth.
Jake Matheson would fight through to take back the fifth position beating out rookie of the year competitor Cody LeBlanc in sixth.
Josh King would finish in the seventh position in a brand new race car and is looking forward to returning to Monadnock Speedway, the site of his first series win, Saturday, August first.
Ryan Lineham stepped out of the 48 car after the Hudson race and competed in car number 10 for this event. The team Jelled quickly and came home with a solid top 10 finish in eighth.
John Lowinski-Loh would finish in the ninth position with Freddy Astle completing the top ten as he took over the seat of the 48.
The next event for the series is scheduled to take place at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester NH. The quarter-mile oval was one of the original tracks on the series and continue to host some of the best races each year.
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Results:
1 – 8B Angelo Belsito
2 – 31nh Luke Hinkley
3 – 97 Joey Polewarcyk
4 – 93ct Ray Christian III
5 – 52nh Jake Matheson
6 – 55 Cody Leblanc
7 – 21 Josh King
8- 10 Ryan Lineham
9 – 18 John Lowinski-Loh
10 – 48 Fred Astle
Contingency Awards :
Sunoco Race Fuels heat race winners – 5gallons of race fuel – 31nh Luke Hinkley
Crazy Horse Fast Time Challenge – 1st $125 -8b Angelo Belsito – 2nd $75 – 31nh Luke Hinkley – 3rd $50 – 52nh Jake Matheson
Magnus Performance Parts – 7th place finisher $100 product certificate – 21 Josh King
Matco Tools: product certificates – winner $75 – 8b Angelo Belsito – Random Draw $75 – to be drawn at the next event
VDL Fuel Systems – 5th $100 product certificate – 52nh Jake Matheson
American Racer Hard Charger – one free tire – 8b Angelo Belsito
Speed 51 leader at lap 51 – $51 – 8b Angelo Belsito
Sources: Mike Parks/GSPSS PR