Christian III goes Three in a Row with the GSPSS on the 4th of July

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

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 illusive 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 quickley moved past Matheson for second and 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 will take place at the Hudson Speedway on Sunday July 12^th. The tight quarter mile bullring in Hudson NH has become a series favorite and always provides for outstanding racing.

1 - 93ct Ray Christian III  (3)

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