Lou Modestino
Jeremy Davis returned to the Granite State Pro Stock Series in fine fashion, picking up the win at the Star 100 at Star Speedway.
A strong field of 31 cars attempted to make the feature for the first of two races at Star Speedway in the 2014 season. After qualifying, 22 cars took the green for the Star 100.
Pole sitter Dillon Moltz had the car to beat early, as the Waterford, CT driver shot out of the gate at every restart, sending his RB Performance/Brackett Mechanical Chevrolet to the point each time. Contact with a car being put a lap down sent Moltz spinning in turn 2. Davis then inherited the lead, and was the cream of the crop from mid-race on. Matt Frahm’s day took a turn in the wrong direction, as he was involved in an incident on lap 40.
Davis once again held onto the point, and held Brad Babb off until Babb and Barry Gray made contact on lap 69, sending both drivers to the rear of the field, and ending George “Mad Dog” Bessette’s night, as heavy front end damage knocked Bessette out for the rest of the evening. Davis then had Dillon Moltz breathing back down his neck, as the youngster fought his way back through the field. The two would engage in battle down to the final laps, when Davis proved to be too strong, and pulled away with the victory.
“I saved our stuff,” Davis commented. “Moltz did a great job fighting his way back up through the field, and it was a tough break for him, but I still had some left in the tank at the end for him.”
For Moltz, the race was less than satisfying, even with the second place finish. “It was pretty disappointing, more so for my crew than myself,” states Moltz. “You can’t hang your head with a second place finish with a full field of cars, but it was just a heart breaker. We had the car to beat tonight. I knew it was going to come down to me and the 09, and he had a little more than me at the end, which is to be expected.”
Brad Babb followed up his second place finish at Hudson International Speedway with a third at Star Speedway. “I really thought I had a car to win tonight,” Babb said. “Early contact bent something in the front end, but that was just a racing deal; it happens. I was a little upset after getting turned around, but I’m pretty lucky to come away with a podium finish after all that.”
Buxton, ME’s Larry Gelinas would hold on to nab the fourth spot with an ill-sounding race car as the race came to a close. Youngster Derek Griffith once again fought adversity and picked up the fifth spot. Cory Robert, Mike O’Sullivan, Zig Geno, Tommy O’Sullivan, and Mike Parks completed the top 10. Moltz, Davis, and Matt Frahm were victorious in the three heat races, with Robert winning the consi.
Next up for the Granite State Pro Stock Series will be in a few weeks, as the series heads to Lee Speedway for the first time in its existence July 25th.
GATE CITY CLASSIC RESULTS
6/15/14
POS (Start) Driver Hometown
1. (2) Jeremy Davis Tamworth, NH
2. (1) Dillon Moltz Waterford, CT
3. (8) Brad Babb Windham, ME
4. (10) Larry Gelinas Buxton, ME
5. (5) Derek Griffith Hudson, NH
6. (19) Cory Robert Canaan, NH
7. (11) Mike O’Sullivan West Springfield, MA
8. (18) Zig Geno Canterbury, NH
9. (9) Tommy O’Sullivan Wilbraham, MA
10. (14) Mike Parks Walpole, NH
11. (21) Babe Branscombe Nottingham, NH
12. (3) Matt Frahm Hampstead, NH
13. (13) Mike Mitchell Cumberland, RI
14. (6) Barry Gray Belchertown, MA
15. (22) Billy Ryder Sandown, NH
16. (16) George Bessette Danbury, CT
17. (4) Russ Hersey Swanzey, NH
18. (20) Larry Moloney Wayland, MA
19. (15) Steven Dickey Londonderry, NH
20. (7) Bobby Cabral Medford, MA
21. (17) John-Michael Shenette Thompson, CT
22. (12) Joey Squeglia Derry, NH
DNQ 71 Carl Eriksson
DNQ 37 Fran “Jr” Colson
DNQ 53nh Tyler Fiscus
DNQ 21 Josh King
DNQ 0 Dennis Maxfiled
DNQ 95 Ron Smith
DNQ 87 Erik Sands
DNQ 02 Geoff Rollins
CONTINGENCY AWARDS Winner
AR Bodies (Hard Luck) Dillon Moltz
Bond Auto Parts (Last car on lead lap) Mike Mitchell
Crazy Ed’s Powersports (Hard Charger) Cory Robert
Draco Springs Award (Most positions gained) Cory Robert
Five Star Stock Car Bodies (5th place finisher) Derek Griffith
MacLellan Metal Finishing (Heat #1 Winner) Dillon Moltz
MacLellan Metal Finishing (Heat #2 Winner) Jeremy Davis
MacLellan Metal Finishing (Heat #3 Winner) Matt Frahm
Racer’s Depot (Random drawing) Matt Frahm
RB Performance (4th place finisher) Larry Gelinas
RB Performance (7th place finisher) Mike O’Sullivan
Sherwood Wheels (10th place finisher) Mike Parks
Sunoco Race Fuels (Heat #1 Winner) Dillon Moltz
Sunoco Race Fuels (Heat #2 Winner) Jeremy Davis
Sunoco Race Fuels (Heat #3 Winner) Matt Frahm
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