By Lou Modestino

Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. used a two-lap shootout to best point leader Larry Gelinas en route to grabbing his second career victory in the Granite State Pro Stock Series (GSPSS).

Newcomer to the GSPSS Bobby Nadeau led the field to green with Marston Mills, MA native Billy Brady to his outside. Nadeau proved he had a fast car by jumping out to a quick lead. The advantage was wiped away as the first of 6 cautions flew for Russ Hersey’s spin in turn 3 on lap 14. On the restart, Nadeau drifted  wide and collect Brady on the backstretch, ending both driver’s nights early.

Larry Gelinas inherited the lead, and was faced with American-Canadian Tour point leader Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. on the outside. Gelinas  showed his strength as the pilot of the Watt’s Race Cars Cadillac would pull away from Polewarczyk, Jr. until a caution for Steve “Danger” Dickey would negate the lead on lap 49. Gelinas managed to fend off Polewarczyk, Jr. though, and set a blistering pace as the duo would put multiple cars a lap down.

The race endured another high-paced green flag run until lap 92 when George Helliwell and Tyler Fiscus tangled entering turn one, sending Helliwell into the wall. Gelinas jumped out once more on the restart and looked to be cruising to his second victory of the season until Brad Babb slammed the front stretch wall, teetering on two tires, and coming to an abrupt stop in between turns one and two, setting up a two lap shootout.

Gelinas, who was so strong on restarts all race long, just could not hold off Polewarczyk, Jr. on the final restart as the Hudson, NH native would beat Gelinas to the stripe and picking up the victory in the Seacoast 100.

Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. gave credit to Gelinas after the win. “If it wasn’t for that last caution, Gelinas would have won this race,” stated Joey. “Larry and I had similar cars. But I think that n the first two laps on restarts I was just a bit better. We had a few restart and Larry got the jump on those. The last one,though, I timed it right. It feels good to get a win like this. But I know how Larry feels, because I’ve lost one like this at Devil’s Bowl (W. Haven, VT).”

Polewarczyk, Jr. started from the seventh spot en-route to his victory which makes him the fifth winner in as many races in the GSPSS 2014 season. But, he was lucky to even finish the race. Because in pre-race tech crew member Nate Brown noticed a leaking valve stem and the Pole’s Automotive team quickly changedf the failed part to get their driver back to the starting grid.

Larry Gelinas had to settle for second on that night. “We didn’t need that caution,” admits Gelinas. “I figured the #97 was saving something for the end, I spun the tires, and he had the edge and he got me.” Gelinas, who now has 5 finishes in the top 4 to start the season, said “Luck has helped my blistering start. It’s realy tricky to continue this streak.”

Youngster Derek Griffith gained ground all night and fought his way to a third place spot after starting the race 13th. “This is huge to us in the point standings,” Griffith remarked. “The car was a rocketship. My crew put me in a great car. There was a lot of green flag laps with some clean, hard racing. We are still trying for a championship. So tonight was huge.”

Matt Frahm barely made it into the Seacoast 100 filling the last qualified spot in the consi, But a strong car helped the Hampstead, NH driver fight his way into a fourth place finish. Dillon Moltz overcame a trip down pit road on a lap 14 caution to bring his Chevrolet to a fifth place spot. Barry Gray used a provisional to get into the show.  But he rebounded with a sixth place finish, while Mike O’Sullivan, Joey Squeglia, Jr., Tyler Fiscus, and Keith Caruso rounded out the top 10. Moltz, Polewarczyk, Jr., and Gelinas picked up heat wins while Babe Branscombe was victorious in the consi.

The Granite State Pro Stock Series will be back in action August 9 as the series travels back to Monadnock Speedway for the second event of the season at the Winchester, NH track in 2014. Then a return trip to Star Speedway in Epping, NH on August 16 followed by Hudson International Speedway on August 24th. Then White Mountain Motorsports Park in No. Woodstock, NH welcomes the GSPSS on September 20.

The GSPSS will end the season at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park at the World Series October 18-19.

SEACOAST 100 RESULTS

POS (Start) Driver Hometown

1. (7) Joey Polewarczyk, JR. Hudson, NH

2. (6) Larry Gelinas Buxton, ME

3. (13) Derek Griffith Hudson, NH

4. (21) Matt Frahm Hampstead, NH

5. (5) Dillon Moltz Waterford, CT

6. (22) Barry Gray Belchertown, MA

7. (9) Mike O’Sullivan West Springfield, MA

8. (14) Joey Squeglia, JR. Derry, NH

9. (17) Tyler Fiscus Pembroke, NH

10. (8) Keith Caruso Milbury, MA

11. (20) Bobby Cabral Kingston, NH

12. (24) Zig Geno Canterbury, NH

13. (4) Brad Babb Windham, ME

14. (15) Todd Stone Middlebury, VT

15. (11) John Salemi Nashua, NH

16. (87) Adam Norton Ludlow, MA

17. (07) George Helliwell Derry, NH

18. (12) Tommy O’Sullivan Wilbraham, MA

19. (3) Steven Dickey Londonderry, NH

20. (21) Mike Parks Walpole, NH

21. (19) Babe Branscombe Nottingham, NH

22. (1) Bobby Nadeau Buxton, ME

23. (2) Billy Brady Marston Mills, MA

24. (10) Russ Hersey Swanzey, NH

DNQ Cory Roberts Canaan NH

DNQ Wyatt Alexander Elworth, ME

DNQ Dennis Maxfield Fitchburg, MA

DNQ Bobby Baillargeon Kingston, NH

DNQ Jeremy Davis Tamworth, NH

CONTINGENCY AWARDS Winner

AR Bodies (Hard Luck) Brad Babb

Bond Auto Parts (Last car on lead lap) Zig Geno

Crazy Ed’s Powersports (Hard Charger) Matt Frahm

Draco Springs Award (Most positions gained) Matt Frahm

Five Star Stock Car Bodies (5th place finisher) Dillon Moltz

MacLellan Metal Finishing (Heat #1 Winner) Joey Polewarczyk, JR.

MacLellan Metal Finishing (Heat #2 Winner) Larry Gelinas

MacLellan Metal Finishing (Heat #3 Winner) Dillon Moltz

Racer’s Depot (Random drawing) Derek Griffith

RB Performance (4th place finisher) Matt Frahm

RB Performance (7th place finisher) Mike O’Sullivan

Sherwood Wheels (10th place finisher) Keith Caruso

Sunoco Race Fuels (Heat #1 Winner) Joey Polewarczyk, JR

Sunoco Race Fuels (Heat #2 Winner) Larry Gelinas

Sunoco Race Fuels (Heat #3 Winner) Dillon Moltz