Maine’s Larry Gelinas has the 2015 Granite State Pro Stock Series Championship in his sights. He’ll be looking to take down a win at this coming weekend’s Icebreaker at Thompson Motor Sports Park. (Credit: GSPSS photo.)

For “Lightning” Larry Gelinas racing is almost as important as breathing. The 30-plus-year veteran gets behind the wheel any chance he can. This year he’ll be chasing the 2015 crown in the Granite State Pro Stock Series (GSPSS), as well as throwing his name in the hat in the Late Model division at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. Gelinas will also run select ACT events, and attempt to qualify for the Oxford 250.

“I love to race, that’s really all I’ve ever done,” comments Gelinas.

Gelinas started last year with his seasoned race car, after replacing the snout of his Cadillac following a bone-crushing hit at Lee USA Speedway’s Oktoberfest. The team packed up and headed south to compete at New Smyrna (FL), only to suffer mechanical issues all week.

The 2015 GSPSS schedule has a different look, and Gelinas is anxious to get the season started. The schedule starts off in familiar territory, with the IceBreaker, on April 10-12 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (TSMP). The IceBreaker will pay $2,000 to capture the victory, with $250 to take the green. Then, Claremont Speedway, the track where it all began, will host the GSPSS April 24. Add a return to Speedway 51 (NH), formerly Riverside Speedway, and New London-Waterford Speedbowl (CT) to close out the season, and the “new” tracks act as equalizers on the schedule.

Gelinas adds “I’ve never even seen New London-Waterford (Speedbowl). The different tracks makes more of a challenge for everyone. That’s why we race.”

Larry Gelinas began the 2014 season on a tear. In the first five races, Gelinas never finished any worse than fourth, including a win at Hudson International Speedway. Then, bad luck struck the Buxton, Maine native as mechanical issues took him out of the JBH 100 at Monadnock Speedway. In the very next race the 1996 winner of the Oxford 250 battled two-time ACT Champion Wayne Helliwell, Jr., in a green-white-checkered finish, only to spin after contact for his second consecutive finish outside the top-10. Gelinas buckled down and rack up four top-7 finishes to round out the season and finished third in the championship standings.

Gelinas will be joined by Derek Griffith, Barry Gray, and a field of Granite State Pro Stock Series drivers at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park for the $2000-to-win Icebreaker, April 10-12.

Source: Granite State Pro Stock Series/ Thompson PR