(Press Release from Granite State Pro Stock Series)
Cory Casagrande (1) in action with the Granite State Pro Stock Series (Photo: Chip Cormie)
After five races in the 2016 Granite State Pro Stock Series campaign, Cory Casagrande sits second in the points standings.
Casagrande is a native of Stafford Springs, Connecticut and drives the No. 1 Shark Cycles, Casagrande Builders Chevrolet at each of the races on the GSPSS schedule. So far in 2016, the season has had its ups and downs, but Casagrande sits second in the point standings going into the second half of the season.
“I think from last year to this year, we are 100% better,” Casagrande said. “I’ve been pretty happy with this season so far, we have had a couple of tough races but we’ve also had some top-fives and those are good to have. We’re going to a new track for basically everyone next in Riverhead, I’m probably one of the few people that run the tour that has even been there to watch a race, so I’m looking forward to going back there.
His season started with a part failure at White Mt. Motorsports Park, which forced him to finish at the tail end of the field — not the start to the season he had hoped for. However, Casagrande rebounded quickly, jumping to third at the finish at one of his favorite tracks, Monadnock Speedway.
From there, Casagrande finished 11th at both Lee USA Speedway and Claremont, but the Claremont finish did not show how strong the Casagrande Builders car was. He was running up towards the front before being collected in a crash that sent him to the tail and he could only rebound to 11th. The setup and knowledge that he gained at Claremont has him excited for when the series returns on August 5.
“I’m looking to going back to Claremont,” Casagrande said. “We had a good run going there last time until we got caught up in a wreck late and I just wasn’t able to get back anything I lost. I also seem to always run pretty decent at Monadnock and Waterford as well.”
Though he is sitting second in the points and there are only six races left on the 2016 calendar, Casagrande isn’t looking at the point standings just yet. He currently trails GSPSS former winner Barry Gray by 14 points and leads Mike Parks by two points and Mike Mitchell by just four points.
He is hoping to continue his hot streak by doing nothing different in the final few races.
“I try not to look at the points because it messes with you, so I am going to just continue what I am doing and pretend that I am not racing for points,” Casagrande said. “If we are there at the end, we will worry about it then. That would be great.”
As with every team on the GSPSS roster and every team involved in racing, without his sponsors, supporters and family and friends, Casagrande wouldn’t be able to do what he enjoys doing each week.
“I have to thank Bob Charland, Casagrande Builders, my mom and dad and everyone that helps out in the crew. It’s a true team effort every week, they travel with me and it’s a lot of work both at the shop and at the track.”
The GSPSS returns to action on July 30, with the inaugural appearance at Riverhead Raceway on Long Island, New York.
For more information on the series, drivers, teams and fans are encouraged to visit www.gspss.net
There are only 4 drivers who have run all the series races. 2nd in points on a series that averages 13 cars per race and only 4 teams running for the championship isn’t much of an accomplishment.
The GSPSS isn’t close to being a legitimate touring series.
Because it takes a crew that works their asses off to put him in a position to make every race not everyone has that type of dedication and 2nd in points is a testament to that.
Good luck at Riverhead Corey, I hope you get your first win!
True, this series is really struggling for car counts. The only Late Models that aren’t are ACT and Thunder Road. 30 LMs were ready up there last week, but got rained out til this Thurs. Now, that’s a field of cars. Anyway, this article just reminds me of the people who no longer race at Stafford. Talk about 13 cars per race….