Dave Farrington celebrates victory in the Granite State Pro Stock Series feature Saturday at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl (Photo: New London-Waterford Speedbowl)
WATERFORD – In 2013 Dave Farrington ran nine features in the Late Model division at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl.
That time of learning how to handle traffic on the shoreline oval came in hand for the Jay, Me. driver Saturday night.
Farrington came from the last starting spot to win the 75-lap Granite State Pro Stock Series feature at Saturday’s Bemers Big Show at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl.
Farrington was forced to start last in the 27-car field after qualifying for the event was cancelled because of rain.
“I was pretty disappointed, we were on the pole for our heat race then they told they were going to start by owners points which put us basically dead last,” Farrington said. “I knew we had a great car and I just [bided] time. I didn’t know if 75 laps would be enough to get to the front. But if that ain’t a hard charger award I don’t know what is.”
Joe Squeglia of Derry, N.H. was second and Angelo Belsito of Auburn, Mass. was third.
Barry Gray of Belchertown, Mass. finished fourth and won the series championship.
“We didn’t have the greatest of years,” Gray said. “We salvaged it up. At the end there it was raining. I say ‘You know what, we’re just going to tiptoe to a good finish and be done here.’”
DJ Shaw, Gray’s only competition for the championship, went by Gray for the lead on the first lap and led every circuit before heading to the pits with a tire issue with seven laps remaining.
By then Farrington had clawed his way to second place behind Shaw and inherited the lead when Shaw went to the pits.
“Back in 2013 we ran nine races here in the Late Model division, beating and banging doors with Keith Rocco,” Farrington said. “We bested him one night. We got a win. I think we had four or five seconds that year. I think it probably took me about 20 laps just to remember how to drive around here and how you can use that apron to your advantage if your car is not quite turning where it needs to be. It’s a little bit different in the [Pro Stock] than the Late Model. A little more motor, a little more tire. But I think it definitely helped us in the long run, we’ve probably put 500 to 600 laps around this track four years ago.”
The Granite State Pro Stock Series was the first of 17 events scheduled for Saturday night. Rain began falling immediately after the event forcing the postponement of the remainder of the racing card.
Hats off to Farrington, definatelly a winner of the hard charger award! It was a great race to watch!!
Can’t not mention how great of a job Angelo Belsito did getting a third from pretty far back too!! He’s some one to watch in the coming years. Protects his car very well and will pass you clean as he makes his way to the front! A few more laps and I think he would of won that race!
Great run by a very talented and clean driver.