(Press Release from Granite State Pro Stock Series)
Returns to New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Hudson International Speedway headline a tentative 13-race schedule for the Granite State Pro Stock Series in 2018.
The season will begin with a test and tune session on April 28, before drivers take the first green flag at Claremont Speedway on May 4, with a 100-lap main event. The season will conclude and the champion will once again be crowned at New London-Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday, Oct. 20.
“The goal of the series has always been a 14-race schedule,” GSPSS president Mike Parks said. “That seems to be the number that works. We are still working on one more addition that would bring it to 14 races and we should know if that is going to happen just after the holidays.”
On Saturday May 26, the series will visit New London-Waterford Speedbowl for the first of two events in 2018. A new twist to the schedule will include a race format of time trials instead of heats, followed by three, 35 lap features in the same night.
Teams will have just about a month off following the Speedbowl to prepare for the Second Annual New England Short Track Showdown at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 23 & 24. In 2017, Eddie MacDonald dominated the second half of the 50-lap feature en route to the victory on the ‘Magic Mile’.
“Last year it was really unexpected and it went very well for everyone,” Parks said. “Other than some mechanical issues which caused a wreck in turn one, the race was clean and the teams seemed to have been able to race the track. We fully expect some additional entries and another amazing event.”
After the first of two stops at Lee USA Speedway on July 6, the series will return to Hudson International Speedway after a year hiatus on Sunday, July 15 with the running of the Gate City Classic 100.
“What can we say about Hudson, it’s like going back in time,” Parks said. “It’s an old race track, it’s rough, worn-out and just such a racer’s race track. Our teams asked about Hudson all last year and we just want to thank the Webber family for making it happen once again. We will have some other announcements about that event going forward.”
On July 28, a stop at White Mt. Motorsports Park will close out the month of July before the series returns to Monadnock Speedway on August 11. The annual JBH 100 will take place on the high-banks of the New Hampshire bullring.
“Monadnock Speedway has been a staple of the series since we started, and to be able to bring the JBH 100 back in 2018 is awesome,” Parks said. “The race is starting to build a tradition and will only get better moving forward.”
As of now, Sept. 2 and 15 are both dates with a track to be announced. On Saturday Sept. 8, the series will return to Star Speedway in Epping, N.H. with the annual Star Classic.
The final three races of the season will cover three different tracks and two different states. A second stop at Lee USA will be part of the annual Octoberfest weekend on Oct. 7 before the series visits the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing at Thompson on Friday, Oct. 12.
The champion will be crowned on Saturday night Oct. 20 with the second stop at the Speedbowl, with 100 laps scheduled.
As of now, the schedule for the 2018 season is tentative and subject to change. Additional dates could be added going forward following the holiday season.
For the latest information, fans are encouraged to visit www.gspss.net and follow the series on social media.
—
2018 Granite State Pro Stock Series Schedule (Date: Track, City/State – Lap Distance)
May 4: Claremont Speedway, Claremont, N.H. – 100 laps
May 26: New London-Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, Conn – Triple 35 lap features
June 23-24: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H. – 50 laps
July 6: Lee USA Speedway, Lee, N.H. – 100 laps
July 15: Hudson International Speedway, Hudson, N.H. – 100 laps
July 28: White Mt. Motorsports Park, North Woodstock, N.H. – 100 laps
August 11: Monadnock Speedway, Winchester, N.H. – 100 laps
Sept. 2: TBA
Sept. 8: Star Speedway, Epping, N.H. – 100 laps
Sept. 15: TBA
Oct. 7: Lee USA Speedway, Lee, N.H. – 100 laps
Oct. 12: Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Thompson, Conn. – 50 laps
Oct. 20: New London Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, Conn. – 100 laps
—
Why another late model/pro stock type event at the Speedbowl? And so early in the season as well. I can’t understand why they have to add another high priced show that us weekly fans and teams will have to pay to see our local favorites. If it cost more than $20 to get in the grandstands it is going to mean another poker night for this old fart. The glory days of full-fender cars in southern New England has long passed ever since the CT tracks decided it was in their best interest to change the rules so you could not run the same car at all three tracks. I’m not sure which track started the problem but I recall watching 50+ Late Models in the late 1980’s at the Speedbowl. This was the year when Farmer Phil Rondeau won the tri-track championship at all three tracks in the same year. I think I still have the old stock car racing magazine where all 3 of his cars were on the front cover.
The triple 35 lap feature sounds cool. I’d love to see that done somewhere with mods.
I hope that the weather cooperates on the last three races of the season. Not sure what will happen if there is a rain out.
Yes the triple 35 format does sound cool, would love to see it done with the SK’s or maybe a special SK Lite show the week in July that the Speedbowl is normally closed for Sailfest.
I agree. Too many tour nights which means higher front gate prices. Diehard fans like myself will go no matter what but the casual fan who wants to bring the family out on a Saturday night won’t.