Derek Griffith celebrates victory in the 100-lap Pro All Stars Series event Sunday at Thompson Speedway (Photo: Jim DuPont)
THOMPSON – Thompson Speedway has long been a track holding a special place for Pro All Stars Series driver Derek Griffith.
Griffith went from watching some of his racing idols on the track in competition to chasing victories himself at the historic venue.
But etching his name in the record book at the track has been something the Hudson, N.H. driver kept coming up just short on.
Until Sunday.
Griffith dominated the final two-thirds of action on the way to victory in the 100-lap Pro All Stars Sereis event at the Icebreaker at Thompson Speedway Sunday.
It was the first victory at Thompson for Griffith, who previously had two second place finishes in Granite State Pro Stock Series action and one second with the Pro All Stars Series.
“It’s huge,” Griffith said. “This is probably one of the first race tracks I watched a big race at. I remember watching my crew chief Louie [Mechalides] race the Valenti [Modified Racing Series] and all that. I was probably 14 or 15 at the time. … To get that win finally is huge.”
DJ Shaw of Center Harbor, N.H. was second. Jared Irvan of Charlotte, N.C., the son of former NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series star Ernie Irvan, was third.
Griffith went by Shaw for the lead on a lap 28 restart and never trailed again.
“I started fifth and I kind of just [bided] my time,” Griffith said. “I knew I was going to be pretty good. … I knew I had a shot [on the lap 28 restart] because DJ chose the inside. The outside is favored here, for me here at least. I knew if I just got going I’d be alright. From there on out I just kind of [bided] my time and made sure I didn’t burn it up just in case we didn’t have a restart. The thing was just awesome. The guys really really got me hooked up.”
Good to see him win; I have watched him the past couple of years hold his own in New Smyrna against some of the best SLM drivers in the country.
What a boring parade called a race. Next time they should cut it off at 50 laps. There were only two leaders the whole boring race..zzzz
OMG that was the most boring thing I have ever seen, put that on sat and RUN VMRS on sunday!!!!!!!!, the dammm mini stock flying was 100 times better than the NO PASS race
Where did Dillon Moltz finish?
Humphry,
He was 13th.
Just a suggestion to the PASS teams. The next time there’s an infield pit party, don’t have your crews and friends draped all over the side of the cars. We couldn’t even get a look at them with people leaning all over them.