Claremont to Host Super Late Model Race Without Fans
For the first time in 2020, a Super Late Model race will be held in the Northeast on Friday, June 5. Claremont Motorsports Park in Claremont, New Hampshire announced Saturday that the track will hold a Granite State Pro Stock Series event without fans in attendance. The event will be streamed via a live pay-per-view broadcast on Speed51.
The announcement comes following the postponement of many Northeast Late Model racing events due to government restrictions that have been placed on large gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following discussions with state and local officials, Claremont has received approval to contest the “Let’s Go Racing 100,” the season opener for the Granite State Pro Stock Series.
The Month of May was scheduled to be a busy one for the teams of the Granite State Pro Stock Series. Unfortunately, as the country battles the Covid 19 pandemic, the 2020 season has been put on hold.
“The health and safety of our fans and race teams is our number one priority”, stated series promoter Mike Parks. “As much as we want to be at the track, we will respect the directives of our state officials”. “We are in a situation where we have more questions than answers”, Parks continued. “We want to get going just as soon as we can and we are in contact with all of the series track owners on a weekly basis”.
The Granite State Pro Stock Series was supposed to have contested its opening round on Saturday April 25. Despite a picture perfect afternoon for racing, that did not happen. Now, again due to Covid-19, round two of the 2020 season has been postponed.
The second event for the series was scheduled to be held at Star Speedway in Epping NH. The quarter mile Bullring has quickly become a series favorite for drivers and fans alike. As of this release, no makeup date has been announced but conversations between series president Mike Parks and Star Speedway promoter Bobby Webber are ongoing.
“We would really like to be able to hold both races scheduled at Star”, Stated Parks “As we hear what the Governor of NH has to say over the next few weeks, we will look at both schedules and see what can be made to work”.
Unfortunately for fans and racers alike racing throughout the country and even the world has temporarily been interrupted for an indefinite period of time. “We have been listening to the governors and health officials of all the New Engand states as we look to see what can be saved of the 2020 schedule,” stated Parks. “We definitely don’t want to risk the health of any of our loyal fans and competitors”
For 2020 the Granite State Pro Stock Series has partnered with some of the top suppliers to short track racing teams to provide one of the industry’s best contingency programs. Several new companies as well as many returning ones will support the teams as they compete in 2020.
“We take great pride in working with quality companies to get the racers a little extra for their efforts”, Stated series President Mike Parks. “This year’s contingency program is arguably the best we have ever had and that is exciting for everyone”.
Three new companies have signed on, although none of them are unfamiliar to the series and its teams.
Speed51 is a longtime partner and will present $51 to the leader of lap 51 at all events in 2020. They will also continue to stream most of the 2020 scheduled events live. “Speed51 has enjoyed a great relationship with the Granite State Pro Stock Series”, says Northeast editor Brandon Ward. “We are happy to have a partnership that benefits the series, tracks, racers and fans”.
The Granite State Pro stock Series officially brought its 2019 season to a close on Saturday February 22, at the Thompson Speedway Motor Sports Park clubhouse. The season ending banquet of champions was a chance for the teams of the GSPSS to get together one last time as part of the 2019 season and honor their champion.
Joey Doiron and his team were officially crowned champions for the 2019 season and at the end of the night they took home the champions check worth $4000.00, the largest in series history. In addition New England Race Fuels and Sunoco gave Doiron a champion’s jacket and American Racer outfitted both Joey and his car owner / father with Jackets to commemorate their achievement. Doiron graciously thanked series president Mike Parks, the series officials and each of his team members individually. He then thanked his wife, kids, mom and finally his father as he got emotional talking about all the years they shared leading up to this championship. Doiron not only took the Championship but $500.00 from crazy Horse Racing for setting fast time in time trials an amazing five out of eleven times, far more than any other competitor.
As the Granite State Pro Stock Series makes its way through the long New England off season, series staff and teams prepare for the upcoming racing calendar.
The 2020 Schedule has seen a few last minute adjustments of late, but the bulk of it remains the same. The tentative Adirondack date won’t happen but Waterford has picked up that date and construction at the CT shoreline oval seems to be progressing nicely.
