Veteran racer rebounds from midrace penalty to score another Classic win
Photo credit Eric LaFleche/VLFPhotos.com
HUDSON, NH ?? Veteran stock car driver Bobby Cabral was able to add another Gate City Classic win to his already illustrious racing career by winning the Granite State Pro Stock Series Gate City Classic 100 at Hudson Speedway in Hudson, NH on Sunday night, July 8.
The East Kingston, NH racer Cabral took the Gate City Classic 100 lead on lap 28 but was penalized to the rear of the field by officials for his involvement in a lap 28 caution. Cabral then began his charge back through the field, and secured the lead on lap 80. Cabral then held off in spite of a series of late race caution flags to put another Gate City Classic trophy on the mantle.
“I wasn’t going to be denied tonight,” Cabral said in victory lane. “We lost one at Monadnock [Speedway] and my guys worked hard on this car. I wanted to put this car in victory lane. I picked and chose [lanes] and tried not to wear my stuff out. And here we are.”
Cabral led 22 laps en route to his Gate City Classic 100 win.
Veteran Mike Parks of Walpole, NH rallied from a lap one incident to take the second position. Parks’ car slid through the infield and struck a light pole, which cut the right front tire. Parks moved into the second position late in the race and challenged Cabral for the top spot, but settled for second. Bobby Baillargeon of Kingston, NH rebounded from a mechanical failure in his heat race to finish third in the Gate City Classic 100. The transmission in Baillargeon’s car tore to pieces and the crew borrowed a transmission from a fellow competitor to return to the track. Geoff Rollins of Groton, MA battled all race and was rewarded with a fourth place finish. Barry Gray of Belchertown, MA led the Gate City Classic 100 late but settled for fifth.
Reid Lanpher, Jay Sands, Cark Eriksson, hometown racer Derek Griffith, and Keith Caruso completed the top ten finishers, unofficially.
A near capacity crowd packed the Hudson Speedway to see the return of Pro Stock-type stock cars for the first time since the 1990s.
“I haven’t raced here since 1997 or 98,” Cabral said. “This is a great little place. To see so many people in the stands and all the cars up and down the road, it’s just a great feeling. I’m happy for the [track owner] Webbers and for the series. It was a great night for everybody. I think we put on a show and I think the fans loved it.”
The Granite State Pro Stock Series will make its second appearance at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, NH on Saturday, August 4 for the JBH 100.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS — Gate City Classic 100
Granite State Pro Stock Series — Hudson Speedway, Hudson, NH
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown-Laps
1. (5) Bobby Cabral, East Kingston, NH
2. (12) Mike Parks, Walpole, NH
3. (15) Bobby Baillargeon, Kingston, NH
4. (9) Geoff Rollins, Groton, MA
5. (13) Barry Gray, Belchertown, MA
6. (8) Reid Lanpher, Manchester, ME
7. (7) Jay Sands, Seabrook, NH
8. (4) Carl Eriksson, Deep River, CT
9. (14) Derek Griffith, Hudson, NH
10. (10) Keith Caruso, Millbury, MA
11. (3) Fran Colson, Gardner, MA
12. (1) Rich Eaton, Seabrook, NH
13. (2) Josh King, Vernon, VT
14. (6) Dennis Maxfield, Fitchburg, MA
15. (11) Zig Geno, Canterbury, NH
16. (16) Babe Brandscombe, Nottingham, NH
17. (17) Pete Fiandaca, Fitchburg, MA
18. (18) Jason Maki, Fitchburg, MA
Lap Leaders: Rich Eaton (1), Fran Colson (2), Eaton (3-27), Bobby Cabral (28), Colson (29-54), Barry Gray (55-79), Cabral (80-100)
Time of Race: 1:07:58
Margin of Victory: 1 car length
Cautions: 9 (1, 27, 28, 68, 73, 82, 93, 93, 97)
Heat Winners: Fran Colson, Rich Eaton