Veteran racer scores first career Granite State Pro Stock Series win
HUDSON, NH — Bobby Baillargeon was virtually untouchable as the veteran stock car racer led all 100 laps and claimed his first career Granite State Pro Stock Series win at Hudson Speedway in Hudson, NH in the Hudson Hugger 100.
The Kingston, NH driver drew the pole position in the top-eight redraw and set up his winning effort. Baillargeon was able to pull out to sizeable leads, but a late race restart on lap 94 put Granite State Pro Stock Series point leader Bobby Cabral to his outside.
Baillargeon prevailed on the final restart at Cabral got shuffled back on the outside and cruised to his first career Granite State Pro Stock Series win.
Rich Eaton of Seabrook, NH glued himself to the back bumper of Baillargeon and followed him into the runner-up position. Jay Sands, also of Seabrook, NH, restarted fifth and was able to follow the path of Baillargeon and Eaton into the third position. Sands earned the hard charger award as he worked his way from his 13th place starting position to finish third.
Cabral, of East Kingston, NH, settled for fourth. Mike Parks, of Walpole, NH, restarted behind Cabral on the final restart and finished fifth. Barry Gary, Keith Caruso, Carl Eriksson, Geoff Rollins, and Josh King completed the top ten finishers.
Eight cautions slowed the event and took about one hour to complete. Cabral and 15-year-old Derek Griffith scored the heat race wins. Baillargeon became the fourth different winner for the Granite State Pro Stock Series this season, which has yet to feature a repeat winner.
Baillargeon moved into second place in the Granite State Pro Stock Series point standings, 22 markers behind Cabral. Eaton moved into third place, 26 points behind Cabral. Parks slid back to fourth, 28 points back, and Barry Gray moved into fifth, 34 points behind.
The Granite State Pro Stock Series will head back to Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, NH on Saturday, September 8 for the JBH 100, which was postponed from August 4. Post time is set for 6:00pm.
The Granite State Pro Stock Series can be found on the internet at www.gspss.net, as well as Facebook. Information on Monadnock Speedway can be found at www.monadnockspeedway.com. Hudson Speedway can be seen at www.hudsonspeedway.info.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS — Hudson Hugger 100
Granite State Pro Stock Series — Hudson Speedway, Hudson, NH
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Pos.-(Start)-Driver-Hometown-Laps
1. (1) Bobby Baillargeon, Kingston, NH, 100 laps
2. (4) Rich Eaton, Seabrook, NH, 100 laps
3. (13) Jay Sands, Seabrook, NH, 100 laps
4. (2) Bobby Cabral, East Kingston, NH, 100 laps
5. (6) Mike Parks, Walpole, NH, 100 laps
6. (7) Barry Gray, Belchertown, MA, 100 laps
7. (11) Keith Caruso, Millbury, MA, 100 laps
8. (8) Carl Eriksson, Deep River, CT, 100 laps
9. (10) Geoff Rollins, Groton, MA, 94 laps
10. (3) Josh King, Vernon, VT, 93 laps
11. (5) Derek Griffith, Hudson, NH, 83 laps
12. (14) Fran Colson, Gardner, MA, 58 laps
13. (12) Jay Maki, Fitchburg, MA, 24 laps
14. (9) Phil Meany, Gardner, MA, 23 laps
Did Not Start: Matt Frahm, New Salem, NH
Lap Leaders: Bobby Baillargeon (1-100)
Cautions: 8 (24, 40, 56, 56, 60, 80, 83, 94)
Heat Winners: Derek Griffith, Bobby Cabral