WALPOLE, N.H. — After back-to-back weeknight races, the Granite State Pro Stock Series presented by Hudson International Speedway returns to a weekend itinerary with Saturday night’s conclusion of the MDP Motorsports Promotions Triple Crown.
Monadnock Speedway rolls out the red carpet for the GSPSS in conjunction with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s Duel at the Dog 200 presented by USNEPower, as New England’s most tenured open-wheel series wraps up its own in-season miniseries on the high-banked quarter-mile oval.
The Winchester, N.H. track returned to the GSPSS schedule last July after a few seasons away, with fresh pavement proving that “Mad Dog” could still serve up some new tricks. Reigning champion Cole Robie parlayed a 2024 Legends victory into a career-first stock car triumph, as he held off friend and fellow Legends graduate Casey Call for his first GSPSS checkered flag.
The Windham, Me. teen, who won his second GSPSS feature at Claremont Motorsports Park earlier this year, returns to the series to defend his victory in Saturday’s 100-lap showdown. This time, though, Robie has to go head-to-head with GSPSS all-time win leader D.J. Shaw, who has Monadnock wins in 2020 and 2022 and carries the momentum from his own Claremont victory two weeks ago.
Joey Polewarczyk has yet to win at Monadnock, but plenty is at stake for the 2020 GSPSS champion, as he leads the MDP Motorsports Promotion Triple Crown standings after a win at Seekonk Speedway and a third-place finish at Claremont. Extra cash is on the line for “Joey Pole” if he can notch a long-awaited Monadnock victory.
In the series championship battle, Polewarczyk sits 30 markers behind Jeremy Sorel, who has led the standings since his first-career win at Stafford Motor Speedway in April. Monadnock is one of the closest tracks on the schedule to Sorel’s Westfield, Mass., home, but a fifth-place finish in 2022 is his best result there thus far.
Should Sorel slip on the high banks, Evan Beaulieu and Casey Call are poised to capitalize, each trying to make up for early-season mishaps that have left them a distant fourth and sixth in the points. Jamie Wright hovers just inside the top five in points, but the Woolwich, Maine, driver, has never raced at Monadnock.
Dan Winter heads to Monadnock fresh off an eighth-place run at Claremont, while Joe Kendall heads to a track where both he and wife Julia have plenty of seat time.
Connecticut veteran Cory Casagrande has two podium finishes at Monadnock, including in last year’s bout, and carries the momentum of a second-place finish at Claremont. Connor McDougal led five laps last year in his GSPSS debut, and Monadnock represents a chance to redeem himself after an early end to his first series start.
Matt Beers’ rookie run was derailed after trouble at Seekonk Speedway, but the Wiscasset Speedway regular could get back on track at Monadnock. Tom Carey III, meanwhile, looks forward to returning to his family’s home track this weekend after picking up a strong fifth-place finish two weeks back.
Alex Quarterley returns to oval-track competition after racing for father Dale in the ARCA Menards Series at Lime Rock Park two weeks ago. Also returning is Adam Gray, whose father Barry has a series-leading four wins at Monadnock. Rounding out the early entries is Chris Riendeau; “The Weasel”, who made his series debut at Claremont and is back for more.
Will a new name tame Monadnock Saturday evening, or will a veteran be the one to master “Mad Dog” and its new tricks?
The Granite State Pro Stock Series presented by Hudson International Speedway ventures to Monadnock Speedway this Saturday for the exciting conclusion to the MDP Motorsports Promotions Triple Crown. The GSPSS will go for 100 laps to award a race winner and $5,000 in Triple Crown winnings. The Pro Truck Challenge Tour rounds out a three-division card with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s Duel at the Dog 200 capping off the evening. Qualifying begins at 6:00pm for all three featured divisions.