CLAREMONT, N.H. – The Granite State Pro Stock Series will launch its season on June 5 at New Hampshire’s Claremont Motorsports Park with the Lets Go Racing 100.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, both the series and track schedules have been put on hold until now. Due to state of New Hampshire restrictions, fans will not be allowed in the grandstands but those wanting to witness this event will be able to do so via pay-per-view.
“We are really excited to be able to team up with our partners at speed51 and make this event happen,” said Granite State Pro Stock Series President Mike Parks. “While we wish we could have our loyal fans in the stands cheering our competitors on, it’s just not in the cards at this time.”
Three-time Oxford 250 winner Travis Benjamin has filed an entry for the Claremont event. Benjamin will make the trip down from Belfast, Maine, to get his racing fix at a track he has no experience on.
“We want to get back to racing and Claremont is a track I’ve never raced on. I’ve been there helping Matt Frahm in the past so I know the track a little bit and it looks like a fun track,” said Benjamin. “I think it should be fun to try something different.”
Garrett Hall comes to Claremont looking to go two-for-two in Granite State Pro Stock Series starts. Hall won the series’ lone visit to Oxford Plains Speedway in 2017.
“My crew and I have been itching to get back to racing all winter, not to mention all spring,” said Hall. “We all have the need for speed and want to go racing. Hopefully this will show that we can race within the distancing guidelines and will lead to more races.
“I can’t wait to see the track, not to mention race on it.”
Several of the series’ regular competitors will also be in action. Young guns Jimmy Renfrew Jr. and Casey Call have filed entries. Renfrew is a former winner with the series while Call will be chasing rookie honors.
Previous series champions Mike O’Sullivan, Barry Gray and Devin O’Connell will be in action, along with other veterans such as Jeremy Davis, D.J. Shaw and Cory Casagrande. Local competitor Luke Hinkley has also entered as he looks to take home his first series win at his home town track.
Currently there are entries from five of the six New England states as well as New York, with more expected.
“The response has been incredible,” said Parks. “The racers just want to get back in action and we are excited to give them the opportunity to do so.”
With fans not not allowed in the stands, Parks and his team had to figure out how to make this event work financially. Several companies have stepped up to help make it possible.
Crazy Horse Racing is in its second year presenting time trials for the series and kicked in money above and beyond to help make the Lets Go Racing 100 possible. Crazy Horse is New England’s official Port City Race Cars dealer, selling and maintaining the full line of Port City cars and parts.
Other businesses who stepped up include R&R Public Wholesalers in Hooksett, N.H. They have recently started a speed shop catering to local racers in southern New Hampshire. Also supporting this event is R.E. Hinkley Oil Co. Hinkley’s is a long-time supporter of the speedway through their oil, propane and plumbing sales and service outlet. In addition to their support of this event, they are a divisional sponsor for the track’s weekly racing series.
Three support divisions will be on the card, including a 35-lap contest for the R.E. Hinkley Street Stocks. Also in action will be the Six Shooters and Pure Stocks.
“When deciding what divisions to run we really felt like we wanted to showcase our entry level divisions. The pure stocks have been solid here for several years and the six shooters are an up and coming division in our region,” said Parks. “We thought we should give them some glory and an opportunity to show their stuff.”