Polewarczyk, JR. Steals Seacoast 100 Win at Lee USA Speedway

Durham, NH- Joey Polewarczyk, JR. used a two-lap shootout to best point leader Larry Gelinas en route to grabbing his second career victory in the Granite State Pro Stock Series (GSPSS).

Newcomer to the GSPSS Bobby Nadeau led the field to green with Marston Mills, MA native Billy Brady to his outside. Nadeau proved he had a fast car, jumping out to a quick lead. The advantage would be wiped away as the first of 6 cautions flew for Russ Hersey’s spin in turn 3 on lap 14. On the restart, Nadeau would drift wide and collect Brady on the backstretch, ending both driver’s nights early. Larry Gelinas would inherit the lead, and be faced with American-Canadian Tour point leader Joey Polewarczyk, JR. to his outside. Gelinas would show his strength, as the pilot of the Watt’s Race Cars Cadillac would pull away from Polewarczyk, JR. until a caution for Steve “Danger” Dickey would negate the lead on lap 49. Gelinas would fend off Polewarczyk, JR. once more, and set a blistering pace as the duo would put multiple cars a lap down.

The race endured another high-paced green flag run until lap 92, when George Helliwell and Tyler Fiscus would tangle entering turn one, sending Helliwell into the wall. Gelinas would jump out once more on the restart, and looked to be cruising to his second victory of the season until Brad Babb slammed the front stretch wall, teetering on two tires, and coming to an abrupt stop in between turns one and two, setting up a two lap shootout.

Gelinas, who had been so strong on restarts all race long, could not hold off Polewarczyk, JR. on the final restart, as the Hudson, NH native would beat Gelinas to the stripe, picking up the victory in the Seacoast 100.

Polewarczyk, JR. gave credit to Gelinas after the win. “If it wasn’t for that last caution, Gelinas would have won this race,” stated Polewarczyk, JR. “Larry and I had similar cars, but I felt in the first two laps on restarts I was just a bit better. We had a few restarts, and Larry got the jump on those. The last one, I timed it right. It feels good to get a win like this, but I know how Larry feels, because I’ve lost one like this at Devil’s Bowl (VT).”

Polewarczyk, JR. started from the seventh spot en route to his victory, which makes him the fifth winner in as many races in the GSPSS 2014 season, but was lucky to even finish the race. In pre-race tech, crew member Nate Brown noticed a leaking valve stem, and the Pole’s Automotive team rushed to change the failed part to get their driver back in line.

Larry Gelinas settled for second on the night. “We didn’t need that caution,” admits Gelinas. “I figured the 97 was saving something for the end, I spun the tires, and he had the edge and got me.” Gelinas, who now has 5 finishes in the top 4 to start the season, said luck has helped his blistering start. “It will be real tricky to continue this streak.”

Youngster Derek Griffith gained ground all night, and fought his way to a third place spot after starting the race 13th. “This is huge to us in the point standings,” Griffith remarked. “The car was a rocketship. Louie and the crew put me in a great car. There was a lot of green flag laps, with some clean, hard racing. We are trying for a championship, so tonight was huge.”

Matt Frahm snuck into the Seacoast 100, filling the last qualified spot in the consi, but a strong car helped the Hampstead, NH driver fight his way into a fourth place finish. Dillon Moltz overcame a trip down pit road on the lap 14 caution to bring his Chevrolet to a fifth place spot. Barry Gray used a provisional to get into the show, but rebounded with a sixth place finish, with Mike O’Sullivan, Joey Squeglia, JR., Tyler Fiscus, and Keith Caruso rounding out the top 10. Moltz, Polewarczyk, JR., and Gelinas picked up heat wins, and Babe Branscombe was victorious in the consi.

The Granite State Pro Stock Series will be back in action August 9th, as the series travels to Monadnock Speedway for the second event at the Winchester, NH track in 2014, followed by a return trip to Star Speedway on August 16th, and Hudson International Speedway August 24th. White Mountain Motorsports Park welcomes the GSPSS onSeptember 20th, and the series will end the season at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park at the World Series October 18-19. For more information on the Granite State Pro Stock Series, visit www.gspss.net, contact Mike Parks at mparks@gspss.net, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @GSProStocks.

SEACOAST 100 RESULTS

7/25/14

POS (Start) Driver Hometown

1. (7) Joey Polewarczyk, JR. Hudson, NH

2. (6) Larry Gelinas Buxton, ME

3. (13) Derek Griffith Hudson, NH

4. (21) Matt Frahm Hampstead, NH

5. (5) Dillon Moltz Waterford, CT

6. (22) Barry Gray Belchertown, MA

7. (9) Mike O’Sullivan West Springfield, MA

8. (14) Joey Squeglia, JR. Derry, NH

9. (17) Tyler Fiscus Pembroke, NH