Joe Squeglia Wins Second Star Classic With Granite State Pro Stocks

Story By: MIKE PARKS / GRANITE STATE PRO STOCK SERIES – EPPING, NH – Last year’s winner of the Star Classic Joe Squeglia of Derry, NH dominated at Star all weekend, taking the win for the second year in a row. Squeglia and 2016 winner Derek Griffith of Hudson, NH both had fast practice times and won their respective heats on Friday.

John Peters of Westbrook, ME started on the pole with Griffith on the outside. Squeglia started third. Points leader Mike O’Sullivan of Springfield, MA started deep in the field in the 17th position. Nipping at O’Sullivan’s heals in the points chase, Scott MacMichael of New London, NH started fifth and Barry Gray of Belchertown, MA who is third in points started fourth in the field.

Griffith took an early lead and held until lap 19 when Squeglia passed him to keep it the remainder of the race. Peters kept Squeglia on his toes much of the race trying to capture the lead. MacMichael ran a good race consistently running in the top five and made several bids for the top three. Gray also raced hard throughout the race, until he was involved in a caution on lap 87 pushing him out of the top ten.

Newcomer, fourteen-year-old Jimmy Renfrew Jr. of Candia, NH also made a good show of his abilities starting 18th and finishing 10th earning himself the Hard Charger Award. Mike Mitchell of Cumberland, RI started 11th in a car leant to him by Jeremy Davis and finished fourth for the night. In the final twenty laps of the race Squeglia and Peters pulled away from the rest of the pack, racing hard for the win. Griffith finished third, Todd Stone of Middlebury, VT finished fourth. MacMichael finished fifth rounding out the top five, closing in on O’Sullivan in the point standings.

Friday, October 13, The Granite State Pro Stock Series will be racing 60 laps, at Thompson Speedway, in Thompson, CT. for their World Series event, which boasts 18 divisions running over the weekend. For more information, follow The Granite State Pro Stock Series on Facebook or at www.gspss.net

Unofficial Finish
1 03 Joe Squeglia
2 51 John Peters
3 12 Derek Griffith
4 1X Todd Stone
5 72 Scott MacMichael
6 09 M Mike Mitchell
7 39 Nick Lascuola
8 00 Jimmy Renfrew Jr.
9 21 Josh King
10 7 Cory Casagrande
11 44 Rusty Poland
12 29 Barry Gray
13 08 Mike O’Sullivan
14 43 Devin O’Connell
15 46 Jake Venada
16 1 Jeff Jolly
17 18 Michael Scorzelli
18 32 Nick Jenkins
19 4 Tommy O’Sullivan
20 M32 Stephen Murphy
21 42 Brad Babb

Contingency Winner

AR Bodies (Hard Luck)
4 Tommy O’Sullivan

O’Reilly Auto Parts (3rd Place)
12 Derek Griffith

O’Reilly Auto Parts (Last Car on the Lead Lap)
43 Devin O’Connell

Five Star Bodies 5th Place
72 Scott MacMichael

Sunoco Heat Winner
03 Joe Squeglia

Sunoco Heat Winner
12 Derek Griffith

VDL Fuel 4th Place
1X Todd Stone

Race Parts NH Hard Charger
00 Jimmy Renfrew Jr.

Track: Star Speedway.
.25 mile Epping, NH
Race- Star Classic
Time of Race- 48:01.4
Best Lap Time- 13.294
Best Lap By- 51 John Peters
Cautions- (6) 15, 54, 57, 87, 88
Margin of Victory- 0.231
Lap Leaders- (2) Derek Griffith 10, Joe Squeglia 81