This past Saturday, the Granite State Pro Stock Series made their debut at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. 27 drivers and teams showed up to compete, filling the field with both Beech Ridge series regulars and Granite State Pro Stock Series heavy hitters, like Ray Christian III and Joey Doiron. Other notable drivers in the field included Joey Pole, Derek Ramstrom and Ryan Green.
The competition started out with time trials, which is an old-school qualifying technique that fans of Beech Ridge had not seen at the track for a number of years. Two drivers would go out on the track at staggered times, giving it their all for 2 laps in attempt to land at the top of the leaderboard. Dave Oliver, Derek Ramstrom and Wyatt Alexander were the top 3 drivers in time trials, which allowed them to start on the pole for their individual heat races.
Dave Oliver and Garrett Hall went head-to-head for the lead in the early laps of the first heat race. Oliver held the advantage on lap 3, pulling away from his competitors. Angelo Belsito advanced to third over Rusty Poland on lap 7, but Rusty wasn’t giving up easy and was back to Belsito’s door the following lap. Dave Oliver captured the heat victory, followed by Garrett Hall and Angelo Belsito, who beat out Rusty Poland at the line.
Derek Ramstrom quickly pulled away with the lead in the second heat race but his competitors were hungry for the lead, taking him 3-wide on lap 2. Ramstrom came out on top, but Corey Bubar was quick to his door as Ben Rowe and Trevor Sanborn battled it out for position behind them. Derek Ramstrom took home the heat victory, followed by Corey Bubar, who edged Trevor Sanborn out by a nose at the checkered.
Ray Christian III powered to the early lead in the final qualifying heat as Gary Smith quickly nudged his way into the runner-up spot. Wyatt Alexander powered to the outside of Gary Smith for the runner-up spot on lap 2, advancing position then battling Christian for the lead all on the same lap. Alexander finally cleared Christian on lap 4 and never looked back, taking home the heat victory. Ray Christian III and Gary Smith rounded out the top 3.
The top 3 drivers from each qualifying heat did a re-draw for their starting positions in the feature race, resulting in Corey Bubar earning the top starting spot for the feature.
Bubar powered to the early lead over Gary Smith in the feature race. Gary Smith fell to third before challenging to the inside of Wyatt Alexander for the runner-up spot on lap 3. After the two drivers battled it out for a handful of laps, Alexander pulled away with the advantage on lap 9. Derek Ramstrom was also in hot pursuit of the leaders and was all over Garrett Hall for fourth on lap 17. Ramstrom made his way to Hall’s inside on lap 20 and Trevor Sanborn joined the battle. Garrett Hall briefly pulled away, leaving Ramstrom and Sanborn battling it out for position.
The leaders began approaching lap traffic on lap 30, allowing Wyatt Alexander to slowly chip away at Corey Bubar’s lead. After a strong showing all day, Rusty Poland’s #44 machine began smoking on lap 33 due to right rear damage and he pulled to the pits the following lap. He returned to the track briefly afterward, but he lost 3 laps to the leaders due to the incident.
Derek Ramstrom was back on Garrett Hall for fourth on lap 38 with Ray Christian III right on their heels. Ramstrom dived under Hall for position on lap 53, but Christian was able to advance to fifth over Derek Ramstrom on lap 58 as the leaders continued to battle lap traffic. Angelo Belsito took a spin on the backstretch on lap 81, leading to the first caution of the feature.
Corey Bubar powered away with the lead once again on the restart as Garrett Hall advanced to third over Gary Smith behind him. Dave Oliver began challenging to the inside of Gary Smith for fourth on lap 86, clearing him the following lap. Evan Beaulieu took a spin on lap 87 in turn 1, resulting in another yellow flag.
As Corey Bubar pulled away with the lead once more, Garrett Hall began challenging Wyatt Alexander for the runner-up spot. Alexander pulled away with the spot, leaving Garrett Hall and Dave Oliver battling it out for third behind him. Oliver powered to third over Garrett Hall on lap 96 with Derek Ramstrom in tow. Ramstrom was on Dave Oliver’s tail for third on lap 105, but Oliver maintained the edge over him.
The leaders began approaching lap traffic once again with just 30 laps to go, allowing Wyatt Alexander to creep up to the back of Bubar’s #42 machine. Alexander seized the moment on lap 127, pulling to the outside of Bubar, challenging for the lead. He took over the following lap, but Bubar was back to his door on lap 130. Lap traffic played a role again on lap 138, allowing Wyatt Alexander to distance himself from Corey Bubar in the closing laps of the feature.
After a strong performance all day, Garrett Hall came to a slow on lap 139, retiring to the pits 11 laps shy of the finish.
Wyatt Alexander maintained his edge over Corey Bubar in the closing laps and captured the feature victory. Victory was sweet for the Wyatt Alexander Racing team, who have been working relentlessly to make improvements to the #96 machine since Wyatt’s return to a full-time racing schedule at Beech Ridge after returning from a stint down in North Carolina. The beginning of the 2020 season has been full of highs and lows for the #96 team, but Saturday night’s $3,000-to-win victory was definitely an all-time high for the team.
Corey Bubar, Derek Ramstrom, Dave Oliver and Trevor Sanborn rounded out the top five, with the final leaderboard representing a strong showing for the Beech Ridge drivers amongst the touring regulars.
The Granite State Pro Stock Series made their mark at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway this past weekend and ran a wonderfully executed event from start to finish. The 150-lap feature and the qualifying experience brought a new level excitement to the track that I hope to see again in the feature. I want to thank Mike Parks and the entire GSPSS staff for their hard work this past weekend to make the event not only successful, but fun as well.
Support the Granite State Pro Stock Series at their next event on Sunday, September 6th at Claremont Motorsports Park. You will also catch the Beech Ridge Pro Series drivers next Saturday, August 22nd at 3:00 pm.
Get out there and support your local short track because they need your support more than ever right now.
Continue chasing the checkered and I’ll see you soon!
