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By Jeff Brown, for Granite State Pro Stock Series
WALPOLE, N.H. — The 2026 season for the Granite State Pro Stock Series presented by Hudson International Speedway marches on this weekend with a return to a familiar series battleground with a new name, a refreshed look, and a new strategy for the decade ahead.
Speedway presented by Bar Harbor Bank & Trust welcomes the GSPSS back for Saturday’s U.S. Army 100, the third race of the 2026 schedule and the first of three scheduled trips to the Hermon, Maine, third-mile this year.
Situated just outside Bangor, the track formerly known as Speedway 95, was purchased late last year by former NASCAR Cup Series winner and broadcaster Ricky Craven. Under Craven’s leadership, the venerable oval is in the process of an extensive modernization project.
Saturday’s race marks the fourth year in which Speedway has served as the GSPSS’ Pine Tree State home track. With a new weekly Pro Stock division taking shape this season, the series-speedway partnership is as strong as ever.
The first Pro Stock winner at Speedway this past weekend was none other than GSPSS all-time win leader D.J. Shaw, who tops the entry list for this weekend’s 100-lap feature. Shaw shares sponsorship backing with the speedway, though not a home state. Indeed, with a win Saturday night, Shaw would be the first non-Maine GSPSS winner at Speedway.
Hermon native Mike Hopkins has been actively involved in Speedway’s redevelopment process, and Saturday’s race will be a chance for the decorated racer to reap the rewards of his efforts. Hopkins swept both races at Speedway in 2024. Fresh off a road win this past Sunday, Hopkins will try to claim his first trophy under the oval’s new moniker.
Evan Beaulieu will have something to say about Hopkins’ chances, though. The Durham, Maine, veteran swept last year’s races, topping Hopkins himself in September, earning his first two GSPSS wins. One of the series’ full-timers, Beaulieu will look to leave a slow start to the season behind with a third-straight Speedway victory.
Beaulieu’s key title rival the last two years has been Casey Call. The 2024 GSPSS titlist and New Hampshire native has had some struggles at Speedway in the past, but has turned the corner this year with his newest car. Also hailing from the Granite State are 2020 GSPSS champion Joey Polewarczyk, Dan Winter, and Connor McDougal.
Season-opener winner and GSPSS points leader Jeremy Sorel has one of the longest trips among the entrants; he and teammate Alex Quarterley are expected to haul north from Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley. Tom Carey III and Joe Kendall have slightly shorter trips from their corner of western Massachusetts, but all four have hours of windshield time ahead this weekend.
Austin Teras joins the GSPSS for the first time this weekend as he settles into a new routine and a new ride. The young racer and Ford stalwart dominated the headlines at tracks closer to his Gray, Maine, roots the last several years before testing the waters of Speedway’s Pro Stock program.
Series veteran Jamie Wright and rookie Matt Beers have flown the Maine flag in both races this year. Joining the two series regulars is Josh St. Clair, whose sole GSPSS win was in the series’ second visit to Speedway in 2023. Fellow Mainers Bryan Lancaster, Ryan Deane, Jet Decker, Nick Jenkins and D.C. Alexander have all made past starts with GSPSS as well. Multi-time NELCAR Legends champion Matt Bourgoine and local racer Chris Nickerson raced last week in the speedway’s season opener and will give the GSPSS a try this Saturday.
One driver looking to make series history Saturday is Greg Fahey. The native of St. Stephen, New Brunswick will attempt to become the first racer from the Canadian Maritimes to win a GSPSS feature.
The Granite State Pro Stock Series headlines an action-packed Saturday at Speedway presented by Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, with the U.S. Army 100 capping off a schedule that includes the 350 SMAC Supermodifieds, the New England Dwarf Car Series, the Ladies Acceleration Tour, Road Runners, Street Stocks and Crown Vics. Grandstands open at 1:00pm with qualifying to start at 5:00pm. General admission is $20; reduced-price tickets are available for juniors and seniors, and kids 5 and under are always admitted free.
For more information on the Granite State Pro Stock Series, visit www.gspss.net or find us on Facebook.
