The Sportsman Street Stock Series finished off their season by going to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway for a 15 lap on it’s road course. After last week’s race at South Boston, Clay Snider had already clinched the championship, but didn’t want to count it as won until the last lap of tonight’s race.
Derek Robinson would start things off by picking up the pole in his only start of the season. But as the field would take the pace lap, Robinson’s car would have some mechanical issues, and when he took the green flag, his car was underpowered.
This would allow Matt Rolfe to jump out front for the first 3 laps as he looked to pull away out front. But he would find trouble as he spun out coming off turn 2 onto the backstretch. Robinson was still hanging onto 2nd at the time and was able to grab the lead while Rolfe recovered.
Robinson would come around to lead the next lap, but it was Scott Dunlap that powered by the injured car of Robinson to grab the lead.
Rolfe would recover and would pull up to the back of Dunlap’s car as the two drivers battled it out for the top spot. Rolfe would gain time in the back half of the course, but Dunlap would pull away on the straightaways making it hard to pass. All Dunlap had to do however, was keep his car clean, as Rolfe would make another mistake in turn 5 at the top of the hill, leaving Dunlap to pull away with the lead.
Dunlap would finish out the remaining 5 laps, driving clean and carefully, and would finish things off by coming around for the checkered flag, picking up his first career SARA victory in his 128th league start. Rolfe would still recover to finish 2nd, while Mike Belanger made a strong run at the end to finish 3rd. Snider would finish 4th, with Vernon Margheim rounding out the top 5.
Despite his 4th place finish, Clay Snider would have a little trouble on the evening. But with the championship already clinched, he would have nothing to worry about.
With another top 5 finish, Clay Snider would earn himself the 2014 Season 1 – Sportsman Street Stock Series Championship, his first career SARA championship.
Snider’s championship run consisted of 9 top 5’s, and 10 top 10’s. He would prove that consistency is the key to being a champion.
For full results and season standings, click HERE.