By Jeff Brown, for Granite State Pro Stock Series
HERMON, ME. — A week before the biggest race of the year for the Granite State Pro Stock Series presented by Hudson International Speedway, the series’ all-time win leader served notice that he will be tough to beat.
D.J. Shaw topped a 25-car field to win Saturday’s Stan Meserve Classic at Speedway Presented by Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, the 128-lap prelude to next Sunday’s $15,000-to-win Bar Harbor Bank & Trust 200.
The Center Conway, N.H., veteran, already twice a GSPSS feature winner in 2026, added Speedway’s revived Pro Stock schedule to his touring repertoire this season. Shaw, a former touring winner at Speedway in 2018, won Speedway’s season opener before placing second in the GSPSS’ June visit to the oval a week later.
Shaw blistered the track in time trials, topping Mainers Matt Bourgoine and Joe Pastore, Jr. to take the pole for the 128-lap feature. And while several of his rivals faced hurdles from spins to mechanical issues, Shaw kept his nose clean out front.
Youngster Sylas Ripley gave chase in the closing laps, but Shaw nipped the rising star by a quarter of a second to score his third win of the season at Speedway and his third win under the GSPSS banner in 2026.
Ripley finished second, a GSPSS career best, two seconds ahead of reigning series champ Cole Robie, who started 18th and charged to finish on the podium.
Former Speedway winner Garrett Hall was fourth, with 2024 GSPSS titlist Casey Call shaking off his own issues to finish a strong fifth in a new Dale Shaw Race Cars chassis.
Maine veteran Ryan Deane placed sixth, with New Brunswick racer Ryan Messer making his first American Pro Stock touring start with a seventh-place run. Joey Polewarczyk was eighth ahead of June winner Austin Teras, with championship leader Jeremy Sorel rounding out the top ten.
Shaw’s 15th career GSPSS checkered flag marked the first time a driver from outside the state of Maine has won a GSPSS event hosted in Maine since his own win at Wiscasset Speedway in 2016.
Sorel remains atop the points standings with two races remaining to settle the championship.
The GSPSS teams have a week to regroup before next weekend’s Bar Harbor Bank & Trust 200 at Speedway, with $15,000 plus lap-leader money in store for the race winner. Qualifying for the penultimate race of the 2026 season is slated for Saturday with the feature event on Sunday afternoon. Full details for next weekend’s event will be released shortly.
For more information on the Granite State Pro Stock Series presented by Hudson International Speedway, visit http://www.gspss.net or find us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Results, Stan Meserve Classic at Speedway Presented by Bar Harbor Bank & Trust:
1. (60) D.J. Shaw
2. (09) Sylas Ripley
3. (29) Cole Robie
4. (94) Garrett Hall
5. (90NH) Casey Call
6. (22) Ryan Deane
7. (1) Ryan Messer
8. (97) Joey Polewarczyk
9. (39) Austin Teras
10. (7MA) Jeremy Sorel
11. (56) Evan Beaulieu
12. (5M) Dillon Moltz
13. (78) Tiger Colby
14. (24) Mike Rowe
15. (27B) Bryson Parritt
16. (14) Josh St. Clair
17. (83) Matt Bourgoine
18. (8) Angelo Belsito
19. (18) Cassius Clark
20. (32) Nick Jenkins
21. (20) Joe Pastore, Jr.
22. (84) Jamie Wright
23. (72H) Mike Hopkins
24. (27) Brenton Parritt
25. (11B) Matt Beers