The Grand National Super Series presented by Engineered Components Company will begin their season this Saturday, April 1st at New River All American Speedway in Jacksonville, North Carolina. The second season for GNSS promises to be a spectacular one. As the series gains momentum, it also grows in excitement as new drivers and teams embark on the journey to victory. Ten drivers are currently entered to do battle at the 4/10-mile tri-oval.

 

New to the series will be Walter Sutcliff, who also participates in the Whelen Modified Tour, and Jason Kitzmiller who has been running the CARS Tour this season. The most exciting entry of the nonregulars has to be Chris Burns. Chris ran neck and neck with both Kevin Kromer and A.J. Henriksen who both won at the season finale at Carteret Speedway last season. Chris is also partaking in three different divisions Saturday: GNSS, Super Trucks, and Legends. Chris is looking for that win that eluded him in his last appearance and he has something to prove.

 

There will be several drivers who have something to say about that. Both 2022 champion A.J. Henriksen and Kevin Kromer who held off Burns at Carteret County Speedway are more than ready to take their place in victory lane. Henriksen is looking to add to his win column which stands at four. Kromer was only able to take the checkered flag once last season but is confident he will collect more in 2023. Don't count out young Joe Wilder in his Mopar Mafia Dodge. Joe is anxious to get back to the track and put Dodge back in victory lane. " I can't wait to get to New River. We finished fourth in both races last year and I know we can park this Mopar Mafia 42 in the winner's circle." Joe said ahead of the season opener. Several other series regulars will be returning for the 2023 season including Lauren Butler, Marc Jones, Larry Wilcox, and Eric Barber. Absent will be last year's New River winner Frank Kimmel. Frank had previous commitments but will return later this season. 

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If you would like to catch all the excitement in person practice begins at 2 p.m. with GNSS presented by Engineered Components Co rolling out sixth. Qualifying gets underway at 5:30. Henriksen will be looking to add another New River All American Speedway pole to his stats as he was last year's Chalew Pole Award winner for this race in 2022. Racing starts at 7 sharp. GNSS will run their trademark twin fifty lap features as events six and nine of the evening. It's no joke you can see ten races for ten dollars this Saturday.  As always if you can't make it to the track, we have you covered. Both races will be featured live on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/grandnationalss. 

 

For more information on this week's events please visit www.newriverspeedway.com

-JD Bowsher

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Race Results for New River All -American Speedway

04/01/23

 

It was a wild opening weekend for the Grand National Super Series presented by Engineered Components Company. There were two drivers unable to attend due to extenuating circumstances. Walter Sutcliff's Friday modified event was rained out and moved to Saturday, and the Mopar Mafia ride of Joe Wilder had mechanical issues while enroute. The remaining drivers took to the track for practice at 2 and were able to get a few runs in before the rain set in. Jason Kitzmiller had some bad luck in practice that would end his day. Due to work that had been done to the track by a contractor the timing and scoring system would be down for the day. Once the rain cleared it was decided that practice would resume, and the field would be set by qualifying order. 

   

The #9 D&D Towing machine of Marc Jones would start in the pole position. When the green flag dropped Jones was on a mission. Wheeling his car to a marginal lead. The 77 of Kevin Kromer was in tow followed by the 97 of 2022 champion A.J. Henriksen. The 12 of Cody Dennison had an early issue sending him to the pits for a few laps. Fortunately, he was able to resolve the issues and return to the track for racing.  Marc Jones seemed to have the race sewn up when a left rear tire went down ending his run in race one. The 53 hotrod of Lauren Butler would suffer mechanical issues that ended her great run. Kevin Kromer would take over the lead for several laps before Henriksen decided it was go time. Henriksen would take the lead late in the race and drive to victory lane. 

   

Race two would be equally as entertaining. Marc Jones would once again be on the pole with the 6 of Larry Wilcox starting second. Jones would lead the first lap, but Kromer was determined to improve on his first race. Kromer would pass Jones and grow his lead. The patience and experience of Henriksen would soon pay off. He would pick Jones off first then set his sights on Kromer. Henriksen picked his moment to make the pass with few laps remaining. Once A.J. was out front he got in the groove and hit his marks making it a sweep for both races of the evening. 

     

The next event for GNSS presented by Engineered Components Company will be at Tri-County Speedway in Granite Falls, N.C. on April 15th. Be sure to catch this week's winner on Talk'n Circles with Chris Carter Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.

 

To hear A.J.'s thoughts on the weekend tune in at facebook.com/doublecmedia. ;

 

 Race 1 Results

1. A.J. Henriksen

2. Kevin Kromer

3. Larry Wilcox

4. Marc Jones

5. Cody Dennison

6. Lauren Butler

 

Race 2 Results

1. A.J. Henriksen

2.Marc Jones

3. Kevin Kromer

4. Larry Wilcox

5. Cody Dennison

6. Lauren Butler DNS

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-JD Bowsher