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10/31/2018 07:00 AMDevin O’Connell, 20, of Madison began racing when he was 9 years old and has amassed a long list of championships and honors since then, including U.S. Legend Cars Semi-Pro Road Course World Champion, U.S. Legend Cars Semi-Pro Asphalt National Champion, U.S. Legend Cars ZMAX Touring Series Champion, Connecticut State Legend Cars Road Course Champion, Connecticut State Legend Cars Asphalt Champion, and Legend Cars Track Champion at Stafford Motor Speedway (CT), all when he was 17. Also that year, he was named by Speed51 Short Track Draft as one of the best short track race car drivers in the country. When he was 15, he received the Allison Legacy Sportsmanship Award.
On Saturday, Oct. 20 at the New London Waterford Speedbowl, he won the Granite State Pro Stock Series championship.
To find out what it was like in the cockpit in the feature race of the Granite State Pro Stock Series, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxZ-R2eOKaI (or Google “Devin O’Connell, GSPSS, Championship Night Waterford Speedbowl”). The first crash happens at about 3:08 minutes into the video. The first pit stop is at about 3:46, and the second pit stop is about 6:58. The seven-car crash at the end is at about 33:16.
The winner of the race was Ray Christian III, a hometown favorite who lives nearby the Speedbowl in Uncasville. Gabe Brown of Conway, New Hampshire came in second, Ben Rowe of Turner, Maine came in third, and Joey Doiron, of Berwick, Maine, a close competitor for the championship, came in fourth in the race, according to a report from gspss.net. Doiron was runner up for the 2018 championship.
Devin O’Connell, Over the Years:
Here is a complete list of O’Connell’s accomplishments:
2018 (age 20)
• Champion of the Granite State Pro Stock Series (GSPSS) with 2 wins, 2 second place finishes, and 6 top 5 finishes in 12 races.
2017 (Age 19)
• First season as owner/driver of a Super Late Model racing team.
• Finished 8th in points in the Granite State Pro Stock Series
2016 (Age 18)
• American Canadian Tour (ACT) Rookie-of-the-Year
• Super speedway ARCA Racing Series approved after testing at Daytona International Speedway on January 15th (2.5 mile “D” Oval). 48 laps completed. Best time 48.389. Average speed 185.993 mph.
2015 (Age 17)
• U.S. Legend Cars Semi-Pro Road Course World Champion
• U.S. Legend Cars Semi-Pro Asphalt National Champion
• U.S. Legend Cars ZMAX Touring Series Champion
• Connecticut Sate Legend Cars Road Course Champion
• Connecticut State Legend Cars Asphalt Champion
• Legend Cars Track Champion at Stafford Motor Speedway (CT)
• Winner of the 2015 U.S. Legend Cars Semi Pro-Road Course World Finals at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
• Winner of the 2015 US Legend Cars Semi-Pro Asphalt Nationals at Anderson Motor Speedway (SC)
• Named to Speed51 Short Track Draft as one of the best short track race car drivers in the country
• 42 Wins in 92 Races, 71 Top 3’s, 45.7% Winning Percentage
2014 (Age 16)
• Allison Legacy Touring Series Champion, 10 Wins in 16 Races
• Legendstock Semi Pro Divisional Winner at Bethel Motor Speedway (NY)
• 3rd Overall in Semi Pro Division of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Summer Shootout with 2 wins and three 2nd place finishes in 10 races.
• Second Overall at U.S. Legend Cars Winter Nationals at Auburndale Speedway (FL). 1 win, 4 top 5’s
• 22 Wins in 50 Starts, 35 Top 3’s, 44% Winning Percentage
2013 (Age 15)
• Second in point standing in Allison Legacy (South) Touring Series
• Allison Legacy Sportsmanship Award
2012 (Age 14)
• Fifth in pint standings in Allison Legacy (South) Touring Series
2011 (Age 13)
• Fifth in point standings in Allison Legacy North Touring Series
• Second in Jr. Champ Division at Twin State Speedway
• Fourth in Jr. Outlaw Division at Stafford Motor Speedway
2010 (Age 12)
• Twin State Speedway Jr. Outlaw Champion
• Wild Thing Kart Hoosier Tire Series Champion
• 8th in Allison Legacy North Touring Series (rookie season)
2009 (Age 11)
• Second in points in the Wild Thing Karts Tiger A Division at Stafford Motor Speedway
2008 (Age 10)
• Second in points in the Wild Thing Karts Tiger A Division at Stafford Motor Speedway
2007 (Age 9)
• First year racing
• Second in points in Wild Thing Karts Tiger B Division