Lonesome Pine Plays Host To Returns, Breakthroughs, And Familiarities

Originally, the teams of the GNSS pit area were prepared to tackle Lonesome Pine on the week of July 19th. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had alternative plans. That pushed race day to August 16th. Little did we know how so much could change in that timeline. One of those being a massive points shakeup due to AJ Henriksen missing Orange County Speedway. But Henriksen would return this past weekend, picking up where he left off as one of the major contenders. Also coming back to the track was YouTube sensation Mitchell Stapleton (AKA Stapleton42) after weeks and weeks of repair from a practice incident back at Dominion due to faulty brake bias readings from the vehicle. Making his GNSS debut in the D2 Motorsports #23 was former ARCA and Trans-Am winner Thomas Annunziata, a name fans need to keep an eye on for the near future. All of this had the recipe for a great night on a track described as “the most difficult we race on” by two time champion Henriksen. Things started off with a familiar sight as points leader Jeremy Mayfield took home the ChaLew Performance Pole Award for race one.

After the invert, Chris Burns headed the field for the start of twin 50 #1 but soon gave way to Bob Schacht as the front of the pack went into tire conservation mode. Soon, it was rookie Thomas Annunziata taking the lead in his first career start. Schacht’s night soon went up in sparks as mechanical woes ended his night before it really began after contact with the outside wall. Many drivers fought the track all night long, trying to manage their equipment while passing on the treacherous surface, a characteristic many drivers and fans love about the Coeburn speed plant. Despite the veteran instinct it takes to run competitive laps, it was all Annunizata holding off challenges from teammate Mayfield, Henriksen, and the #11 of Jamie Mosley. The top three were under a blanket as the white flew, but Annunziata held on to win his debut race along with the first win for D2 Motorsports’ #23 entry. Mayfield came home second followed by Henriksen third, Mosley fourth, and Burns fifth.

Burns and Mosley led the field to green for race two but the pace was more frantic at the start this time around as Mayfield charges through the pack to take the early lead. Behind, both Mosley and Henriksen make some contact with the outside wall but recover without further miscue. From there on, a huge battle for fourth brewed behind between Burns and Mosley, with neither one giving an inch to the other. But up front, smooth sailing was the name of the game for Mayfield as he takes the dominant victory ahead of a hard charging Henriksen and Annunziata. Burns hangs on for fourth while Mosley rounds out the top five. Mayfield also leaves with both Howe Racing Enterprises Hard Charger awards on the night.

Caraway is next up on the schedule as the season winds down for 2025. Can Henriksen return to victory lane as he did last time in Sophia and make a dent in both the drivers and owners standings?