SEEKONK, Mass. – Picking a champion in the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Pure Stocks for 2023 is going to be a tough task. In fact, even picking a race winner for this division is going to be difficult. As of the season preview, over 30 drivers have filed their registration to compete in this exciting class, which runs at least 25 laps weekly, sometimes 30.
The defending Pure Stock champion is Jeremy Lambert, but he isn’t planning on defending the crown. Instead, he’s tabbed a veteran and champion of the division from many years ago – Scott Cestodio – to drive the No. 15 with a shot at the title in 2023. Cestodio may not have run in the division for years, but he’s expected to be fast right out of the gate and contend for wins weekly. He’s joined as title contenders with names like Greg Perry, Mike Henriques, Ethan Souza, Sam Lincoln, Danny Massa and others. Perry is a former division champion and wins at least one or two races a year, while Henriques had arguably his best season in 2022 and will look to build on that in 2023. Souza and Lincoln are some of the youngest, but fastest drivers in the division. Souza is a former winner with a new body and paint scheme for this season, while Lincoln is the defending champion of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series and looks to add the overall track title to his resume this year. Danny Massa was the clear favorite for much of last year, and even though it didn’t work out his way in the playoffs, look out for Massa to be on a revenge tour during the 2023 campaign and win often. Additional names to watch in this division include Nick Brightman, Ed Gould, Billy Chouinard, Jared Cordeia, Matthew Talbot, Rob Hendrickson, Emily Brightman, Timmy Ouellette and more. Each of them have their own unique story behind them. Nick Brightman picked up his first career win last season and ran strong, while Gould and Chouinard are division regulars for years. Cordeira had what was definitely his best season in 2022, while Talbot, Hendrickson and Emily Brightman enter the new season looking for their first career victories. Ouellette, a graduate of Seekonk’s Youth Racing Association, looks to make a name for himself in a big way in the Pure Stocks this year after a few years of getting some experience. Fans can also look out for Justin Rioux, Michael Marcou, Bobby Bettencourt III, Donald Courtemanche and many others during the season. Additional registrations continued to pour in for this growing division, now running on race tires. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Pure Stocks will hit the track for the first time in 2023 on Friday, May 26 for opening night and will roll through Friday, September 29 for championship night in the Sunoco Drive For The Cup. The only Fast Friday off will be June 30. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, fans are encouraged to visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates, including from the track on race day.
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SEEKONK, Mass. – Much like every other year, the 2023 field for the Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars at Seekonk Speedway is filled with talent. The division includes rookies moving up from the Seekonk Youth Racing Association, mixed with some drivers who have been racing a few years, and some polished veterans. The combination usually provides some of the best side-by-side racing the third-mile has to offer, and will do so again in 2023.
With defending champion Devin Deshaies not registered to compete, the new season should bring a new champion once again. Luke Lebrun won the title in 2021, and will not be racing himself. The list of drivers who have a chance to overtake and win the championship is a long one. The first few names that come to mind include Josh Parsons, Brenden LaBelle, Jacob Burns, Isaiah Newcomb, Nicholaus Bulkeley, Mason Tessier, Jake Silvia and Richie Helger Jr. Even with this group of eight drivers, there is quite the mix of experience levels. Parsons, Burns and Tessier would be among the most experienced, all winning multiple races in their history – Tessier the Everett’s Triple Crown last year. Although LaBelle hasn’t won, he seemed to be on his game for a good portion of last season. Newcomb won a championship in Connecticut and has always run well in whatever he drives at Seekonk. Bulkeley may be a dark horse, but was a consistent top-five contender for much of 2022, along with Jake Silvia, who polished off his first career win last year. Richie Helger Jr., a former Seekonk Bandolero champion, will step back into the Legends Cars looking to strike in his second full-time season after a strong start to 2023 touring around New England. Outside of these names, there are many others to watch. Consider Chase Silvia, who dominated in the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Outlaws last year, making the move to the Legends Cars for the first time in his career. Will he catch on quick? Jase Mongeon may or may not run a full schedule, but always has speed. Adam Harrison is another graduate of the Bandolero’s, ready to try and strike in the Legends Cars. Curtis Rolando graduated from the Seekonk Youth Racing Association many years ago, left Seekonk then came back in a Pure Stock the last few years – now moving to the Legends Cars hoping for success. Stephen Bowden is a former Bandolero winner ready for his Legends Cars debut, while names like Jimmy “Pepe” Silvia, Kevin Davis, Jaden Hamilton, Nick Chaber Jr., Zach Martinez, Ben Amado, Corey Martin, Jonathan Deshaies, Mike Floyd and many others are also registered. And, don’t forget: sometimes the Legends Cars have a few surprise entries along the way, mostly racing in 25-lap events, with a few 30 lappers sprinkled in during Triple Crown action. The Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars will hit the track for the first time in 2023 on Friday, May 26 for opening night and will roll through Friday, September 29 for championship night in the Sunoco Drive For The Cup. The only Fast Friday off will be June 30. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, fans are encouraged to visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates, including from the track on race day. SEEKONK, Mass. – As the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits roll into 2023, this class will continue to see the evolution of drivers who are going to be the next major contenders at Seekonk Speedway well into the future. Drivers who graduate from the Seekonk Youth Racing Association often end up in the NASCAR Saturday classes, but they start right here on Fast Friday.
For 2023, the Bandolero Bandit field looks to be another one of drivers looking to get their feet wet and make their marks – but also includes a few polished “veterans” in Bandoleros compared to their challengers. Drivers registered with experience include Luka Dib, Nick Uhrig Jr., Parker Davis, Sam Macedo and Mike Hanafin. Experience levels are different between them – only Macedo has feature wins. He picked up countless in a row two years ago and the “Green Hornet” is the defending champion of the Bandit division as well. If it’s up to him, winning the title will go through the green No. 16 again in 2023. Uhrig is definitely going to win this year – you can nearly count on it. He picked up his first career podium in 2022 and has the speed under the hood to get the job done. With a little bit of lady luck and continued experience, Uhrig will park in Victory Lane before long this season. Parker Davis, Dib and Hanafin enter the season all looking for their first career wins as drivers with at least some experience under their belts. And as always, the division will also have some Rookie talent making their first laps at Seekonk. As of the preview, Jase Chaber, Ryder Aguiar, Carl Satterlund Jr. and Mason Silva will be on that list, potentially with more competitors. The Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits will hit the track for the first time in 2023 on Friday, May 26 for opening night and will roll through Friday, September 29 for championship night in the Sunoco Drive For The Cup. The only Fast Friday off will be June 30. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, fans are encouraged to visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates, including from the track on race day. SEEKONK, Mass. – It’s no secret as the 2023 season begins for the Sport 4 division on Fast Friday that Crystal Murray will be one of the many cars to contend with for wins. Murray won a handful of races last year including on the final night of the Sunoco Drive For The Cup, adding her name to the list of Murray champions in Seekonk Speedway history. As she enters 2023, the driver of the No. 38 is listed as the favorite to repeat for the crown – but will have a strong group of drivers trying to make sure it doesn’t happen.
First up on the list of drivers to watch is Tyler Duhancik. Registered to again compete in the No. 48, Tyler, working out of the Phil’s Propane stable, has a new car for himself for 2023. He picked up victories the last few years and seems to have the speed to contend to get the job done. Will this be his year to compete at a high-level and potentially run for the title? Fresh off his best season in over a decade, Henry Lavallee returns to Seekonk Speedway this year looking to pounce on the championship. He won more than once last season and had speed to run consistently inside the top-five. If Lavallee can show up with that speed and make it to the Final Four again in the playoffs, he could be looking at sealing a championship. Don’t forget about Jarrod Freitas, who scored his first victory in 2022, and will be looking to get more and contend for the title this season. Names like Sam Mattera, Taylor Bowser, Daniel Hayes, Matt Pion and DJ Thibeault are also some returning drivers with experience. Mattera is a former winner, while Bowser will continue to seek her first checkered flag in 2023, after grabbing a podium last year. DJ Thibeault continues to gain experience, along with Hayes, and will both be trying for their first victories. Pion has run in the division on and off for a few years. Additional names to watch in this division include Jacob Budzyna, Justin Leduc, James Sullivan, Richie Johnson, Andrew Rittman-McLaughlin, Joseph Mello Sr. and Jr., Christine Cavallaro and more. All of the drivers will hope to visit Victory lane during the busy summer season, along with others. The Sport 4’s will hit the track for the first time in 2023 on Friday, May 26 for opening night and will roll through Friday, September 29 for championship night in the Sunoco Drive For The Cup. The only Fast Friday off will be June 30. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, fans are encouraged to visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates, including from the track on race day. SEEKONK, Mass. – If you’re planning on picking a favorite in the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Outlaw division in 2023 at Seekonk Speedway, goodluck. This division includes some of the top youth racing talent Seekonk has ever seen all in the same class, and may have up to 16 or more cars on some weeks racing for feature wins.
Ryan Vanasse Jr., Andrew Gomes, Mikey LeFort III, Brent Robidoux and Collin Vanasse appear to be some of the favorites you could consider. Gomes went to Victory lane multiple times in 2022 and came up just short of winning the track championship. He’s clearly the most winning experienced in the division, along with Brent Robidoux. Speaking of Robidoux, this rising star looks to burst into championship form in 2023. After a few years of winning races, he seems primed and ready to contend for a crown. After making the Final Four in the Bandolero Bandits last year, Ryan Vanasse Jr. moves up and should be a contender right from lap one. His cousin, Collin Vanasse, will look for his first career track win, as he moves up from the Bandits as well. LeFort III, inside the Helger’s Racing stable, is surely going to have the speed to contend for his own first victory as he moves up to the next level. Additional names to watch include Jordan Duquette, Brody Wakefield, Nathan Rioux and RJ Murphy. All of these drivers have at least one year of experience in Bandolero racing under their belts and should be contenders up near the front. They are joined by names like Abbie Badejo, Brady Connors, Zacarias Kelley, Nicholas Saman, Colin Floyd, Zachary Keith and Dylan Calabro. This is going to be one division that will see continued growth throughout the season and likely multiple different winners, and maybe even some new names jumping in during the year. The Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Outlaws will hit the track for the first time in 2023 on Friday, May 26 for opening night and will roll through Friday, September 29 for championship night in the Sunoco Drive For The Cup. The only Fast Friday off will be June 30. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, fans are encouraged to visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates, including from the track on race day. SEEKONK, Mass. — Jacob “Rowdy” Burns had all sorts of struggles in the opening day feature for the Late Models at Seekonk Speedway, but week two was a different story. Burns battled seven-time division champion Gerry DeGasparre Jr. hard for the lead early in the race, and then when DeGasparre had problems, Burns wasn’t going to be denied. He drove the No. 30 to Victory Lane in dominating fashion in the final laps, as the rising star pulled away from a side-by-side battle between Mark Jenison and Chase Belcher for second in the final circuits. Jenison would get the better of Belcher, with Chase following close behind in third at the end of 30 laps. Vinnie Arrenegado raced from his eighth-place starting spot after winning on opening day to finish in fourth, while pole sitter Connor Souza hung on for a top-five finish. Luke Lebrun was sixth, followed by Richie Murray, Charlie Rose, Corey Fanning and Kevin Bowe. The Late Models will return to the track on Saturday, May 20 with another 30-lap feature. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates. Jake Vanada jumped out front early and wasn’t going to be denied in the first Saturday night short-track race for the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks in 2023. Vanada used the outside lane from the jump to get around Bob Tripp for the lead, then drove away in the final laps to place the No. 29 in Victory Lane during the second race of the season. Vanada had flashbacks in the middle of the race — with defending champion Rick Martin on the outside for a few restarts. Multiple times last year, Vanada was in the lead, with Martin outside for a restart, and Martin would get the better of him. This time, it was all Vanada. Martin would finish the race in second, while Amy Arsenault had a solid run to wrap the podium after 25-laps. Former division champions Mike Duarte and Mike Cavallaro followed in fourth and fifth. Opening day winner Brittany Campbell was sixth, followed by Darryl Church, David Darling, Bob Tripp and Tom Scully III. The Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks will return to the track on Saturday, May 20 with another race — the first round of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown — a 35-lap feature. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates. In just his second race back at Seekonk Speedway, Dylan Estrella is already in Victory Lane. The driver of the Everett’s Auto Parts No. 46 Pro Stock held off a fierce charge from former division champion Kenny Spencer and others to win Saturday’s 40-lap feature — the first under the lights event of the Pro Stock season. Estrella and Spencer traded the lead back and forth for much of the middle portion of the event. It seemed as if whoever was on the outside lane had the advantage on restarts. In the final 15 circuits, Spencer got loose racing under Estrella for the lead going into turn one, and spun off turn two. From there, Estrella would drive off unchallenged in the final stint to rocket to victory. No stranger to winning at Seekonk in his career, as a graduate of the Seekonk Youth Racing Association, Estrella went touring for a few years, and is now back to compete in Seekonk’s top class. Mark Jenison charged to the front in the second half of the race, finishing second, while Rick Martin also made a late dash to the front to finish in third. Tommy Adams and Bobby Pelland finished the top-five. Danny Thibeault was sixth, while Spencer, Mike Rotondo, Jerammee Lillie and Tom Scully Jr finished the top-10. The Pro Stocks will return to the track on Saturday, May 20 with another 40-lap feature. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates. Steve Axon had just about the worst opening day you could have at Seekonk Speedway this year, but he turned it around in a big way on Saturday night. Axon used the outside lane early in the 25-lap feature to pass for the lead and pick up the feature win in the second race of the season for the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman division.
On opening day, Axon had a motor failure under the hood, in a wreck that collected multiple cars due to oil on the track. In week two, after a lot of hard work by the crew to get a new motor under the hood, Axon was the dominant force, as the former division champion was not going to be denied in his quest to victory. A late caution had plans to mess up the night for Axon, but it worked out for him to get the win, as he drove away on the final green flag stint. Adam Pettey charged through the pack to finish second, with opening day winner Ryan Lineham also working his way through to finish third. Colby Lambert and Chris Gomes followed to finish in the fourth and fifth spots. Craig Pianka was sixth, followed by Chad Baxter, Doug Benoit, Chris Rioux and Ed Perry. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman will return to the track on Saturday, May 20 with another 25-lap feature. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates. With opening day in the rear-view mirror, Seekonk Speedway will roar to life under the lights for the first time in 2023 this Saturday, May 13. When qualifying racing begins at 6 p.m., drivers will look to keep fans on the edge of their seats like they did for opening day in all four divisions. The Pro Stocks, Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman, Late Models and Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks will all be in action this weekend in regular feature racing.
This weekend also includes the first of two Fast Friday practice sessions on Friday, May 12. All of the Friday night divisions will be eligible to hit the track to get their cars tuned up for opening night on May 26. There will also be another Friday practice on May 19. In the Pro Stocks, their 40-lap feature on Saturday could be the night former champion Kenny Spencer gets back to Victory Lane. After showing tons of speed in the opening race, Spencer had to go to the rear late after some contact with Dylan Estrella, and didn’t get the finish he was looking for. With the likelihood of him starting near the front in Saturday’s race, Spencer will be one to watch. He will be joined by opening day winner Mike Brightman, Estrella, Radical Rick Martin, Tom Scully Jr. and many others in quest for the checkered flag. The Late Model division saw maybe the most exciting race of the opening weekend, with Vinnie Arrenegado and Luke Lebrun slugging it out for the top spot on countless restarts. While both finished top-five, they will be tough to beat in week two. Additional front-runners included Richie Murray and Mark Jenison, who joined Arrenegado on the podium and will be looking to get their own trophy this week. Look out for Jacob Burns, Chase Belcher and others to contend in week two during the 30-lap main event. In the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks, Brittany Campbell kicked off her Busch Light Accelerate program in a big way, in Victory Lane on opening day. Will she make it back-to-back to open the year? She will have a tough group of challengers trying to stop her like defending champion Rick Martin, Mike Duarte, Jake Vanada, Mike Cavallaro, Bobby Tripp and fellow Busch Light program driver Amy Arsenault. Martin may not have come out of the gates swinging, but look out for him in week two to try and fix that. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman racing was no contest for the win in the feature on opening day, with former champion Ryan Lineham stomping the competition. Now, he has to come from the rear of the field. We will see the true speed and determination in this driver. Others will try to stop him like defending champion Craig Pianka, Chad Baxter, Ed Perry and others in their 25-lap feature. Seekonk Speedway returns to NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series Saturday night racing on May 13 at 6 p.m. with four exciting divisions of racing on tap. The gates will open at 4 p.m. for advanced ticket holders and 30-minutes later for those who will purchase tickets during the day of the event. Advance tickets are available online for all Seekonk Speedway events by visiting SeekonkSpeedway.com. Fans are encouraged to also visit the website and social media channels for the latest news and information surrounding Seekonk’s 77th season. |
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