SEEKONK, Mass. – For the first time in Seekonk Speedway history, Craig Pianka enters a new season as the defending champion of the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman. After making the Final Four in the inaugural Sunoco Drive For The Cup, Pianka made a last-lap pass to cement his first title into the track record books last season. And as the 2023 season begins, Pianka is one of the many favorites to make it back to that point for a new year. Pianka has been in the division longer than most, and knows the way around the track, and his car, well. As with any champion, he needed a little bit of racing luck on his side to be able to do the job last year. With Andrew Kun as his crew chief, the speed will be there, and Pianka could put the whole thing together and go back-to-back if the cards fall. Behind him, the battle is on to close the gap and knock him off. Chad Baxter has dominated the Sportsman division the past few years, winning the 2021 title and coming up just one spot short last year. It was in the middle of the summer when he returned to his old faithful car and she was a rocket to push him into the finals a year ago. Expect Baxter to win multiple times during a new year and be right there when it comes time to crown a champion, if he runs enough races to qualify for the playoffs. Ed Perry, Adam Pettey, Steve Axon, Ryan Lineham, Scott Serydynski Jr., Cody Tripp and Tyler Almedia are a few others to watch. Perry is one of the most exciting drivers at Seekonk Speedway on a weekly basis, hands down. He’s shown the speed over the last few years to win races and it could certainly correlate into him contending for the title in 2023. Steve Axon might not run full-time every year, but when he’s there, he’s in contention to win races. If he runs enough, he would certainly be in contention for the championship. Same can be said for Ryan Lineham, who has bounced around between the Late Models, Pro Stocks and Sportsman in the last few years. Quite the difference between the divisions – but he always seems to be there in contention. Pettey is a proven winner, but hasn’t quite shown the consistency to be called champion yet. With countless years in the division now under his belt, is the new season the time for him? Another Pettey is also registered for the season in the No. 43 – Dean Pettey – a name many track fans are familiar with. Scott Serydynski Jr. had arguably the best year of his short career last year and looks to build on that going into 2023. Cody Tripp, with a new car, looks to get the consistency he needs to chase his first feature win. Almedia, who really came into his own during the 2022 season, also has consistency in mind, but wants that first checkered flag. Other names to watch include Chris Rioux, a veteran who has multiple career wins, Andrew Gomes, who is moving back to the Sportsman from the Late Models after a year away and Doug Benoit, a former Pure Stock champion who looks to break into Sportsman Victory Lane this season.
Although he hasn’t run full-time lately while helping his daughter Amy Arsenault race for wins in the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks, former multiple-time Sportsman champion Sparky Arsenault will be back to chase feature wins. Names like Jimmy “Pepe” Silvia, Jay Steely, Don Perry, Crystal Serydynski, Mike Rotondo (former Pure Stock driver), Tim Watson, Randy Moretti, Kaleb Marcou, Kyle Casper and others have also registered for the season. Before the year starts, you never know who else might have their name thrown in the ring, too. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman will open their 2023 season on Sunday, May 7, as part of Seekonk Speedway’s 77th season opening weekend. On Saturday, May 6, the annual Car Show & Go returns to the Action Track of the East, while opening day roars the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series divisions to life at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 7. Tickets for opening day and all Seekonk Speedway 2023 events are available today at SeekonkSpeedway.com.
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2023 sport truck PREVIEW: Can Anyone Stop Rick Martin as Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks Roll Into 2023?4/24/2023 Radical Rick Martin dominated the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks in 2022, and there’s not much other way to say it. Countless wins, dominating performances, top speed and more, Martin returned to the top of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Division IV Seekonk Speedway class in style driving for Richie’s Insulation in his familiar No. 14. Entering 2023, the real story in the Sport Trucks is – will anyone be able to knock him off the top? A few drivers come to the top of mind when looking at the list of registered contenders – Brittany Campbell, Mike Duarte, Jake Vanada, Amy Arsenault and Mike Cavallaro. All of these contenders are proven winners, and a few of them former champions. Let’s start there. Cavallaro has seven championships, and would love to join Dave Darling as the only eight-time champion in the history of Seekonk Speedway. A midseason wreck in 2022 sidelined his normal Truck for part of the season and he struggled to get the backup ride exactly where he wanted it to be. Will 2023 bring a new push of speed for him? Duarte, who made the Final Four of the Sunoco Drive For The Cup last season, returns looking to get back there, but seal the deal. Duarte is often around the top-five at the end of Sport Truck action and should be for most of the events again in 2023. He’s a proven winner, and champion. Campbell is another proven winner in the division. She’s driving the Watermark Electric No. 8 full speed into 2023 and will look to be a champion. She would become just the fourth female driver in the history of Seekonk Speedway to be crowned champion if she can accomplish the task, and she is expected to be a contender for that, and multiple feature wins along the way. Amy Arsenault is right there with Campbell looking to park the No. 9 at the front. Arsenault, a former regular in the Fast Friday Pure Stocks, has multiple Sport Trucks wins already to her credit. She was also recently named to the Busch Light Accelerate Her Program in partnership with Woman in Motorsports North America, which only gives her additional confidence. Jake Vanada, who missed a race and still made a run at the Sport Truck title last year, is returning to the Action Track of the East in 2023 with confidence booming. After the birth of his first child early in the offseason, and him grabbing a second Truck for the stable during the winter, look out for Vanada to come out of the gate strong after a top-five finish in the books already in Connecticut. Tom Scully III, Bobby Tripp and Daryl Church also have to be considered. Scully improved consistently over last season, picking up his first career win in the No. 5, and cementing the Scully name even further in the track record books. With a year under his belt, can he improve to winning multiple events? Tripp, coming back to competition for 2023, will return to the Everett’s Auto Parts stable in the No. 88. He’s expected to win, and win often, when driving for that organization. He should surely make the playoffs and contend for the title. Church has been around the division for years, and went back to Victory Lane last year. Don’t count him out when you look at drivers who can win and contend for that championship. One of the other major stories of the season? Jeff Belyea making his driving debut in the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks. As the mastermind behind the setup of eight-time track champion Dave Darling for multiple years, the GWD Motorsports team has registered a Sport Truck, with Jeff as the driver. As a crew chief now turning driver, will he have some learning to do out there on the track? Or will he catch on quick and contend for strong runs? It's going to be one of the top stories to watch in this class as 2023 kicks-off.
Ethan Heilborn improved through 2022 and returns for another year in 2023, while names like Richard Stockwell, Anatasia Lebrun, Danny Thibeault, Tim Bolger, Nick Mattera, and maybe even a returning John Pavia are ones to look at entering the season. The Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks will open their 2023 season on Sunday, May 7, as part of Seekonk Speedway’s 77th season opening weekend. On Saturday, May 6, the annual Car Show & Go returns to the Action Track of the East, while opening day roars the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series divisions to life at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 7. Tickets for opening day and all Seekonk Speedway 2023 events are available today at SeekonkSpeedway.com. ![]() Saturday April 22 Time to put some cars on the track and get the 2023 season rolling! Open to all SEEKONK Divisions except Bandoleros. Pit Gate opens @ 9 am and practice runs 12-4. $25 per person. Tire sales will open at 10 am General Admission gates for grandstands will not be open for this practice, the grandstands will be open for free for the May6th practice. Please plan accordingly for food and beverage as concessions will NOT be open in the pits. Seekonk Speedway Regular Amy Arsenault Part of Busch Light Accelerate Her Program For 2023 Season4/19/2023 SEEKONK, Mass. – Seekonk Speedway is pleased to announce that Chaz Auto Body Sport Truck NASCAR Saturday driver Amy Arsenault has been selected to be part of the Busch Light Accelerate Her program for the 2023 racing season. As part of the program, Woman in Motorsports North America is teaming with Busch Light to support females who are chasing a career in NASCAR, including short-track racing. The group has combined to form a points system that will be used during the season to calculate and reward females with the largest sums of points at the end of the year with monetary awards. Last year, Busch Light committed to spending $10 million over 2022, 2023 and 2024 to elevate women in the sport. Their main objectives, per their press release: “to provide more funding, track time, media exposure, and training to prospective female NASCAR racers aged 21 or older.” Arsenault fits the brand perfectly – right here at your local NASCAR Home Track. As part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series in the Division IV Sport Trucks, Arsenault has been to Victory Lane multiple times driving the No. 9, and advanced into the round of six last year in the inaugural Sunoco Drive For The Cup championship battle. For 2023, she’s looking forward to returning to the track to compete for wins at a high level. Being selected to the Woman in Motorsports Busch Light Accelerate Her program only gives her additional drive and confidence behind the wheel. “I got a random call in January asking me a bunch of questions and I figured I was too old for the program and forgot about it,” Arsenault said. “In February, I got another call, followed by a request for stats and then by March I received the email and a contract welcoming me to the program. I was pretty shocked and emotional and the first thing I did was cry and then text and call my family. These are the people that have supported me for the last 18 years that I have been racing and most importantly, the people that have encouraged me in the last year to keep dreaming big.” Arsenault’s history at Seekonk Speedway has deep roots, as she began her racing in the Fast Friday Pure Stock division. Her father, Robert “Sparky” Arsenault is a multiple-time Sportsman champion at Seekonk Speedway. Amy has been racing in the Sport Trucks for multiple seasons. She’s joined in that division by Brittany Campbell, another successful feature winner. Seekonk Speedway has multiple female champions in track history. The points system for the 2023 season, created by the Woman in Motorsports North America, rewards women drivers based on their merit and race results during the year. The system includes factors like race length, size of the fields, level of competition and cost of competing in their class. Amy will begin accumulating points during NASCAR Opening Day at Seekonk Speedway on Sunday, May 7, through September 30 on championship night. The top three finishers in the series will be rewarded with $125,000, $50,000 and $25,000, respectively.
“It’s a huge deal,” Arsenault said. “I would have never dreamed of being considered, never mind being sought out and contracted. Racing has always just been something fun that I could do with my dad – so the thought of it coming this far is cool. My dad and brother were always successful at racing and I have consistently been trying to keep up. I am excited for the chance to get some exposure for Seekonk Speedway, bring awareness to female racers and for the chance to earn the funds to part towards my racing. I am also hoping that this exposure may help bring some new sponsors on board to help fund the season.” The Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks will join the Pro Stocks, Late Models and Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman for Seekonk’s 77th opening day on Sunday, May 7. The entire month of May includes action-packed racing on every weekend – including the annual Car Show & Go on Saturday, May 6, one day before NASCAR Opening Day. Two NASCAR Saturday showdowns on May 13 & 20, Fast Friday opening night on May 26 and the Memorial Day Thrill Show on May 27 will wrap a full month to open the year. New for 2023, Seekonk Speedway fans should be aware that hot coffee will no longer be sold at the concession stands. With the new ticketing system, where fans can buy tickets for all events online at SeekonkSpeedway.com, tickets are cheaper online and there will be a limited number of ticketing agents at the gates on race day. Ticket prices for general admission for NASCAR Saturday normal events are $18 (unless a special event), but online are $15 plus processing fees. Fans who purchase tickets online will have access to the grandstands 30 minutes before those who purchase at the track and will also pay less. Fans can purchase tickets for all May events and all races at the Seekonk Speedway in 2023 by visiting SeekonkSpeedway.com. For more information on the track, fans are encouraged to visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates. Tire sales will begin on Wednesday, April 19 from 5:30-7:30 PM and will also take place on April 22 at practice from 10 am till 2 pm. Tire sales will also be on Wednesday April 26th from 5:30pm - 7:30 pm and again at practice on May 6th from 10 am till 2 pm. You MUST have a car registered for 2023 with BOTH an owner AND driver in order to purchase tires. NO exceptions will be made. Check out the Rules page on the website for updated 2023 Tire Rules https://www.seekonkspeedway.com/rules-and-registrations.html See below for Pro Stock, Late Models, Sportsman and Sport Truck ![]()
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RALEIGH, N.C. — Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP), a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider and the official auto parts retailer of NASCAR, announced that voting is live for its third-annual Advance My Track Challenge. The program encourages race fans to vote for their local NASCAR-sanctioned short track, with the track receiving the most votes winning a $50,000 grand prize.
Beginning today, fans can visit AdvanceMyTrack.com to vote for one of 25 NASCAR Home Tracks located in the U.S. or Canada. Tracks that are part of the program showcase a variety of NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series (NAAPWS) racing disciplines, including late model stock cars, open wheel modified cars and street stock race cars. The first round of voting concludes Friday, May 5. One track per region (West, Midwest, Southeast, Northeast) plus the track with the next-highest total of votes will move to a final round of voting on May 9-15. Each of the five finalist tracks will win $5,000, with the track receiving the most votes in the final round winning $50,000. Teams at winning tracks are encouraged to use prize money for track facility upgrades or to establish programming with schools or nonprofits that benefit their local community. “We are passionate about offering race fans a platform to advance local grassroots racing,” said Jason McDonell, Advance’s executive vice president of merchandising, marketing and eCommerce. “The Advance My Track Challenge spotlights the importance of local racing and how NASCAR Home Tracks have been enjoyed by fans for generations. Short track racing is part of NASCAR’s past, present and future, and this program ensures that local venues will continue to provide entertainment for fans and a chance for racers to live out their dreams.” “Advance Auto Parts’ commitment to improving facility infrastructure and fan experience through the Advance My Track Challenge continues to enhance grassroots racing across the country,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR senior vice president, racing development & strategy. “As NASCAR celebrates our 75th Anniversary season this year, it is more important than ever to put a focus on racing at the local level, which is the foundation of our sport.” Advance will activate the program alongside its partners at Team Penske. Advance My Track Challenge “Vote Now” branding will be featured on Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Advance Auto Parts Ford for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, April 16 (3 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1). “It’s important for grassroots racing to be accessible for fans and drivers,” said Blaney, a third-generation race car driver and 7-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner. “I’m proud to work with a partner like Advance who is focused on supporting NASCAR’s Home Tracks and local race fans through programs like Advance My Track Challenge. We couldn’t pick a better place to kick off the program than Martinsville, one of NASCAR’s most fun and old-school style race tracks. We’re looking forward to a great ride in our No. 12 Ford Mustang this weekend.” The Advance My Track Challenge first launched in 2021. In its two years, Advance and NASCAR celebrated Berlin Raceway (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Jennerstown Speedway (Jennerstown, Pa.) as its two winners of the $50,000 grand prize. Advance’s support of the NAAPWS includes its “Home Track Highlights” program. The retailer is using its season-long sponsorship of Blaney’s No. 12 Ford to spotlight various local NASCAR track champions across the U.S. and Canada. Each week, different Weekly Series drivers are featured on Blaney’s car. For every Blaney Cup Series victory, the winning driver(s) featured on his car each receive a $1,200 Advance gift card. Seekonk Speedway announced today that the track has added another $5,000 to the point fund for the 2023 season – building on a foundation that was already stable from recent years. As a grand total between four NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series divisions, with Seekonk Speedway point fund money and NASCAR point fund contributions combined, $35,000 will be paid out across the four divisions. NASCAR adds funds to the top-five positions in all four divisions – boosting those totals as a combination between Seekonk funds and NASCAR funds. However, for 2023, Seekonk Speedway’s additional funds also include positions 6-10 in the final point standings for all four divisions. While NASCAR supplies funds for the top-five, Seekonk Speedway feels as though all competitors who earn a top-10 finish in the point standings deserve to be recognized and the track has put together a point fund for those positions. The Pro Stock champion will receive $6,000, while the Late Model champion will earn $3,000. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman champion and Chaz Auto Body Sport Truck champion will both collect $1,500 and $1,400, respectively. NASCAR Saturday action will take place across 18 different Saturday night’s (and one Sunday, opening day) spanning from May 7 through championship night on September 30. “Supporting our weekly competitors is, and always has been, a very important part of the history of Seekonk Speedway,” David Alburn, Competition Director, said. “Throughout a long season spanning from the beginning of May through the end of September, our drivers in all four NASCAR Divisions support the track weekly and put on the best show for our great fans. Additional contributions to the point fund is just one way for us to thank them for their support and we look forward to watching our competitors battle for race wins, and the Sunoco Drive For the Cup track championship again this season. We thank NASCAR for their contributions to our point fund as well.” The total Pro Stock point fund is just over $17,000, while the Late Models hit $8,500. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman division total and Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks both rise over $4,500. Seekonk Speedway’s 77th season of short-track racing begins on Sunday, May 7 with NASCAR Opening Day at 2 p.m. The Pro Stocks, Late Models, Helger’s South Coast Power Equip ment Sportsman and Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks will all compete in qualifying heat and feature racing to kick-off another year of action. The entire month of May includes action-packed racing on every weekend – including the annual Car Show & Go on Saturday, May 6, one day before NASCAR Opening Day. Two NASCAR Saturday showdowns on May 13 & 20, Fast Friday opening night on May 26 and the Memorial Day Thrill Show on May 27 will wrap a full month to open the year. Fans can purchase tickets for all May events and all races at the Seekonk Speedway in 2023 by visiting SeekonkSpeedway.com. For more information on the track, fans are encouraged to visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates. Registration is Open for the 2023 Memorial Day Thrill Show! Get those cars ready and Summer will be here before you know it! #thrillshow #seekonkspeedway #spectatordrags
https://www.seekonkspeedway.com/thrill-shows.html
Columbus will help crown seven of Seekonk’s divisions with Rookie of the Year awards this season, spread across both Fast Friday and NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series Saturday night. The only two Seekonk divisions that don’t have a Rookie of the Year are the Bandolero divisions. The Rookie of the Year award will be given to the top driver who is eligible and highest in the division points at the end of the season. Awards will be given out in the Pro Stocks, Late Models, Sportsman, Sport Trucks, Pure Stocks, Legends Cars and Sport 4’s. Founded in 1960 by Tony Macedonio, Columbus Energies began with humble beginnings as a two-pump gas station and a single heating oil delivery truck. But Tony had a vision for the future — and soon, Columbus Energies would become a much larger business that would serve the needs of customers throughout the Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island region. Columbus Energies, located just up the street from the track, features services in propane, oil and HVAC. You can check them out today at Columbusenergies.com. “Columbus Energies has been a longtime supporter of Seekonk Speedway,” Ed St. Germain, Director of Business Development, said. “Their support of the Speedway is important to us. Located just down the street, many of our competitors stop there on the way to the track to grab race fuel. These special awards like the Rookie of the Year are provided every year and our new drivers in each division use this as a goal.” You can also give Columbus Energies a call at 508-674-1492 for immediate service. “We always enjoy working with Seekonk Speedway and short-track racing right here in Massachusetts,” Jay Macedonio of Columbus Energies, said. “We know the prizes for the Rookie of the Year are a great incentive for new drivers to chase during the season. Over the years, we’ve seen many drivers who won the Rookie of the Year go on to win many races and championships. We look forward to the start of the season in May and another year partnering with Seekonk Speedway.” Seekonk Speedway wishes to thank Columbus Energies and all of the track sponsors for the new year. For more information on Seekonk Speedway’s 2023 season, including the full schedule of events leading into another season of side-by-side racing, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com. Tickets for all events are now available by visiting the website, where fans can skip the lines on race day with their tickets in advance. Fans may also visit the track on social media for the latest updates. |
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