![]() Seekonk Speedway is happy to announce that MEGA Disposal has returned to the sponsor the Independence Day Thrill Show, set for Saturday, July 9th, one of the best fireworks displays yet. The show will include a MEGA Fireworks conclusion — lighting up the night sky in southern New England at Seekonk Speedway! At MEGA, they believe cleaner communities are stronger communities — that is why MEGA works tirelessly behind the scenes to keep your spaces sanitary and spotless. Offering dumpsters, business disposal assistance and helping countless residential community members, MEGA is the perfect company, with nearly 40 years of work to keep communities clean. “We are extremely excited to continue our partnership with the track,” Greg Fendelman, Assistant District Manager for MEGA, said. “We are neighbors, our friends and family grew up here and still reside in this area. It’s a win-win for both the company and the track. Supporting our communities plays a major role in how we want to operate our business... and hey, MEGA Fireworks… it has a nice ring to it!" Check out MEGA Disposal for great career opportunities. Check them out here https://careers.wasteconnections.com The Independence Day Thrill Show will have no restrictions in place due to COVID-19 -- and advance tickets are already on sale at seekonkspeedway.com priced at $25 for adults, and children ages 6-12 set at $12. Tickets will also be available at the track on race day if they haven’t been sold out yet. General admission gates will open at 2:30 p.m., with the show taking the green flag at 5 p.m. For more information visit SeekonkSpeedway.com or follow the track on social media.
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![]() SEEKONK, Mass. -- Seekonk Speedway will roar back to life this weekend, July 8-9, with Fast Friday racing returning to the track and the Independence Day Thrill Show set for Saturday night in a packed weekend of racing at the Massachusetts third-mile. On Friday night, after having last week off, the drivers of the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits and Outlaws, Everett’s Auto Parts Sport 4’s, Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars and Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Pure Stocks will return to the third-mile for action. The Saturday night Thrill Show special, beginning at 5PM, will be Seekonk’s annual Independence Day celebration, with fireworks and a full card of racing on tap one week late due to Mother Nature. Friday’s event will showcase the Everett’s Auto Parts Sport 4’s in the second round of the Everett’s Triple Crown. In their first Triple Crown event, AJ Manuel, a former division champion, stormed back to the track and rolled to the victory in his first race back. Crystal Murray finished second, and the Tiverton, Rhode Island, native has podium finishes in all of the races so far this season, giving her a points lead of just under 30 going into this week. Jarrod Freitas is coming off his first career win last time out and will be joined by Tyler Duhancik, Henry Lavallee, Karlin Levesque and others as major contenders in the 30-lap special. The Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars season has revolved around Devin Deshaies and Brendon Hamannn, but Friday could see a new challenger get to Victory Lane. Reese Bogue hasn’t won yet, but multiple top-five finishes has the driver of the No. 4 in prime position to pounce this week. Coming off strong runs in the last few weeks, Isaiah Newcomb, Brenden LaBelle, Mason Tessier, Nicholaus Bulkeley and others should be top of mind when it comes to the 25-lapper this week. The Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero divisions have been dominated by a few faces early on. In five Bandit races, Darren Krantz Jr. won the first three, but Milania Shilosky has since won the next two. With those two leading the way, Nick Uhrig Jr., Ryan Vanasse Jr and others have also been impressive early on. In the Outlaw division, Chase Silvia has four victories in the first five events and has no signs of slowing down — but Brent Robidoux, Bradley Strickland, Andrew Gomes and others aren’t going to let him get away without a fight. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Pure Stocks will also be back Friday night, trying to hold off two-time and defending champion Greg Perry in their championship battle. Perry has two wins, but somehow still sits fifth in their points run due to a DNF early in the season. At the top, most recent division winner Danny Massa leads Jeremy Lambert by just two points. Coming off a strong run, look for Sam Lincoln to get to Victory Lane before long in 2022. Fast Friday racing begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 8. Tickets are just $10 for adults, while those 12 and under are free. All tickets are available in advance at SeekonkSpeedway.com but will also be sold at the track on race day. On Saturday, Seekonk lights up the night sky with the annual Independence Day Thrill Show powered by MEGA Disposal. The Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags return for another round of racing, while the Car & Truck Enduros, Figure 8 Races, Insane Chain Race and Powder Puff divisions will also be in action. For this special event show, adults are $25 per person, while kids 6-12 are $12 and those five and under are free. Parking, as always, is free at Seekonk Speedway. Gates will open at 2:30PM for this show with the green flag dropping at 5PM. Tickets for all Seekonk Speedway events are now available online at SeekonkSpeedway.com. Tickets can be purchased in advance for both general admission in the grandstands and pit passes for all races, including major upcoming races. Seekonk Speedway will host the Independence Day Thrill Show on Saturday, July 9 and will host Fast Friday and NASCAR Saturday racing just about every week through the end of the summer. In July, Seekonk will also host the Pro All Star Series Bay State Classic 150 on July 27, worth $10,000 to win the winner, and the Midsummer Thrill Show on Saturday, July 30. For more information about Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates. By Souza Media SEEKONK, Mass. -- For the first time in 2022, Seekonk Speedway will hold a tripleheader weekend from June 17-19, with three exciting days of racing at the Massachusetts third-mile. On Friday, the Fast Friday Series continues with five divisions, while NASCAR Saturday includes one Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series race and the New England Antique Auto Racers, along with three other classes. Sunday, it’s time for the first of two Monster Truck shows of the season, as the Monster Truck Spring Bash will include freestyle jumps, plus a special Troy City Tactical Spectator Drag Showdown. Fast Friday action includes the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits and Outlaws, Everett’s Auto Parts Sport 4’s, Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Pure Stocks and Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars. Although there are storylines across all Fast Friday divisions, a few standout going into the weekend. The Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandit field is chasing defending champion Darren Krantz Jr. through the first three races, as he’s been to Victory Lane in all three. In the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Outlaws, Chase Silvia looked like he had three straight wins sealed up last week — but a late penalty gave Brent Robidoux — who struggled in the first two weeks — redemption, as the driver of the No. 25 visited the winner’s circle. Murray’s garage is three-for-three in the Everett’s Auto Parts Sport 4’s — with Crystal Murray winning the first two events and her teammate AJ Manuel returning last time out and capturing the flag in his first race back. Names like Henry Lavallee and Karlin Levesque haven’t been far behind. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Pure Stock drivers have been trying to shake off Jeremy Lambert, who has three podium runs in three weeks, including a victory last time out. Names like Danny Massa and Jordan Threlfall are also off to strong starts. The Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars division is chasing Brendon Hammann, as the driver of the No. 7 has two wins in three weeks. Devin Deshaies is the only other winner so far — but look for Mason Tessier, Josh Parsons, Reese Bogue, Brendan LaBelle and others to be major contenders on Friday night. NASCAR Saturday will start with a throwback in time, as the New England Auto Racers come into town for their first and only visit of the season. NEAR provides fans a look back at the cars that ran in the past decades, with some of the most iconic rides set to visit Seekonk this Saturday. The Pro Stock division is chasing someone other than Dave Darling for the first time in many years in the middle of June. Mike Brightman has two victories in four races and one second-place finish this year, as the former Late Model champion looks to distance himself from the pack early in the season. Darling is still second in points, while Tommy Adams, Colbey Fournier and Bobby Pelland finish the top-five. Brightman, Adams and Mark Jenison, who picked up his first career win last week, are the only drivers to visit Victory Lane so far. The Late Model division has been a toss-up, but a few drivers seem to have the consistent speed to run at the front each week. Former seven-time champion Gerry DeGasparre Jr. and defending champion Vinnie Arrenegado lead the points, with sophomore contender Jacob “Rowdy” Burns in third. All three have won so far — joining Richie Murray and last weeks winner Paul Lallier to make it five winners in five events. Could week six mark another new winner? The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman are set for round two of their Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series on Saturday — 35 laps in distance. Craig Pianka has three victories in five events, but a wreck last week gave Ed Perry, who has the other two season wins, the points lead. It’s clear those two competitors have been the class of the field — but can defending champion Chad Baxter turn it around this week? Will Doug Benoit or Tyler Almeida grab their first career wins in the extra-distance event? And in the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks, last week’s heartbreak for Jake Vanada could turn into glory this week. After missing a week, Vanada returned and dominated the race, prior to a late caution, which propelled Rick Martin to his 102nd career Seekonk Speedway win. Brittany Campbell has podium finishes in just about every single event and sits second in the early season standings, while names like Mike Cavallaro, Barry Shaw Jr., and Mike Duarte are also early season winners. Sunday’s Monster Truck showdown includes freestyle and races and top trucks struting their stuff. You can feel the power of Monster Trucks up close and personal at the Action Track of the East this weekend. Trucks like Stinger, Virginia Giant, Crushstation, Lumberjack, Shockwave and Be Aware all take on the track. There will also be a Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags Spring Showdown as part of the show. Fast Friday racing begins at 7 p.m., while NASCAR Saturday begins at 6 p.m., and Monster Truck Sunday will go green at 2 p.m. Tickets for all three events will be available at the track, but tickets for all Seekonk Speedway events are also now available online at SeekonkSpeedway.com. Tickets can be purchased in advance for both general admission in the grandstands and pit passes for all races, including major upcoming races. Seekonk Speedway will have the first of two Monster Truck events on June 19, followed by Open Wheel Wednesday, a $10,000 race for the Open Wheel Modifieds, on Wednesday, June 29. On Saturday, July 2, Seekonk hits the middle of the summer with the Independence Day Thrill Show. Fans can purchase tickets for all of these events and more today. For more information about Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates. SEEKONK, Mass. -- Seekonk Speedway is pleased to announce that MTTI — MotoRing Technical Training Institute — has joined the track sponsorship program for the 2022 season. Based in Seekonk, Massachusetts, MTTI lives on the motto of Education for Employment. They offer programs in automotive and motorcycle technician training, medical fields, computer tech, as well as building and property trades, HVAC and electrician programs. Founded in 1985 as a workforce development program, MTTI is a bridge between employers with jobs to fill due to a skills shortage and the underemployed individual. Many of those who choose MTTI do it because they have the opportunity for short term training, which encourages a quicker path to potential employment. The goal after MTTI is to find immediate employment, and with smaller classes and a close-knit, family-like environment at the school, students are successful. With the success MTTI has in the automotive space, Seekonk Speedway and MTTI partnering seems perfect. "MTTI is extremely excited to partner with Seekonk Speedway, it's long overdue,” Andrew Boyce, Marketing Director with MTTI, said. "With tens of thousands of automotive enthusiasts coming to Seekonk Speedway every year, we expect it to be a great source of promotion for our Automotive and Motorcycle Technician Training facilities right down the road from the speedway. We're thrilled to support such an iconic venue through our sponsorship and we look forward to a great partnership." “We’re definitely excited to partner with MTTI and feel like this is a win-win for everyone involved,” Ed St. Germain, Director of Business Development at Seekonk Speedway, said. “MTTI is a proven ground for those looking to find employment in the field they want quickly, which is exactly what we need on a local level in town. They’ve been established for a while and it’s the right time to bring them into the Seekonk Speedway family." For more information on Seekonk Speedway’s 2022 season, including the full schedule of events in the midst of 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. ![]() SEEKONK, Mass. -- For the first time in 2022, Seekonk Speedway will have double the racing action in the same weekend this Friday and Saturday night. On Friday, the Fast Friday season roars to life for the first time, with five divisions of racing, while on Saturday, the track kicks-off the summer Seekonk Speedway style with the Memorial Day Thrill Show. Tickets for both events are available in advance at SeekonkSpeedway.com and will also be available at the track on race day. Tickets for Fast Friday are just $10 for adults, with kids 12 and under free. Tickets for the Memorial Day Thrill Show are $25 for adults, kids 6-12 are $12 and kids 5 and under, and parking, are free. “This is a big weekend for us, as we begin the summer with one of the biggest shows of the year on Saturday, and kick-off the Fast Friday season on Friday to get it all started,” Ed St. Germain, Director of Business Development for Seekonk Speedway, said. “Our Fast Friday continues to showcase the upcoming youth racers that are going to be future NASCAR Saturday stars, and we’re excited to see them hit the track for the first time this year. The Memorial Day Thrill Show includes the thrills and spills fans are looking for and should be an excellent day of action.” On Friday, the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits and Outlaws, Everett’s Auto Parts Sport 4’s, Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman and Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars will all begin their seasons. In the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero divisions, both classes showcase the true youth of Seekonk Speedway, with drivers aged from 8 through 14. Some of the top NASCAR Saturday champions have come from the Fast Friday Seekonk Youth Racing Association program, so keep your eye on these rising stars. Names like Brent Robidoux, Darren Krantz, Adam Harrison, Ryan Vanasse Jr., Collin Vanasse, Sam Macedo, Mike Hanafin, Mikey LeFort III and Bradley Strickland are just a few of the names to watch across both classes. The Everett’s Auto Parts Sport 4 season should kick-off with a bang for 25-laps, as this may be the one Seekonk division with the most unknowns. As Mikey LeFort plans to step away from full-time racing in the division, the battle for the championship is wide open. Names like Crystal Murray, Karlin Levesque and Tyler Duhancik are some of the registered drivers who should be contenders for the crown. The Sport 4 class showcases some of Seekonk’s rising stars, but also a few veterans who maintain their place in the division due to the affordability. The Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars season is shaping up to be one of the best yet, with a full field of cars expected to open the season. With defending champion Luke Lebrun moving on to Late Model action, the title battle may swing into the hands of another Nick Lascuola Racing ride. Devin Deshaies is taking over the car Lebrun drove last year, and should be a threat right from the first green flag. But look for names like defending Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Outlaw champion Richie Helger Jr., Brenden LaBelle, Mason Tessier, Jake Silvia, Josh Parsons, Brendon Hammann and more to become threats during the season. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Pure Stocks continue to run through their veteran leaders. Defending and now two-time champion Greg Perry, Danny Massa, Timmy Ouellette and Jeremy Lambert have to be at the front of the pack when it comes to challengers. But don’t look past names like Ethan Souza, Austin Flanagan, Rob Hendrickson, Matthew Talbot, Justin Menard, Jim Reilly, Mike Rotondo and more when it comes to battling for the crown at the end of the season. Beginning on Friday, they want to chase trophies on a weekly basis in their 25-lap events. On Saturday, those Thrill Show spills and thrills return with the Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags, Car & Truck Enduro races, Car & Truck Enduro Drags, Crazy Figure 8 Races, Powder Puff action and the Insane Chain race. With gates opening at 2:30 p.m. and racing beginning at 5 p.m., fans are not going to want to miss this special event. Celebrate the kick-off to the summer season at Seekonk in style by watching the crashing and smashing of a Thrill Show. Fast Friday racing begins at 7 p.m. with the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits and Outlaws, Everett’s Auto Parts Sport 4’s, Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Pure Stocks and Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars. Saturday’s action begins at 5 p.m. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates. Craig Pianka was in the right place, at the right time, to capture his second victory of the season in the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday, May 21. Pianka, the one they nickname “Captain Fun” seemed to be content to finish third in the 25-lap race, but when Ed Perry and Steve Axon got together racing for the lead late, Pianka took advantage. Pianka worked to the top spot on the restart at lap 23 and never looked back, pulling away from the pack in the final laps to take down the win. Scott Serydysnki Jr. was second, posting a strong run in the No. 22, his first podium of the season. Doug Benoit, a former Fast Friday Pure Stock champion, jumped to third at the finish. Colby Lambert and defending division champion Chad Baxter completed the top-five. Tyler Almeida was sixth, followed by Adam Petty, Vinny Pangelinan, Adam Giacomozzi and Kaleb Marcou. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman will return to the track on Saturday, June 4, for another 25-lap feature. The division will be off next week for the Memorial Day Thrill Show. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates. Seekonk Speedway Offers Increased Purse Structure, Point Fund For 2022 NASCAR Saturday Season5/19/2022 As part of the 2022 NASCAR Saturday season at Seekonk Speedway, the third-mile track is proud to offer an increased purse structure for all four divisions and a point fund at the end of the season. Between the four divisions, weekly purses rise over $15,000 distributed each Saturday night for a full field of cars, with increases across all four divisions by at least five percent — most times more -- compared to last year.
In the middle of a difficult time in racing economics — including increased tire and fuel costs — along with the increases in daily life costs — Seekonk Speedway is happy to assist teams by increasing the purse to help bring them to the track each week to showcase some of the best racing in New England to race fans. “We know these are trying times for our race teams and we want to support those drivers and teams who are dedicated to racing at Seekonk Speedway,” David Alburn, Competition Director at Seekonk Speedway, said. “Our race teams are some of the most committed in the entire country and they put on a great show for our dedicated race fans each Saturday night. We are happy to produce purse increases for the season and also excited to pay a point fund at the end of the weekly grind that rewards those who race weekly.” With the $15,000 number spread across all over divisions, the money throughout the field is some of the best in the 76-year history of Seekonk Speedway. In the Pro Stocks, the purse increased by just over five percent compared to last year on a weekly basis. In the Late Models, the total purse is up over $1,500, while in the Sportsman and Sport Trucks, the total is up over $1,000. Seekonk Speedway is also excited to welcome $30,000 in point fund payouts into the 2022 season, spread across all four NASCAR divisions. Between payouts from Seekonk and NASCAR directly — the Pro Stock point fund for top-10 finishers will be nearly $15,000. In the Late Models, the point fund is just over $7,000, while the Sportsman and Sport Trucks will see point fund payouts of just over $4,000. The Pro Stock champion will go home with $5,000, while the Late Model crown-holder will go home with $2,500. The Sportsman champion will collect $1,100 and the Sport Truck champion a smooth $1,000. Don’t forget that Seekonk Speedway is also introducing a new playoff format, the Drive 4 The Cup presented by Sunoco Race Fuels, which will keep drivers engaged throughout the year and fans will not know the champion right until the final laps of the final race of the season. Full information on purses, and the point fund, is also available online at SeekonkSpeedway.com under the “racing stuff” tab on the all-new website for 2022. Already set as one of the top weekly Division I purses in New England, a 40-lap Pro Stock feature pays $1,500 to win, $1,000 for second and $800 for third. The total purse throughout the field rises over $8,000. For a race in the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series, the total rises over $10,300, and the winner will collect $1,750, while second is $1,200 and third is $900. In the American Racer 75-lap race in August, a $2,000 winning prize will be on the line. Over the course of the entire season, the increased purse for the Pro Stock division includes over $7,000 more in prizes. The Division II Late Models also have seen an increase for the 2022 season. For a 30-lap feature, the $800 winning prize is set with $500 for second, and $450 for third. The total purse for a 30-lap weekly race is over $5,000. For the 45-lap Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown events, the winner will collect $1,000, while second is $700 and third is $600. For the Triple Crown events, the total purse will be over $6,700. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman will see a regular 25-lap race pay $375 to win, the highest figure for a weekly show at Seekonk for the Division III class in many years. Second-place pays $250, while third is $200. For a 25-lap race, the total purse is over $1,500. For the Everett’s Triple Crown races, set for 35 laps, the winner will collect $500, while second is $350 and third is $275. The total Triple Crown purse is over $3,400 for the division. In the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks, the division also sees the highest payout compared to recent years in 2022. A weekly, 25-lap race will pay over $2,500 throughout the field, including $350 to win, $250 for second and $200 for third. In the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series races, set for 35 laps, the division pays $500 to win, $350 for second and $275 for third, as part of a total purse that rises over $3,400. On top of NASCAR Saturday, Seekonk will also welcome the Nick Lascuola Racing Summer Showdown for the INEX Legends on Wednesday, July 27 as part of the Bay State Classic, worth $1,000 to win. The Legends Cars will battle alongside the $10,000 to win Pro All Star Series Pro Stock race, with a total top-10 purse of over $2,500 on the line. Second-place will pay $500, third $300, and more throughout the field. For Thrill Shows, the Powder Puff races pay $150 to win, $100 for second and $75 for third. In the Figure 8 division, races are $200 to win, $150 for second, and $100 for third. In the Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags, races are $200 to win, $150 for second and $100 for third. “We’re excited to welcome these increased purses into the realm for 2022 and happy to see the commitment from our weekly racing teams,” Ed St. Germain, Director of Business Development at Seekonk Speedway, said. “Our race teams work hard to get to the track each week and we’re happy to reward them for their commitment to Seekonk Speedway, a family-owned and operated business since inception in 1946." Seekonk Speedway racing returns on Saturday, May 21, for another night of NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series action including the Pro Stocks, Late Models, Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman and Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks. The Late Models will hit the track for 45 laps in round one of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series. For more information on all Seekonk Speedway events and to purchase tickets in advance for NASCAR Saturday, Fast Friday and Thrill Show races, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com. Follow the track on social media for the latest updates, including on race day. Last year, Vinnie Arrenegado finally grabbed the championship crown he had been fighting for in the Late Models. But last year is in the past, and 2022 is a brand new year. Is he poised to repeat as the Seekonk Speedway NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Late Model track champion?
The chance is high. After trying for so many years, and winning so many races, Vinnie was finally able to put the consistency together to win the championship in 2021 — but he has to be rolling into a new format with a completely different mindset. There’s no doubt that Arrenegado will make the new playoff system as part of the Drive 4 For The Cup. The playoff system will be three races in September, where the field will be cut from 8 drivers, to 6, down to the final 4. In that final championship race, the driver that bests the other three in the feature will be the champion. The first 8 will be determined based off the eight drivers that are at the front of the point standings, where we know Arrenegado will be. From there, it will be about hitting your stride at the end of the year — something Vinnie has no problem doing. For many years, he’s been the one to win the Fall Classic, and some of the final events of the year. In 2022, if he captures the final race of the season, he may have the chance to call himself a two-time champion. But there are a few drivers that come to mind as his major threats: Gerry DeGasparre Jr., Josh Hedges, Richie Murray, Chase Belcher and Jacob “Rowdy” Burns. Let’s break them down. DeGasparre needs no introduction. As a seven-time Seekonk Speedway Late Model champion, Gerry is chasing history, as Pro Stock standout Dave Darling is the only driver to win eight titles. Can Gerry boost himself to that level in 2022? He may not have won a championship in a while, but don’t let that fool you. The driver of the familiar No. 71 is sure to have speed, and sure to be close when the final championship battle begins. Chase Belcher has to be one of the odds-on favorites to knock Arrenegado from the top. Belcher, driver of the No. 35 Everett’s Auto Parts machine, was the class of the field multiple times in 2021. When Belcher was on, he was on. When he was off, he was still in the top-10. A few years after winning the Sport Truck title, Belcher seems more poised than ever to have the year of his dreams. He won multiple times last year, and is expected to do the same this year. If he makes the Final Four, is he the favorite? Hedges and Murray are two former Seekonk Sport Truck champions looking to make their mark by becoming champion in the Late Models. Hedges picked up his first Seekonk Late Model win last year, while Murray missed the first few races, but stormed onto the scene during the summer to be in contention for wins each week. Although he didn’t win, it’s almost a near certainty that Murray will hold the checkered flag this season, you can bet on it. Are either of them title threats? Sure. Making the playoffs shouldn’t be a major issue, and once they get there, they will be towards the front of the field when the checkered flag falls. For Hedges, it’s about winning races and being consistent to get there to the Final 4. For Murray, the major goal is to grab that first winning trophy, then go from there. Jacob “Rowdy” Burns has proved that he can get the job done. Moving up from the Legends Cars in the second half of last year, Burns was competitive in the Late Models, you can expect him to contend for his first win, and be in the mix when it comes time to determine the playoff field. What about names like Mike Duarte and Nick Uhrig? Both are former track champions, just in a different divisions. Duarte won the Sport Truck title, while Uhrig won the Pure Stock title on Fast Friday. They both are inching closer to their first Late Model wins, and this could be the year. Defending Rookie of the Year Ryan Flood is also expected to contend for more wins, and potentially the championship. Tied-in with the DeGasparre team, Flood has the ability to get the job done. Two drivers are going to be the major threats for Rookie of the Year — both moving up from other divisions. Reese Bogue, a former Seekonk Youth Racing Association Fast Friday champion, will be making his Late Model debut with the chase for Rookie honors his major goal. Winning races in the Bandolero division wasn’t an issue for Bogue, and he moved to the Legends Cars last year, scoring multiple top-five runs. For the new year, he goes from small to big for the first time — jumping behind the wheel of a Late Model. Christopher Gomes, moving up from the Sportsman division, has registered for Late Model battle. Gomes worked hard for many years to build his speed in the Sportsman class, and was running at the front of the field inside the top-10 on most weeks. Now, as he registers for a higher division, the learning curve begins again for the driver of the No. 10 machine. What about names like Nathan Tracy? Mark Hudson? Are registered Pro Stock drivers Mark Jenison and Ryan Lineham going to slide in for a few starts? Is there someone we are missing who will contend for wins or potentially the title? The Late Models will have regular 30 lap feature races, along with the three events in the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series, set for 50 laps each. The Late Model season opens on Sunday, May 1 at 2PM, along with the other three Seekonk Speedway NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series divisions. Tickets are available in advance online at SeekonkSpeedway.com and will also be available at the gate on race day. For the first time in 2022, Seekonk Speedway’s third-mile roared to life on Saturday, April 16, for practice day ahead of the season opener for both Fast Friday and NASCAR Saturday. More than 40 teams took to the track for some test and tune laps, led by former division champions, rising stars, title favorites and Rookie of the Year contenders.
Some of the top challengers in the Pro Stock championship battle were there to start 2022 early. While eight-time track champion Dave Darling wasn’t, some took advantage of the track time to try and get a head start on the season. Former Late Model champions Ryan Vanasse, Bobby Pelland and Tommy Adams, all planning to campaign in the Pro Stocks at some level in 2022, posted some of the top times of the day. Former Pro Stock champion Kenny Spencer took a few laps, along with Billy Joeress, Daryl Stampfl and Dylan Estrella. The big question of the day was if Jeff Belyea, Dave Darling’s crew chief, who also registered as a driver for 2022, would attend. The answer was no... but will we see him on track on opening day battling his car owner for Pro Stock Glory. In the Late Models, Mike Duarte and Richie Murray, two rising Late Model stars, were the top contenders of the day. They found themselves at the top of the chart for most of the sessions, with names like Josh Hedges and Paul Lallier not far behind. Former Legends Cars standout and now Late Model Rookie of the Year contender Reese Bogue also took his first laps around other cars and proved that he wouldn’t be shying away from the challenge. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman may have been the most populated division of the day, with even a few bumps and bruises of side-by-side racing going on during test laps. Names like former champion Steve Axon, Ed Perry, Don Perry, Adam Petty and Mark Healy were among the fastest of the afternoon. In the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks, Radical Rick Martin unloaded a brand new ride in his chase to get even further over 100 wins in Seekonk history, and the veteran posted the quickest time of the day. Names like Mike Cavallaro, Danny Thibeault, Tom Scully III, and a few others also took laps. In the Fast Friday classes, the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero’s were not allowed to attend, as they will have their own practice later in the spring. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Pure Stocks took off quickly, with names like Sam Lincoln, Ethan Souza, Rob Hendrickson, Billy Chouinard and others taking time on the track. The Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars also debuted for 2022, with Richie Helger Jr. competing in his first competitive race laps in a Legend Car, one year after winning the championship in the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Outlaws. He was joined by teammate Mason Tessier on the track. The Sport 4 division also started off strong with names like Kaleb Marcou, Stephanie Bruneau and more taking a few circuits. Seekonk Speedway will open the 76th season of full-time racing as part of a packed weekend on Sunday, May 1 at 2PM. All four NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series divisions — headlined by the Pro Stocks and Late Models — will contest in their first races of the year. The Fast Friday series will begin on Friday, May 27 at 7PM. For more information on Seekonk Speedway and tickets to all events visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow on social media for the latest updates. for photos click below https://seekonkspeedway.smugmug.com/RACE-PHOTOS/2022-Racing-/41622-Open-Practice-/ Seekonk Speedway is pleased to announce the addition of the Online sale of flex tickets, available now, for the 2022 season. Flex tickets will be $15 for a NASCAR Saturday event and $10 for a Fast Friday event and are only available to be purchased and used on those two types of events. Any flex tickets purchased are not valid for Thrill Shows, Monster Trucks, Touring Series or Wednesday night races. Flex tickets are the perfect way to purchase a gift for a loved one, or purchase the entire season of NASCAR Saturday or Fast Friday up front. It’s also a great way to purchase tickets to one of these events and pick the night you want to attend later down the line, instead of having to pick a specific date now. Seekonk Speedway is pleased to allow fans this opportunity as they plan on their 2022 season schedule throughout the summer. All tickets are currently available for 2022 Seekonk Speedway events online at seekonkspeedway.showare.com. On top of flex tickets, single-event tickets are available for all events, including those special Thrill Shows, Monster Trucks, Wednesday night races and more. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, including the latest schedule, visit www.SeekonkSpeedway.com Buy Flex Tickets HERE 🎟⬇️🏁 https://seekonkspeedway.showare.com/orderticketsarea.asp?p=50&a=8&backurl=//seekonkspeedway.showare.com/default.asp |
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