With eight-time track champion Dave Darling not committing to running a full-time Pro Stock slate at Seekonk Speedway in 2023, the championship battle appears to be wide open. Heading into the second year of the Drive For The Cup presented by Sunoco Race Fuel, if we learned anything in 2022, anything can happen. And with a strong contingent of drivers expected to battle for glory during the season, the champion in 2023 will have gone through a lot to hold the trophy high in the air on September 30.
Darling – who has dominated most of the last decade in the division – says he isn’t planning on running all of the races. How many will he run? It all depends, and it’s unknown exactly. Will he run enough to make the playoffs and contend for the title? Will he miss the playoffs all together and leave the door wide open for someone to slide in? Mark Jenison picked up his first career Pro Stock title last year, scoring the big win on the final night of the Drive For The Cup, also capturing the Late Model title on the same night. Jenison is coming back to the Pro Stocks in 2023 – looking for a repeat – and with the speed the car had late in the season last year, look out for Mark to be a factor all year. The next contingent of drivers looking to compete with Jenison includes calculated veterans who know how to get the job done. Former track champions Tom Scully Jr., Mike Brightman, Ryan Lineham, Bobby Pelland III, Rick Martin, Dylan Estrella, Tommy Adams and Kevin Casper are all registered and intend to race. Not all of these drivers are Pro Stock champions – but some are – and all of them have at least one championship in a NASCAR Saturday division. In the case of Radical Rick Martin, a few championships later, he’s coming back to the Pro Stocks with a point to prove in 2023. Last year, he made the Final Four drivers, and won the Sport Truck title. Can the 2023 season mark yet another Pro Stock title for him? What about Tom Scully Jr? Last year was certainly up and down for him, with the big win a week after the sudden passing of Tom Scully Sr., and a Final Four appearance. If Scully decides to run the full calendar and races with the same speed and tenacity we are used to from him, look out for a run at a second track title. Brightman was arguably one of Darling’s closest contenders throughout most of the 2022 season – beating him in a Triple Crown race, winning multiple other times, and making the finals with a shot at the title. Brightman has made it clear during the winter his goals are to win the Pro Stock championship in 2023. If the speed returns in the No. 27, it should be an achievable goal if the cards fall correctly. Ryan Lineham, Bobby Pelland and Dylan Estrella are all former Late Model champions, entering this season with a bit of different recent backgrounds. Lineham is coming off a mixed slate in the Sportsman and Pro Stocks last year, and has registered to do battle in the Pro Stocks again in 2023. Pelland ran the full schedule last year, winning a race, and just missing the Final Four. Estrella, coming off a year touring with the Granite State Pro Stock Series, is returning to his home roots looking to bring Everett’s Auto Parts back to the top in the leading Seekonk division. Watch out for all three of these impressive contenders to be threats for wins all year, and a major threat for the title if they can make the Final Four. Former Seekonk Sport Truck champion Kevin Casper intends to return to Seekonk this season as well in the Phil’s Propane No. 88. Casper may have taken some time off from Seekonk and did some touring himself, but look out for the team to be up to speed quickly. Tommy Adams is another former Seekonk Late Model champion who won his first Pro Stock race in 2022. The speed under the hood of the 56 in the Pro Stocks was great last year and he will be a threat going into a new season. He will be joined by the likes of teammates Colbey Fournier and Kenny Spencer. Fournier ended last year in Victory Lane in the finale, while Spencer struggled in the No. 0 as a former track champion himself. Other contenders include Daryl Stampfl, a veteran of racing, Ryan Souliere, a newcomer to the division last year, former Sport Truck regular Kenneth Lavallee, Rookie contender and former Pure Stock winner Mike Rotondo driving the famed Rollie Lindblad No. 48 and many more. Look out for Late Model driver Jeramee Lillie to also compete more in the Pro Stocks in 2023. Names like Ryan Vanasse (former Late Model champion, planning a partial schedule), Danny Thibeault, Billy Joerres and others will also be names to watch entering the 2023 campaign. The Pro Stocks will open their 2023 season on Sunday, May 7, as part of Seekonk Speedway’s 78th 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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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. 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. 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 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. Becomes New Tow Company of Third-Mile; Sponsoring East Coast Towing Spectator Drags, Presenting Mid Summer Thrill Show & Much More SEEKONK, Mass. – Seekonk Speedway is happy to announce today the addition of East Coast Towing to the track family for the 2023 season. East Coast Towing will become the official tow company of Seekonk Speedway and also will sponsor multiple special events and marquee nights during the new year. East Coast Towing, based in Taunton, Massachusetts, offers fast and friendly 24 hour emergency towing and roadside assistance. They tow all vehicles – from small cars to heavy tractor trailers and more. At East Coast Towing, they offer quality towing equipment and staff that are highly experienced professionals in their field. Their goal is to provide the best and safest service in the area. Their drivers are trained, certified, and ready to help you in any situation! For assistance on the road, give them a call today at 774-565-8459 or visit them online at eastcoasttowma.com. “Joining the Seekonk Speedway family is exciting for all of us at East Coast Towing,” Rob Martin, President of East Coast Towing said. “Short-track racing in this area at Seekonk continues to grow every year and we are excited to jump right into the middle of it. The Speedway community seems to be a true family of racers, teams, staff and fans all together and we can’t wait to feel it for ourselves. Sponsoring some of the major events including the Thrill Show and Great American Trailer Race, and the intriguing idea of the East Coast Towing Spectator Drags, was something we couldn’t pass up. You don’t find someone able to drive their street car on the race track very often. Adding the First Responders Night and recognizing those who help us get through everyday life… all of this is a great opportunity and we can’t wait to get started at Seekonk Speedway in 2023.” The tow company will become the official towing provider of the Action Track of the East – supplying trucks and assistance for all race events. On top of that, East Coast Towing becomes the official sponsor of the Spectator Drag Series, which will race 10 times in 2023 – combined between Thrill Shows and NASCAR Saturday events. ![]() East Coast Towing will also proudly present the Mid Summer Thrill Show and the East Coast Towing Great American Trailer Race on August 5, and will serve as the presenting sponsor of First Responders Night at Seekonk Speedway on September 9, which also serves as the first round of the Sunoco Drive For The Cup. Fans will also be able to see a company billboard at the track for 2023. “We are really excited to welcome Rob and his team from East Coast Towing to the track family for 2023,” Ed St. Germain, Director of Business Development at Seekonk Speedway, said. “They are coming into the Speedway in a big way, sponsoring some of our biggest events and most marquee nights. We look forward to having them connect with our competitors and showcase their business to our dedicated fans during the 2023 racing season.” Seekonk Speedway’s 2023 race season begins on Sunday, May 7 with opening day for the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series divisions – the Pro Stocks, Late Models, Sportsman and Sport Trucks. Tickets for all events for the new season are available now at SeekonkSpeedway.com. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates. Playoffs Extended To Four Weeks; Champions To Be Crowned September 29-30 SEEKONK, Mass. – Seekonk Speedway announced today an updated format for the Sunoco Drive For The Cup at the third-mile oval for the 2023 season. After a successful first season, the Cup championship format will return with a few tweaks to further enhance the system. All nine Seekonk divisions will use the format and the champions will be crowned September 29-30 on Fast Friday and NASCAR Saturday. Prior to the playoffs, seeding will be determined at the end of August when the regular season ends on August 26-27. Beginning for the new year, the playoffs will move to a four-week format, all throughout the month of September. The first two rounds will move to a points format in the Elite Eight on September 8-9 and 15-16. The first two weeks of the playoffs will include a points format to determine who will move to the round of six. The number of cars in the playoffs in each division will remain the same with eight in all divisions other than the Bandoleros, who will have six. The Elite Eight will include playoff drivers racing for playoff points inside those two events. The highest six amounts of playoff points after those two weeks will advance (five in Bandolero divisions). Heat race points will be given at 5-4-3-2-1 values for those who finish inside the top-five and feature points will be given to playoff finishers 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3 (three is lowest finisher in the race) in the order in which they finish. If a race is rained out, only points that are counted for features and heats will count, as there is no rain date in this round. In the event of a tie, Seekonk Speedway will fall back on the points at the end of the regular season with the highest finishing of the drivers advancing to the next round. For all events in the Sunoco Drive For The Cup, Seekonk Speedway’s General Rules and Technical Inspection rules are in effect. For all playoff rounds, the qualifying and feature lineups will follow the same format as they did in 2022. The first in the lineup will be those who qualified through heat races but are not playoff cars. The qualified playoff cars will line up next based on a blind draw. The highest of the points drivers going into the race will draw first for the starting spot, followed by second, etc. Nothing from previous rounds/races in the playoffs matters when it comes to lineups. Similar to last year, the lap distances for the first round of the playoffs will be as follows: Pro Stocks: 40 laps Late Models: 30 laps Sportsman: 25 laps Sport Trucks: 25 laps Legends Cars: 25 laps Pure Stocks: 25 laps Sport 4: 25 laps Bandolero divisions: 15 laps The second round of the playoffs, September 22-23, will be the Super Six. In this weekend of racing, all divisions expect Bandoleros (five) will have six cars. The highest finishing four in each division in this feature race will advance to the Championship 4. Points in previous rounds or the regular season will not determine who advances. At the end of this round, Seekonk Speedway will have nine divisions with four drivers in each to race for the title. Lap distances in round two are as follows. PRO STOCKS: 45 laps LATE MODELS: 35 laps SPORTSMAN: 30 laps SPORT TRUCKS: 30 laps LEGENDS CARS: 25 laps PURE STOCKS: 25 laps SPORT 4: 25 laps BANDOLERO DIVISIONS: 15 laps D. Anthony Venditti Championship Weekend will take place on Friday, September 29 and Saturday, September 30. The highest finishing of the championship drivers will be crowned the track champion for their respective division, just like 2022. The lap distances for the finale will be as follows: PRO STOCKS: 50 laps LATE MODELS: 40 laps SPORTSMAN: 35 laps SPORT TRUCKS: 35 laps LEGENDS CARS: 30 laps PURE STOCKS: 30 laps SPORT 4: 30 laps BANDOLERO DIVISIONS: 15 laps NASCAR and track points will run from opening day right through to the end of the season. This means a driver could still run for NASCAR National, Regional and State points and their weekly point totals will still be accumulated with no changes. In the event the final race cannot be completed due to unforeseen circumstances on scheduled date and rain dates, the champion will be decided by highest points total of remaining championship cars. Seekonk Speedway will honor the winner of the Drive For The Cup as the 2023 track champion in their respective division. Seekonk Speedway will continue a points grid, recognizing drivers from both Fast Friday and NASCAR Saturday all year. The points grid will start opening day and end on September 29-30, just like the playoffs will. The playoff system will not impact Seekonk NASCAR state points or the INEX National points. Those are separate from the playoff system and will be determined using the regular points format throughout the season. Points through the entire regular season and playoffs will be honored in the same manner as 50-48- 46-44-42 & through the field. At the end of the final race of the playoffs, there will be a final points grid that includes the point totals from the entire season. The winner of the Drive For The Cup will be the Seekonk Speedway Track Champion and be awarded first place, while positions second on back will be determined based off overall season totals. For example, if car 17 finishes second in the last race of the season and they were in the playoffs, car 25 may end up second in points, because they earned the most points during the season of the others in the division who were not champion. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates. NASCAR Membership and License Renewal
NASCAR Member Services is moving license applications to a digital format in 2023 and the anticipated launch date for this new system is January 19, 2023. While we will still provide paper applications with to your track to be utilized as needed, there is a higher price point for paper applications submitted, so we recommend taking advantage of the new digital licensing portal. The new digital licensing system can be accessed by visiting NASCAR Digital Licensing. We will also have the link available on the NASCAR Members website as well as both a video and paper instructions. The exciting news is that now all members, new , renewing and minors, can purchase their license through the new portal for all license types, including Per Event and 15-day temporary licenses. 2023 At-Track License Prices: Feature Driver/Owner - $225 Charger Driver/Owner - $125 Crew - $125 Online Renewal with the $25.00 Discount: Feature Driver/Owner - $200 Charger Driver/Owner - $100 Crew - $100 If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to the NASCAR Member Services Department at 386-310-6300. Thank you for your continued participation in NASCAR. Sincerely, NASCAR Member Services Team NEW
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