![]() Rick Martin used a late restart to rocket his way to the front of the Chaz Auto Body Sport Truck field, taking down the impressive victory in their 25-lap feature on Saturday, May 21. Martin used the outside lane to pass leader Jake Vanada on the restart with just nine laps to go, and never looked back en route to his 101st career Seekonk Speedway victory. Behind Martin, Brittany Campbell continued her impressive start to the season, grabbing a second-place finish in the No. 8. With Campbell in the runner-up spot, Vanada had to settle for third after leading the opening stages of the race. Mike Cavallaro was fourth and Barry Shaw Jr. was fifth. Darryl Church finished sixth, followed by Danny Thibeault, Lenny Guy, Ethan Heilborn and Tom Scully III. Through the first three races of the Chaz Auto Body Sport Truck season, three different drivers have been to Victory Lane: Martin, Shaw and Cavallaro, three former champions of the Division IV NASCAR class. The Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks will return to the track on Saturday, June 4, for a 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.
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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. With two races in the books on NASCAR Saturday, Seekonk Speedway will roar back to life this Saturday, May 21 for the third racing night of the season and the final for teams in the month of May. Beginning at 6PM, the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series continues — this time with the Late Models for 45-laps — along with the Pro Stocks, Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman and Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks.
Advance tickets for the event are available online at SeekonkSpeedway.com, and will also be available at the track on race day. Tickets are $15 for adults. Through two weeks, the Late Model field is chasing sophomore contender Richie Murray, who picked up his first career win on opening day and finished third in race two after starting 11th. Murray will be a strong contender to come from the rear in the first extra-distance event of the season, but will have stout competition. Gerry DeGasparre Jr. picked up the victory in the second race of the year and will be looking to make it back-to-back. Names like Vinnie Arrenegado Jr., Chase Belcher and Josh Hedges are also off to fast starts — with Hedges posting top-five finishes in the first two events. The extra-distance affair will see plenty of positions change from the drop of the green through lap 45. After not racing last week due to Mother Nature, the Pro Stocks are back for their second race of the season. Dave Darling may have eight titles and may be the favorite going into the year, but the division looks to be shaping up to give him a run for his money. Mike Brightman won the opening day 40-lap feature and last week, in the two heat races, Tom Scully Jr. and Tommy Adams were at the top of their game. Adams, a former Late Model champion, is going to be tough to beat, along with Scully, Darling, Ryan Vanasse, Bobby Pelland, Rick Martin, Brightman and many more. The Pro Stocks are set for another 40-lap feature on Saturday night. The Chaz Auto Body Sport Truck division rolls into their third race of the year with two different winners in the first two, but a lot of consistency inside the top-five. Mike Cavallaro and Barry Shaw Jr. have already been to Victory Lane, but names like Rick Martin, Brittany Campbell and Mike Duarte haven’t been far behind. Duarte has been on the podium in both races so far this season. Jake Vanada and Amy Arsenault have also shown plenty of speed in the first few weeks of competition. Two weeks into the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman season, there are two different winners, but tons of drivers who are hungry to get their first checkered flag of the year. Names like Steve Axon and defending champion Chad Baxter come to mind as drivers who are going to be tough to beat in their 25-lap feature this Saturday night. After dominating the division last year, Baxter struggled in week two after a wreck and will need to rebound this week. Look out for former Fast Friday Pure Stock champion Doug Benoit, who was strong last week, to try and contend for the win himself, along with Sparky Arsenault, who led countless laps a week ago. NASCAR Saturday night racing at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday, May 21 will begin with the drop of the first green flag at 6 p.m. General admission gates will open at 4 p.m. On Saturday, May 28, NASCAR Saturday teams will have the week off for the Memorial Day Thrill Show, and will return to action on Saturday, June 5. For more information on Seekonk Speedway including to purchase tickets and learn more about the 2022 track schedule, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates. After coming up short on opening day, Barry Shaw Jr. wasn’t going to mess around in week two of Chaz Auto Body Sport Truck racing at Seekonk Speedway. Shaw started near the front of the field in round one of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series, a 35-lap feature, quickly taking the lead from Amy Arsenault. However — from there — Shaw had to fight the charges of Radical Rick Martin, who worked the outside on multiple restarts over the second half of the race, and made it a battle to remember. Martin edged out Shaw a few times, but wasn’t able to do it on the right lap, when the checkered flag was in the air. Shaw bested Martin to the finish, locking himself into the Final Four of the Triple Crown Series with the victory, while Martin finished second, and former division champion Mike Duarte was third for the second straight week. Mike Cavallaro, the opening day winner, finished fourth, followed by Brittany Campbell, posting her second straight top-five to open the year. Rick Albernaz was sixth, followed by Jake Vanada, Tom Scully III, Amy Arsenault and Lenny Guy, wrapping the top-10 in a 16 Truck field. The Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks will return to the track on Saturday, May 21, for another 25-lap feature. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates. SEEKONK, Mass. -- Former Late Model champion Gerry DeGasparre Jr. is looking to capture his eighth championship in 2022, and he’s off to a strong start in his quest. DeGasparre Jr. captured his first victory of the season on Saturday, May 14, rocketing to the front early in the 30-lap feature and never looking back. Over the second half of the race, DeGasparre had to fend off the charges of defending division champion Vinnie Arrenegado and frontrunner Chase Belcher, who chased him around on multiple restarts. However, the driver of the No. 71 wasn’t going to be denied in his quest for victory lane. DeGasparre took down the win with Arrenegado crossing the line second. Richie Murray, who picked up the opening day win for his first career checkered flag, finished third. Chase Belcher settled for fourth at the finish and Josh Hedges rounded out the top-five. Jeramee Lillie was sixth, followed by Jacob Burns, Mark Jenison, Ryan Flood and Mike Duarte. The Late Models will return to the track on Saturday, May 21, for round one of their Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series, a 45-lap feature. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates. EVERETT’S AUTO PARTS TRIPLE CROWN, SPECTATOR DRAGS KICK-OFF THIS SATURDAY AT SEEKONK SPEEDWAY5/5/2022 Coming off a rainout last week, Seekonk Speedway will roar back to life for the first NASCAR Saturday racing of the season this Saturday night, May 14. The night will include five divisions of racing on the card, including the kick-off of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series and the Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags. Tickets are available in advance for the first Saturday race of the year by visiting SeekonkSpeedway.com, where fans can grab their general admission passes and skip the line on race day. Fans, teams and drivers can also purchase pit passes ahead online to skip the line. The Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series, newly sponsored by Everett’s Auto Parts, will debut for the new year with the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks and Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman in a double-dip of extra-distance racing. The Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks will compete in a 35-lap feature in their second race of the season, with 10 extra laps to let it go down. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman will also run for 35 laps. The Triple Crown format will be similar to past years, with the winner of the first race, winner of the second race and the top two points drivers between the first two events making up the Final Four into the Triple Crown championship weekend in August. On that night, whichever of the four drivers finishes ahead of the other will win the Triple Crown. The Sport Trucks roll into race two with Amy Arsenault looking to rebound and get back on track. The driver of the No. 9 Truck led 23 of the 25 laps on opening day, but a mechanical failure while in the lead ended her day just short of Victory Lane. When she hit the sidelines, former champion Mike Cavallaro blasted through and opened the year with a win. Additional contenders will include Rick Martin, Mike Duarte, opening day runner-up Brittany Campbell, Jake Vanada and others in the extra-distance feature. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman went into the season knowing they were chasing defending champion Chad Baxter, but “Captain Fun” Craig Pianka made sure to grab the first trophy. Pianka won the opening 25-lap race of the year and showed the speed under the hood he needs to be a contender. Names like Baxter, Ed Perry, Steve Axon and more will be looking to visit Victory Lane for the first time in 2022 this Saturday night. The Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags also debut for the 2022 season on Saturday night. Coming off a successful 2021 campaign, many of the same drivers will be back to battle for the crown in their 10-race schedule, which includes multiple NASCAR Saturday nights and Thrill Show races. Defending champion John Fielding will be closely chased by former champion Jonathon Johnson, Rob Gingras and more in their events, which will take place just before qualifying heats. The Late Model division is chasing sophomore contender Richie Murray through the first week, as the driver of the No. 08, a third-generation racer, picked up his first career win on opening day. Leading into week two, there are multiple top contenders who need to rebound, including defending champion Vinnie Arrenegado, Chase Belcher, Gerry DeGasparre Jr. and more. All of them had some speed in the opener, but their standards are top-five finishes — and they will be looking to get to where they want to be in the 30-lap Late Model feature. The Pro Stock division had one of the wildest races in recent memory in their first event of 2022, and if it was any indication of what is ahead, it could be a crazy year. “Mighty" Mike Brightman pocketed the first win of the year after spinning early and hanging on late, while former champion Kenny Spencer made his early season mark, finishing second on opening day. It won’t be long before Dave Darling returns to the track, or Tom Scully Jr., who was involved in a wreck early and didn’t finish race one. Tommy Adams, a former Late Model champion moving to the Pro Stocks this year, also showed plenty of speed last weekend. NASCAR Saturday night racing at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday, May 14 will begin with the drop of the first green flag at 6 p.m. General admission gates will open at 4 p.m., and although tickets are available in advance, they will also be available at the gate on race day. Tickets are $15 for adults and kids 12 and under and parking is free. For more information on Seekonk Speedway including to purchase tickets and learn more about the 2022 track schedule, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates. With another 10-race schedule planned for the 2022 season, the Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags will roar back to life this Saturday, May 7, with round one of the season.
Seekonk Speedway has been running the Spectator Drags for many years — where fans can literally bring their own car off the street, down onto the track, and compete in a one-lap race against others. The Spectator Drag events include elimination rounds where the winner advances, and the loser either is out in their first shot, or gets a second chance, depending on the night. By the end — there are two drivers left and they battle for two laps around the third-mile to pick a winner on the night. Entering the opener, John Fielding is looking for a repeat performance in 2022, and hoping to get off on the right foot. In 10 events last year, Fielding earned championship glory by a healthy margin of 17 points over Joey Morrissette, who also competed in the Seekonk Speedway Fast Friday Pure Stock division. With Morrissette moving across the country and no longer competing full-time, Fielding is going to have a long list of challengers trying to take him off the top of the division. Jonathan Johnson, a former division champion, didn’t have quite the season he was looking for in 2021, but will be looking to rebound this year. One of the top crowd favorites, Rob Gingras, brings his 1948 Ford Truck to the track each time, and his girlfriend, Christine Pierce, will also be joining him on the track this year as a Rookie contender. Names like Matt Desrosiers, Franz Weidlinger, Richie Johnson, Kyle Buchanan, Brad Johnson and others are also expected to compete. Last year, between NASCAR Saturday and Thrill Show events, over 110 drivers competed in at least one event. The list of contenders rolling into 2022 is a long one, as one of Seekonk’s most popular divisions gets ready to roll. “The Troy City Tactical Spectator Drag Series continues to grow and we’re looking forward to watching drivers battle for the first time this weekend,” Ed St. Germain, Director of Business Development for Seekonk Speedway, said. “Some of our NASCAR Saturday drivers started in the Spectator Drags and have worked their way up into the divisions that fans watch on a weekly basis. These drivers don’t mess around on the track and put on some of the best action of the year.” Troy City Tactical, located in Fall River, Massachusetts, have created an environment for safety, respect and quality in firearms. Whether you are new to firearms, or a seasoned veteran, their goal is to provide you with the best service and best experience the moment you walk through their door. They offer classes, lessons, sales and service. You can visit them online at TroyCityTactical.com or give them a call today at 508-536-3158 for more information. The rules for the Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags are simple — the car competing must be registered with the DMV with a current inspection sticker, with no dealer or repair plates. Bodies must be legal using a stock chassis. A full face helmet must be worn at all times and participants must have a valid license and be at least 18-years-old. For a full set of rules, including tires, windows and more, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com to be sure your car fits the needs. In order to compete in all events, including this Saturday, teams must register at the pit booth by posted times, and must have a license and car registration with them. Spectator Drag events are first-come, first-serve. For Saturday races, registration will open at 4 p.m. and close at 5 p.m. The top-3 in each event earn trophies and the payout varies per event. For each race, drivers earn points for being inside the final 10 during the race, with 10th earning 1 point, 9th earning two points, etc. — down to the winner — who earns 10 for taking the checkered flag first. This season, the Spectator Drags have scheduled events on May 7, May 28 (Memorial Day Thrill Show), June 19, July 2 (Independence Day Thrill Show), July 16, July 30 (Midsummer Thrill Show), August 14 (Monster Trucks show), September 3 (Labor Day Thrill Show), September 17 and October 8 (Pumpkin Smash). NASCAR Saturday night racing at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday, May 7 will begin with the drop of the first green flag at 6 p.m. General admission gates will open at 4 p.m., and although tickets are available in advance, they will also be available at the gate on race day. Tickets are $15 for adults and kids 12 and under and parking are free. On top of the Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags, the event will also include round one of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown for the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks and feature racing for the Pro Stocks, Late Models and Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman. For more information on Seekonk Speedway including to purchase tickets and learn more about the 2022 track schedule, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates. Craig Pianka, nicknamed “Captain Fun”, was having all the fun he wanted at Seekonk Speedway on Sunday afternoon, May 1. Pianka rocketed to the front early in the 25-lap Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman feature, and held off defending division champion Chad Baxter to take down the first victory of the season. Pianka, who had the speed to win multiple races last year, carried the setup over to the new year, with a few adjustments to make it even better. On opening day, he made sure that he was going to square things away early, and get to Victory Lane right from race one. He posted the fastest lap of the race, and held the checkered flag at the end of 25 laps. Baxter put together a solid start to his title defense, driving the No. 0 machine to a second-place run and showing he wasn’t going anywhere. The team may have only showed up the day before opening day for a few laps, but the speed was right there with a shot to win. Ed Perry finished third, continuing his streak of success dating back to last year, while former champion Steve Axon was fourth and Scott Serydysnki Jr. fifth. Tyler Almeida finished sixth, followed by Kyle Casper, Chris Rioux, Vinny Pangelinan and Doug Benoit. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman will return to the track for the first NASCAR Saturday night of the season on Saturday, May 7 at 6 p.m. Tickets are available in advance today at SeekonkSpeedway.com. ![]() It was a wild one — really wild. But, after 40 laps of Pro Stock racing on opening day at Seekonk Speedway, Mike Brightman found himself in Victory Lane in the No. 27, opening the year with the checkered flag in his hand. For the last few years, beating Dave Darling on opening day has been a nearly impossible task. And it looked like Darling was in position to pounce yet again. But it didn’t work out, and Brightman was the one who beat the rest to get to the winner’s circle. Early in the race, “The Rocket” Ryan Vanasse seemed to be the favorite. He jumped to the lead early and was at the point of the race for much of the distance. After Mark Jenison and Tommy Adams both slid around with 14 laps to go, Vanasse was the lucky man when the two got together and Vanasse and inherited the lead back. The final 12 laps of the race included multiple yellows, including a wild three-wide battle where Darling was on the bottom, Vanasse in the middle and Rick Martin on the outside. When they entered turn one, it worked. When they excited turn two, it didn’t work anymore. All three cars were collected and that handed the lead to Brightman, who wasn’t going to give it up. Brightman beat former division champion Kenny Spencer to the line, followed by Jenison, who came away with a solid third. Colbey Fournier was fourth in the 40-lap race and Bobby Pelland III rounded out the top-five. Ryan Lineham finished sixth, followed by Danny Thibeault, Martin, Darling and Vanasse. The Pro Stocks will return to the track for the first NASCAR Saturday night of the season on Saturday, May 7 at 6 p.m. Tickets are available in advance today at SeekonkSpeedway.com. |
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