Darling Tops Winners List At Seekonk Speedway

Todd Baptista

Defending track champion and early season point leader David Darling of Rehoboth, MA outgunned Todd Annarummo on a lap 32 restart and held on to post his second victory in three starts in the 40-lap Pro Stock feature at Seekonk Speedway Saturday night.  Darling started tenth in the Johnson Landscaping-Almeida Farms #52 Dodge and advanced to fourth in the first six laps, behind early race leader John Dabrowski, Annarummo, and rookie Matt Hudon.

Annarummo took over the lead on a lap 8 restart while Darling worked the high groove, taking third on lap 13 and passing Dabrowski for second at the halfway signal.  With 20 laps complete, Hudon ran third, ahead of heat winner Dean Pettey in the Freeetown Sand and Gravel #57, Fred Astle, Jr. in the Wood Frame Structures #30, Kenny Spencer’s R&F Transportation-sponsored #03, the Douglas A. King Builders #4 of Rookie of the Year candidate Scott Dion, Rob Murphy, in the Tom Barboza Excavating #80, and Glenn Lawton, piloting the N.A.C. Security and Stereo Systems #70 Chevrolet.

Dion spun to bring out the third and final yellow on lap 32 as Lawton, who had been running as high as sixth, pitted with a flat right front tire.  Darling motored away from Annarummo on the restart while Astle went three-wide with Dabrowski and Hudon to claim third.  Astle and Kenny Spencer took second and third on the final lap as Annarummo limped home in fourth with a broken third link in the Francis Farm #11 Ford.  There was no catching the 27-year old Darling, however, who crossed the line 1.59 seconds ahead of Astle to record his 21^st career Seekonk victory.

Positions five through ten went to Dabrowski in the Tire Warehouse #00, Pettey, Hudon’s Honey Dew Donuts-sponsored #22, the #47 of Scott Fournier, who bounced back from an early race spin, Dave Hutchins, and Scott Dion.

Pro Stock Heat 1 (15 laps)

1.     #00-John Dabrowski, West Bridgewater, MA

2.     #27-Mike Brightman, Acushnet, MA

3.     #22-Matt Hudon, Acushnet, MA

4.     #80-Rob Murphy, Rochester, MA

5.     #52-David Darling, Rehoboth, MA

6.     #70-Glenn Lawton, Westport, MA

7.     #95-Steve O’Brien, Scituate, MA

8.     #20-Todd Henshaw, Raynham, MA

Pro Stock Heat 2 (15 laps)

1.     #57-Dean Pettey, Assonet, MA

2.     #03-Kenny Spencer, Taunton, MA

3.     #11-Todd Annarummo, Swansea, MA

4.     #30-Fred Astle, Jr., Westport, MA

5.     #2-Tom Scully, Jr., Cranston, RI

6.     #47-Scott Fournier, Berkley, MA

7.     #96-Dave Hutchins, Somerset, MA

8.     #4-Scott Dion, Taunton, MA

Pro Stock Feature (40 laps)

1.     #52-David Darling, Rehoboth, MA

2.     #30-Fred Astle, Jr., Westport, MA

3.     #03-Kenny Spencer, Taunton, MA

4.     #11-Todd Annarummo, Swansea, MA

5.     #00-John Dabrowski, West Bridgewater, MA

6.     #57-Dean Pettey, Assonet, MA

7.     #22-Matt Hudon, Acushnet, MA

8.     #47-Scott Fournier, Berkley, MA

9.     #96-Dave Hutchins, Somerset, MA

10. #4-Scott Dion, Taunton, MA

11. #80-Rob Murphy, Rochester, MA

12. #27-Mike Brightman, Acushnet, MA

13. #70-Glenn Lawton, Westport, MA

14. #95-Steve O’Brien, Scituate, MA

15. #20-Todd Henshaw, Raynham, MA

16. #2-Tom Scully, Jr., Cranston, RI

Lillie Bests DeGasparre In Late Model Thriller

In the 25-lap Late Model feature, Jeramee Lillie of West Warwick, RI earned top honors, passing Kevin Folan for the lead on lap 5 and withstanding a fierce battle with defending champion Gerry DeGasparre, Jr. to post his first win in nearly two years.  DeGasparre climbed from 11^th to fourth in the initial 8 laps, as Folan, Mike Becker, and Lillie mixed it up at the head of the class.  Two quick cautions for minor spins bunched up the field at the midway portion of the race.  The second yellow, which came just as DeGasparre had passed Lillie for the lead, negated the maneuver, as the field reverted back to the last completed green flag lap.  Over the final 12 laps of the event, Lillie and DeGasparre put on the show of the night, trading paint and the lead all the way to the checkers.

In the end, Jeramee’s Houle Motorsports-Friendy Guys Pizza-Holmes Jewelers #3 Ford crossed the stripe 0.189 seconds ahead of DeGasparre’s A-1 Custom Auto Body-sponsored Chevrolet.  Previous race winner Kevin Casper outdueled his younger brother and fellow former track champ, Kyle, for third in the closing laps while Becker settled for fifth.  Barry Shaw, Robin Sloane, Ray Negley, Jon Dickerman, and Randy Clark rounded out the top ten.

Late Model Heat 1 (12 laps)

1.     #20-Matt Breault, Acushnet, MA

2.     #3-Jeramee Lillie, West Warwick, RI

3.     #71-Gerry DeGasparre, Jr., Pawtucket, RI

4.     #17-Kevin Folan, Attleboro, MA

5.     #7-Ray Negley, Coventry, RI

6.     #28-Kyle Casper, Somerset, MA

Late Model Heat 2 (12 laps)

1.     #85-Barry Shaw, Jr., Holbrook, MA

2.     #88-Kevin Casper, Somerset, MA

3.     #00-Mike Becker, Avon, MA

4.     #81-Robin Berghman, East Providence, RI

5.     #13-Jon Dickerman, Weymouth, MA

6.     #93-Randy Clark, East Harwich, MA

Late Model Feature (25 laps)

1.     #3-Jeramee Lillie, West Warwick, RI

2.     #71-Gerry DeGasparre, Jr., Pawtucket, RI

3.     #88-Kevin Casper, Somerset, MA

4.     #28-Kyle Casper, Somerset, MA

5.     #00-Mike Becker, Avon, MA

6.     #85-Barry Shaw, Jr., Holbrook, MA

7.     #81-Robin Berghman, East Providence, RI

8.     #7-Ray Negley, Coventry, RI

9.     #13-Jon Dickerman, Weymouth, MA

10. #93-Randy Clark, East Harwich, MA

11. #47-Bill Bernard, Holliston, MA

12. #20-Matt Breault, Acushnet, MA

13. #02-Mark Hudson, Norton, MA

14. #46-Jake Vanada, Berkley, MA

15. #17-Kevin Folan, Attleboro, MA

16. #33-Mike Taschereau, West Warwick, RI

17. #95-Dick Benoit, Middleboro, MA

Cavallaro Claims Tarbox Toyota Sport Truck Feature

Despite a late race electrical failure, Seekonk, MA’s Mike Cavallaro withstood a green-white-checker challenge from early race leader Lenny Guy to post his first win of 2007 in the 25-lap Tarbox Toyota-sponsored Sport Truck feature.  Guy started on the pole in the L. H. Boulanger and Son-sponsored #77 and led the first dozen laps while Cavallaro, last year’s division kingpin, came from 12^th to second. 

The first of four yellows waved when Hugh Bowser and Mike Ronhock made contact on lap 4, sending Bowser around coming off turn four.  At this point, Guy led sixteen-year old rookie Zach Tucan, who ran second for much of the early going in the After Hours Auto Body #3, Brian Vincent, Teddy Berube, Cavallaro’s Gateway Auto Sales-Body Talk #80 Chevrolet, and the MD Cabinetry #2 of Andy Jeffery.  Billy Joerres, Jeffery, and Brian Murray brought out the third caution on lap 11.

Cavallaro used the inside lane to take second on lap 12 and had taken over the top spot by the crossed flag signal.  Tucan remained a part of the mix into the closing laps, battling with Guy and Cavallaro and holding a top three position until the final green flag sprint.  Contact from behind sent the former two-time Seekonk Youth Racing Association champion around, but the driver was able to keep his truck off the wall, avoiding a fifth caution.

Guy tried in vain to pass Cavallaro on the white flag lap but couldn’t complete the move, and had to settle for third as Hugh Bowser snapped up second in the #22 at final tally.  Previous race winners John Paiva and Adam Murphy rounded out the top five with Ted Berube, Tucan, Billy Joerres, Brian Murray, and Mike Ronhock finishing six through tenth.

Sport Truck Heat 1 (10 laps)

1.     #80-Mike Cavallaro, Seekonk, MA

2.     #3-Zach Tucan, Taunton, MA

3.     #2-Andy Jeffery, Middleboro, MA

4.     #10-Brian Vincent, West Warwick, RI

5.     #22-Hugh Bowser, Taunton, MA

Sport Truck Heat 2 (10 laps)

1.     #77-Lenny Guy, New Bedford, MA

2.     #21-John Paiva, Fall River, MA

3.     #91-Teddy Berube, Somerset, MA

4.     #81-Adam Murphy, Rochester, MA

5.     #5-Michael Ronhock, Mashpee, MA

Sport Truck Feature (20 laps)

1.     #80-Mike Cavallaro, Seekonk, MA

2.     #22-Hugh Bowser, Taunton, MA

3.     #77-Lenny Guy, New Bedford, MA

4.     #21-John Paiva, Fall River, MA

5.     #81-Adam Murphy, Rochester, MA

6.     #91-Teddy Berube, Somerset, MA

7.     #3-Zach Tucan, Taunton, MA

8.     #99-Billy Joerres, Somerset, MA

9.     #13-Brian Murray, Tiverton, RI

10. #5-Michael Ronhock, Mashpee, MA

11. #10-Brian Vincent, West Warwick, RI

12. #2-Andy Jeffery, Middleboro, MA

13. #24-David Haywood, Tiverton, RI

14. #1-Billy Clarke, Seekonk, MA

“Pepe” Silvia Tops Street Stock Field

Jim “Pepe” Silvia of Middletown, RI passed Frank Duquette on the 16^th circuit of the 20-lap Street Stock feature en route to his first victory of the season in the A-1 Paving-sponsored #116.  Silvia started third in the 26-car event, took second in the opening laps, and used the inside lane to get under Duquette with five to go.  Duquette restarted alongside the leader during a green-white checker finish but was unable to overtake the veteran.  Duquette finished second, ahead of former champion Dick Cavallaro and rookie Randy Arruda, who posted a season-best fourth.  Ryan Lineham mastered heavy traffic to claim fifth, ahead of Chris Rioux, Steve Axon, Mike Mitchell, Ron Barboza, Jr., and Sparky Arsenault.

Street Stock Heat 1 (10 laps)

1.     #116-Jim Silvia, Middletown, RI

2.     #71-Patrick Delaney, Swansea, MA

3.     #14-Rey Lovelace, North Providence, RI

4.     #19-Ryan Lineham, Coventry, RI

5.     #3-Chris Rioux, Pawtucket, RI

6.     #74-Scott Bruneau, Tiverton, RI

Street Stock Heat 2 (10 laps)

1.     #16-Wayne Silvia, Bristol, RI

2.     #40-Michael Mitchell, Manville, RI

3.     #20-Doug Rioux, Whitman, MA

4.     #5-Randy Arruda, Swansea, MA

5.     #2-Ron Barboza, Jr., Warren, RI

6.     #96-Sparky Arsenault, Attleboro, MA

Street Stock Heat 3 (10 laps)

1.     #03-Frank Duquette, East Freetown, MA

2.     #22-Brian Spillane, Walpole, MA

3.     #39-Mike Lema, Taunton, MA

4.     #6-Dick Cavallaro, Seekonk, MA

5.     #04-Steve Axon, Attleboro, MA

6.     #57-John Lallier, Attleboro, MA

Street Stock Consi (10 laps)

1.     #48-Billy Brady, Marstons Mills, MA

2.     #29-Elmer Wing III, Lakeville, MA

3.     #76-John Hanafin, Quincy, MA

4.     #21-Bob Bettencourt, Jr., Fall River, MA

5.     #50-Roland Wheeler, Cranston, RI

6.     #38-Billy Schulz, Jr., Norton, MA

7.     #00-Joe Melberg, Attleboro, MA

8.     #8-Crystal Serydynski, Johnston, RI

9.     #91-Daniel Lineham, Coventry, RI (DNQ)

10. #08-Chris DeMoura, North Dighton, MA (DNQ)

11. #10-Rick Shinn, Hyannis, MA (DNQ)

12. #77-Paul Lallier, Pawtucket, RI (DNQ)

13. #46-Jimmy Belmont, Seekonk, MA (DNQ)

14. #11-Wayne Small, Attleboro, MA (DNQ)

15. #17-Mark Henshaw, Jr., Raynham, MA (DNQ)

16. #24-John Geremia III, Johnston, RI (DNS/DNQ)

Street Stock Feature (20 laps)

1.     #116-Jim Silvia, Middletown, RI

2.     #03-Frank Duquette, East Freetown, MA

3.     #6-Dick Cavallaro, Seekonk, MA

4.     #5-Randy Arruda, Swansea, MA

5.     #19-Ryan Lineham, Coventry, RI

6.     #3-Chris Rioux, Pawtucket, RI

7.     #04-Steve Axon, Attleboro, MA

8.     #40-Michael Mitchell, Manville, RI

9.     #2-Ron Barboza, Jr., Warren, RI

10. #96-Sparky Arsenault, Attleboro, MA

11. #22-Brian Spillane, Walpole, MA

12. #48-Billy Brady, Marstons Mills, MA

13. #76-John Hanafin, Quincy, MA

14. #29-Elmer Wing III, Lakeville, MA

15. #71-Patrick Delaney, Swansea, MA

16. #14-Rey Lovelace, North Providence, RI

17. #39-Mike Lema, Taunton, MA

18. #16-Wayne Silvia, Bristol, RI

19. #21-Bob Bettencourt, Jr., Fall River, MA

20. #74-Scott Bruneau, Tiverton, RI

21. #57-John Lallier, Attleboro, MA

22. #38-Billy Schulz, Jr., Norton, MA

23. #00-Joe Melberg, Attleboro, MA

24. #8-Crystal Serydynski, Johnston, RI

25. #20-Doug Rioux, Whitman, MA

26. #50-Roland Wheeler, Cranston, RI

Coming Up At Seekonk Speedway

Saturday night racing resumes at the 1/3-mile Route 6 oval on June 2, with a 50-lap $1,800 to win feature for the Pro Stock division, sponsored by Propane Plus.  The USAC Northeast Ford Focus Midget Series will be on hand for their first of two visits in 2007.  The speedway’s weekly Late Model, Sport Truck, and Street Stock classes will also be in action.  One week later, the Pro Four Modified Series will share the spotlight with the four weekly divisions.  That night, the Street Stocks will compete in an extra distance-extra cash event, sponsored by Kraze’s Speed Equipment of Seekonk, MA.  The Fast Friday Series kicks off June 1 for the Karting divisions and SYRA.  The Pure Stocks will also be in action, with pits opening at 5:30, practice commencing at 6, and the first event beginning at 7.

Saturday general admission tickets are $12 for adults and $4 for Juniors 13 to 15 years of age.  All children 12 and under are admitted free.  Pit admission is $20 for ARC Pit Membership Card holders and $30 for non-card holders.  Senior citizen discounts are also available on general admission tickets for all Saturday night races.  All guests 55 years of age and older will receive a $2 discount.  Guests must present photo identification for proof of eligibility if requested.  For more information, please visit online at www.seekonkspeedway.com or contact the track office directly at (508)-336-9959.

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