Lascuola Goes Back-to-Back as NASCAR Playoff Battles Tighten at Seekonk Speedway

SEEKONK, Mass. — The intensity continued to build at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday, September 12, as the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series returned for the second round of the Sunoco Drive For The Cup.

With only two races remaining in the 2026 season, Nick Lascuola and Chase Belcher strengthened their championship bids with victories, Ethan Heilborn tightened an already razor-thin Sport Truck battle and former champion Steve Axon returned to Victory Lane in the Sportsman division.

Lascuola Goes Back-to-Back in Pro Stocks

Nick Lascuola is red-hot when it matters most.

Lascuola captured his second consecutive Pro Stock victory, extending his advantage in the Sunoco Drive For The Cup standings with two races remaining.

Starting sixth in the 40-lap feature, Lascuola wasted little time slicing through traffic and taking command of the race. Fellow championship contender Dave Darling followed him toward the front and settled into second, applying pressure to Lascuola for much of the event.

Darling spent nearly 30 laps searching for an opening, staying within striking distance of the leader but never finding enough room to complete the pass. Lascuola remained composed and carried the momentum all the way to the checkered flag.

Darling finished second, with Vinnie Arrenegado completing the podium. Dylan Estrella and Colbey Fournier rounded out the top five.

Axon Wins as Sportsman Championship Battle Tightens

A strong field of 25 Sportsman competitors took the green flag Saturday night, and when the checkered flag waved, the entire top five was filled by drivers outside the playoff field.

Former champion Steve Axon took advantage of a late restart to earn the victory.

Jake Silvia started from the pole and controlled much of the 25-lap feature. However, a late caution gave Axon the opportunity he needed. The two lined up side-by-side for the restart, setting up a final battle for the win. Axon powered ahead to take the lead and held on to return to Victory Lane, while Silvia completed an impressive night with a second-place finish.

Tyler Almeida placed third, Kent Aspden III finished fourth and Mike Henriques completed the top five.

Scott Serydynski Jr. was the highest-finishing playoff contender in seventh. Nick Brightman finished 11th, Doug Benoit was 19th and Randy Moretti crossed the line in 23rd, tightening the championship picture heading into the final two events.

Heilborn Wins as Sport Truck Standings Take Another Swing

The Sport Truck championship battle became even tighter as Ethan Heilborn raced to his third victory of the season.

Danny Massa led much of the early portion of the 25-lap feature before Heilborn worked his way forward and made the winning move on lap 21. Once Heilborn took command, the playoff contender refused to give up the top spot.

A late restart gave Massa one final opportunity, but he soon found himself battling fellow playoff contenders Richie Helger Jr. and Jake Vanada. Heilborn pulled away to secure the victory, while Helger and Vanada finished second and third.

Massa completed a strong performance in fourth, and Jordan Duquette continued his successful season with a fifth-place finish.

After two playoff races, Helger leads Heilborn by just one point. Scott Cestodio sits only two points behind the leader, while Vanada is three points back. With all four championship contenders separated by only three points, the Sport Truck title remains completely up for grabs.

Belcher Holds Off Murray for Late Model Victory

Chase Belcher was on a mission from the drop of the green flag in the 30-lap Late Model feature.

Belcher charged through the field and wrestled the lead away from Manny Dias. Behind them, Richie Murray climbed into third and quickly began closing the distance. Once Belcher cleared Dias, Murray followed him into second and began tracking down the leader.

Over the final 10 laps, Murray erased Belcher’s advantage and drove to the inside, setting up a thrilling side-by-side battle for the victory. The two championship contenders entered the final corner door-to-door and were forced to navigate around a slower car occupying the bottom lane.

Belcher successfully handled the pressure and emerged with the victory in the second round of the Sunoco Drive For The Cup. Murray settled for a close second, while Dias completed the podium. Charlie Rose and Brenden LaBelle rounded out the top five.

Two Races Remain in the Championship Chase

The NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series returns to Seekonk Speedway on Saturday, September 19, for the third round of the Sunoco Drive For The Cup.

With championship contenders separated by slim margins and only two events remaining, every position—and every point—will matter as the battle to reach Championship Night continues at the Action Track of the East.