NASCAR SATURDAY PLAYOFF BATTLES DOWN TO FINAL THREE WEEKS TO EARN A SPOT

SEEKONK, Mass. — The Sunoco Drive For The Cup returns to Seekonk Speedway in September, as the four-week battle will crown champions across both Fast Friday & NASCAR Saturday. There are six playoff spots on the line in all nine of Seekonk’s divisions, with just three scheduled weekends of racing remaining before the fields are set.

NASCAR Saturday events will take place on August 9, 16 and 23. The Pro Stocks, the Late Models, Sportsman and Trucks will all compete in extra-distance racing on the 9th, for the finale of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series. The other two nights of competition will be normally scheduled action.

Remember, the leader of the championship standings at the end of August 23 will earn three playoff points. So, not only are there battles for the final spot, but the other battle to watch is who will capture those bonus points.

In the Pro Stocks, the battle for sixth isn’t as clear, since one of the drivers up front doesn’t plan on competing full-time. Jacob Burns and David Darling are tied for the championship lead at 369 points, but Darling doesn’t plan on running many more races. He will run the Triple Crown event on August 9, but doesn’t plan on competing the rest of August. Will he fall out of the top six in time for the playoffs to begin, or will his early season points be enough to lock him up a spot, even though he won’t compete for the title?

Bobby Pelland III doesn’t have a win yet this season, but is third, just six points from the lead. Defending champion Dylan Estrella is just 12 points from the top, with Vinnie Arrenegado in fifth, just 14 from the lead. Currently holding the final spot is two-time champion Mark Jenison, 24 points from the top. The top-six competitors are incredibly close as the season hits the second half. Just outside of the top-six, winner Nick Lascuola is 27 points away from Jenison for the final playoff spot. Mike Brightman is 37 points away, with Colbey Fournier, the most recent winner, 38 points back.

The Pro Stock battle for the top-six will certainly go right down to the wire on August 23 - especially because it depends if Darling competes or not. And, the race for the bonus points as the championship leader is hot and heavy.

BURNS - 369 

DARLING - 369

PELLAND - 363

ESTRELLA - 357

ARRENEGADO - 355

JENISON - 345

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LASCUOLA - 27pts

BRIGHTMAN -37pts

FOURNIER -38pts

The Late Models top-six is set for now, and it looks like only one driver may be able to burst in from the outside in the stretch run before September. Chase Belcher leads the standings by 14 over Charlie Rose, with Luke LeBrun, the defending champion, 30 points back in third. Andrew Gomes, the defending Rookie of the year, is fourth in his sophomore season, with Richie Murray in fifth. Right now, Mark Jenison holds the final spot. 

Connor Souza, who missed the season opener, wishes he had those points about now. Souza is 32 points away from Jenison for the final playoff spot, with David Lougee next in line, but, around 80 points back of sixth. The Late Model division may come down to the wire - Souza has some severe work to do. 

Right now, it looks like the regular season title holder position is in Belcher’s grasp - but Rose and LeBrun will be giving everything they have to catch him and earn those bonus points.

BELCHER - 426

ROSE - 412

LEBRUN - 396

GOMES - 387

MURRAY - 381

JENISON - 368

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SOUZA -32pts

Sportsman competition is incredible for fans to watch. Side-by-side, beating and banging, the Sportsman drivers continue to showcase their ability. The top-five in the playoff battle appear to have all but locked up their spots, but behind them, it’s close.

Scott Serydynski Jr. and Colby Lambert lead the standings, with Serydynski five points ahead right now. These two drivers both have multiple wins, and have been among the fastest cars on a weekly basis. Jeremy Lambert is third, but is 45 points back from the lead. Behind him, defending champion Adam Pettey is 51 points away from the top spot, with Doug Benoit only a few points behind Pettey. Although Jeremy Lambert, Pettey and Benoit may be far behind the lead, when the standings reset for playoff week one, they will be right in contention. The battle for the final spot is currently hot and heavy. Nick Brightman holds the sixth and final position by just two points over Nick Wood. Behind those two, it looks like no one will be able to catch up and compete.

So, it appears the Sportsman playoff contenders will come down to a battle between Brightman and Wood. Which driver will join the other five and advance into the Sunoco Drive For The Cup? And, will Serydynski holds off Colby Lambert for the bonus points?

SERYDYNSKI - 416

C. LAMBERT - 411

J. LAMBERT - 371

PETTEY - 366

BENOIT - 359

BRIGHTMAN - 299

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WOOD -2pts

For the Sport Truck season to come down to the wire, and for fans to pick a champion, it will be a tough task. Many drivers have won so far this season, and some are former champions, while there are others who are hungrier than ever to capture their first championship in the Sport Truck class. The battle for the playoff spots in the Sport Trucks brings some drivers feeling comfortable, but some who will be sweating it out.

Mike Cavallaro leads the standings by five over Ethan Heilborn and seven over Jake Vanada. Rick Martin, who has won the last three Sport Truck titles, is looking to further add to his Seekonk Speedway resume this season with a fourth straight. He is currently in the fourth spot, 19 points from the top. Rounding out the top-five is Tim Bolger Jr., who won multiple times in 2024, but hasn’t been to Victory Lane yet this season. Holding the final spot, chasing his first career win and inching closer and closer, is Dane Saritelli. Dane has 328 points and leads DJ Thibeault by 27 points for the final spot. Amy Helger is right behind Thibeault, just 28 from the final spot. Darryl Church is behind them, 32 points back from sixth.

The Sport Trucks battle appears to be going right down to the final few laps. Will Thibeault, Church or Helger find their way in? And who will earn those coveted three playoff points as the regular season title leader?

CAVALLARO - 377

HEILBORN - 372

VANADA - 370

MARTIN - 358

BOLGER - 353

SARITELLI - 328

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THIBEAULT -27

HELGER -28

CHURCH -32

NASCAR Saturday returns to action on Saturday, August 9, for the finale of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series, with extra laps in all divisions, and a Triple Crown championship to be decided in each. For tickets and information on upcoming events, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media.