NASCAR SATURDAY UNDER THE LIGHTS KICKS OFF WITH SPECTATOR DRAGS THIS SATURDAY

The fresh smell of race fuel and burning rubber at Seekonk Speedway will go under the lights for the first time in 2026 this Saturday night, May 9. All four NASCAR Local Racing Series divisions will be back on the track for race two of their championship season, while the East Coast Towing & Recovery Spectator Drags also join the card for the first time this season.

All the action begins at 6 p.m. with heat racing. Following heat events, the Spectator Drags will compete, before feature events hit the track. 

SPORT TRUCKS PREPARE FOR EVERETT’S TRIPLE CROWN ROUND ONE 

The headliner of week two of NASCAR racing will be the Sport Trucks, as they hit the track for their 35-lap opener of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series. The Trucks are coming off a hotly contested first race of the season won by Tim Bolger Jr., who got around Scott Cestodio on a restart at halfway, and drove off to victory.

Cestodio may have been one of the surprises from week one for fans, but for many in the pit area, it was an expected strong run. Taking over Rick Martin’s ride, Cestodio appears to be already feeling at home, and likely en route to Victory Lane before long in the Sport Trucks.

Tommy Adams was a surprise driver in the No. 45 for opening weekend, taking the seat after Dane Saritelli drove it all of last year. Adams won his heat and finished third in the feature, showing he is going to be a threat in his new ride for the 2026 season.

Other names to watch going into the first extra-distance event of the season appear to be Mike Duarte and defending champion Jake Vanada, who both came away from opening day with top-five finishes. Look out for Colton Teague, Danny and DJ Thibeault, Ethan Heilborn, rookie Richie Helger Jr., Mike Cavallaro and others this week.

PRO STOCK FIELD CHASING DARLING - BUT WHO WILL CHALLENGE?

David Darling opened the season with his 98th career victory on opening day, a dominating win in the No. 52. Darling was fast right off the truck in Saturday practice, and when all the marbles were out on the line, he pulled away from the competition to rocket back into Victory Lane, opening a chase for an elusive 10th track title.

Who can challenge him going into this week?

Nick Lascuola. The former Legends Cars champion won last year and opened 2026 with a second-place finish in the feature and a heat race victory. Lascuola has shown the speed to compete with Darling, and will look to get his first trophy of the year this week.

The other two stories of opening day include a dark horse and a veteran. It may be hard to consider former champion Kenny Spencer a dark horse when it comes to winning races, but with the luck he’s had the last few years, it’s been tough. Spencer opened the year with a strong third-place finish and will come back for week two with confidence flowing. 

Mike Brightman dominated the early laps of the 40-lap contest on Sunday, but a mechanical problem while racing Darling for the lead forced him to pull off, ending his chances of winning. Brightman will be rolling near the front of the field in week two, looking to pounce on the speed he has.

Look out for Dylan Estrella, a former champion himself, who wrecked out of race one. Names like Mark Jenison, Vinnie Arrenegado Jr., and others will be back to challenge in this week’s 40-lap contest.

IS VANASSE THE EARLY LATE MODEL FAVORITE?

With Ryan Flood winning opening day, but only planning a part-time slate this season, the highest full-time championship contender in race one was rising star Ryan Vanasse Jr., who finished second. After select starts last year, Vanasse opened 2026 with a bang, showing his youth talent is on the rise. Is Vanasse the early season favorite, or does the division still run through defending champion Charlie Rose and Chase Belcher and others?

Rose finished third opening day. Belcher was racing for the lead on a late restart, after leading laps, when a right-front tire went down, ending his chances of victory. Both will be back this week looking to carry the checkered flag - Belcher looking for a major early-season rebound.

Rey Lovelace, a veteran, debuted a new ride and colors with a strong top-five finish. Andrew Gomes rebounded from a lap one wreck to still finish inside the top-five. Richie Murray spun from fourth late in the race, after working his way up through the field, showing speed. And names like Tyler Almeida, Mark Jenison, Brenden LaBelle, Manny Dias and others also showed speed. 

The Late Model division appears the most competitive early in the NASCAR Saturday season. It’s anyone’s race going into Saturday’s 30-lap round two.

MORETTI PROVING TO SHOW THE SPEED HE NEEDS IN SPORTSMAN

Randy Moretti was at, or near, the top of the charts all day to open the Sportsman season. He passed Josh Hedges for the lead in the final laps, and rolled to his first career weekly Sportsman victory. It appears, at least through one week, that Moretti is the car to beat in the division. But who will challenge him in week two?

Hedges seems to be first on the list. The former Sport Truck champion and Late Model winner is coming into his own in the Sportsman, starting mid-pack, and using the outside lane to take the lead around halfway. Hedges was just a few short laps away from opening the season in Victory Lane.

Nick Brightman led laps on opening day, and found his way around the bottom groove in style for 25 laps, to come away with a strong podium finish in third. Looking for his first career win, Brightman also looks to be consistent this season to be there at the end of the year.

Other names to watch going into week two include opening day top-five finishers Scott Serydynski Jr. and Jimmy “Pepe” Silvia, along with Doug Benoit, Adam Giacomozzi, Nick Wood, Al Clements, rookie Matthew Talbot and more. 

The Sportsman will run 25 laps in week two of racing action.

NASCAR Saturday racing at Seekonk Speedway begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 9. All tickets for the event are available in advance online at SeekonkSpeedway.com.