2021 moment NUMBER 9: Darling and Spencer Tangle For the Lead; Martin Rolls By To Score Career Win 98

n honor of the end of the 2021 season, and as we look on the horizon to 2022, Seekonk Speedway will look back at the top-10 moments of the year, as voted on by the fans!


NUMBER 9: Darling and Spencer Tangle For the Lead; Martin Rolls By To Score Career Win 98


It was a night to remember for a few different reasons on June 26, 2021. It was a historic night, as Seekonk Speedway completed “double” feature races for the Sportsman division for the first time in many years. After rain a week earlier in the middle of their race, the Sportsman finished their Phil’s Propane Triple Crown Series event to start the night, then ran their normal feature to close the night. After the opener, the Pro Stocks hit the track for a rained-out race from the week before — and it was in the running for the top race of the season by the time it ended.


Former champion Kenny Spencer led the field to the green for the 40-lap race in the sunshine, and he would be in contention right down to the wire. Near halfway, Tom Scully Jr. gave him a run for his money for the lead, but wasn’t able to get around. Before long, it was down to the final five laps, and Dave Darling was up inside the top-five. Darling looked to the outside of Spencer, allowing Scully to sneak a peak underneath. However, as the field came to the white flag, Darling slid from the top to the bottom, behind Spencer. But, as they exited turn four, contact between Darling and Spencer sent both dramatically spinning down the frontstretch, and Scully was caught up in it. That left Martin to inherit the lead, and the veteran took advantage — scoring what was his 98th career Seekonk Speedway win at the time.


It was a hectic night on Wall of Fame night for 2021, but it was one of the top Pro Stock races of the year, and had social media buzzing for the following week. The contact between Darling and Spencer while racing for the lead will itself go down as one of the most memorable moments of the 75th year of racing at Seekonk Speedway, but the win helped Martin catapult to his 100th win later in the year.