Ed Perry opened his Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman season in a big way in the first two weeks at Seekonk Speedway. He opened the year with a third-place finish on opening day and followed it up by winning round one of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series, a 35-lap feature, on May 14.
Perry started deep in the field for the extra-distance event, and quickly worked his way to the front in exciting fashion, like he always does. Perry took the lead from Sparky Arsenault on lap 24 and never looked back en route to the impressive victory. Behind him, the action was hot and heavy, with some new faces at the front. Adam Petty crossed the line second on the track, but didn’t pass post-race inspection, moving Vinny Pangelinan into the second spot in the finishing order. Opening day winner Craig Pianka finished third, putting together a strong start to his season, while Arsenault and former Fast Friday Pure Stock champion Doug Benoit finished the top-five. Defending champion Chad Baxter was sixth, followed by Tyler Almeida, Joe Melberg, Colby Lambert and Adam Giacomozzi. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman will return to the track on Saturday, May 21 for another 25-lap feature. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates.
0 Comments
EVERETT’S AUTO PARTS TRIPLE CROWN, SPECTATOR DRAGS KICK-OFF THIS SATURDAY AT SEEKONK SPEEDWAY5/5/2022 Coming off a rainout last week, Seekonk Speedway will roar back to life for the first NASCAR Saturday racing of the season this Saturday night, May 14. The night will include five divisions of racing on the card, including the kick-off of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series and the Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags. Tickets are available in advance for the first Saturday race of the year by visiting SeekonkSpeedway.com, where fans can grab their general admission passes and skip the line on race day. Fans, teams and drivers can also purchase pit passes ahead online to skip the line. The Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series, newly sponsored by Everett’s Auto Parts, will debut for the new year with the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks and Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman in a double-dip of extra-distance racing. The Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks will compete in a 35-lap feature in their second race of the season, with 10 extra laps to let it go down. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman will also run for 35 laps. The Triple Crown format will be similar to past years, with the winner of the first race, winner of the second race and the top two points drivers between the first two events making up the Final Four into the Triple Crown championship weekend in August. On that night, whichever of the four drivers finishes ahead of the other will win the Triple Crown. The Sport Trucks roll into race two with Amy Arsenault looking to rebound and get back on track. The driver of the No. 9 Truck led 23 of the 25 laps on opening day, but a mechanical failure while in the lead ended her day just short of Victory Lane. When she hit the sidelines, former champion Mike Cavallaro blasted through and opened the year with a win. Additional contenders will include Rick Martin, Mike Duarte, opening day runner-up Brittany Campbell, Jake Vanada and others in the extra-distance feature. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman went into the season knowing they were chasing defending champion Chad Baxter, but “Captain Fun” Craig Pianka made sure to grab the first trophy. Pianka won the opening 25-lap race of the year and showed the speed under the hood he needs to be a contender. Names like Baxter, Ed Perry, Steve Axon and more will be looking to visit Victory Lane for the first time in 2022 this Saturday night. The Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags also debut for the 2022 season on Saturday night. Coming off a successful 2021 campaign, many of the same drivers will be back to battle for the crown in their 10-race schedule, which includes multiple NASCAR Saturday nights and Thrill Show races. Defending champion John Fielding will be closely chased by former champion Jonathon Johnson, Rob Gingras and more in their events, which will take place just before qualifying heats. The Late Model division is chasing sophomore contender Richie Murray through the first week, as the driver of the No. 08, a third-generation racer, picked up his first career win on opening day. Leading into week two, there are multiple top contenders who need to rebound, including defending champion Vinnie Arrenegado, Chase Belcher, Gerry DeGasparre Jr. and more. All of them had some speed in the opener, but their standards are top-five finishes — and they will be looking to get to where they want to be in the 30-lap Late Model feature. The Pro Stock division had one of the wildest races in recent memory in their first event of 2022, and if it was any indication of what is ahead, it could be a crazy year. “Mighty" Mike Brightman pocketed the first win of the year after spinning early and hanging on late, while former champion Kenny Spencer made his early season mark, finishing second on opening day. It won’t be long before Dave Darling returns to the track, or Tom Scully Jr., who was involved in a wreck early and didn’t finish race one. Tommy Adams, a former Late Model champion moving to the Pro Stocks this year, also showed plenty of speed last weekend. NASCAR Saturday night racing at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday, May 14 will begin with the drop of the first green flag at 6 p.m. General admission gates will open at 4 p.m., and although tickets are available in advance, they will also be available at the gate on race day. Tickets are $15 for adults and kids 12 and under and parking is free. For more information on Seekonk Speedway including to purchase tickets and learn more about the 2022 track schedule, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates. With another 10-race schedule planned for the 2022 season, the Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags will roar back to life this Saturday, May 7, with round one of the season.
Seekonk Speedway has been running the Spectator Drags for many years — where fans can literally bring their own car off the street, down onto the track, and compete in a one-lap race against others. The Spectator Drag events include elimination rounds where the winner advances, and the loser either is out in their first shot, or gets a second chance, depending on the night. By the end — there are two drivers left and they battle for two laps around the third-mile to pick a winner on the night. Entering the opener, John Fielding is looking for a repeat performance in 2022, and hoping to get off on the right foot. In 10 events last year, Fielding earned championship glory by a healthy margin of 17 points over Joey Morrissette, who also competed in the Seekonk Speedway Fast Friday Pure Stock division. With Morrissette moving across the country and no longer competing full-time, Fielding is going to have a long list of challengers trying to take him off the top of the division. Jonathan Johnson, a former division champion, didn’t have quite the season he was looking for in 2021, but will be looking to rebound this year. One of the top crowd favorites, Rob Gingras, brings his 1948 Ford Truck to the track each time, and his girlfriend, Christine Pierce, will also be joining him on the track this year as a Rookie contender. Names like Matt Desrosiers, Franz Weidlinger, Richie Johnson, Kyle Buchanan, Brad Johnson and others are also expected to compete. Last year, between NASCAR Saturday and Thrill Show events, over 110 drivers competed in at least one event. The list of contenders rolling into 2022 is a long one, as one of Seekonk’s most popular divisions gets ready to roll. “The Troy City Tactical Spectator Drag Series continues to grow and we’re looking forward to watching drivers battle for the first time this weekend,” Ed St. Germain, Director of Business Development for Seekonk Speedway, said. “Some of our NASCAR Saturday drivers started in the Spectator Drags and have worked their way up into the divisions that fans watch on a weekly basis. These drivers don’t mess around on the track and put on some of the best action of the year.” Troy City Tactical, located in Fall River, Massachusetts, have created an environment for safety, respect and quality in firearms. Whether you are new to firearms, or a seasoned veteran, their goal is to provide you with the best service and best experience the moment you walk through their door. They offer classes, lessons, sales and service. You can visit them online at TroyCityTactical.com or give them a call today at 508-536-3158 for more information. The rules for the Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags are simple — the car competing must be registered with the DMV with a current inspection sticker, with no dealer or repair plates. Bodies must be legal using a stock chassis. A full face helmet must be worn at all times and participants must have a valid license and be at least 18-years-old. For a full set of rules, including tires, windows and more, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com to be sure your car fits the needs. In order to compete in all events, including this Saturday, teams must register at the pit booth by posted times, and must have a license and car registration with them. Spectator Drag events are first-come, first-serve. For Saturday races, registration will open at 4 p.m. and close at 5 p.m. The top-3 in each event earn trophies and the payout varies per event. For each race, drivers earn points for being inside the final 10 during the race, with 10th earning 1 point, 9th earning two points, etc. — down to the winner — who earns 10 for taking the checkered flag first. This season, the Spectator Drags have scheduled events on May 7, May 28 (Memorial Day Thrill Show), June 19, July 2 (Independence Day Thrill Show), July 16, July 30 (Midsummer Thrill Show), August 14 (Monster Trucks show), September 3 (Labor Day Thrill Show), September 17 and October 8 (Pumpkin Smash). NASCAR Saturday night racing at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday, May 7 will begin with the drop of the first green flag at 6 p.m. General admission gates will open at 4 p.m., and although tickets are available in advance, they will also be available at the gate on race day. Tickets are $15 for adults and kids 12 and under and parking are free. On top of the Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags, the event will also include round one of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown for the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks and feature racing for the Pro Stocks, Late Models and Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman. For more information on Seekonk Speedway including to purchase tickets and learn more about the 2022 track schedule, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates. Craig Pianka, nicknamed “Captain Fun”, was having all the fun he wanted at Seekonk Speedway on Sunday afternoon, May 1. Pianka rocketed to the front early in the 25-lap Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman feature, and held off defending division champion Chad Baxter to take down the first victory of the season. Pianka, who had the speed to win multiple races last year, carried the setup over to the new year, with a few adjustments to make it even better. On opening day, he made sure that he was going to square things away early, and get to Victory Lane right from race one. He posted the fastest lap of the race, and held the checkered flag at the end of 25 laps. Baxter put together a solid start to his title defense, driving the No. 0 machine to a second-place run and showing he wasn’t going anywhere. The team may have only showed up the day before opening day for a few laps, but the speed was right there with a shot to win. Ed Perry finished third, continuing his streak of success dating back to last year, while former champion Steve Axon was fourth and Scott Serydysnki Jr. fifth. Tyler Almeida finished sixth, followed by Kyle Casper, Chris Rioux, Vinny Pangelinan and Doug Benoit. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman will return to the track for the first NASCAR Saturday night of the season on Saturday, May 7 at 6 p.m. Tickets are available in advance today at SeekonkSpeedway.com. It was a wild one — really wild. But, after 40 laps of Pro Stock racing on opening day at Seekonk Speedway, Mike Brightman found himself in Victory Lane in the No. 27, opening the year with the checkered flag in his hand. For the last few years, beating Dave Darling on opening day has been a nearly impossible task. And it looked like Darling was in position to pounce yet again. But it didn’t work out, and Brightman was the one who beat the rest to get to the winner’s circle. Early in the race, “The Rocket” Ryan Vanasse seemed to be the favorite. He jumped to the lead early and was at the point of the race for much of the distance. After Mark Jenison and Tommy Adams both slid around with 14 laps to go, Vanasse was the lucky man when the two got together and Vanasse and inherited the lead back. The final 12 laps of the race included multiple yellows, including a wild three-wide battle where Darling was on the bottom, Vanasse in the middle and Rick Martin on the outside. When they entered turn one, it worked. When they excited turn two, it didn’t work anymore. All three cars were collected and that handed the lead to Brightman, who wasn’t going to give it up. Brightman beat former division champion Kenny Spencer to the line, followed by Jenison, who came away with a solid third. Colbey Fournier was fourth in the 40-lap race and Bobby Pelland III rounded out the top-five. Ryan Lineham finished sixth, followed by Danny Thibeault, Martin, Darling and Vanasse. The Pro Stocks will return to the track for the first NASCAR Saturday night of the season on Saturday, May 7 at 6 p.m. Tickets are available in advance today at SeekonkSpeedway.com. Richie Murray is making sure the sophomore slump won’t be a factor for him at Seekonk Speedway.
One year after moving up to the Late Models, and finishing podium multiple times, Murray opened the 2022 season right where he wanted to be — in Victory Lane. Driving the familiar No. 08, with the green colors that have become tradition with the Murray family, Richie made sure race fans would have something to remember on opening day. Murray started fourth, quickly moved to third, and passed Mark Jenison just into the second half of the race, on lap 17, to rocket to Victory Lane. It was the first Late Model win for the former Sport Truck champion, which will likely be the first of many to come in his career. Behind Murray, Jenison — returning to the division — rocketed to the front early, and had to settle for second at the finish. Jenison was chased to the line by Josh Hedges, who worked from ninth up into the third spot by the end of the 30-lap race. Behind them, Ryan Flood and Jacob “Rowdy” Burns opened their season with impressive top-five finishes. Jennison would also grab a podium finish in the Pro Stocks later in the afternoon, part of a busy opening day. Paul Lallier was sixth, while Vinnie Arrenegado, Charlie Rose, Gerry DeGasparre Jr. and Chase Belcher completed the top-10. The Late Models will return to the track for the first NASCAR Saturday night of the season on Saturday, May 7 at 6 p.m. Tickets are available in advance today at SeekonkSpeedway.com. Multiple-time Seekonk Speedway Chaz’s Auto Body Sport Truck champion Mike Cavallaro has been in Victory Lane countless times before. But when the 2022 season took the green flag on Sunday, May 1, Cavallaro was ready to settle for second, until the door opened. He captured the win after Amy Arsenault’s truck suffered a mechanical failure and opened the year in Victory Lane. For 23 laps, it was Arsenault’s race to lose. The driver of the No. 9 Moe’s Moving Truck was at the front of the field right from the drop of the green flag, and had gapped the competition by enough to likely visit the winner’s circle in the season-opener. However, with just two laps to go, the mechanical failure came out of no where -- and there was nothing she could do to avoid it. Arsenault coasted around, while Cavallaro slid by, and captured the big win. Behind Cavallaro, Brittany Campbell, who struggled in practice and her heat race, seemed to find her groove, finishing second in the 25-lap event. Mike Duarte was third in a brand new truck, while Rick Martin, also in a new truck, and defending Chaz Auto Body Sport Truck champion Barry Shaw Jr. rounded out the top-five. Darryl Church was sixth, followed by Ethan Heilborn, Rick Albernaz, Tom Scully III and Lenny Guy, who completed the top-10. The 25-lap feature, which included 17 Trucks, went without a caution flag. The Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks will return to the track for the first NASCAR Saturday night of the season on Saturday, May 7 at 6 p.m. Tickets are available in advance today at SeekonkSpeedway.com. |
AuthorSeekonk Speedway Features stories on the Stars and Cars that race at Seekonk Speedway Categories
All
Archives
April 2024
|