SEEKONK, Mass. – As the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits roll into 2023, this class will continue to see the evolution of drivers who are going to be the next major contenders at Seekonk Speedway well into the future. Drivers who graduate from the Seekonk Youth Racing Association often end up in the NASCAR Saturday classes, but they start right here on Fast Friday.



For 2023, the Bandolero Bandit field looks to be another one of drivers looking to get their feet wet and make their marks – but also includes a few polished “veterans” in Bandoleros compared to their challengers.


Drivers registered with experience include Luka Dib, Nick Uhrig Jr., Parker Davis, Sam Macedo and Mike Hanafin. Experience levels are different between them – only Macedo has feature wins. He picked up countless in a row two years ago and the “Green Hornet” is the defending champion of the Bandit division as well. If it’s up to him, winning the title will go through the green No. 16 again in 2023.


Uhrig is definitely going to win this year – you can nearly count on it. He picked up his first career podium in 2022 and has the speed under the hood to get the job done. With a little bit of lady luck and continued experience, Uhrig will park in Victory Lane before long this season. Parker Davis, Dib and Hanafin enter the season all looking for their first career wins as drivers with at least some experience under their belts.


And as always, the division will also have some Rookie talent making their first laps at Seekonk. As of the preview, Jase Chaber, Ryder Aguiar, Carl Satterlund Jr. and Mason Silva will be on that list, potentially with more competitors.


The Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits will hit the track for the first time in 2023 on Friday, May 26 for opening night and will roll through Friday, September 29 for championship night in the Sunoco Drive For The Cup. The only Fast Friday off will be June 30. 


For more information on Seekonk Speedway, fans are encouraged to visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates, including from the track on race day.

SEEKONK, Mass. – It’s no secret as the 2023 season begins for the Sport 4 division on Fast Friday that Crystal Murray will be one of the many cars to contend with for wins. Murray won a handful of races last year including on the final night of the Sunoco Drive For The Cup, adding her name to the list of Murray champions in Seekonk Speedway history. As she enters 2023, the driver of the No. 38 is listed as the favorite to repeat for the crown – but will have a strong group of drivers trying to make sure it doesn’t happen.



First up on the list of drivers to watch is Tyler Duhancik. Registered to again compete in the No. 48, Tyler, working out of the Phil’s Propane stable, has a new car for himself for 2023. He picked up victories the last few years and seems to have the speed to contend to get the job done. Will this be his year to compete at a high-level and potentially run for the title?


Fresh off his best season in over a decade, Henry Lavallee returns to Seekonk Speedway this year looking to pounce on the championship. He won more than once last season and had speed to run consistently inside the top-five. If Lavallee can show up with that speed and make it to the Final Four again in the playoffs, he could be looking at sealing a championship. 


Don’t forget about Jarrod Freitas, who scored his first victory in 2022, and will be looking to get more and contend for the title this season.


Names like Sam Mattera, Taylor Bowser, Daniel Hayes, Matt Pion and DJ Thibeault are also some returning drivers with experience. Mattera is a former winner, while Bowser will continue to seek her first checkered flag in 2023, after grabbing a podium last year. DJ Thibeault continues to gain experience, along with Hayes, and will both be trying for their first victories. Pion has run in the division on and off for a few years.


Additional names to watch in this division include Jacob Budzyna, Justin Leduc, James Sullivan, Richie Johnson, Andrew Rittman-McLaughlin, Joseph Mello Sr. and Jr., Christine Cavallaro and more. All of the drivers will hope to visit Victory lane during the busy summer season, along with others.


The Sport 4’s will hit the track for the first time in 2023 on Friday, May 26 for opening night and will roll through Friday, September 29 for championship night in the Sunoco Drive For The Cup. The only Fast Friday off will be June 30. 


For more information on Seekonk Speedway, fans are encouraged to visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates, including from the track on race day.

SEEKONK, Mass. – If you’re planning on picking a favorite in the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Outlaw division in 2023 at Seekonk Speedway, goodluck. This division includes some of the top youth racing talent Seekonk has ever seen all in the same class, and may have up to 16 or more cars on some weeks racing for feature wins.



Ryan Vanasse Jr., Andrew Gomes, Mikey LeFort III, Brent Robidoux and Collin Vanasse appear to be some of the favorites you could consider. Gomes went to Victory lane multiple times in 2022 and came up just short of winning the track championship. He’s clearly the most winning experienced in the division, along with Brent Robidoux. 


Speaking of Robidoux, this rising star looks to burst into championship form in 2023. After a few years of winning races, he seems primed and ready to contend for a crown. After making the Final Four in the Bandolero Bandits last year, Ryan Vanasse Jr. moves up and should be a contender right from lap one. His cousin, Collin Vanasse, will look for his first career track win, as he moves up from the Bandits as well. LeFort III, inside the Helger’s Racing stable, is surely going to have the speed to contend for his own first victory as he moves up to the next level.


Additional names to watch include Jordan Duquette, Brody Wakefield, Nathan Rioux and RJ Murphy. All of these drivers have at least one year of experience in Bandolero racing under their belts and should be contenders up near the front. They are joined by names like Abbie Badejo, Brady Connors, Zacarias Kelley, Nicholas Saman, Colin Floyd, Zachary Keith and Dylan Calabro. 


This is going to be one division that will see continued growth throughout the season and likely multiple different winners, and maybe even some new names jumping in during the year.


The Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Outlaws will hit the track for the first time in 2023 on Friday, May 26 for opening night and will roll through Friday, September 29 for championship night in the Sunoco Drive For The Cup. The only Fast Friday off will be June 30. 


For more information on Seekonk Speedway, fans are encouraged to visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates, including from the track on race day.

SEEKONK, Mass. — Jacob “Rowdy” Burns had all sorts of struggles in the opening day feature for the Late Models at Seekonk Speedway, but week two was a different story. Burns battled seven-time division champion Gerry DeGasparre Jr. hard for the lead early in the race, and then when DeGasparre had problems, Burns wasn’t going to be denied.


He drove the No. 30 to Victory Lane in dominating fashion in the final laps, as the rising star pulled away from a side-by-side battle between Mark Jenison and Chase Belcher for second in the final circuits. Jenison would get the better of Belcher, with Chase following close behind in third at the end of 30 laps.


Vinnie Arrenegado raced from his eighth-place starting spot after winning on opening day to finish in fourth, while pole sitter Connor Souza hung on for a top-five finish. Luke Lebrun was sixth, followed by Richie Murray, Charlie Rose, Corey Fanning and Kevin Bowe.


The Late Models will return to the track on Saturday, May 20 with another 30-lap feature. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates.

Jake Vanada jumped out front early and wasn’t going to be denied in the first Saturday night short-track race for the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks in 2023. Vanada used the outside lane from the jump to get around Bob Tripp for the lead, then drove away in the final laps to place the No. 29 in Victory Lane during the second race of the season.


Vanada had flashbacks in the middle of the race — with defending champion Rick Martin on the outside for a few restarts. Multiple times last year, Vanada was in the lead, with Martin outside for a restart, and Martin would get the better of him. This time, it was all Vanada. Martin would finish the race in second, while Amy Arsenault had a solid run to wrap the podium after 25-laps.


Former division champions Mike Duarte and Mike Cavallaro followed in fourth and fifth. Opening day winner Brittany Campbell was sixth, followed by Darryl Church, David Darling, Bob Tripp and Tom Scully III.


The Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks will return to the track on Saturday, May 20 with another race — the first round of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown — a 35-lap feature. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates.

 In just his second race back at Seekonk Speedway, Dylan Estrella is already in Victory Lane. The driver of the Everett’s Auto Parts No. 46 Pro Stock held off a fierce charge from former division champion Kenny Spencer and others to win Saturday’s 40-lap feature — the first under the lights event of the Pro Stock season. 


Estrella and Spencer traded the lead back and forth for much of the middle portion of the event. It seemed as if whoever was on the outside lane had the advantage on restarts. In the final 15 circuits, Spencer got loose racing under Estrella for the lead going into turn one, and spun off turn two. From there, Estrella would drive off unchallenged in the final stint to rocket to victory.


No stranger to winning at Seekonk in his career, as a graduate of the Seekonk Youth Racing Association, Estrella went touring for a few years, and is now back to compete in Seekonk’s top class. Mark Jenison charged to the front in the second half of the race, finishing second, while Rick Martin also made a late dash to the front to finish in third. Tommy Adams and Bobby Pelland finished the top-five. 


Danny Thibeault was sixth, while Spencer, Mike Rotondo, Jerammee Lillie and Tom Scully Jr finished the top-10. The Pro Stocks will return to the track on Saturday, May 20 with another 40-lap feature. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates.

Steve Axon had just about the worst opening day you could have at Seekonk Speedway this year, but he turned it around in a big way on Saturday night. Axon used the outside lane early in the 25-lap feature to pass for the lead and pick up the feature win in the second race of the season for the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman division.



On opening day, Axon had a motor failure under the hood, in a wreck that collected multiple cars due to oil on the track. In week two, after a lot of hard work by the crew to get a new motor under the hood, Axon was the dominant force, as the former division champion was not going to be denied in his quest to victory.


A late caution had plans to mess up the night for Axon, but it worked out for him to get the win, as he drove away on the final green flag stint. Adam Pettey charged through the pack to finish second, with opening day winner Ryan Lineham also working his way through to finish third. Colby Lambert and Chris Gomes followed to finish in the fourth and fifth spots.


Craig Pianka was sixth, followed by Chad Baxter, Doug Benoit, Chris Rioux and Ed Perry.


The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman will return to the track on Saturday, May 20 with another 25-lap feature. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates.

 With opening day in the rear-view mirror, Seekonk Speedway will roar to life under the lights for the first time in 2023 this Saturday, May 13. When qualifying racing begins at 6 p.m., drivers will look to keep fans on the edge of their seats like they did for opening day in all four divisions. The Pro Stocks, Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman, Late Models and Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks will all be in action this weekend in regular feature racing.



This weekend also includes the first of two Fast Friday practice sessions on Friday, May 12. All of the Friday night divisions will be eligible to hit the track to get their cars tuned up for opening night on May 26. There will also be another Friday practice on May 19. 


In the Pro Stocks, their 40-lap feature on Saturday could be the night former champion Kenny Spencer gets back to Victory Lane. After showing tons of speed in the opening race, Spencer had to go to the rear late after some contact with Dylan Estrella, and didn’t get the finish he was looking for. With the likelihood of him starting near the front in Saturday’s race, Spencer will be one to watch. He will be joined by opening day winner Mike Brightman, Estrella, Radical Rick Martin, Tom Scully Jr. and many others in quest for the checkered flag.


The Late Model division saw maybe the most exciting race of the opening weekend, with Vinnie Arrenegado and Luke Lebrun slugging it out for the top spot on countless restarts. While both finished top-five, they will be tough to beat in week two. Additional front-runners included Richie Murray and Mark Jenison, who joined Arrenegado on the podium and will be looking to get their own trophy this week. Look out for Jacob Burns, Chase Belcher and others to contend in week two during the 30-lap main event.


In the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks, Brittany Campbell kicked off her Busch Light Accelerate program in a big way, in Victory Lane on opening day. Will she make it back-to-back to open the year? She will have a tough group of challengers trying to stop her like defending champion Rick Martin, Mike Duarte, Jake Vanada, Mike Cavallaro, Bobby Tripp and fellow Busch Light program driver Amy Arsenault. Martin may not have come out of the gates swinging, but look out for him in week two to try and fix that.


The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman racing was no contest for the win in the feature on opening day, with former champion Ryan Lineham stomping the competition. Now, he has to come from the rear of the field. We will see the true speed and determination in this driver. Others will try to stop him like defending champion Craig Pianka, Chad Baxter, Ed Perry and others in their 25-lap feature.


Seekonk Speedway returns to NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series Saturday night racing on May 13 at 6 p.m. with four exciting divisions of racing on tap. The gates will open at 4 p.m. for advanced ticket holders and 30-minutes later for those who will purchase tickets during the day of the event. Advance tickets are available online for all Seekonk Speedway events by visiting SeekonkSpeedway.com. Fans are encouraged to also visit the website and social media channels for the latest news and information surrounding Seekonk’s 77th season.

Barre, VT — After announcing that Brookside Equipment Sales has come on board as title sponsor to the Southern New England Triple Crown for the next two seasons, American-Canadian Tour officials have released the point fund for the three-race series. $4,000 is on tap for the top-three finishers in Brookside Equipment Southern New England Triple Crown overall points, not including special bonuses courtesy of Southborough, Massachusetts’ Falconi Energy. The folks at Falconi Energy have added a cash prize to each individual Triple Crown event along with a $200 prize for the fifth-place overall finisher in Triple Crown points.
The Brookside Equipment Sales Southern New England Triple Crown is set for three events staged throughout the season at three spectacular facilities in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Beginning with ACT’s grand return to Stafford Speedway this Friday, May 12th the Brookside Equipment Triple Crown will resume with the 48th running of the iconic Spring Green held for the first time at Seekonk Speedway on June 3rd before wrapping up with The Haunted Hundred at New London-Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday, October 21st. 


The Brookside Equipment Sales Southern New England Triple Crown Champion will walk away with $2,000 at series end with runner-up taking home $1,250 and third-in-points taking $750. Falconi Energy has also joined the fun, adding a $100 cash bonus to the fifth-place finisher in each individual Southern New England Triple Crown event plus a $200 bonus to the fifth-place-point-finisher at series end.


As with the revamped Southern New England Triple Crown last season, in 2023 the point system will remain the same. Relying on the American-Canadian Tour distribution system with race winners earning 75 points, second-place earning 68, third earning 66 and sequentially down two-points with a guaranteed earning of 24-points to start each of the Triple Crown events. Drivers will also earn heat race points as laid out in the ACT point system plus special lap leader and most-laps-led bonuses. 


“The Southern New England Triple Crown was a fun way to end the season last year and we’re looking forward to watching this series unfold all season,” said ACT managing partner Cris Michaud. “By including three of our driver’s favorite tracks, plus a lucrative point fund, should bring together a stellar collection of drivers.”


Brookside Equipment Sales Inc., located in Phillipson, Massachusetts, has been delivering quality used construction equipment, trucks, attachments and more to the greater New England area for over 40 years. Their experienced staff and unmatched reputation for quality and fair prices set them apart from the rest, whether you need to purchase quality equipment or trucks or interested in selling one or all of your fleet, Brookside Equipment Sales is at (978) 249-4600 or online at  www.brooksideequipment.com. Ask about their easy and fast financing and delivery all across the US for your equipment needs today!


Falconi Energy in Southborough, Massachusetts covers over 275 square miles and 14 communities with the simple philosophy ‘Big Enough to serve you, small enough to know you!’ Since 1935 Falconi Energy has been serving the heating and cooling needs of folks from Boylston to Sudbury, Grafton to Framingham and all points in between. Visit Falconi Energy online at www.falconienergy.com or call them today at (508) 485-0377 to see about filling up your oil tank, to set-up a Service Plan for your heating appliance or schedule professional upgrades, replacement or instillation of all-new oil heat, gas heat and HVAC equipment.

SEEKONK, Mass. — With a new car, Vinnie Arrenegado proved he wasn’t going to be denied in the opener of the Late Model season on Sunday at Seekonk Speedway. Arrenegado, a former division champion, had a tough battle with Luke Lebrun, Josh Hedges, Richie Murray and others in the 30-lap season opener, but prevailed at the end to park the No. 17 in Victory Lane.


Arrenegado and Lebrun traded the lead back and forth multiple times in the race, mostly on restarts and the few laps after. Arrenegado would pass for the lead for the final time then dash away, while Lebrun and Murray raced hard for second in the final laps. 


Murray, who started in 10th after finishing fifth in his heat race, charged up through the field and ended second. Defending division champion Mark Jenison worked the middle of the field and climbed to third. Lebrun would settle for fourth, while Tyler Tomassi battled back from some mid-race trouble to finish fifth.


Chase Belcher opened his 2023 campaign with a sixth-place, followed by Corey Fanning, Richard Souliere, Gerry DeGasparre Jr. and Bill Goodrow. The Late Models will return to the track for another 30-lap feature as part of Saturday night NASCAR racing on May 13. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com.