SEEKONK, Mass. — Mike Brightman kicked-off the 2023 season on Sunday at Seekonk Speedway the same way he did 2022 — in Victory Lane. Brightman dashed away from the field to win the opener of the Pro Stock season, scoring victory in the 40-lap feature in dominating fashion.


Early, Brightman passed polesitter Colbey Fournier for the top spot, then had to fend-off Dylan Estrella for much of the middle of the race. Estrella and Brightman raced hard for the top spot, neither giving an inch. Brightman would prevail early, then Estrella spun off turn two later, sending him to the tail of the field. 


Dave Darling and Rick Martin battled hard in the final laps, while Brightman drove away to victory. Martin scored second, with Darling in third. Defending division champion Mark Jenison finished fourth and Bobby Pelland was fifth. After post-race inspection, Dick Benoit moved to fifth, as Pelland didn’t pass. Dylan Estrella finished sixth, followed by Tom Scully Jr., Tommy Adams, Colbey Fournier and Mike Mitchell.


The Pro Stocks will return to the track for another 40-lap feature as part of Saturday night NASCAR racing on May 13. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com.

SEEKONK, Mass. — Right from early in the day in the opener of the Seekonk Speedway season, it was clear Ryan Lineham was going to be one of the drivers to beat in the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman. Lineham worked from the pole position in his heat race and scored the win, then started from the pole in the feature and led the entire 25 laps to score the season-opening victory.


While Lineham won, the story of the race was a mid-race chaos crash in turn three, collecting many of the front-running cars. When Steve Axon had mechanical problems, many cars were collected including Axon, Chris Gomes, Kyle Casper and others. Once the race went back green, Lineham drove away with the win while Randy Moretti and Adam Pettey were left to battle for second, with Moretti coming out on top.


Pettey finished third, with Craig Pianka and Don Perry finishing the top-five. Chris Rioux wrapped the race sixth, followed by Chad Baxter, Tim Watson, Tyler Almeida and Jimmy “Pepe” Silvia. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman will return to the track for another 25-lap feature as part of Saturday night NASCAR racing on May 13. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com.
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SEEKONK, Mass. — As she kicked-off her Busch Light Accelerate Her program in style, Brittany Campbell parked her No. 8 Truck in Victory Lane on Sunday to open the season at Seekonk Speedway. Racing in the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks, Campbell raced multiple grooves battling for the lead, but in the final laps, pulled away from the competition.


She had to face the charges of names like Amy Arsenault, Mike Duarte and others. In the end, it was all her at the front driving the Truck right into Victory Lane. Duarte, a former division champion, would settle for second at the finish, followed by defending champion Rick Martin in third. Darryl Church opened the season with a strong run in fourth and Arsenault settled for fifth after some mid-race trouble. 


Jake Vanada finished sixth, with Marissa Morgan, Bobby Tripp, Tom Scully III and Manny Dias finishing the top-10. 


The Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks will return to the track for another 25-lap feature as part of Saturday night NASCAR racing on May 13. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com.

Two-Day Weekend Includes Return of Classic Car Show & Swap Meet on Saturday; NASCAR Divisions Opening Day on Sunday, May 7



Weekend Preview by Souza Media


SEEKONK, Mass. – After a long offseason of quiet around the Seekonk area, Seekonk Speedway will roar to life for the first time for racing action in 2023 this weekend. The 77th season of competition at the Massachusetts third-mile officially begins on Sunday, May 7 with NASCAR Opening Day – including all four Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series divisions.


The Pro Stocks, Late Models, Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman and Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks will compete in qualifying and their first feature races of the season on Sunday beginning at 2 p.m. All of the competitors in the field will be chasing the opening checkered flag of the season, but will also begin their quest towards the second Sunoco Drive For The Cup and the track championships that will come with it.


One day prior on Saturday, May 6, the 12th annual Classic Car Show & Swap Meet returns to Seekonk Speedway in a big way.  With entertainment provided by Cruisin Bruce and over five awards on the line for things like Top Three Best of Show, Best Paint, Best Engine and more, race fans will have a free opportunity to walk around the show on the frontstretch parking lot. Admission for cars is $10 per car, with gates opening at 8 a.m. and judging beginning at 10 a.m. All fans and car enthusiasts who attend the show will also have free access to watch NASCAR divisions practice on track from 12-4 p.m. on Saturday.


“It’s going to be a mega weekend of racing with so much going on at Seekonk Speedway that fans will not want to miss it,” Ed St. Germain of Seekonk Speedway said. “With the car show returning, there is going to be a big turnout on Saturday, while the NASCAR drivers make their final tune-ups for Sunday’s racing. Once Sunday begins, drivers are going to be giving everything they have in the tank to grab the first wins of the year. Race season is here and we can’t wait to see everyone at Seekonk Speedway in 2023. Fans should visit SeekonkSpeedway.com for tickets and the latest news.”


As the preseason roster sits, the Pro Stocks have 30 cars registered. With eight-time track champion Dave Darling saying he won’t run a full season, the battle is on for race wins and the chase towards the Sunoco Drive For The Cup championship. Names like defending champion Mark Jenison, Tom Scully Jr., Bobby Pelland, Rick Martin, Colbey Fournier, Mike Brightman, Dylan Estrella, Tommy Adams and others will contest their 10-lap heat races and a 40-lap feature to headline opening day.


In the Late Models, Jenison is also rolling into 2023 as the defending champion, looking to get his double-duty season off with a strong finish. A new car and confidence have former division champion Vinnie Arrenegado excited about the competition for opening day. Names like Gerry DeGasparre Jr., Richie Murray, Josh Hedges, Chase Belcher, Jacob “Rowdy” Burns and others will be ones to watch in their 10-lap heats and 30-lap feature on Sunday.


The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman, known as one of New England’s most exciting divisions, rolls into the season with Craig Pianka looking for back-to-back titles. His path to doing it will be difficult, with 2021 champion Chad Baxter, Ed Perry, Steve Axon, Adam Pettey and many others ready to chase him down, starting on opening day. The Sportsman field, set to be over 20 for the season-opener, will have 10 lap heats and a 25-lap feature.


In the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks, Radical Rick Martin looks to pick up where he left off last yea, iin dominating fashion. Driving the No. 14, Martin will do battle against names like Amy Arsenault, Brittany Campbell, Jake Vanada, Mike Duarte, Mike Cavallaro and many others. The Trucks will run 10 lap heats, and a 25-lap feature.


Important times to note for the weekend include the Classic Car Show & Swap Meet gates opening at 8 a.m. on Saturday, while NASCAR pit gates open at 9 a.m. NASCAR division practice will roll from 12-4 p.m., with a short break for burnout drags at 1 p.m.


On Sunday, pit gates open at 9 a.m., while practice begins at 11 a.m. Front grandstands open at 12 p.m. and Pro Stock time trials will begin at 1 p.m. The first green flag for heat races, followed by feature action, is 2 p.m. 


New for 2023, Seekonk Speedway fans should be aware that hot coffee will no longer be sold at the concession stands. With the new ticketing system, where fans can buy tickets for all events online at SeekonkSpeedway.com, tickets are cheaper online and there will be a limited number of ticketing agents at the gates on race day. Ticket prices for general admission for NASCAR Saturday normal events including opening day are $18 (unless a special event), but online are $15 plus processing fees. Fans who purchase tickets online will have access to the grandstands 30 minutes before those who purchase at the track and will also pay less. 


For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media, where you can get the latest race day updates during events.