 The Pure Stocks lined up for their 30-laps, with championship contenders Jeremey Lambert, Danny Massa, Sam Lincoln, and Mike Henriques all primed to drive their hearts out for the championship. Mike Rotundo and Nick Birightman battled at the point early, while Henriques jumped out in front of the line of playoff drivers by Lap Four. Brightman eventually got swallowed up by the playoff pack as Henriques made his move for second overall, with Lambert, Lincoln and Massa right on his tail. A Lap 22 caution meant the field would need to restart double-wide one more time, setting up a a high stakes dash to the finish. Rotundo led from the jump, and cruised on to victory eight laps later. Behind him, the playoff driver’s sparred for the advantage, with Henriques and Lambert leading the charge. With three laps to go, Lambert put his No. 15 machine on the inside of Henriques, ultimately pulling off the championship-winning move. Jeremy Lambert is crowned your 2022 Pure Stock champion, finishing second overall behind Rotundo. Massa, Jared Corderia, and Mike Henriques rounded out the top five, with Greg perry and Lincoln coming home sixth and seventh.
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 The Legends were last in line on Friday night to crown their season champion, and the ensuing battle between Devin Deshaies, Reese Bogue, Jake Silvia, and Josh Parsons did not disappoint. Trouble found Bogue early as he became tangled with a handful of drivers in a Lap 1 incident, but fortunately was able to rejoin competition after heading pit side for repairs under yellow. Jacob Burns and PJ Evans showed the way for most of the 30-lap feature, with Deshaies, Parsons, and Silvia all riding in line just behind. Deshaies No. 88 machine was strong throughout, moving by Nick Bulkeley and Evans as the laps wore on, distancing himself from his playoff challengers. On Lap 22, Deshaies and Burns got together as they battled for the lead, sending Deshaies into a spin. Burns’ day was done, and Deshaies was put to the rear as an incident car. With minimal laps remaining, Deshaies would need the drive of his life to have a hope of grabbing the championship. The field regrouped and got underway for a few more laps, allowing Deshaies to make up significant ground on Silvia, Parsons, and Bogue. One last time, the yellow flag flew, forcing a mad dash to the finish with three laps remaining. Silvia, Bogue and Parsons lined up grouped together one last time, led by Evans and Bulkely. Deshaies still sat a few rows deep. Coming off Turn 4 to take the checkered flag, Silvia and Bogue became crossed up as they drag raced for the championship, sending both cars off course and taking Parsons with them. Like a phoenix from the ashes, Devin Deshaies drove to the outside, avoiding the wreckage involving his playoff challengers, and soared across the line to claim the 2022 Legends Championship in heroic fashion. At the line, Evans crossed first to take down the feature win, followed by Bulkeley and Deshaies. Isaiah Newcomb and Mason Tessier followed, finishing fourth and fifth. After the dust settled on the final lap. Reese Bogue was scored 10th, Parsons 12th, and Silvia 13th.  The Everett’s Auto Parts Sport Four division was the first of three races to be afforded an extra five laps to decide their champion between Crystal Murray, Tyler Duhancik, Henry LeVallee, and Jarrod Freitas. Duhancik started deep in the pack after failing to turn a lap in qualifying. Green flag waved to start the 30-lapper, and Murray, LeVallee, and Freitas made haste towards the front from their mid pack starting points. On Lap 4, Freitas suffered mechanical issues and was forced to turn pit side, ending his hopes for the title. Before long, Murray was glued to the rear bumper of leader Matt Pion, and the two raced nose-to-tail almost the entire length of the race with LeVallee close in tow. Duhancik was working his way steadily through the field and back into the picture. A late-race caution gave Duhancik one last chance at getting into the mix, But with Murray and Levallee in the front two rows, he would need to make ground quick. With three laps to go, Murray fired off strong and pulled a big lead on Pion and Levallee. Duhancik drove hard to crack the top three, but it was Crystal Murray to cross the line first to take down the win, and with it, the 2022 Sport Four Championship. Henry LeVallee crossed the line second, followed by Tyler Duhancik in third, and Justin Leduc and Matt Pion rounded out the top-five following post-race inspection.  The Bandolero Outlaws followed their Bandit counterparts on track for their 15 lap feature, and the third and final round of the Drive for the Cup yielded Bradley Strickland, Andrew Gomes, Brent Robidoux, and Joey Lemay. Chase Silvia jumped out to the early lead, leaving Strickland, Gomes, Robidoux and LeMay all scrambling to climb forward to the front of the line. The playoff drivers began working their way around Adam Harrison on the inside, and before long, Striland and Gomes had broken away from the pack, shaping up to be a two-horse race for the championship. Silvia wad leadng all the while. A late-race caution involving Robidoux forced the field to bunch back up again with just three laps to go, setting up for a late race sprint to decide the champion. Green flag waved and Silvia immediately got shuffled from the lead, giving way to a drag race between Strickland and Gomes. Gomes has inside position on Strickland and went for a championship-winning move on the inside and made it stick! With one lap left, Strickland did not give up, and perfectly pulled off a crossover maneuver that would give him the edge to win the championship. Bradley Strickland took down the race win, making it three in a row to sweep the Drive for the Cup. Following post race inspection, Gomes and Harrison were scored second and third. Harrison, Roubidoux, Leo Rossi, and Lemay rounded out the top seven.  Bandolero Bandits
The Nick’s Pit Stop Bandolero Bandits took to the track for the final time in 2022, and after 15 laps, a new king of the division would be decided between Ryan Vanasse Jr. Collin Vanasse, Sam Macedo, and Nick Uhrig Jr. Green flag dropped and Vanasse, Macedo, and Vanassa Jr all raced forward, trying to catch leader Ben Morabito. Playoff driver Nick Uhrig Jr. slid back toward the rear early on. A couple of early spins would cause the field to bunch back up, but by Lap 3, it was a dead heat through to the checkered. Morabito set sail on the field, and never looked back. Just behind him was the three car battle that would define the division championship. Macedo worked his way by Vanasse following the restart, and Vanasse Jr. began to apply the pressure as well. As the laps wound down, the Vanasse cousins jostled back and forth or third overall. While doing so, Macedo was able to outpace the two in his rearview. This edge was enough for Macedo to cross the line ahead of his playoff challengers, claiming for himself the 2022 Bandolero Bandit Championship. Ben Morabito took down the win, making it his second of the season. Macedo crossed second, followed by Collin Vannasse for third and Ryan Vanasse Jr. for fourth. Milania Shilosky rounded out the top five, followed by Bryson RObidoux, Zack Kelley, RJ Murphy, Nick Uhrig Jr. and Luka DIb to complete the top 10.  Driving Double Duty
For some drivers, coming to the track to compete in just one race isn’t enough to quench their thirst for speed. The way they solve that? Bring two race cars, run in two races. Out of the teams that doubled down on racing efforts in 2022, two drivers in particular have managed to piece together championship-contending seasons in not one, but BOTH of their divisions. Let’s learn about these double-duty drivers, the success they had in 2022, and what lies ahead for them on championship weekend. “RADICAL” RICK MARTIN Almost no other name is as synonymous with Seekonk Speedway as Rick Martin’s. In 2022, he is dominating the airwaves yet again. With championship weekend upon us, Rick Martin is gearing up to contend for his sixth and seventh career track titles. He’ll be looking to outrun the rest of the Final Four in the third round of the Sunoco Drive for the Cup in both the Chaz’s Auto Body Sport Truck division and the Pro Stock division. Here’s how he got here. In the Sport Truck division, Martin has amassed seven wins, accounting for just under half of the races run this season. Two of his victories have come in the past two weeks, with Martin topping the field in both the first and second rounds in the Drive for the Cup. This playoff-time win streak reinforces Martin’s status as the odds-on favorite to be named champion on Saturday. Claiming the title won’t be a walkover though, as challengers Barry Shaw, Mike Duarte, and Brittany Campbell could prove tough to beat. All three drivers have made it to victory lane at least once this season, showing they have what it takes to win while sharing the track with the seven-time winner. Martin is one win away from sweeping the Sunoco Drive for the Cup and adding yet another track title to his illustrious career, but the rest of the Final Four could have another thing coming for “The Radical One”. In the Pro Stock Division, Martin’s journey to the playoffs has been far less smooth compared to the Sport Trucks. By the end of July, Martin was actually on the outside looking in from the playoff cutoff. In August however, Martin broke into the top eight, and managed a slim point margin over Kenny Spencer to clinch the eighth and final spot in the Drive for the Cup, yet still winless in his Pro Stock. So far in the playoffs, Martin still has not shown the same dominant force as is customary with his Sport Truck. Being the beneficiary of some late race calamity in both rounds of the Pro Stock playoffs, Marin has managed to scrape through by running his race and staying out of harm's way. His reward: a shot to win the Pro Stock title in 2022. His challenge: Besting 2022 feature-winners Mike Brightman, Tom Scully Jr. and Mark Jenison. MARK JENISON Mark Jenison has been racing in the area long enough to establish his name as a familiar one in the scene. Despite spending more than twenty years at the wheel, he’s not yet been able to claim the elusive “champion” status on his resume. This season, he has two chances to change that, as he takes a shot at both the Late Model championship and the Pro Stock Championship this Saturday. In the Late Model division, Jenision floated up and down the points standings above the cut line for the playoffs. Reaching as high as second and dipping as low as eighth, Jenison leveled out to claim the fourth seed when it was time to go playoff racing. The highlight of Jenison’s Late Model season came in mid-August, when he battled youngster Connor Souza lap after lap, edging out Souza by a stunning .009 seconds on the outside. Jenison is fresh off another win, wielding some serious momentum rolling into Round Three of the Drive for the Cup. Once Jenison got around Josh Hedges for the lead last Saturday, he didn’t look back, displaying some serious speed. Playoff counterparts Gerry DeGasparre Jr., Richie Murray, and Chase Belcher will be needing to nail their setup to keep up if Jenison is to throw down the same pace on championship night as he did one week ago. Jenison’s Pro Stock campaign played out in a similar fashion. His swings in the points standings were not as ranging, and ultimately settled into third place by the end of the regular season. The jewel in Jenison’s Pro Stock season came back on June 11 with a decisive win, gapping the next closest driver by nearly four seconds at the line. Since then, Jenison has been solid, notching a few more top-five finishes, and a couple of second-place finishes to boot. Most notably, last week Jenison was the only driver able to give chase to leader and eventual race-winner Dave Darling. It shouldn’t be understated how quick you have to be to keep up with Darling on a clear track. Jenison’s second-place performance surely reminded the field that if he can get out front and stay ahead of the fray early in the running, he might just have what it takes to best the likes of Mike Brightman, Tom Scully Jr., and Rick Martin the second week in a row, and finally claim that long-awaited championship. Chase that Checkerd Flag…. Seekonk Speedway has never seen a driver remain in the running for two separate championships until the final weekend. This year, we have TWO of them. If you’re a fan of history, there’s a chance for some to unfold on the high banks of the third-mile this weekend. For that reason alone, be sure to experience this unprecedented scenario for yourself by joining us when we go green for the final time this season on September 24 at 6:00PM. For tickets and more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit seekonkspeedway.com. By Sam Tully Those familiar with the sport of racing know all too well how common it is for entire families to gear up and commit to the lifestyle to find success on track. Their efforts culminate to give one driver - the chosen one out of the family - the opportunity to carry the torch as the wheelman or wheelwoman week in and week out. In the Seekonk Speedway community, it’s not uncommon for multiple family members to take to the track over the course of a race weekend. What is uncommon is something that is unfolding right before our eyes as we head into Championship Weekend: three sets of family members all vying for championships in the first ever Sunoco Drive for the Cup Championship Weekend. Let’s take a look at the drivers who clearly have speed running in the family tree, and are one step away from being crowned champion in 2022.  LAMBERT BROS RACING Colby and Jeremey Lambert take to the track every Friday and Saturday evening throughout the summer, supporting each other on their respective race days, and all the hard work has paid off. Colby Lambert, the eldest of the two, has been racing for several years at Seekonk, and knows what it takes to win a championship, having scored a title in Friday’s Pure Stock division back in 2017. Colby has stepped up in recent seasons to Saturday’s Sportsman Division. This year, he currently sits fourth in the overall points, and will be laying it all on the line to be crowned champion this Saturday night. Jeremey is taking a similar path as his brother, getting his feet wet in Friday night’s Pure Stock division. Proving that both brother’s have the speed gene, Jeremey has clinched a spot in the Third round, where he’ll attempt to get the Lambert family name back into the hall of Pure Stock champions yet again in 2022. Should Colby and Jeremey both best their fellow championship challengers this weekend, it would be the first time in history that two brothers would be crowned champion in two separate divisions in the same season at Seekonk Speedway. For Colby to have success, he needs to beat out reigning champion and seven-time feature winner Chad Baxter, as well as other multi-race winner Craig Pianka and Ed Perry. This matchup paints Colby as a bit of a dark horse in the final round, but look for him to break through and double his championship count when the Sportmans hit the track on Saturday. For Jeremey to take the championship, he’ll need to top Danny Massa, Sam Lincoln and Mike Henriques - all of which have never won a championship before. The Pure Stock Championship is very much up for grabs this Friday, and look for Jeremey to join his brother in the ranks of Pure Stock greatness.  THE MURRAYS The Murray family name has been known for decades around the third-mile oval. In recent years, it’s been sister-brother duo Crystal and Richie Murray carrying the family torch. Crystal has been a fixture in the last couple of seasons in Saturday’s Sport 4 division. In 2021, the season title was arguably hers for the taking, yet stepped aside prioritize her education once the school year started back up in September. This year, no school, no problem for Crystal. She leads her division in both points and wins (4). Fresh off a win last week, Crystal is showing no sign of letting up, and will prove tough to catch for challengers Tyler Duhancik, Jarrod Freitas and Henry LeVallee on Friday evening. Richie has shown great speed and toughness over the course of his sophomore season in Saturday’s Late Model division. The year started off with a bang, taking down the win on opening day back on May 1. Since then, Richie has been biding his time until the playoffs, showcasing some incredible multi-wide racing numerous times, contributing significantly to what has been a truly dazzling season for the Late Models. Richie will need to stay tough and quick if he’s to claim the season title Saturday night, as the competition he’s up against are no small potatoes. Standing in Richie’s way are six-time Late Model champ Gerry DeGasparre Jr., seasoned veteran and two-time 2022 feature winner, Mark Jenison, and 2015 Sport Truck champion Chase Belcher. Look for Richie to outperform the tsunami of success experience he’s up against as the 18-year old straps in on Saturday night. Should Crystal and Richie both emerge victorious, they would mark the first sibling pair ever to win championship in the same season in the history of the speedway.  ALL IN THE FAMILY - THE COUSINS VANASSE
The Vanasse name is known to many speedway goers, perhaps in reference to current Pro Stock driver Ryan Vanasse, who won back-to-back Late Model championships in 2009 and 2010. Now, Ryan and his brother Mike Vanasse are letting their sons get in on the Seekonk action. Ryan Jr. and Collin Vanasse square off against each other on Friday nights in the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits Division. Ryan and Collin have been driving bandits for a couple years now, but this year is different. With the new Drive for the Cup format, the two have been competing with each other all season long for a playoff berth, and now battle against each other week after week in an ever-narrowing playoff field. Ryan and Collin have both managed to stave off elimination through two rounds, and make up half of the playoff field going into championship weekend. Their competition: Sam Macedo and Nick Uhrig Jr. Out of the four drivers, Ryan is the only one to claim a feature win, scoring three of them this summer, fresh off his most recent one last week. Collin will have to pull out all the stops this week if he wants to top the Final Four including his cousin. As for Ryan, he has the momentum on his side, and needs to hit his marks one more time to be named champion. As far as odds go, it’s a coinflip that the 2022 Bandolero Bandit Champion will be a Vanasse. The Murray family name has been known for decades around the third-mile oval. In recent years, it’s been sister-brother duo Crystal and Richie Murray carrying the family torch. Crystal has been a fixture in the last couple of seasons in Saturday’s Sport 4 division. In 2021, the season title was arguably hers for the taking, yet stepped aside prioritize her education once the school year started back up in September. This year, no school, no problem for Crystal. She leads her division in both points and wins (4). Fresh off a win last week, Crystal is showing no sign of letting up, and will prove tough to catch for challengers Tyler Duhancik, Jarrod Freitas and Henry LeVallee on Friday evening. Richie has shown great speed and toughness over the course of his sophomore season in Saturday’s Late Model division. The year started off with a bang, taking down the win on opening day back on May 1. Since then, Richie has been biding his time until the playoffs, showcasing some incredible multi-wide racing numerous times, contributing significantly to what has been a truly dazzling season for the Late Models. Richie will need to stay tough and quick if he’s to claim the season title Saturday night, as the competition he’s up against are no small potatoes. Standing in Richie’s way are six-time Late Model champ Gerry DeGasparre Jr., seasoned veteran and two-time 2022 feature winner, Mark Jenison, and 2015 Sport Truck champion Chase Belcher. Look for Richie to outperform the tsunami of success experience he’s up against as the 18-year old straps in on Saturday night. Should Crystal and Richie both emerge victorious, they would mark the first sibling pair ever to win championship in the same season in the history of the speedway. Colby and Jeremey Lambert take to the track every Friday and Saturday evening throughout the summer, supporting each other on their respective race days, and all the hard work has paid off. Colby Lambert, the eldest of the two, has been racing for several years at Seekonk, and knows what it takes to win a championship, having scored a title in Friday’s Pure Stock division back in 2017. Colby has stepped up in recent seasons to Saturday’s Sportsman Division. This year, he currently sits fourth in the overall points, and will be laying it all on the line to be crowned champion this Saturday night. Jeremey is taking a similar path as his brother, getting his feet wet in Friday night’s Pure Stock division. Proving that both brother’s have the speed gene, Jeremey has clinched a spot in the Third round, where he’ll attempt to get the Lambert family name back into the hall of Pure Stock champions yet again in 2022. Should Colby and Jeremey both best their fellow championship challengers this weekend, it would be the first time in history that two brothers would be crowned champion in two separate divisions in the same season at Seekonk Speedway. For Colby to have success, he needs to beat out reigning champion and seven-time feature winner Chad Baxter, as well as other multi-race winner Craig Pianka and Ed Perry. This matchup paints Colby as a bit of a dark horse in the final round, but look for him to break through and double his championship count when the Sportmans hit the track on Saturday. For Jeremey to take the championship, he’ll need to top Danny Massa, Sam Lincoln and Mike Henriques - all of which have never won a championship before. The Pure Stock Championship is very much up for grabs this Friday, and look for Jeremey to join his brother in the ranks of Pure Stock greatness. ALL IN THE FAMILY - THE COUSINS VANASSE
The Vanasse name is known to many speedway goers, perhaps in reference to current Pro Stock driver Ryan Vanasse, who won back-to-back Late Model championships in 2009 and 2010. Now, Ryan and his brother Mike Vanasse are letting their sons get in on the Seekonk action. Ryan Jr. and Collin Vanasse square off against each other on Friday nights in the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits Division. Ryan and Collin have been driving bandits for a couple years now, but this year is different. With the new Drive for the Cup format, the two have been competing with each other all season long for a playoff berth, and now battle against each other week after week in an ever-narrowing playoff field. Ryan and Collin have both managed to stave off elimination through two rounds, and make up half of the playoff field going into championship weekend. Their competition: Sam Macedo and Nick Uhrig Jr. Out of the four drivers, Ryan is the only one to claim a feature win, scoring three of them this summer, fresh off his most recent one last week. Collin will have to pull out all the stops this week if he wants to top the Final Four including his cousin. As for Ryan, he has the momentum on his side, and needs to hit his marks one more time to be named champion. As far as odds go, it’s a coinflip that the 2022 Bandolero Bandit Champion will be a Vanasse. |
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