![]() Hirschman Clinches Seventh Tri-Track Title; DJ Shaw Wins ACT Race & Championship; Burns Pockets $2,000 in INEX Legends By Souza Media SEEKONK, Mass. – Saturday’s Seekonk Speedway season-finale hosted three divisions of New England short-track racing, with two champions crowned, and one driver keeping the hometown crowd on the edge of their seats in two different races. In the headliner of the afternoon, Anthony Nocella topped the final race of the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series season, scoring his first victory of his career with the series. Nocella’s Seekonk triumph was a long time coming – as the driver of the No. 92 had finished at the front of the field at the third-mile multiple times, in multiple different modified divisions. Nocella took the lead from early race dominator Chuck Hossfeld for the final time on lap 69, and drove away to the victory. Hossfeld finished second, driving for Stephen Kopcik, while Matt Hirschman wrapped the podium in third. Nocella’s victory marked the sixth different winner in seven Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series events for the 2022 season – only Hirschman ended the season as a multiple-time winner. With his podium, Hirschman locked up the series title for the seventh time by more than 40 points over his closest challengers. In another season filled with winning and top-five finishes across the Northeast, Hirschman rocketed back to title form with Tri-Track – one of the most competitive Modified touring divisions in the region. Kyle Bonsignore and Woody Pitkat finished the top-five in the 100-lap event. In qualifying heat racing earlier in the day, the field was trimmed from 43 down to 29 cars who started the main event. In the Pepsi Challenge heat races, Matt Galko, Hirschman, Sam Rameau and Pitkat picked up $300 each for winning their respective heat. In the two Pepsi Challenge consi races, veteran Todd Szegedy and Rob Murphy picked up $300 each. In the 100-lap penultimate race of the season for the American-Canadian Tour, the final 30 laps was a showdown between eventual series champion DJ Shaw and Seekonk Speedway Late Model regular Jacob “Rowdy” Burns. It was Burns who took the lead early, but Shaw charged from the bottom of the top-10 to the front quickly, and challenged for the lead in the final stages. The two swapped the lead back and forth for the final circuits, and on the final lap, as the field crossed for the white flag, Burns was out front. However, it was Shaw who would dive to the bottom and make the pass, edging Burns as the finish by .068 seconds. As a local regular, Burns was looking to become the first track standout to beat the invading ACT Tour drivers in the 17th race in the history of ACT at Seekonk, but came up just a tick short. Alexandre Tardiff finished third, followed by Jason Corliss and Tom Carey III in a 32-car starting field. Burns was the winner of the day in the $2,000 to win, 30-lap INEX Legends Cars race – holding off a hard-charging Mason Tessier in the final few feet to win by inches. Burns and Tessier swapped the lead back and forth themselves for many of the late laps, with Tessier trying the bottom in the final corner, but coming up just short. Jase Mongeon, Jake Silvia and Brendan LaBelle finished the top-five in the 27-car starting field, with a purse of over $7,000 distributed post-race.
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![]() Barre, VT — The next leg of the Southern New England Swing Triple Crown for the American-Canadian Tour comes down to Massachusetts’ Seekonk Speedway this Saturday, October 22nd with the Haunted Hundred. Once again alongside the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series, the ACT Haunted Hundred is expected to be yet another legendary showdown between the Touring stars of Quebec and New England against a stout field of hometown favorites with the 2022 season quickly coming to a close. Currently in the cat-bird seat, leading the American-Canadian Tour points, is a driver who has seen plenty of ups and downs at the Cement Palace. Center Conway, New Hampshire’s D.J. Shaw narrowly won the 2021 Haunted Hundred and the 2021 American-Canadian Tour before being edged in a final lap dogfight with fellow New England touring legend Ben Rowe. This time around, Shaw holds a strong lead but don’t look for the 04VT Ford Mustang playing it safe on Saturday, the A.H. Fence team will be there to win. On another hot stream, the ‘Fireball’ rookie from Notre-Dame-des-Pins, Quebec is looking to take down his first American-Canadian Tour win this Saturday night. Alexendre Tardif may have the Rookie of the Year title all sewn up, but he’s still hungry for more. Currently second-in-points behind Shaw, it may take a miracle to get him to the top but the only trophy he’s missing on his mantle this season is the elusive first win. Look for Tardif out front on Saturday. A pair of Massachusetts hot shoes will also be hard to keep your eyes off. Both Tom Carey III and Derek Gluchacki were in contention all day one year ago before late incidents stole away the chance to join the Haunted Hundred winner’s circle. Both are also looking to keep up their top spots in the Southern New England Swing Triple Crown after their 1,2 finish at Thompson Speedway two weeks ago. The three-race series will close out the final three events of the American-Canadian Tour season with a $3,000 purse to be spread amongst the top three who compete in all three Southern New England events. Looking for redemption, and eyeing their share of the Triple Crown bonus, both Gluchacki and Carey are coming into Seekonk with something to prove. After a hard last-lap crash turned him into instant icon status at the third-mile oval just weeks ago, 2022 Seekonk Speedway champion Mark Jenison has filed his Haunted Hundred entry as has one of the top Thunder Road Speedbowl Late Model rookies with Stephen Martin ready to haul south from Craftsbury Common, Vermont. Officials expect several Seekonk Late Model regulars to join the fray, each looking to be the first regular to ever take the American-Canadian Tour win in the sanctioning bodies 17th visit to the Cement Palace. The American-Canadian Tour returns to Massachusetts’ Seekonk Speedway on Saturday, October 22nd for the Haunted Hundred alongside the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series and the INEX Legend Cars. The penultimate event for the American-Canadian Tour brings the championship down to the ‘Cement Palace,’ a wild card oval where anything can happen as drivers set themselves up for the championship Shoreline 150 at New London-Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday, October 29th. For more information about the American-Canadian Tour, contact the ACT offices at (802) 244-6963, [email protected], or visit www.acttour.com. You can also get updates on Facebook and Twitter at @ACTTour. American-Canadian Tour Returns To Seekonk; INEX Legends Cars $2,000 To Win Special Also on Tap
Story by Souza Media SEEKONK, Mass. – Seekonk Speedway will roar to life for the final time in 2022 this weekend, as the Action Track of the East is set to host the championship event for the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series in the annual Haunted Hundred. On top of 100 laps for the ground-pounding Modifieds worth $6,000 to win, the American-Canadian Tour also returns to Seekonk for their penultimate race of the season, and the INEX Legends Cars join the card for a $2,000 to win, 30-lap race. Set to chase his seventh career Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series championship, Matt Hirschman enters the race up by 27 points over Matt Swanson, with Chase Dowling third, 28 markers behind. Based on the Tri-Track points system, Hirschman has a good shot at locking up the crown, and a finish of 17th or better will cement it as his for another year. Swanson and Dowling are the two mathematical contenders – not only to race him for the title – but also to compete for the win. Dowling is a former Seekonk winner (defending Haunted Hundred winner) and also has one victory in the 2022 season. Swanson hasn’t won on the Tri-Track circuit yet, but has top-10 finishes in four events this year. Of the list of entered drivers – now jumping over 40 – multiple top names will be at the track on Saturday. Anthony Nocella, Ron Silk, Ronnie Williams, Woody Pitkat, Jake Johnson, Todd Szegedy, Matt Galko, Sam Rameau, Kyle Bonsignore, Les Hinckley, Chris Pasteryak, Austin Beers and Late Model standout Derek Gluchacki are among those entered. The series traditional scuff session will be followed by heat races and necessary consi events to set the field for 100-laps in the season-finale. The total purse for the event will again rise over $40,000 – meaning the two Seekonk events combined this season will pay out over $85,000. If the conclusion of the American-Canadian Tour race at the 2021 Haunted Hundred is any indication, fans will not want to miss their 100-lap race on Saturday. Last year, DJ Shaw and Ben Rowe battled down to the final corner to decide the win and the championship, with some beating and banging, and a thrilling finish. Even though this event won't decide their 2022 title, it will still be a battle between Seekonk weekly Late Model regulars and ACT stars. On the ACT front, names like Shaw, Alexandre Tardiff, Gluchacki, Erick Sands and Cody Leblanc are at the front of their standings and all expected to be top contenders. On the Seekonk front, names like Vinnie Arrenegado, Richie Murray, Ryan Flood, Jacob Burns, Connor Souza, Reese Bogue and others are expected to try and defend the home turf. The $2,000 to win, 30-lap INEX Legends Cars race is drawing attention from across New England, and also from Seekonk local contenders. Seekonk champion Devin Deshaies should be joined by names like Josh Parsons, Mason Tessier, Isaiah Newcomb, Jake Silvia, Richie Helger Jr., Nicholaus Bulkeley and others. Qualifying lineups will be set by a blind draw on race morning for their extra cash special. Tickets for the Haunted Hundred are available in advance at SeekonkSpeedway.com, where fans can purchase today and skip the long lines on race day. Pit passes are also available in advance. Tickets are $30 for adults in general admission, with those from 6-12 just $10, and kids five and under free. Pit passes are $45 for just Saturday or $60 for a two-day pass. Friday will be an optional practice session from 1-5 p.m., while pit gates open on Saturday at 8 a.m. and racing begins at 1:30 p.m. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media. For more information on the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series, visit MonacoModifieds.com and follow the series on Facebook. ![]() One. More. Race. for everyone that just wants one more awesome day of racing we give you the Haunted Hundred! 100 laps of championship racing for the Monaco Tri Track Modifieds and ACT Late Model Tour plus a 2k to win INEX Legends race! Pits open at 8am, Grandstands open at 11:30 and the action starts at 1:30 pm! |
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