Becomes New Tow Company of Third-Mile; Sponsoring East Coast Towing Spectator Drags, Presenting Mid Summer Thrill Show & Much More


SEEKONK, Mass. – Seekonk Speedway is happy to announce today the addition of East Coast Towing to the track family for the 2023 season. East Coast Towing will become the official tow company of Seekonk Speedway and also will sponsor multiple special events and marquee nights during the new year.


East Coast Towing, based in Taunton, Massachusetts, offers fast and friendly 24 hour emergency towing and roadside assistance. They tow all vehicles – from small cars to heavy tractor trailers and more. At East Coast Towing, they offer quality towing equipment and staff that are highly experienced professionals in their field. Their goal is to provide the best and safest service in the area. Their drivers are trained, certified, and ready to help you in any situation!


For assistance on the road, give them a call today at 774-565-8459 or visit them online at eastcoasttowma.com.


“Joining the Seekonk Speedway family is exciting for all of us at East Coast Towing,” Rob Martin, President of East Coast Towing said. “Short-track racing in this area at Seekonk continues to grow every year and we are excited to jump right into the middle of it. The Speedway community seems to be a true family of racers, teams, staff and fans all together and we can’t wait to feel it for ourselves. Sponsoring some of the major events including the Thrill Show and Great American Trailer Race, and the intriguing idea of the East Coast Towing Spectator Drags, was something we couldn’t pass up. You don’t find someone able to drive their street car on the race track very often. Adding the First Responders Night and recognizing those who help us get through everyday life… all of this is a great opportunity and we can’t wait to get started at Seekonk Speedway in 2023.”


The tow company will become the official towing provider of the Action Track of the East – supplying trucks and assistance for all race events. On top of that, East Coast Towing becomes the official sponsor of the Spectator Drag Series, which will race 10 times in 2023 – combined between Thrill Shows and NASCAR Saturday events. 

SEEKONK, Mass. – Seekonk Speedway announced today a jam-packed 2023 schedule of events as the track gets ready for the 77th season of operation in Massachusetts. The season will begin with the traditional Sunday afternoon opening day on May 7, and conclude with the smashing of pumpkins during a Thrill Show on October 14.


Both Fast Fridays and Saturday Night Showdowns will return to Seekonk Speedway in 2023, and so will the Sunoco Drive For The Cup to decide the track champions. After a year of success, the Sunoco Drive For The Cup will open up to four weeks for the new year. The opening rounds of the playoffs will take place on September 8-9, while the second round will take place on September 15-16 and round three is set for September 22-23. The championship events for both nights are set for September 29 and 30 as part of D. Anthony Venditti Fall Classic weekend.


The four-week playoff format will see the same amount of drivers involved, but with a new twist. At the beginning of the playoffs, drivers will be seeded based on where they finished in the regular season points, ending before Labor Day, and the first two weeks of the playoffs will have a points format to advance to the final two rounds. Stay tuned for more info on the playoff updates coming soon. Seekonk Speedway is happy to welcome back Sunoco Race Fuels, a perfect sponsor for this special event series.

The Fast Friday program will continue to include the Legends Cars, Sport 4’s, Pure Stocks and both the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits and Outlaws. Saturday night showdown competition will again include the Pro Stocks, Late Models, Sportsman and Sport Trucks. Fast Friday will feature a 17-week schedule with opening night on Friday, May 26, the day before the Memorial Day Thrill Show.


The Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series also returns for 2023 for all nine of Seekonk’s divisions. Everett’s Auto Parts, located in Brockton, Mass., continues to be a major supporter of successful short-track racing at the Action Track of the East. The series will include three races for all divisions with extra laps and glory involved in nearly every division (Bandolero lap counts remain at 15). All nine Everett’s Triple Crown champions will be crowned as part of Everett’s weekend on August 18 and 19. 

Major Saturday night events include the American-Canadian Tour returning to Seekonk for their first in-season event in several years on Saturday, June 3, with the Spring Green 123. The special extra-distance event means the track Late Models will have the night off, but many contenders will elect to compete with ACT in the extra-distance race. The Spring Green moves to Seekonk after four years at White Mountain Motorsports Park. The event has been held all but a few years since 1974. 


The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is back at Seekonk Speedway for the first time since 2019 on Saturday, June 10, set for a 150-lap feature race. Check out the nations premier Modified Tour for a guaranteed night of great racing including names like Justin Bonsignore, Ron Silk, defending champion Jon McKennedy and more.

Open Wheel Wednesday returns for yet another season, headlined by the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series on Wednesday, June 28, with a $10,000 main event. The 350 SMAC Supermodifieds and the NEMA Lites will also join the card for Seekonk’s only planned mid-week event of the racing season. 


The American Racer USA Pro Stock Classic is set for Saturday, July 1 – a 75-lap special. ​

New for 2023, two shows that were on a Wednesday night last season will move to Saturday night. The Boston Louie Seymour Memorial Classic for the NEMA Midgets and NEMA Lites will join the Saturday, July 15 card, along with the Pro Stocks and Late Models. The Sportsman and Sport Trucks will have this week off. 


 The $10,000 to win Bay State Classic Pro All Star Series (PASS) Pro Stock special event will move to a Saturday night, July 29. The race will continue to pin Seekonk’s top weekly Pro Stock regulars against some of the best invaders in the area. 


Thrill Shows are back again for 2023 in a big way. The annual Memorial Day event kicks-off the festivities on Saturday, May 27, while the Independence Day Thrill Show will take place on Saturday, July 8. The Midsummer Thrill Show and Great American Trailer race is set for August 5, while the Labor Day Fireworks show will take place on September 2. The Pumpkin Smash will wrap the season on October 14. In the middle, the mighty Monster Trucks are back at Seekonk Speedway on Sunday, June 18 and Sunday, August 13.


The thrills and spills of the Monster Trucks are back TWICE at Seekonk Speedway in 2023. Come check out some of the top trucks in the country battling for bragging rights through the infield jumps of Seekonk Speedway. You can feel the power & hear the roar of Monster Trucks at your favorite family fun summer venue in Massachusetts. Crushstation, Stinger & more are coming back to The Action Track of the East paired up with a special Spectator Drag Shootout. 

The Spectator Drags are also back on track with a ten event schedule, including all Thrill Shows, Monster Truck Shows and select Saturday night showdowns. There were over 120 competitors in last year's events with more expected this year for exciting door to door racing on the third-mile oval.


The Speedway will honor all Military members with complimentary admission on Saturday Night May 20 and will host First Responders Night on September 9.


Additional notes about the 2023 schedule include:

• Open practice for all divisions (except Bandolero) on April 22
• Bandolero-only practice sessions on April 23 and May 21
• Military Night May 20th
• First Responders Night September 9th
• Racing with Rusty experience dates of April 3, July 3 and September 1
• Shriners Night and Trike races July 22nd
• Scully Memorial Pro Stock Race
• Providence Bruins Fans Night August 26th
• Fans on Parade and the Pit Party on Saturday, August 26 (final night of the regular season)
• Youth Sports Night June 17th
• Scout Night June 24th

Tickets for Seekonk Speedway’s 2023 season have already gone on sale for many events. Flex tickets are available for Fast Friday and Saturday night showdown events, allowing fans to purchase tickets now and pick the race day they attend in 2023. Flex tickets are valid for regular priced Friday and Saturday night events only. Prices listed on schedule are for online tickets only, all tickets purchased the day of the event at the track will be priced separately and will be $3 more than online tickets. Tickets for the return of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and all Thrill Shows are also available.


For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates and information.
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SEEKONK, Mass. – Seekonk Speedway announced today that Sunoco Race Fuels will return as the sponsor of the Sunoco Drive For The Cup in 2023. The Drive For The Cup, ready to move to a four-race series in the new season, will help to crown all nine of Seekonk Speedway’s 2023 champions, spanning across both Fast Friday and NASCAR Saturday. 

The Drive For The Cup produced some of the most thrilling moments in recent Seekonk history during the 2022 season – including Mark Jenison winning both the Late Model and Pro Stock titles – including a wild final corner that saw Jenison on his side up against the wall coming across the finish line. It also produced polished champions on both nights for all nine of Seekonk’s divisions. All drivers who made it to become champion lived up to the pressure of the moment – something the fans loved, and the new year will be even more exciting.

Additional changes surrounding the 2023 Sunoco Drive For The Cup will be announced at a later date.

“Last year was the ground floor for the playoff series at Seekonk and the inaugural year was awesome,” John Holland from Sunoco Race Fuels said. “The enhancements that are being made to the playoff system are only going to make it even more exciting. It’s great to see the first year in the books and we are looking forward to another exciting Sunoco Drive For The Cup in 2023.”

Sunoco Race Fuels have been associated with racing excellence for decades. Since the mid 1960s, when Sunoco and Roger Penske Racing forged what would be a long and successful alliance, the company has grown into an industry powerhouse. Today, Suncoo has expanded their reach of racing fuels around the world to include all types of professional motorsports and more. For more information on Sunoco, visit SunocoRaceFuels.com.

For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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