After the final round of the regular season was completed on August 26, the field for the second annual Sunoco Drive For The Cup for NASCAR Saturday divisions at Seekonk Speedway has been set for 2023. All four of the NASCAR divisions will do battle in a four-week playoff format on September 9, 16, 23 and 30 to crown the 2023 track champions. The Pro Stocks, Late Models, Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman and Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks each have eight eligible drivers ready to chase the title in their respective divisions. For tickets for all of the Fast Friday playoff events and the NASCAR Saturday playoff events, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com today. The first round of the playoffs will take place on September 9 and 16. The first two weeks of the playoffs will include a points format to determine who moves to the next round. After the first round, six cars will advance from all divisions. Feature points will be given to playoff cars with 10 going to the highest finishing playoff car, 9 to the second highest playoff car, 8 to the third, etc., down through the playoff field. At the end of the two weeks in round one, the lowest totals will be eliminated. Heat points will also be included with 5 to win, 4 for second, 3 for third, 2 for fourth and 1 for fifth for Saturday divisions. Then, the fields will be set for round two on September 23. After round two, two more drivers will be eliminated and the Final Four in each division will be set. The two eliminated on September 23 will be the lowest two playoff cars in the final results on that night. On September 30, the Final Four will crown the champion with the highest finishing of the four winning the title in their respective divisions. In the event the final race cannot be completed due to unforeseen circumstances on scheduled dates and rain dates, Seekonk Speedway’s champions will be decided by the highest points total of remaining championship contenders. Throughout the entire playoffs, regular points will be calculated for each race and a tally will remain kept. At the end of the championship night, only the champion will keep their position in the final points (first) and all other drivers in the playoffs will be aligned based on their overall season points. For example, someone who finishes second in the final race of the season in the Final Four may be the second highest finishing playoff car, but have the fifth greatest point total for the season. They will be aligned to fifth in the final standings. For tickets for all of the Fast Friday playoff events and the NASCAR Saturday playoff events, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com. PRO STOCKS Dylan Estrella Mike Brightman Bobby Pelland III Mark Jenison Tom Scully Jr Dick Benoit Rick Martin Mike Rotondo LATE MODELS Vinnie Arrenegado Mark Jenison Jacob Burns Luke LeBrun Charlie Rose Chase Belcher Connor Souza Tyler Tomassi SPORTSMAN Adam Pettey Craig Pianka Chad Baxter Steve Axon Colby Lambert Ryan Lineham Randy Moretti Don Perry SPORT TRUCKS Rick Martin Jake Vanada Mike Duarte Brittany Campbell Amy Arseanult Bob Tripp Mike Cavallaro Darryl Church
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SEEKONK, Mass. — Tom Scully Jr. hadn’t put one ounce of luck together heading into Saturday night this season at Seekonk Speedway. But, after 40 laps in the Pro Stocks, it looks like Scully may have found some just at the right time. Scully passed Tommy Adams for the lead on the outside lane, then drove away in the final laps to win the final race of the regular season. Adams led early in the race, but it was a restart while second where Scully found his advantage. From there, he never went challenged again. Adams lost the second spot to Colbey Fournier on the final lap, finishing third, while Fournier returned after some time off to finish second. Dylan Estrella and Dick Benoit finished fourth and fifth. Bobby Pelland, Rick Martin, Mark Jenison, Danny Thibeault and John Studley finished off the top-10 spots. The Pro Stocks will be back on the track on Saturday, September 9, for round one of the Sunoco Drive For The Cup playoffs. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates. SEEKONK, Mass. — For the second week in a row, former Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman champion Chad Baxter picked up the win at Seekonk Speedway. But, this time, it was a lot harder than it was the week before. Baxter used the outside lane to hold off his teammate Ryan Lineham to take the feature win. After 25 laps, and really 10 or 12 battling side-by-side for the lead, Baxter was on top. Lineham worked the bottom for the lead trying everything in the final laps, but had to settle for the runner-up spot. The two put on a classic Sportsman battle around the third-mile. Steve Axon finished in third, with Adam Pettey and Craig Pianka finishing fourth and fifth. Rob Kohler, Paul Williams, Colby Lambert, Don Perry and Dan Saritelli finished off the top-10. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman will be back on the track on Saturday, September 9, for round one of the Sunoco Drive For The Cup playoffs. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates. SEEKONK, Mass. — Connor Souza picked up his first career Late Model win on Saturday night at Seekonk Speedway. Charging from the middle of the field to the front, Souza held off defending track champion Mark Jenison to score the win after a tight battle in the final laps of the 30-lap feature. Souza started in the middle of the field, but worked his way to the front rather quickly. He took the lead and then had to turn his attention to holding off a hard-charging Jenison in the final laps. Jenison tried everything, but it wasn’t enough. Jenison would settle for second behind Souza, with Chase Belcher crossing the line third. Belcher pitted during a caution before halfway, then charged through the field to finish in third. Charlie Rose and Scott Serydynski Jr. finished fourth and fifth. They were followed by Tyler Tomassi, Vinnie Arrenegado, Richard Souliere, Mike Duarte and Kevin Bowe. The Late Models will be back on the track on Saturday, September 9, for round one of the Sunoco Drive For The Cup playoffs. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates. Multiple of the Seekonk Speedway NASCAR Saturday divisions will go right down to the final laps of this weekend’s racing before deciding the eight drivers who will race for the championship next month. As the Sunoco Drive For The Cup draws near, Saturday’s racing action on August 26 includes the final race of the regular season for the Sport Trucks, Late Models, Sportsman and Pro Stocks. Not only are there a few drivers who can win their way into the playoffs since they competed in every race in the division so far, there are also a few who can point their way into each playoff battle. Let’s break down each division heading into Saturday. CHAZ AUTO BODY SPORT TRUCKS Entering Saturday night, Mike Cavallaro leads Tom Scully III by 35 points in the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks for the final spot. In order for Scully to close the gap and advance by points, it’s going to take a lot of work and some bad luck for Cavallaro, or Bob Tripp, who is just 5 points ahead of Cavallaro. It’s more likely that the field for the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks is set: Rick Martin, Jack Vanada, Mike Duarte, Brittany Campbell, Amy Arsenault, Darryl Church, Bob Tripp and Mike Cavallaro. Tom Scully III, Ethan Heilborn and DJ Thibeault are the three Sport Truck drivers who could win Saturday’s 25-lap race and automatically advance to the playoffs. Will it happen and add a ninth car? ————————-- HELGER’S POWER EQUIPMENT SPORTSMAN Like the Sport Trucks, it’s going to take some luck for someone outside of the top-eight to bust their way into the playoffs in the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman. The following are mathematically locked in already: Adam Pettey, Craig Pianka, Colby Lambert, Chad Baxter, Steve Axon, Randy Moretti and Ryan Lineham. In eighth spot right now on the bubble is Don Perry. He holds this position over Tyler Almeida by 29 points. If Almeida is going to get in, he’s going to need a top-three performance and hope that Perry doesn’t finish the race at all, and gets out early, finishing just about last. It’s unlikely, as long as Perry takes the green. In the Sportsman, Tyler Almeida, Jimmy “Pepe” Silvia and Mark Healy would become a ninth car in the playoffs if they win on Saturday night. ————————-- LATE MODELS The 30-lap Late Model regular season finale has the look of being absolutely wild. The following drivers are locked into the Sunoco Drive For The Cup: Luke LeBrun, Jacob Burns, Vinnie Arrenegado, Mark Jenison. Behind them it’s all up for grabs for the final four spots. Charlie Rose sits fifth, just 23 points ahead of the final spot. Chase Belcher follows, 21 ahead. Tyler Tomassi is seventh, 7 points up. And Connor Souza is on the bubble, seven points ahead of the first car out. Wow. Just outside in ninth is Richie Murray, who missed one race during the summer, but enters Saturday with a shot to bust-into the playoffs. Bill Goodrow is just eight points out of the final spot, with Scott Serydynski Jr. just 21 points out. This division alone is going to go down to the final lap, not only in the feature, but the heat races. Since heats pay 5 points to win, 4 to second, 3 to third, 2 to fourth and 1 for fifth, and the feature pays 50 to win and 2 points less per position throughout the field, look out. Every lap matters when you want to race for the championship next month. Only Goodrow and Serydynski would automatically advance with a feature win. 5 Charlie Rose - 308 points 6 Chase Belcher - 306 points 7 Tyler Tomassi - 292 points 8 Connor Souza - 285 points 9 Richie Murray - 278 points 10 Bill Goodrow - 277 points 11 Scott Serydynski Jr. 264 points ————————-- PRO STOCKS As long as he takes the green flag Saturday, Mike Rotondo will advance to the playoffs. Dave Darling sits in the eighth and final spot right now, but isn’t planning on racing, so will fall out of contention. That leaves Dylan Estrella, Mike Brightman, Bobby Pelland III, Mark Jenison, Rick Martin, Dick Benoit, Tom Scully Jr. and Mike Rotondo to battle for the championship. Otherwise, with a win on Saturday, Darryl Stampfl and Mike Mitchell would advance The Sunoco Drive For The Cup is coming up in September, but first, it’s time for the final race of the NASCAR Saturday regular season this Saturday, August 26. Be here for high-speed excitement to race for a playoff spot! Visit SeekonkSpeedway.com for tickets and the latest news and information on the track. Racing begins at 6PM. SEEKONK, Mass. — The final weekend of the regular season is here at Seekonk Speedway, and the fans are not going to want to miss two days of excitement on August 25 and 26. Friday, the Fast Friday divisions will return to the track for the final racing of their regular season, as the fields will be set for September’s Sunoco Drive For The Cup. On NASCAR Saturday, the four divisions will also set their playoff fields in their own final regular season races. Saturday’s program also includes the Pit Party in the pit area from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and the return of Fans on Parade during intermission after the heat races. Both events are fan favorites and will be back for fans to celebrate the end of the summer, Seekonk Speedway style. Fans are encouraged to attend the pit party and also walk around the track during intermission to support their favorite drivers. Fast Friday will once again include the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits and Outlaws, Sport 4s, Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman and Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars. Both Bandolero divisions will leave Friday with six drivers in each division set to advance to the playoffs, while the other three divisions will advance eight. In the Bandits, the field is rather set, with Luka Dib 32 points behind and unlikely to be able to mount a charge to advance. In the Outlaws, Zachary Keith holds the final spot by 16 points over Dylan Calabro, just 8 positions on the track. Bryson Robidoux, Zachary Keith and Andrew Gomes, the three current drivers inside the Outlaw playoff battle without a feature win this season, will be looking to get some momentum rolling with a win on Friday night. The Pure Stock title battle field is set on points, with Greg Perry leading Don Courtemanche by a full 50 points for the final spot. However, Courtemanche, who has run all the races this season, is eligible to advance to the playoffs on Friday if he can score his first career win. The Sport 4 regular season looks like it will also come down to the final laps to decide who will advance. Right now, Daniel Hayes leads Justin Leduc by just four points for the final spot. Leduc has shown more speed than Hayes so far this summer, but it will come down to the final laps. Can Jarrod Freitas grab his fourth win of the season and advance with a ton of momentum? Can Crystal Murray win the final regular season race and continue to prepare for her title defense? Will Henry Lavallee win his first of the year? Or will someone else be on top after 25 laps? The Legends Cars battle is also nearly settled. Chase Silvia is in the final spot entering Friday and leads by 24 points over Kevin Davis. It’s definitely going to be interesting going down to the wire, as it's only 12 positions on the track between them in points. Can Davis close the ground and make it in? NASCAR Saturday’s playoff battles are a bit tighter than Friday in most divisions. With Dave Darling not returning in the Pro Stocks in 2023, ninth-place Mike Rotondo will jump into the playoff field over Darling by just starting the feature on Saturday in the No. 48. Although no one else could likely bust their way into the playoffs on points, Bobby Pelland will be looking to bust back into Victory Lane for the third straight week. The driver of the No. 12 is coming off a rocket ship week of winning and also an Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown championship and a win the week prior in the Pro Stocks. The Late Model championship battle to make the Sunoco Drive For The Cup field of eight cars is definitely going to go right down to the final laps. Entering Saturday, Connor Souza holds a lead of just seven points over Richie Murray. However, Tyler Tomassi in sixth is just seven points ahead of Souza himself. Behind Murray, in 10th, is Bill Goodrow, just eight points out of the playoffs. Scott Serydynski Jr. also isn’t far behind in 11th, just 19 back of the cutline. The Late Models will be racing for the checkered flag in their 30-lap Saturday race, but also racing for glory in the playoff battle to advance to the first round. After a wild Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman battle last week that ended with Chad Baxter winning, this week, their playoff field will be set. Don Perry holds the final spot by 29 points over Tyler Almeida and Jimmy Silvia by 42 points. Perry will likely advance to the playoffs as long as he finishes on Saturday. Baxter, Steve Axon, Adam Pettey, Colby Lambert, Randy Moretti and Ryan Lineham are essentially already locked into the playoffs and will be looking to win on Saturday to provide additional momentum. The Chaz Auto Body Sport Truck playoff battle finds Mike Cavallaro leading Tom Scully III by 35 points. Scully’s best shot to advance to the playoffs will be to win the 25-lap race on Saturday - drivers who have run all the races in their respective division so far - and are not in the top-eight - can win on Saturday and advance. In the Trucks, Scully and 10th place Ethan Heilborn are in position to do that this week. Fans who wish to join the pit party should make sure they are at the track by 4:30 p.m. Once the pit party clears and heat races are complete, the Fans on Parade will take place, estimated to begin around 7 p.m. Judging will take place and winners will be announced right there in each division, as well as an overall winner for the night. The track will also announce the winners of the Most Popular Driver contest on Saturday night. Tickets for Fast Friday are just $10 online now at SeekonkSpeedway.com or $13 at the gates on race day. NASCAR Saturday tickets are $15 online in advance or $18 at the track on race day. Parking is always free for both days at Seekonk Speedway. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets online to save money and skip the lines on race day. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates. SEEKONK, Mass. — Former Late Model champion Bobby Pelland is rolling in the Pro Stocks heading for the end of the summer. The driver of the No. 12 captured his second straight win on Saturday night, August 19, just one week after winning the finale of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown and the Triple Crown title all in the same night. Pelland passed Dylan Estrella for the lead just after halfway, then raced him to the finish in a tight battle, to score his second straight victory. Estrella crossed the line in second, while Mike Brightman charged through the field to finish in the third spot. Mark Jenison and Tom Scully Jr. followed in fourth and fifth after 40 laps. Mike Rotondo, Darrell Stampfl, Rick Martin, Ryan Souliere and Dick Benoit also finished in the top-10. The Pro Stocks will be back on track on Saturday, August 26, for the final race of the regular season. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media. BAXTER COMES ON AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR SPORTSMAN WIN, TRIPLE CROWN TITLE
SEEKONK, Mass. — Former Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman champion Chad Baxter found Victory Lane at the right time on Saturday night. After driving around the outside of Adam Pettey for the lead, Baxter drove away from the field on every single restart in the second half of the race to score the feature win. Baxter, who hadn’t won all year entering Saturday, might be hitting his stride at just the right time in the Sportsman. He was followed to the finish line by Pettey in second and defending champion Craig Pianka, who finished third. Ryan Lineham worked his way back to the front after a mid-race tangle to finish fourth, with Colby Lambert finishing in fifth. Chris Rioux, Randy Moretti, Zachary Robinson, Doug Benoit and Mark Healy completing the top-10. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman will be back on track on Saturday, August 26, for the final race of the regular season. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media. SEEKONK, Mass. — With the final two Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series champions set to be crowned on Saturday night at Seekonk Speedway, the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks were set for 35 laps. Once the checkered flag went in the air, it was Radical Rick Martin earning his second win of the year in the division - but he wasn’t in the Triple Crown Final Four. It was Jake Vanada, who finished second, who earned the Triple Crown title. Sometimes, second-place is good enough, and it was on Saturday night. Martin, the defending champion, didn’t win in the first half of the year, but appears to be hitting his stride at the right time in the Sport Trucks heading for the playoffs. Amy Arsenault posted a podium finish in third in her No. 9, while Bobby Tripp grabbed a fourth-place finish and Brittany Campbell completed the top-five. Mike Duarte, Darryl Church, Marissa Morgan, Dane Saritelli and Mike Cavallaro finished off the top-10. The Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks will be back on track on Saturday, August 26, for the final race of the regular season. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media. The Seekonk Speedway regular season is down to the final two weeks on both Fast Friday and NASCAR Saturday, and that means it’s going to get even more interesting around the playoff cutlines. Remember, the Bandolero divisions on Friday have six drivers advancing to the playoffs, while all other divisions have the top-eight in points at the end of the regular season advancing. Let’s take a look at the NASCAR Saturday cutline battles heading into this Saturday, August 19. PRO STOCKS With Dave Darling done racing in 2023, the Pro Stock race just got a lot more interesting. Dylan Estrella and Mike Brightman show the way in the points, with Darling sitting third, currently 34 points ahead of the final spot (eighth) with two races remaining. While not planning to run a race, he’s still in a weird spot where he could make the playoffs. But now, the drivers just outside the top-eight have a shot to have two solid weeks and jump in. Mark Jenison is fourth, with recent winner Bobby Pelland fifth, Dick Benoit, Rick Martin and Tom Scully Jr. currently rounding out the top-8. As it looks right now, Scully is 25 points ahead of Mike Rotondo, who is the first car out. Scully is feeling good about it, especially since Darling is in front of him, and going to fall below him within the next two weeks. Mike Rotondo, a rookie contender in the famed Rollie Lindblad No. 48, is 59 points behind Darling. That means he needs to earn at least 60 points in the next two races, an average of 30 per week, to get by Darling and advance. With what he has done this season so far, it's certainly more than likely. Rotondo is also only 25 behind Scully, and if Scully stumbles, could find his way into the playoffs that way. In the end, as long as Scully and Rotondo have two solid weeks of points, they should both advance and Darling should end up knocked out. But will that happen? And then, you have former Late Model champion Tommy Adams lurking in 10th… will he somehow be a factor? 3 Dave Darling - 284 points 4 Mark Jenison - 281 points 5 Bobby Pelland - 276 points 6 Dick Benoit - 271 points 7 Rick Martin - 269 points 8 Tom Scully Jr - 250 points ONLY DRIVERS 8th OR HIGHER ADVANCE 9 Mike Rotondo - 225 points 10 Tommy Adams - 205 points ——————-- LATE MODELS The Late Models are the only of Seekonk’s nine divisions in a spot where they only have ONE race left before the playoffs begin. With the ACT Tour in town this Saturday, August 19, the Late Models are off and that means they have one 30-lap feature remaining next Saturday, August 26. The battle for the top-eight is the tightest in this division. Luke LeBrun, Jacob Burns, Vinnie Arrenegado and Mark Jenison are mathematically locked into the playoffs in positions 1-4 in the current standings. In fifth, Charlie Rose is just 23 points ahead of the cutline, with Chase Belcher now sixth, 21 points up after winning last week, but ending up with no points after failing post-race inspection. Tyler Tomassi had a top-10 finish last week to put himself in seventh, currently 7 points ahead of the cutline. It’s Connor Souza, who finished second last week, who is eight points ahead for the final spot. Just outside, Richie Murray, who missed one race in the middle of the summer, is just eight points out heading into the final chance. Bill Goodrow is just nine points behind Souza for the final spot. Scott Serydynski Jr., a Rookie of the Year contender like Souza, is just 21 points out himself. The Late Model race is going right down to the final laps on August 26, there is no doubt about it. 5 Charlie Rose - 308 points 6 Chase Belcher - 306 points 7 Tyler Tomassi - 292 points 8 Connor Souza - 285 points ONLY DRIVERS 8th OR HIGHER ADVANCE 9 Richie Murray - 278 points 10 Bill Goodrow - 277 points 11 Scott Serydynski Jr. - 264 points ——————-- SPORTSMAN With consistency and one feature win this season, Adam Pettey is the only driver in the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman ready to battle in the playoffs and already locked in with two races remaining. Behind Pettey, Steve Axon, Colby Lambert, Craig Pianka and Chad Baxter are all feeling good in positions two through five in the point standings. Baxter, a former champion, is 48 points up from the cutline. Randy Moretti is behind him in sixth, 38 points ahead himself, while most recent winner Ryan Lineham opened his gap a bit to the cutline and is seventh, now 18 points up. In the final spot is Don Perry, with 245 points. Ed Perry is first out, but lost ground last week, now 26 points back in ninth. Jimmy Silvia follows him, 28 points back, while Tyler Almeida is now 11th, 31 points out. If Lineham and Perry put together two solid weeks, it’s likely the field for the Sportsman playoffs is set. But, with the car counts high and points up for grabs with 20 or more cars each week, this could change in the blink of an eye. This Saturday, the Sportsman are back on track in the finale of the Everett’s Triple Crown, set for 35 laps. 7 Ryan Lineham - 263 points 8 Don Perry - 245 points ONLY DRIVERS 8th OR HIGHER ADVANCE 9 Ed Perry - 219 points 10 Jimmy Silvia - 217 points 11 Tyler Almeida - 214 points ——————-- SPORT TRUCKS With the final laps of the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks regular season closing in, beginning with the finale of the Everett’s Triple Crown set for 35 laps this week, look out. This division is another of the tightest at Seekonk Speedway as the end of August draws closer. Rick Martin, Jake Vanada, Mike Duarte, Brittany Campbell and Amy Arsenault are all feeling good heading into the final two weeks in the top-five in points. Arsenault is 44 points up on the eighth and final spot. Behind her, Mike Cavallaro is next in sixth, but just 10 points up on the final spot. Darryl Church had a tough week last week and is now seventh, just eight ahead of the final spot. Right now, Bobby Tripp continues to hold the final spot - by 20 points on Tom Scully III. Scully will need some strong runs to get in, with Ethan Heilborn also right behind him. Heilborn is only 22 points back of eighth. 6 Mike Cavallaro - 277 points 7 Darryl Church - 275 points 8 Bobby Tripp - 267 points ONLY DRIVERS 8th OR HIGHER ADVANCE 9 Tom Scully III - 247 points 10 Ethan Heilborn - 245 points ——————-- Seekonk Speedway’s regular season concludes for NASCAR Saturday divisions on Saturday, August 19 and Saturday, August 26. The American-Canadian Tour is in town on the 19th, meaning the Late Models only have the race on the 26th to decide their playoff contenders. To purchase tickets to all remaining 2023 events and find out more information, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com. Don’t forget to also follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates. |
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