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.
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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. ACT RETURNING TO SEEKONK, FAST FRIDAY & NASCAR SATURDAY TO CROWN REMAINING TRIPLE CROWN CHAMPIONS8/15/2023 SEEKONK, Mass. — Talk about a massive weekend of crowning winners and some special event champions coming up this Friday and Saturday at Seekonk Speedway. Friday night, August 18, the Fast Friday divisions will compete in the finale of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series for all five divisions, with extra laps for the Sport 4’s, Pure Stocks and Legends Cars. Saturday, the American-Canadian Tour returns to Seekonk Speedway for their one and only race of the 2023 season, rescheduled from June 3 due to rain. Their Spring Green 123-lap event will pin weekly Late Model regulars, who have the week off, against the stars and cars of a premiere Late Model Touring Series. Saturday’s program also includes the finale of the Everett’s Triple Crown for the Sportsman and Sport Trucks, while the Pro Stocks will also be back on track for another 40-lap race. Just like every week, Fast Friday action begins at 7 p.m. and NASCAR Saturday racing kicks-off at 6 p.m. All of the racing action can be seen from the track by purchasing tickets in advance at SeekonkSpeedway.com or at the gates on race day. In all Triple Crown finale events this weekend, four drivers are chasing the title, and the one who beats the other three in each race, wins. Last weekend, Luke LeBrun and Bobby Pelland won Triple Crown titles in the Late Models and Pro Stocks. Friday’s Triple Crown finale races for the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits and Outlaws will pin season winners against each other for the crown. Parker Davis, Mike Hanafin, Sam Macedo and Nick Uhrig Jr. have arguably been the four best cars in the Bandits this season and will battle for the Triple Crown title. All four of them have won and all will be tough to beat. This may be one of Seekonk’s most competitive divisions when it comes to crowning the Triple Crown champion. In the Bandolero Outlaws, Ryan Vanasse Jr. is the clear favorite, with seven feature wins so far in 2023. But, Andrew Gomes is part of the final four Triple Crown contenders and has been really strong the last few weeks specifically, on the podium, and seems to be making ground at the right time. They will be joined in the finale by Brent Robidoux and Collin Vanasse, two season winners, who are also going to be tough to beat. In the Legends Cars, Brenden LaBelle, Isaiah Newcomb, Josh Parsons and Nicholaus Bulkeley will battle for the Triple Crown. Like the Bandoero’s, all four of these drivers are season winners. Newcomb has been to Victory Lane in three of the last four races and was second in the other one last week. With his recent run of success, he’s the favorite, but all of the other three have shown tons of speed. This one is going to go down to the final few laps before it’s decided. In the Sport 4’s, Crystal Murray, Mikey LeFort, Jarrod Freitas and Henry Lavallee have made the Triple Crown final four. It looks like this one is going to be hard to pick a favorite as well. All of them have won this season, except Lavallee, who has been consistent in the top-five most of the year. The Sport 4 field might be chasing Freitas and LeFort with three wins each, but don’t count Murray and Lavallee out. It will be Scott Cestodio, Mike Henriques, Sam Lincoln and Ethan Souza battling for the Triple Crown title in the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Pure Stocks. The only one of the four who hasn’t won this season is Lincoln, but he’s been coming on stronger as the summer rolls on. Cestodio leads the entire division with four feature wins — will a fifth be in store to get him the Triple Crown title? With what we have seen in the Pure Stocks, you may need to win to lock this one up in the 30-lap race on Friday. Saturday’s two Triple Crown finale races are for the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks and Helger’s Sportsman. In the Trucks, 35 laps will be on tap for Jake Vanada, Mike Duarte, Brittany Campbell and Darryl Church to battle for the crown. All four of them have been to Victory Lane this season and are inside the top-eight in the overall point standings looking to advance to the playoffs. This one is going to be tough to pick, but with the massive consistency we’ve seen from Vanada, Duarte and Campbell, it’s going to be hard to beat one of them. The 35-lap Sportsman Triple Crown finale pins Steve Axon, Randy Moretti, Chad Baxter and Colby Lambert against each other. Three of these drivers have won this year, and you’d be surprised to know Baxter isn’t one of them. With this division having so many cars and drivers having to race their way to the front, anything could happen. The Sportsman field will be sliding around the track, but only one of these four will win the Triple Crown. The American-Canadian Tour Spring Green 123 comes in the midst of their championship battle with just five races remaining. Coming off their big Midsummer 250 at White Mountain Motorsports Park, DJ Shaw leads Gabe Brown and Jimmy Renfrew in the standings. Shaw went to Victory lane in the most recent ACT race at Seekonk last October, but will have to go up against a stout field of ACT challengers like Jonathan Bourvrette, Joey Pole and others. The Seekonk local contingent will also be on the track, with names like Vinnie Arrenegado, Jacob Burns, Richie Murray, Connor Souza, Ryan Vanasse, Mark Jenison, Chase Belcher and others. The Pro Stocks will also be back on track Saturday for 40 laps, one week after Bobby Pelland held off Dick Benoit in the final laps. There were also a mirage of others battling for the win and losing the top spots during the race that will be back looking to win this week. Tickets for Fast Friday are available online for just $10 per person or will be available at the gates for $13 per person. On NASCAR Saturday ACT Tour night, tickets are available for $25 in advance online for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12 and kids five and under and parking will be free. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, including to purchase tickets and see full schedules for the weekend, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com. For the latest news and updates, follow the track on social media. SEEKONK, Mass. — After a wild and interesting 60-laps in the finale of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series for the Pro Stocks on Saturday, Bobby Pelland was the one celebrating two different victories. Pelland not only captured the checkered flag in the race, but also won the Triple Crown title for the 2023 season in his No. 12.
In a year filled with speed for the former Late Model champion, Pelland is finding his groove just at the right time, as he looks to chase a Pro Stock title in September. Dick Benoit came up just one spot short of the Triple Crown title in second, with John Studley impressively finishing in third. Mike Brightman and Rick Martin finished fourth and fifth. Mark Jenison, Tom Scully Jr., Danny Thibeault, Darryl Stampfl and Dylan Estrella completed the top-10 spots. The Pro Stocks will be back on the track on Saturday, August 19 for another feature, set for 40 laps. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media. SEEKONK, Mass. — Ryan Lineham might be finding his groove at just the right time in the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman. After quite the up and down summer, Lineham rocketed back to Victory Lane on Saturday night in the Division III NASCAR class with just three weeks remaining in the regular season, taking the No. 19 to the front. Adam Pettey followed up his recent first win of the season with a second-place finish, while Randy Moretti was back on the podium in third. Defending division champion Craig Pianka and Colby Lambert followed in fourth and fifth after 25 laps. All but Pianka inside the top-five on Saturday now have won during the 2023 season. Steve Axon was sixth, with Don Perry, Doug Benoit, Ed Perry and Rob Kohler finishing out the top-10. The battle for the eighth and final spot to advance to September’s Sunoco Drive For The Cup, which will decide the 2023 track champion, continues to heat up with now just two races remaining before the cutoff. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman will return to the track for the finale of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series on Saturday, August 19, with another 35-lap feature. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates. SEEKONK, Mass. — Saturday’s 45-lap finale of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series for the Late Model division had two different winners celebrating when the race ended. Chase Belcher crossed the line out front after the checkered flag, but didn’t make it through post-race inspection in his No. 35. That meant second-place finisher Vinnie Arrenegado inherited another feature win on the 2023 season. Connor Souza finished in the second spot, with Luke LeBrun in third. It was LeBrun clinching the 2023 Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series title in the division with his podium finish. With multiple wins and now a Triple Crown title, LeBrun is poised to chase the championship during the month of September. Ryan Vanasse and Jacob Burns finished fourth and fifth. Tyler Tomassi, Mark Jenison, Scott Serydynski Jr. and Richie Murray followed. Behind them, Charlie Rose finished off the top-10. The Late Models will be back on the track on Saturday, August 26 for the final race of the regular season, set for 30 laps. The division will be off next week, but many of the regulars will run with the American-Canadian Tour in the Spring Green 123 on August 19th. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media. SEEKONK, Mass. — After weeks and weeks of coming close, Mike Duarte might be heating up at just the right time in the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks. Duarte picked up his first win of the season on Saturday night, driving the No. 50 to the front and holding off a long list of challengers in the final laps to secure his first win of the season. Duarte was chased to the finish line by two-time season winner Jake Vanada and defending champion Rick Martin. Amy Arsenault and Ethan Heilborn weren’t far behind at the checkered flag and finished in fourth and fifth. The point standings, specifically around the cutline in the race towards the Sunoco Drive For The Cup, changed again on Saturday, with Bobby Tripp finishing 11th and Mike Cavallaro falling out early. The full point standings will be released on Monday with just two races remaining before the playoffs start on NASCAR Saturday. The Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks will return to the track for the finale of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series on Saturday, August 19, with another 35-lap feature. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates. Seekonk Speedway is pleased to announce that Race Director and former track champion Len Ellis has been honored by NASCAR and Advance Auto Parts for winning a special award. Ellis has been nominated one of the Advance Auto Parts Home Track Heroes for his efforts in short-track racing at Seekonk Speedway. As part of winning the award, Len’s name will be featured on Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Cup Series event at Texas Motor Speedway in September. Len will also receive a special Advance Auto Parts branded gift bag in the coming weeks. “This is a major honor for someone who really does deserve it,” David Alburn, General Manager at Seekonk Speedway, said. “Len embodies all of the characteristics you want in someone involved at the track. His dedication to racing for all of these years in many different areas is incredible and we’re happy to have him part of the Seekonk Speedway family.” As a Wall of Fame member at Seekonk, Len started winning races in the 1970s and has been a major part of the Seekonk Speedway community for many years. Len is the current Race Director for the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series divisions and the Seekonk Youth Racing Bandoleros. Ellis won two championships as a driver in Seekonk’s Pro Stock division. After driving, Ellis became a winning car owner, then started helping youth through his son, Tommy. Tommy eventually worked his way up and was the champion car chief of NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano in 2022. Ellis returned to the track an an official in 2015. He began working with Seekonk’s youth (ages 8-16), teaching them the ropes of racing. He serves as their mentor and assists them with learning the track, cars and race craft. He also assists in teaching sportsmanship and how to be a positive member of the community. Often, Seekonk’s youth racers make their mark in the Friday divisions & end up racing on NASCAR Saturdays and on touring series, regionally and nationally. The impact Len Ellis has on our future NASCAR stars at is immeasurable. Ellis is one of the most genuine people in the pit area - always looking for ways to help the competitors & see the track thrive. He’s often found attending driver fundraisers in the offseason, assisting with setup advice on cars and chatting with everyone at the track before and after the races. He enjoys the aspects of short-track racing Seekonk Speedway has to offer. Len Ellis is Seekonk Speedway’s home track hero. From driver to official, to mentor, to friend, Ellis is a true Seekonk Speedway community member, and the track would not be where it is today without him. Seekonk Speedway congratulates Len for this great award and we look forward to having him around the track for many years to come! |
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