SEEKONK, Mass. — Seekonk Speedway helps officially kick-off the summer with a full weekend doubleheader this Friday and Saturday as part of Memorial Day celebrations. On Friday, Fast Friday hits the track for the first time in 2023 with their season-opener, while Saturday, the Memorial Day Thrill Show hits the track with the spills and thrills of summer fun at the Action Track of the East. Friday’s season-opener begins with the first green flag at 7 p.m., while Saturday, the Memorial Day Thrill Show begins at 5 p.m.



Fast Friday includes the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits and Outlaws, the Sport 4’s, Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Pure Stocks and Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars. In nearly all of the divisions, Seekonk is almost guaranteed a different champion for 2023.


Defending Bandit champion Sam Macedo and Sport 4 champion Crystal Murray are the only two on Fast Friday who will attempt to defend their crown. Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Outlaw champion Bradley Strickland, Pure Stock champion Jeremy Lambert and Legend Cars champion Devin Deshaies, all from 2022, have all moved in directions for the new season. 


Macedo and Murray will have their work cut out for them as the top challengers in their divisions look to knock them off the top in the second annual Sunoco Drive For The Cup. Their seasons begin Friday with 15 laps in the Bandits and 25 laps in the Sport 4's.


The Pure Stocks and Legends Cars, both set for 25 lap races weekly, will have a mix of veteran challengers looking to get back to Victory Lane with rising stars looking to make a name for themselves. In the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero divisions, the youth of Seekonk Speedway will be showcased. Fast Friday championship racing begins this week and rolls through championship night in the Drive For The Cup on September 29. All of the action begins weekly at 7 p.m. 


The Memorial Day Thrill Show will include the first races of the season for the East Coast Towing Spectator Drag Series, after their opener was rained out last week. The Thrill Show will also include the Insane Chain Race, Crazy Figure 8 Races, Car & Truck Enduro Races, Car & Truck Enduro Drags and the Powder Puff Races.


Tickets for Saturday are $25 online now as part of a pre-sale. At the gate, tickets will be $28 for adults. Youth are $12 online now (6-12), and will be $15 at the gates. Kids five and under and parking are free at Seekonk Speedway. Front grandstand gates will open at 2:30PM for advanced ticket holders and 3PM for those who purchase on race day. The rain date for this show if needed is Sunday, May 28.


Tickets for all events are available today at SeekonkSpeedway.com — including Fast Friday, NASCAR Saturday, Thrill Shows and major events. Fans are encouraged to purchase ahead and save not only time, but money, as tickets online are a bit cheaper than they will be at the gates, and online ticket holders may enter the grandstands before those who buy at the track on race day.


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

SEEKONK, Mass. – Picking a champion in the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Pure Stocks for 2023 is going to be a tough task. In fact, even picking a race winner for this division is going to be difficult. As of the season preview, over 30 drivers have filed their registration to compete in this exciting class, which runs at least 25 laps weekly, sometimes 30.



The defending Pure Stock champion is Jeremy Lambert, but he isn’t planning on defending the crown. Instead, he’s tabbed a veteran and champion of the division from many years ago – Scott Cestodio – to drive the No. 15 with a shot at the title in 2023. Cestodio may not have run in the division for years, but he’s expected to be fast right out of the gate and contend for wins weekly.


He’s joined as title contenders with names like Greg Perry, Mike Henriques, Ethan Souza, Sam Lincoln, Danny Massa and others. Perry is a former division champion and wins at least one or two races a year, while Henriques had arguably his best season in 2022 and will look to build on that in 2023. Souza and Lincoln are some of the youngest, but fastest drivers in the division. Souza is a former winner with a new body and paint scheme for this season, while Lincoln is the defending champion of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series and looks to add the overall track title to his resume this year. Danny Massa was the clear favorite for much of last year, and even though it didn’t work out his way in the playoffs, look out for Massa to be on a revenge tour during the 2023 campaign and win often.


Additional names to watch in this division include Nick Brightman, Ed Gould, Billy Chouinard, Jared Cordeia, Matthew Talbot, Rob Hendrickson, Emily Brightman, Timmy Ouellette and more. Each of them have their own unique story behind them. Nick Brightman picked up his first career win last season and ran strong, while Gould and Chouinard are division regulars for years. Cordeira had what was definitely his best season in 2022, while Talbot, Hendrickson and Emily Brightman enter the new season looking for their first career victories. Ouellette, a graduate of Seekonk’s Youth Racing Association, looks to make a name for himself in a big way in the Pure Stocks this year after a few years of getting some experience. 


Fans can also look out for Justin Rioux, Michael Marcou, Bobby Bettencourt III, Donald Courtemanche and many others during the season. Additional registrations continued to pour in for this growing division, now running on race tires.


The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Pure Stocks will hit the track for the first time in 2023 on Friday, May 26 for opening night and will roll through Friday, September 29 for championship night in the Sunoco Drive For The Cup. The only Fast Friday off will be June 30. 


For more information on Seekonk Speedway, fans are encouraged to visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates, including from the track on race day.

SEEKONK, Mass. – As the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits roll into 2023, this class will continue to see the evolution of drivers who are going to be the next major contenders at Seekonk Speedway well into the future. Drivers who graduate from the Seekonk Youth Racing Association often end up in the NASCAR Saturday classes, but they start right here on Fast Friday.



For 2023, the Bandolero Bandit field looks to be another one of drivers looking to get their feet wet and make their marks – but also includes a few polished “veterans” in Bandoleros compared to their challengers.


Drivers registered with experience include Luka Dib, Nick Uhrig Jr., Parker Davis, Sam Macedo and Mike Hanafin. Experience levels are different between them – only Macedo has feature wins. He picked up countless in a row two years ago and the “Green Hornet” is the defending champion of the Bandit division as well. If it’s up to him, winning the title will go through the green No. 16 again in 2023.


Uhrig is definitely going to win this year – you can nearly count on it. He picked up his first career podium in 2022 and has the speed under the hood to get the job done. With a little bit of lady luck and continued experience, Uhrig will park in Victory Lane before long this season. Parker Davis, Dib and Hanafin enter the season all looking for their first career wins as drivers with at least some experience under their belts.


And as always, the division will also have some Rookie talent making their first laps at Seekonk. As of the preview, Jase Chaber, Ryder Aguiar, Carl Satterlund Jr. and Mason Silva will be on that list, potentially with more competitors.


The Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits will hit the track for the first time in 2023 on Friday, May 26 for opening night and will roll through Friday, September 29 for championship night in the Sunoco Drive For The Cup. The only Fast Friday off will be June 30. 


For more information on Seekonk Speedway, fans are encouraged to visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates, including from the track on race day.

SEEKONK, Mass. – It’s no secret as the 2023 season begins for the Sport 4 division on Fast Friday that Crystal Murray will be one of the many cars to contend with for wins. Murray won a handful of races last year including on the final night of the Sunoco Drive For The Cup, adding her name to the list of Murray champions in Seekonk Speedway history. As she enters 2023, the driver of the No. 38 is listed as the favorite to repeat for the crown – but will have a strong group of drivers trying to make sure it doesn’t happen.



First up on the list of drivers to watch is Tyler Duhancik. Registered to again compete in the No. 48, Tyler, working out of the Phil’s Propane stable, has a new car for himself for 2023. He picked up victories the last few years and seems to have the speed to contend to get the job done. Will this be his year to compete at a high-level and potentially run for the title?


Fresh off his best season in over a decade, Henry Lavallee returns to Seekonk Speedway this year looking to pounce on the championship. He won more than once last season and had speed to run consistently inside the top-five. If Lavallee can show up with that speed and make it to the Final Four again in the playoffs, he could be looking at sealing a championship. 


Don’t forget about Jarrod Freitas, who scored his first victory in 2022, and will be looking to get more and contend for the title this season.


Names like Sam Mattera, Taylor Bowser, Daniel Hayes, Matt Pion and DJ Thibeault are also some returning drivers with experience. Mattera is a former winner, while Bowser will continue to seek her first checkered flag in 2023, after grabbing a podium last year. DJ Thibeault continues to gain experience, along with Hayes, and will both be trying for their first victories. Pion has run in the division on and off for a few years.


Additional names to watch in this division include Jacob Budzyna, Justin Leduc, James Sullivan, Richie Johnson, Andrew Rittman-McLaughlin, Joseph Mello Sr. and Jr., Christine Cavallaro and more. All of the drivers will hope to visit Victory lane during the busy summer season, along with others.


The Sport 4’s will hit the track for the first time in 2023 on Friday, May 26 for opening night and will roll through Friday, September 29 for championship night in the Sunoco Drive For The Cup. The only Fast Friday off will be June 30. 


For more information on Seekonk Speedway, fans are encouraged to visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates, including from the track on race day.

SEEKONK, Mass. – If you’re planning on picking a favorite in the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Outlaw division in 2023 at Seekonk Speedway, goodluck. This division includes some of the top youth racing talent Seekonk has ever seen all in the same class, and may have up to 16 or more cars on some weeks racing for feature wins.



Ryan Vanasse Jr., Andrew Gomes, Mikey LeFort III, Brent Robidoux and Collin Vanasse appear to be some of the favorites you could consider. Gomes went to Victory lane multiple times in 2022 and came up just short of winning the track championship. He’s clearly the most winning experienced in the division, along with Brent Robidoux. 


Speaking of Robidoux, this rising star looks to burst into championship form in 2023. After a few years of winning races, he seems primed and ready to contend for a crown. After making the Final Four in the Bandolero Bandits last year, Ryan Vanasse Jr. moves up and should be a contender right from lap one. His cousin, Collin Vanasse, will look for his first career track win, as he moves up from the Bandits as well. LeFort III, inside the Helger’s Racing stable, is surely going to have the speed to contend for his own first victory as he moves up to the next level.


Additional names to watch include Jordan Duquette, Brody Wakefield, Nathan Rioux and RJ Murphy. All of these drivers have at least one year of experience in Bandolero racing under their belts and should be contenders up near the front. They are joined by names like Abbie Badejo, Brady Connors, Zacarias Kelley, Nicholas Saman, Colin Floyd, Zachary Keith and Dylan Calabro. 


This is going to be one division that will see continued growth throughout the season and likely multiple different winners, and maybe even some new names jumping in during the year.


The Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Outlaws will hit the track for the first time in 2023 on Friday, May 26 for opening night and will roll through Friday, September 29 for championship night in the Sunoco Drive For The Cup. The only Fast Friday off will be June 30. 


For more information on Seekonk Speedway, fans are encouraged to visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates, including from the track on race day.

SEEKONK, Mass. — Jacob “Rowdy” Burns had all sorts of struggles in the opening day feature for the Late Models at Seekonk Speedway, but week two was a different story. Burns battled seven-time division champion Gerry DeGasparre Jr. hard for the lead early in the race, and then when DeGasparre had problems, Burns wasn’t going to be denied.


He drove the No. 30 to Victory Lane in dominating fashion in the final laps, as the rising star pulled away from a side-by-side battle between Mark Jenison and Chase Belcher for second in the final circuits. Jenison would get the better of Belcher, with Chase following close behind in third at the end of 30 laps.


Vinnie Arrenegado raced from his eighth-place starting spot after winning on opening day to finish in fourth, while pole sitter Connor Souza hung on for a top-five finish. Luke Lebrun was sixth, followed by Richie Murray, Charlie Rose, Corey Fanning and Kevin Bowe.


The Late Models will return to the track on Saturday, May 20 with another 30-lap feature. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates.

 In just his second race back at Seekonk Speedway, Dylan Estrella is already in Victory Lane. The driver of the Everett’s Auto Parts No. 46 Pro Stock held off a fierce charge from former division champion Kenny Spencer and others to win Saturday’s 40-lap feature — the first under the lights event of the Pro Stock season. 


Estrella and Spencer traded the lead back and forth for much of the middle portion of the event. It seemed as if whoever was on the outside lane had the advantage on restarts. In the final 15 circuits, Spencer got loose racing under Estrella for the lead going into turn one, and spun off turn two. From there, Estrella would drive off unchallenged in the final stint to rocket to victory.


No stranger to winning at Seekonk in his career, as a graduate of the Seekonk Youth Racing Association, Estrella went touring for a few years, and is now back to compete in Seekonk’s top class. Mark Jenison charged to the front in the second half of the race, finishing second, while Rick Martin also made a late dash to the front to finish in third. Tommy Adams and Bobby Pelland finished the top-five. 


Danny Thibeault was sixth, while Spencer, Mike Rotondo, Jerammee Lillie and Tom Scully Jr finished the top-10. The Pro Stocks will return to the track on Saturday, May 20 with another 40-lap feature. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates.

Steve Axon had just about the worst opening day you could have at Seekonk Speedway this year, but he turned it around in a big way on Saturday night. Axon used the outside lane early in the 25-lap feature to pass for the lead and pick up the feature win in the second race of the season for the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman division.



On opening day, Axon had a motor failure under the hood, in a wreck that collected multiple cars due to oil on the track. In week two, after a lot of hard work by the crew to get a new motor under the hood, Axon was the dominant force, as the former division champion was not going to be denied in his quest to victory.


A late caution had plans to mess up the night for Axon, but it worked out for him to get the win, as he drove away on the final green flag stint. Adam Pettey charged through the pack to finish second, with opening day winner Ryan Lineham also working his way through to finish third. Colby Lambert and Chris Gomes followed to finish in the fourth and fifth spots.


Craig Pianka was sixth, followed by Chad Baxter, Doug Benoit, Chris Rioux and Ed Perry.


The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman will return to the track on Saturday, May 20 with another 25-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. — Mike Brightman kicked-off the 2023 season on Sunday at Seekonk Speedway the same way he did 2022 — in Victory Lane. Brightman dashed away from the field to win the opener of the Pro Stock season, scoring victory in the 40-lap feature in dominating fashion.


Early, Brightman passed polesitter Colbey Fournier for the top spot, then had to fend-off Dylan Estrella for much of the middle of the race. Estrella and Brightman raced hard for the top spot, neither giving an inch. Brightman would prevail early, then Estrella spun off turn two later, sending him to the tail of the field. 


Dave Darling and Rick Martin battled hard in the final laps, while Brightman drove away to victory. Martin scored second, with Darling in third. Defending division champion Mark Jenison finished fourth and Bobby Pelland was fifth. After post-race inspection, Dick Benoit moved to fifth, as Pelland didn’t pass. Dylan Estrella finished sixth, followed by Tom Scully Jr., Tommy Adams, Colbey Fournier and Mike Mitchell.


The Pro Stocks will return to the track for another 40-lap feature as part of Saturday night NASCAR racing on May 13. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com.