​EVERETT’S AUTO PARTS TRIPLE CROWN, SPECTATOR DRAGS KICK-OFF THIS SATURDAY AT SEEKONK SPEEDWAY

Coming off a rainout last week, Seekonk Speedway will roar back to life for the first NASCAR Saturday racing of the season this Saturday night, May 14. The night will include five divisions of racing on the card, including the kick-off of the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series and the Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags.

Tickets are available in advance for the first Saturday race of the year by visiting SeekonkSpeedway.com, where fans can grab their general admission passes and skip the line on race day. Fans, teams and drivers can also purchase pit passes ahead online to skip the line.

The Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series, newly sponsored by Everett’s Auto Parts, will debut for the new year with the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks and Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman in a double-dip of extra-distance racing. The Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks will compete in a 35-lap feature in their second race of the season, with 10 extra laps to let it go down. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman will also run for 35 laps. 

The Triple Crown format will be similar to past years, with the winner of the first race, winner of the second race and the top two points drivers between the first two events making up the Final Four into the Triple Crown championship weekend in August. On that night, whichever of the four drivers finishes ahead of the other will win the Triple Crown.

The Sport Trucks roll into race two with Amy Arsenault looking to rebound and get back on track. The driver of the No. 9 Truck led 23 of the 25 laps on opening day, but a mechanical failure while in the lead ended her day just short of Victory Lane. When she hit the sidelines, former champion Mike Cavallaro blasted through and opened the year with a win. Additional contenders will include Rick Martin, Mike Duarte, opening day runner-up Brittany Campbell, Jake Vanada and others in the extra-distance feature.

The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman went into the season knowing they were chasing defending champion Chad Baxter, but “Captain Fun” Craig Pianka made sure to grab the first trophy. Pianka won the opening 25-lap race of the year and showed the speed under the hood he needs to be a contender. Names like Baxter, Ed Perry, Steve Axon and more will be looking to visit Victory Lane for the first time in 2022 this Saturday night.


The Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags also debut for the 2022 season on Saturday night. Coming off a successful 2021 campaign, many of the same drivers will be back to battle for the crown in their 10-race schedule, which includes multiple NASCAR Saturday nights and Thrill Show races. Defending champion John Fielding will be closely chased by former champion Jonathon Johnson, Rob Gingras and more in their events, which will take place just before qualifying heats.

The Late Model division is chasing sophomore contender Richie Murray through the first week, as the driver of the No. 08, a third-generation racer, picked up his first career win on opening day. Leading into week two, there are multiple top contenders who need to rebound, including defending champion Vinnie Arrenegado, Chase Belcher, Gerry DeGasparre Jr. and more. All of them had some speed in the opener, but their standards are top-five finishes — and they will be looking to get to where they want to be in the 30-lap Late Model feature.

The Pro Stock division had one of the wildest races in recent memory in their first event of 2022, and if it was any indication of what is ahead, it could be a crazy year. “Mighty" Mike Brightman pocketed the first win of the year after spinning early and hanging on late, while former champion Kenny Spencer made his early season mark, finishing second on opening day. It won’t be long before Dave Darling returns to the track, or Tom Scully Jr., who was involved in a wreck early and didn’t finish race one. Tommy Adams, a former Late Model champion moving to the Pro Stocks this year, also showed plenty of speed last weekend. 

NASCAR Saturday night racing at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday, May 14 will begin with the drop of the first green flag at 6 p.m. General admission gates will open at 4 p.m., and although tickets are available in advance, they will also be available at the gate on race day. Tickets are $15 for adults and kids 12 and under and parking is free.

For more information on Seekonk Speedway including to purchase tickets and learn more about the 2022 track schedule, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates.