FAST FRIDAY, NASCAR SATURDAY BACK ON TRACK THIS WEEKEND WITH TRIPLE CROWN EVENTS

SEEKONK, Mass. — Mother Nature, please play nice. Seekonk Speedway will return to the track for another racing doubleheader this weekend, June 23 and 24, with Fast Friday and NASCAR Saturday ready to rock the third-mile. Both nights will include events in the Everett’s Auto Parts Triple Crown Series as the summer at Seekonk heats up, with one Triple Crown feature on Friday (Legends Cars) and two on NASCAR Saturday (Pro Stocks and Sport Trucks).


Saturday night is a full night. On top of the NASCAR Weekly Racing, the New England Antique Racers are in town for their annual appearance, while the track will also hold Military Night, Youth Sports Night and Scout Night this weekend. Due to Mother Nature, all of these exciting events are jammed into one night.


The Pro Stocks haven’t raced since the middle of May, mostly due to Mother Nature. This Saturday night, they are scheduled to return in a big way with 60 laps of racing action. Mike Brightman and Dylan Estrella won the first two events of the year in what feels like forever ago, but their extra-distance battle this Saturday night will bring all the stars together. Tommy Adams, Rick Martin, Mark Jenison, David Darling and others will battle for their first wins of the season in the special event, round one of three in the Triple Crown. It’s the first of two consecutive extra-distance races for the Pro Stocks, with the American Racer Pro Stock 75 set for July 1. 


Just a few weeks ago, Luke Lebrun dominated the first round of the Triple Crown Series in the Late Models, This Saturday night, the division returns for 30 laps of excitement with Lebrun, Vinnie Arrenegado and Jacob Burns as the three winners so far. Names like Chase Belcher, Richie Murray, Mark Jenison, Corey Fanning and others will be searching their first win of the year. In the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman, a thrilling finish to the most recent event saw Chad Baxter and Steve Axon inches apart, with Axon grabbing his second straight win on June 10. When they return on Saturday, Baxter looks to capture his first win of the year, but may have to fight off Adam Pettey, who is the only driver to grab a podium finish in all three of the first events of the year. 


The second round of the Everett’s Triple Crown Series is also on tap for the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks on Saturday night, 35 laps. Jake Vanada enters the race having won two in a row, but Rick Martin and Mike Duarte have been breathing down his neck. Amy Arsenault, Brittany Campbell and the remainder of the Truckers will battle with Vanada to chase the checkered flag on Saturday night in their extra-distance event. 


Fast Friday’s Triple Crown race is for the Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars, the final of the Fast Friday divisions to get their Triple Crown underway. Through the first three races, two different drivers have been to Victory Lane, but Brenden LaBelle is undefeated as a driver. He picked up his first career win in week one, skipped week two, then charged back to win again in week three. Last week, it looked like Mason Tessier was going to win, but he finished in fourth. Jacob Burns, Josh Parsons, Richie Helger Jr and others are off to strong starts on their 2023 campaign. 


Speaking of strong starts, Scott Cestodio has three wins in three weeks in the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Pure Stocks and has no shown no signs of slowing down. However, names like Ethan Souza, Danny Massa, Greg Perry, Mike Henriques, Sam Lincoln and others will look to challenge him again on Friday night for 25 laps.


The Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero divisions are also off to strong starts. Ryan Vanasse Jr. has two victories already in the Outlaws, while the Robidoux brothers, Brent and Bryson, have been impressive along with him. In the Bandits, Nick Uhrig Jr. picked up his first career win last week after Parker Davis won the first two events. Sam Macedo, the defending champion, has been strong early in the season as well.


The Sport 4 division watched Crystal Murray use the outside lane to pass five cars in front of her and take the lead and the win in their Triple Crown opener last week. Other winners on the season include Jarrod Freitas and Mikey LeFort. Will one of these three win in their 25-lapper this week or can someone else add their name and make it four different winners in four races?


Fast Friday racing begins at 7 p.m., while NASCAR Saturday kicks-off at 6 p.m. on Saturday night. Tickets for Fast Friday are $10 per person in advance or $13 on race day, while NASCAR Saturday tickets are $15 in advance or $18 at the gates. All tickets for all Seekonk Speedway 2023 events are available online today at SeekonkSpeedway.com. Fans are encouraged to use the online ticketing platform to skip the lines and save money. 


Upcoming, Seekonk Speedway holds Open Wheel Wednesday with a $10,000 to win Modified madness show with the Tri-Track Modifieds on Wednesday, June 28 — an event that also includes the NEMA Lites and 350 Supermodifieds. The track returns to NASCAR Saturday racing on July 1, and also has Fast Friday on July 7 and the July Independence Day Thrill Show on July 8. 


For more information on Seekonk Speedway, fans can visit the track online or on social media.