FAST FRIDAY PLAYOFF FIELDS TO BE SET AT CONCLUSION OF AUGUST 25

When the final race of the regular season is complete on Friday, August 25 at Seekonk Speedway for the Fast Friday divisions, the fields for the Sunoco Drive For The Cup will be set. Entering Friday’s racing, there are a few battles that show tight racing at the cutline. Both Bandolero divisions will advance six drivers to the playoffs, while the rest of the Seekonk classes will advance eight.



There is also a chance for drivers who are outside the playoff bubble to advance. If a driver has competed in all of the races in their respective division this season, and they win on Friday night, they will advance and add a car to the playoffs.

Let’s take a look at where each division stands, and which drivers are eligible for the win and you’re in policy, heading to Friday.


BANDOLERO BANDITS


The battle for the final spot in the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits appears done. Ryder Aguiar leads Luka Dib by 32 points heading to the final race of the regular season. With only 10 or so Bandolero Bandits on the track every week, unless the car count drastically increases this week, the chances for Dib to advance will be eliminated.


However, he is the only driver in the Bandits who would advance if they grab a feature win. Right now, it looks like Nick Uhrig Jr., Sam Macedo, Parker Davis, Mike Hanafin, Mason Silva and Ryder Aguiar will decide the 2023 track championship in September's Sunoco Drive For The Cup.


BANDOLERO OUTLAWS


Unlike the Bandolero Bandits, the Outlaws will go down to the final laps to decide the final playoff spot. The top-five drivers are all but locked in: Ryan Vanasse Jr., Bryson Robidoux, Andrew Gomes, Brent Robidoux and Collin Vanasse.


Zachary Keith holds the sixth and final spot entering this week by 16 points over Dylan Calabro. That’s a total of eight positions on the track - a gap Calabaro could certainly overcome in a field that is in the double-digits weekly.


If he can’t get in on points, Calabaro is on the list of drivers who can win and get in. He is joined on that list by Mikey LeFort III, Jordan Duquette, Zacarias Kelley and Abbie Badejo.


Is this one division we could see someone sneak in with a seventh entry in the Sunoco Drive For The Cup by winning the final regular season race? 


SPORT 4’s


The battle for the Sport 4 playoffs is going right down to the final lap of the regular season. Right now, Daniel Hayes holds the final spot - but is just four points ahead of Justin Leduc for it. Leduc has been coming on strong in the second half of the season, winning during the summer. He will need to beat Hayes by two spots on the track to advance.


Christine Cavallaro is ahead of them in seventh spot, and 22 points ahead of the cutline, 11 positions on the track. She feels comfortable going into the regular season finale.


In this division, Andrew Rittman-McLaughlin and  James Sullivan would advance to the playoffs if they win Friday's 25-lap feature.


7 Christine Cavallaro - 392 points 
8 Daniel Hayes - 370 points
9 Justin Leduc - 366 points


PURE STOCKS


The only way for a driver currently outside the top-eight in the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Pure Stock points is to win and get in, if they are eligible. Greg Perry holds the final spot by 50 points over Don Courtemanche, which is the maximum amount you can gain in one night. Even if Perry didn’t race and Don won, Perry would win the tiebreaker with two feature wins on the season and would advance.


For Courtemanche, his only shot to advance is to score his first career win in Friday’s 25-lap feature. Otherwise, the field is set: Scott Cestodio, Ethan Souza, Danny Massa, Mike Henriques, Sam Lincoln, Jared Cordeira, Timmy Ouellette and Greg Perry.


LEGENDS CARS


The Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars top-seven drivers entering Friday night are locked in. Jacob Burns, Isaiah Newcomb, Richie Helger Jr., Nicholaus Bulkeley, Mason Tessier, Brendan LaBelle and Josh Parsons are racing for the championship next month.


In the final spot right now is Chase Silvia. He leads over Kevin Davis by 24 points, which is 12 positions on the track. With the car count over 15 weekly, it’s certainly possible for Davis to advance. However, with the consistency Silvia has shown during his rookie season, another solid run this Friday will help him clinch his spot to battle for the title in the Sunoco Drive For The Cup.


In the Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars, Stephen Bowden and Jaden Hamilton enter Friday in a situation where if they win the race, they are in the playoffs as a ninth-car.


The finale of the Fast Friday regular season is set for Friday, August 25 at 7 p.m. 


In the event of inclement weather, the playoff fields are locked in based on current points. Fans can purchase tickets at SeekonkSpeedway.com, cheaper than the gates on race day and can also skip the lines with online tickets. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit the track website and social media channels.