MULTIPLE TIES IN NASCAR SATURDAY PLAYOFF CUTLINE BATTLES HEADING FOR ELIMINATION NIGHT

SEEKONK, Mass. — As Seekonk Speedway hits the final two weekends of the short-track racing season for NASCAR Saturday, racing on September 21 will determine the Final Four who will compete for the title in each division. As the Sunoco Drive For The Cup revs up, after feature event racing this week, four drivers will have the right to contend for the title, while two in each division will go home hoping for another shot next year. 


Based on playoff points, in the Pro Stocks, Dylan Estrella has already locked himself into the Final Four with two strong runs in the first two weeks of the playoffs. This leaves three spots open. Right now, there is a three-way tie for second, third and fourth. Leading the tie is Bobby Pelland III, while Rookie of the Year driver Vinnie Arrenegado and Mike Brightman are also currently positioned inside the Final Four. With some work to do, two-time and defending Pro Stock champion Mark Jenison will need a really strong night and someone in front of him to fall. The three drivers are tied with nine points, while Jenison has just five. Can Jension work his way in? And, if he does, who ends up out?


In the Late Models, the battle is much tighter. Charlie Rose and Jacob “Rowdy” Burns opened the playoffs with two fantastic weeks. Burns won both races and Rose finished strong in each. These two drivers are locked into the Final Four on playoff points, leaving just two spots open for the other four drivers to race for this week. Chase Belcher has eight points, while Luke Lebrun and Richie Murray are tied for the final spot with five playoff points. The tiebreaker to make the Final Four is the driver who has the highest season points total up to this point. The edge would go to Lebrun if Mother Nature got in the middle. Mark Jenison, a former Late Model champion, has just two points, but is only three back from the cutline, needing a strong night and a few above him to have trouble if he wants to find his way in. 


The Helger’s Sportsman field is also close. Similar to the Late Models, two drivers are nearly all but locked in. Colby Lambert is certainly a lock, with 14 playoff points, the most of anyone at Seekonk Speedway. He will race for the title on championship night, September 28. As long as Doug Benoit takes the green flag in the feature this week, he will also be locked in, as no one will be able to catch him. If for some reason he doesn’t, the door would be open for him to fall out. Scott Serydynski Jr. is third in playoff points, with slight breathing room over Adam Pettey. Serydynski has seven points, while Pettey, currently holding the final spot, has five. Pettey is ahead of a tie with Josh Hedges for the final spot because Pettey is higher in the entire season points total. Hedges still has a strong chance to compete for the crown, with Tyler Almeida sitting in the final spot with three points, needing a really strong week and some others to struggle.


In the Chaz’s Sport Trucks, there is also a tie for the Final Four spot. Locked in, Radical Rick Martin will chase a third straight Sport Truck title on September 28, after being the highest finishing playoff driver in the first two races of the playoffs. Mike Duarte, who earned the three bonus points for leading at the end of the regular season, is second in playoff points with nine, three up from the cut. Jake Vanada has eight, while Tim Bolger Jr. currently holds the final spot with six playoff points. Former champion Mike Cavallaro is tied with Bolger, but Bolger has the most points over the whole season, breaking the tie. Amy Arsenault also isn’t far out, with four points to her credit. The Chaz’s Sport Truck Final Four will definitely come down to the final lap of this week’s 30-lap feature. 


NASCAR Saturday racing begins at 6 p.m. on Friday night. Tickets are available online at SeekonkSpeedway.com. Fans are encouraged to visit the track's social media channels for the latest news and updates.

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