SATURDAY PLAYOFF UPDATE: Just Two Races Left in Regular Season

The Seekonk Speedway regular season is down to the final two weeks on both Fast Friday and NASCAR Saturday, and that means it’s going to get even more interesting around the playoff cutlines. Remember, the Bandolero divisions on Friday have six drivers advancing to the playoffs, while all other divisions have the top-eight in points at the end of the regular season advancing.


Let’s take a look at the NASCAR Saturday cutline battles heading into this Saturday, August 19.


PRO STOCKS


With Dave Darling done racing in 2023, the Pro Stock race just got a lot more interesting. Dylan Estrella and Mike Brightman show the way in the points, with Darling sitting third, currently 34 points ahead of the final spot (eighth) with two races remaining.


While not planning to run a race, he’s still in a weird spot where he could make the playoffs. But now, the drivers just outside the top-eight have a shot to have two solid weeks and jump in.


Mark Jenison is fourth, with recent winner Bobby Pelland fifth, Dick Benoit, Rick Martin and Tom Scully Jr. currently rounding out the top-8. As it looks right now, Scully is 25 points ahead of Mike Rotondo, who is the first car out. Scully is feeling good about it, especially since Darling is in front of him, and going to fall below him within the next two weeks.


Mike Rotondo, a rookie contender in the famed Rollie Lindblad No. 48, is 59 points behind Darling. That means he needs to earn at least 60 points in the next two races, an average of 30 per week, to get by Darling and advance. With what he has done this season so far, it's certainly more than likely.


Rotondo is also only 25 behind Scully, and if Scully stumbles, could find his way into the playoffs that way. In the end, as long as Scully and Rotondo have two solid weeks of points, they should both advance and Darling should end up knocked out. But will that happen?


And then, you have former Late Model champion Tommy Adams lurking in 10th… will he somehow be a factor?


3 Dave Darling - 284 points
4 Mark Jenison - 281 points
5 Bobby Pelland - 276 points
6 Dick Benoit - 271 points
7 Rick Martin - 269 points
8 Tom Scully Jr - 250 points
ONLY DRIVERS 8th OR HIGHER ADVANCE
9 Mike Rotondo - 225 points
10 Tommy Adams - 205 points


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LATE MODELS


The Late Models are the only of Seekonk’s nine divisions in a spot where they only have ONE race left before the playoffs begin. With the ACT Tour in town this Saturday, August 19, the Late Models are off and that means they have one 30-lap feature remaining next Saturday, August 26.


The battle for the top-eight is the tightest in this division. Luke LeBrun, Jacob Burns, Vinnie Arrenegado and Mark Jenison are mathematically locked into the playoffs in positions 1-4 in the current standings. 


In fifth, Charlie Rose is just 23 points ahead of the cutline, with Chase Belcher now sixth, 21 points up after winning last week, but ending up with no points after failing post-race inspection. Tyler Tomassi had a top-10 finish last week to put himself in seventh, currently 7 points ahead of the cutline. It’s Connor Souza, who finished second last week, who is eight points ahead for the final spot.


Just outside, Richie Murray, who missed one race in the middle of the summer, is just eight points out heading into the final chance. Bill Goodrow is just nine points behind Souza for the final spot. Scott Serydynski Jr., a Rookie of the Year contender like Souza, is just 21 points out himself.


The Late Model race is going right down to the final laps on August 26, there is no doubt about it.


5 Charlie Rose - 308 points
6 Chase Belcher - 306 points
7 Tyler Tomassi - 292 points
8 Connor Souza - 285 points
ONLY DRIVERS 8th OR HIGHER ADVANCE
9 Richie Murray - 278 points
10 Bill Goodrow - 277 points
11 Scott Serydynski Jr. - 264 points


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SPORTSMAN


With consistency and one feature win this season, Adam Pettey is the only driver in the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman ready to battle in the playoffs and already locked in with two races remaining.


Behind Pettey, Steve Axon, Colby Lambert, Craig Pianka and Chad Baxter are all feeling good in positions two through five in the point standings. Baxter, a former champion, is 48 points up from the cutline.


Randy Moretti is behind him in sixth, 38 points ahead himself, while most recent winner Ryan Lineham opened his gap a bit to the cutline and is seventh, now 18 points up. In the final spot is Don Perry, with 245 points. 

Ed Perry is first out, but lost ground last week, now 26 points back in ninth. Jimmy Silvia follows him, 28 points back, while Tyler Almeida is now 11th, 31 points out. 


If Lineham and Perry put together two solid weeks, it’s likely the field for the Sportsman playoffs is set. But, with the car counts high and points up for grabs with 20 or more cars each week, this could change in the blink of an eye. This Saturday, the Sportsman are back on track in the finale of the Everett’s Triple Crown, set for 35 laps. 


7 Ryan Lineham - 263 points
8 Don Perry - 245 points
ONLY DRIVERS 8th OR HIGHER ADVANCE
9 Ed Perry - 219 points
10 Jimmy Silvia - 217 points
11 Tyler Almeida - 214 points


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SPORT TRUCKS


With the final laps of the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks regular season closing in, beginning with the finale of the Everett’s Triple Crown set for 35 laps this week, look out. This division is another of the tightest at Seekonk Speedway as the end of August draws closer.


Rick Martin, Jake Vanada, Mike Duarte, Brittany Campbell and Amy Arsenault are all feeling good heading into the final two weeks in the top-five in points. Arsenault is 44 points up on the eighth and final spot.


Behind her, Mike Cavallaro is next in sixth, but just 10 points up on the final spot. Darryl Church had a tough week last week and is now seventh, just eight ahead of the final spot. Right now, Bobby Tripp continues to hold the final spot - by 20 points on Tom Scully III.


Scully will need some strong runs to get in, with Ethan Heilborn also right behind him. Heilborn is only 22 points back of eighth.


6 Mike Cavallaro - 277 points
7 Darryl Church - 275 points
8 Bobby Tripp - 267 points
ONLY DRIVERS 8th OR HIGHER ADVANCE
9 Tom Scully III - 247 points
10 Ethan Heilborn - 245 points 


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Seekonk Speedway’s regular season concludes for NASCAR Saturday divisions on Saturday, August 19 and Saturday, August 26. The American-Canadian Tour is in town on the 19th, meaning the Late Models only have the race on the 26th to decide their playoff contenders.


To purchase tickets to all remaining 2023 events and find out more information, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com. Don’t forget to also follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates.

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