SPORTSMAN, LATE MODEL PLAYOFF CUTLINE BATTLES TIGHT HEADING INTO REGULAR SEASON FINALE

SEEKONK, Mass. -- The story going into the final races of the regular season on NASCAR Saturday this weekend (August 24) will not only include the battle for race wins, but also the battle for the bonus points going into the playoff for the points leader at the end of the night, and the cutoff for who advances to battle for the championship, and who misses out. The driver who leads the points at the end of the night will earn three bonus points towards the playoffs. The top-six in each division in general will advance.

Helger’s Sportsman competition has just two drivers locked in going into the weekend. Leader Colby Lambert and Adam Pettey will battle for the championship this year, and Lambert has already earned himself the 3 bonus points. Josh Hedges is third with 355, while Tyler Almeida is fourth with 352 and Jimmy “Pepe” Silvia in fifth with 335. Scott Serydynski Jr. holds the final spot with 331, but is TIED with Doug Benoit. The tiebreaker is wins - and Serydynski has one so far this season, while Benoit has yet to get to Victory Lane. A tie for the final spot going into Saturday’s 25-lap feature?! Look out, this one is going to be good! The drivers just above the cutline, like Silvia, are not out of the woods, either. The Sportsman go for 25 exciting laps again this week.

3. Josh Hedges - 355 points
4. Tyler Almeida - 352 points
5. Jimmy “Pepe” Silvia - 335 points
6. Scott Serydynski Jr. - 331 points
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7. Doug Benoit — TIED FOR CUTLINE

The Late Model championship battle going into the final weekend of the regular season only sees two drivers locked in. Charlie Rose leads Jacob Burns by 14 points at the top, chasing the bonus points. Both of those drivers are the only two currently locked in. In third, after two strong weeks, Connor Souza has 383 points, while Chase Belcher is fourth with 380 and Richie Murray fifth with 377. Right now, former champion Mark Jenison holds the final spot, leading by just seven points over Luke Lebrun, who had mechanical trouble last week. Rookie of the Year contender Andrew Gomes still has a shot to get in as well - just 22 points from the cut. Expect Lebrun to rebound from a tough night last week and try to shove his way back in. The Late Model battle will go down to the wire in their 30-lap feature.

3. Connor Souza - 383 points
4. Chase Belcher - 380 points
5. Richie Murray - 377 points
6. Mark Jenison - 369 points
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7. Luke Lebrun -7 points from cutline
8. Andrew Gomes -22 points from cutline

The story in the Chaz’s Auto Body Sport Trucks going into Saturday’s 25-lap feature sees Mike Duarte leading Rick Martin by 16 points for the bonus points at the top. Martin has 418, while Tim Bolger Jr in third has 410. All three of them are locked in as they run. Jake Vanada (399), Amy Arsenault (391) and Mike Cavallaro (380) round out the field as they run. Cavallaro had a few strong weeks to pad a bit of an advantage over the rest of the competition. However, Darryl Church in seventh is only 27 points back, while DJ Thibeault is 33 points out. This one will also go right down to the end of the 25-lap feature on Saturday night.

4. Jake Vanada - 399 points
5. Amy Arsenault - 391 points
6. Mike Cavallaro - 380 points
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7. Darryl Church -27 points from cutline
8. DJ Thibeault -33 points from cutline

The Pro Stock championship field is pretty much set. Locked in, Bobby Pelland III, Vinnie Arrenegado, Mark Jenison, Dylan Estrella and Colbey Fournier will all advance. In the final spot right now is Mike Brightman, who holds a lead of 26 points over Dick Benoit. With a solid night on Saturday, Brightman will advance to contend with the other five to battle for the championship. However, Benoit will go down swinging. Pelland leads Arrenegado by eight and Jenison by 23 for the bonus points at the top of the standings. The Pro Stocks will go for 40 laps this Saturday night.

5. Colbey Fournier - 333 points
6. Mike Brightman - 311 points
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7. Dick Benoit -26 points from cutline

A full schedule for racing this NASCAR Saturday, August 24, can be found online at SeekonkSpeedway.com under the race day info tab. For more information and tickets to upcoming events at Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest news and updates.