SUNOCO DRIVE FOR THE CUP BEGINS THIS WEEKEND AT SEEKONK SPEEDWAY!

SEEKONK, Mass. — It’s time to crown some champions.


Seekonk Speedway will kick-off the Sunoco Drive For The Cup this weekend, September 6-7, with both Fast Friday and NASCAR Saturday divisions beginning their true chase towards the championship. There are four events remaining for both nights of action, including this weekend. 


NASCAR Saturday also will be the annual First Responders Night at the races this weekend. All First Responders, Police, Fire and EMS receive complimentary admission as a thank you for your service to the community. Simply present your ID to the ticket windows to receive your complimentary admission. This offer is valid for General Admission tickets only on September 7, 2024.


The top-six drivers in the point standings in each division have advanced to the playoffs. In each division, the points leader at the end of the regular season earned three bonus points. They will enter as the leader of the pack with those 3 points, while the other five drivers will reset to zero points. Playoff drivers earn points based on their finish in the first three playoff events. The highest finishing playoff driver will earn 6 points in each feature, while the second highest earns 5, etc., down to 1. At the end of the first three weeks, the four drivers with the highest totals will advance into the Final Four. On championship night, the highest finishing of the four drivers in that specific event earns the championship. The Seekonk Speedway points grid will continue to also run normally though the rest of the season. The champion will finish first in the final points, but second place in the standings will be the driver who earned the most points over the whole season, if that driver is not the champion.


This weekend, the first of three weeks of points collection begins.


On Fast Friday, which begins at 7 p.m., the Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars, Helger’s Pure Stocks, Sport 4’s, Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits and Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Outlaws will all compete. All five divisions have championship battles to watch, but also others racing to grab the trophy and the checkered flag in each feature event.


The Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars playoff field includes Jacob Burns, Josh Parsons, Richie Helger Jr., Chase Silvia, Mason Tessier and Brendan LaBelle. Will one of them open the playoffs with a win, or will someone like Rodney Dowless Jr., Stephen Bowden or Ryan Vanasse Jr. earn their first career win in Friday’s 25-lap feature?


The Sport 4 field includes Matt Pion, Richie Johnson, Tyler Duhancik, Justin Leduc, Crystal Murray and Taylor Bowser. All of the winners so far this season are included in this group except David Westgate and Arthur Meack. Pion, Duhancik, Leduc and Murray have all been to Victory Lane this season. Will one of them kick off the playoffs with a bang on Friday in the 25-lap feature? 


Helger’s Pure Stock racing has been wild all year, and their six contenders are ready. Mike Henriques, Brent Robidoux, Ethan Souza, Jared Cordeira, Danny Massa and Bobby Bettencourt III will all compete for the title. But, can someone like Greg Perry or Tim Ouellette add another win to their 2024 season and spoil the party? The Pure Stocks will go for 25 laps this week.


In both of the Bandolero divisions, all of the season winners are in the playoffs. In the Bandits, David Bernier, Luka Dib and Mason Silva have been the most consistent drivers all year. They are joined by Ayla Martin, Jase Chaber and Carl Satterlund Jr. in the battle for the crown. In the Outlaws, Bryson Robidoux enters the playoffs on a roll - but with tough competition coming behind him. Parker Davis, Nick Uhrig Jr., Brody Wakefield, Ryder Aguiar and Mike Hanafin will also contend for the crown.


On NASCAR Saturday, First Responders Night at the track begins at 6 p.m. 


The Pro Stock field in the playoffs includes Vinnie Arrenegado, Bobby Pelland III, Mark Jenison, Dylan Estrella, Colbey Fournier and Mike Brightman. These six drivers make up the winners this season, except Dick Benoit and David Darling. They have proven to be the best in 2024 - and will have a chance to cement their legacy as champion. All of them are looking for their first Pro Stock title except Jenison, the two-time and reigning champion. But, Arrenegado, Pelland, Estrella and Brightman all have titles in the Late Models to their credit.


The Late Model pack is seemingly wide open, as most of the drivers have shown great speed during the season. Charlie Rose edged Jacob “Rowdy” Burns by three points at the end of the regular season with multiple feature wins, including two in a row late in the summer. Burns has his own wins to his credit this year, with Chase Belcher coming in as the third seed, followed by Richie Murray, Luke Lebrun and Mark Jenison. Belcher hasn’t won, but obviously was strong enough to advance. Murray is a two-time winner, Lebrun fired off a victory in the final race of the regular season to advance, and Jenison is a former champion looking to pounce. Look out for the Late Models, who always put on a show.


Helger’s Sportsman playoff racing will come down to Colby Lambert, Adam Pettey, Tyler Almeida, Josh Hedges, Doug Benoit and Scott Serydynski Jr. this season. All six of these drivers are worthy, but the two at the top have definitely put together the best season. Lambert only has one victory, but has been impressively consistent. Pettey has multiple wins, showing speed weekly. Behind them, Tyler Almeida, Josh Hedges, Doug Benoit and Scott Serydynski Jr. follow. These four drivers have yet to visit Victory Lane this season (other than Hedges on opening night) and will likely need to find their way there if they want to win the title.


In the Chaz’s Sport Trucks, Mike Duarte, Rick Martin, Tim Bolger Jr., Jake Vanada, Amy Arsenault and Mike Cavallaro will advance and compete for the title. Many of them have won this season, all of them can make a run at the title. Seekonk’s NASCAR Division IV class continues to showcase a mix of veterans and rising stars.


Seekonk Speedway will open the Sunoco Drive For The Cup this Friday, September 6 and Saturday, September 7. For more information and tickets to upcoming events, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media.

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