Martin Outduels Annarummo to Win Seekonk Opener
Seekonk, MA — Four-time Pro Stock champion "Radical" Rick Martin of Westport, MA made a triumphant return to Seekonk Speedway Saturday night, outdueling six-time track titleholder Vinnie Annarummo to capture the 40-lap Pro Stock feature before an Opening Day crowd of several thousand. Now a regular in the touring PASS series, the victory was the first for the 48-year old Martin at the 1/3-mile Bay State oval since June of 2002.
Martin's Wayne Nunes-owned #14 turned the second fastest lap of the afternoon in time trials, won its qualifying heat, and started seventh in the main after a random field inversion. Annarummo, the two-time defending champion, blasted into the lead from his outside pole starting spot at the drop of the green with Lenny Ellis, his son, Todd Annarummo, David Darling, Martin, and fast-timer Kenny Spencer holding second through sixth.
A series of spins and minor crashes brought out the yellow flag four times in the first four laps, sending Ellis to the rear of the field and bringing Spencer's night to a premature end. When racing resumed, the Annarummos ran door-to-door at the head of the class for several laps as Charlie Rose, Darling, Martin, Tom Scully, Sr., and Fred Astle, Jr. settled in behind them. Mechanical woes sent Astle to the pits before the halfway point, which saw Vinnie maintaining a slight advantage over Todd in their see-saw battle, followed by Rose, Darling, and Martin.
On lap 24, Todd's Ford got loose on the frontstretch, and was tagged from behind by Rose, the impact of which sent Charlie's machine into the frontstretch concrete. Martin got by Darling for second on the restart, but was still three car lengths behind the leader when the eighth caution forced a restart with 8 laps to go.
Giving it everything he had, Martin pulled alongside Annarummo and took the lead as they crossed the start-finish line one lap later. The next time the cars entered turn two, Martin spun all the way around, but was able to keep going without contact from any other competitor. In his wake, however, Dave Silvia came to a halt in turn two, bringing out the caution again and sending the field back to the last completed lap. Since Martin was not the direct cause of the yellow, he was allowed to resume his position at the front of the field.
One additional caution interrupted the final laps which featured Martin and Annarummo running side-by-side for first. On the white flag lap, Rick edged ahead of Vinnie, allowing Darling to snatch second just before the checkers waved.
"It's been a long time between wins," Martin stated. "Being able to race hard like that with guys like Vinnie is the reason I came back. That was fun. It was hard out there racing with him, but we were smiling the whole time we were driving. This is my buddy Wayne's first victory as a car owner and it's a great way to start off the season." The victory was the 58th of Martin's career at Seekonk, moving him into solo possession of second place on the track's all-time win list, 13 behind George Summers. His 56 career Pro Stock wins are tops among all competitors in the top tier class.
Darling claimed second ahead of Annarummo, Tom Scully Sr., Rob Murray, who bounced back from an early race incident to place fifth, and Dean Pettey. Positions seven through ten went to Tom Scully Jr., Steve O'Brien, Bobby Pelland, Jr., and rookie Mike Brightman.
For the second year in a row, Gerry DeGasparre, Jr. was the class of the Late Model field on Opening Day, blasting past early race leader Barry Shaw, Jr. on a lap 15 restart and holding off fellow former track champion Glenn Lawton in the final stages of their 25-lap main to capture the checkered flag. The Pawtucket, RI veteran started fifth after winning his qualifier, and quickly advanced to fourth behind Shaw, Lawton, and Scott Dion. Lawton traded paint and positions with Shaw several times in the first half of the race while DeGasparre used the outside lane to take third.
Gerry had just taken second from Glenn when the caution waved, setting up the restart DeGasparre used to take over the lead. Lawton tapped his friend's rear bumper a couple of times in the closing laps but could do nothing to shake DeGasparre, who scored his 15th career Late Model win.
Lawton came home second, ahead of Shaw, Robin Sloane, and Kyle Casper. Positions six through ten went to Matt Hudon, Stephen Potter, Kevin Casper, Mark Hudson, and Chris Gifford.
Seekonk's Mike Cavallaro, a seven-time winner in 2005, picked up right where he left off in the Sport Truck division, holding off a hard-charging Billy Prisco and defending champ Brian Clarke to win the 20-lap feature. Clarke led the first two laps but relinquished the top spot to Cavallaro on a lap 5 restart. The victory was not an easy one for Cavallaro, however, as Prisco spent much of the event running alongside the leader while Clarke looked for an opening on the bottom.
In the end, though, it was Cavallaro coming home first, ahead of Prisco, Clarke, Lenny Guy, and Matt Breault. Adam Saleeba, teammates Andrew Jeffrey and Hugh Bowser, John Dumas, and Doug Rioux comprised the remainder of the top ten.
Massachusetts State Police Officer John Hanafin of Quincy, MA passed former division king Dick Cavallaro on the very last go-around to win the 20-lap Street Stock feature. Al Clements IV, Paul Lallier, and Jim Silvia all took turns leading the highly-competitive affair. Silvia was running first when a blown transmission ended his run on lap 17. Lallier locked bumpers with Silvia's slowed car, bringing out the third of three cautions. Cavallaro motored past Clements IV on the restart, but both drivers soon had to contend with Hanafin, who charged from third to first in the final mile via the outside lane.
Clements grabbed second at the line, ahead of Cavallaro, Tony Oliveira, Steve Axon, and Wayne Silvia. Rounding out the top ten were Al Clements III, Greg Perry, Mike Taschereau, and Brian Spillane.
In the Mystic Pizza-sponsored Seekonk Youth Racing Association, 15-year old Mike Panciocco of Johnston, RI emerged victorious in the 15-lap 750-restrictor plate class, besting defending champ Zach Tucan and all-time SYRA win leader Chris Robinson. In his first career start, Kyle Tringali, 15, of Plymouth, MA, bested fellow rookie Brian Mondeau and Jacob Swift in the 600-plate 15-lapper. Swansea, MA's John Robidoux led every lap of the 20-lap Pure Stock feature, with C. J. Mello and defending champ Randy Arruda coming away with second and third.
Action resumes at the Route 6 oval this Saturday, May 13, with a full evening of qualifying and feature events on tap for the ARC Pro Stocks, Late Models, Sport Trucks, Street Stocks, and Mystic Pizza-sponsored Seekonk Youth Racing Association. The Kraze Korlacki Speed Equipment-sponsored Pure Stocks will have a weekend off before returning to competition on Saturday, May 20. Grandstand general admission tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for Juniors 13 to 15 years of age. All children 12 and under are admitted free. Pit admission is $20 for ARC Pit Membership Card holders and $30 for non-card holders.
The non-transferable ARC Pit Membership Cards, available from the speedway office Monday through Friday, can offer patrons a savings of $135 on the pit booth sign-in fee over the course of the season, even after the initial $75 cost of the card is deducted. For more information on Seekonk's 2006 racing season, please visit online at www.seekonkspeedway.com or contact the track office directly Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 AM and 5 PM at (508)-336-9959.
Pro Stock Time Trials:
1. #03-Kenny Spencer, 12.700 sec. (94.394 MPH)
2. #14-Rick Martin, 12.765 sec.
3. #91-Charlie Rose, Jr., 12.784 sec.
Pro Stock Feature (40 laps)
1. #14-Rick Martin, Westport, MA
2. #52-David Darling, Rehoboth, MA
3. #11-Vinnie Annarummo, Swansea, MA
4. #3-Tom Scully, Sr., Westport, MA
5. #08-Rob Murray, Tiverton, RI
6. #57-Dean Pettey, Assonet, MA
7. #2-Tom Scully, Jr., Cranston, RI
8. #95-Steve O'Brien, Scituate, MA
9. #51-Bob Pelland, Jr., Cranston, RI
10. #27-Mike Brightman, Acushnet, MA
Late Model Feature (25 laps)
1. #71-Gerry DeGasparre, Jr., Pawtucket, RI
2. #70-Glenn Lawton, Westport, MA
3. #85-Barry Shaw, Jr., Holbrook, MA
4. #81-Robin Sloane, East Providence, RI
5. #28-Kyle Casper, Somerset, MA
6. #22-Matt Hudon, Acushnet, MA
7. #6-Stephen Potter, Jr., Providence, RI
8. #88-Kevin Casper, Somerset, MA
9. #02-Mark Hudson, Norton, MA
10. #18-Chris Gifford, Wareham, MA
Sport Truck Feature (20 laps)
1. #80-Mike Cavallaro, Seekonk, MA
2. #94-Bill Prisco, Cranston, RI
3. #01-Brian Clarke, Seekonk, MA
4. #77-Lenny Guy, New Bedford, MA
5. #00-Matt Breault, Acushnet, MA
6. #25-Adam Saleeba, Seekonk, MA
7. #2-Andrew Jeffrey, Middleboro, MA
8. #22-Hugh Bowser, Taunton, MA
9. #04-John Dumas, Brockton, MA
10. #9-Doug Rioux, Whitman, MA
Street Stock Feature (20 laps)
1. #76-John Hanafin, Quincy, MA
2. #99-Al Clements IV, Oak Bluffs, MA
3. #6-Dick Cavallaro, Seekonk, MA
4. #41-Tony Oliveira, Taunton, MA
5. #04-Steve Axon, Attleboro, MA
6. #16-Wayne Silvia, Bristol, RI
7. #72-Al Clements III, Oak Bluffs, MA
8. #0-Greg Perry, Jr., Taunton, MA
9. #33-Mike Taschereau, West Warwick, RI
10. #22-Brian Spillane, Walpole, MA
SYRA-750 Feature (15 laps)
1. #24-Mike Panciocco, Johnston, RI
2. #3-Zach Tucan, Taunton, MA
3. #9-Chris Robinson, West Warwick, RI
4. #16-Brian Como, Jr., Charlton, MA
5. #11-Dan Nickless, Halifax, MA
6. #80-Tom McVay, Riverside, RI
7. #77-Emily Santor, Norwood, MA
8. #6-Mike Crawford, Plymouth, MA
9. #83-Frank Perry, Holbrook, MA
SYRA-600 Feature (15 laps)
1. #43-Kyle Tringali, Plymouth, MA
2. #22-Brian Mondeau, Bridgewater, MA
3. #56-Jacob Swift, Fairhaven, MA
4. #8-Jimmy Graves, Jr., Warwick, RI
5. #0-Kyle Kuchta, Niantic, CT
6. #55-Matthew Burke, Plymouth, MA
7. #46-Dylan Estrella, North Attleboro, MA
8. #28-Jariah Roderick, East Taunton, MA
9. #75-Adam Swift, Fairhaven, MA
10. #5-Casey Sanchez, Providence, RI
Pro Enduro Feature (20 laps)
1. #93-John Robidoux, Swansea, MA
2. #99-C. J. Mello, Cranston, RI
3. #5-Randy Arruda, Swansea, MA
4. #01-Scott Cestodio, Swansea, MA
5. #55-Wayne Woodworth, Hanson, MA
6. #89-David Torrey, Abington, MA
7. #44-William Wallace, Jr., Orleans, MA
8. #77-Carlos Silva, Swansea, MA
9. #9-Amy Arsenault, Attleboro, MA
10. #47-Mark Boisvert, Uxbridge, MA
Sources: Todd Baptista/Seekonk Speedway PR