Russ Hersey Tops Seekonk DAV Festival Of Racing Winners List
Seekonk, MA — Nearly 200 race cars and trucks from all over the Northeast turned over 800 green flag laps in a marathon-season ending extravaganza weekend at the annual D. Anthony Venditti Memorial Festival of Racing at the 1/3-mile Bay State oval on Saturday and Sunday, October 7 and 8. When the dust settled, over $50,000 in posted cash awards were distributed in eight different racing divisions.
Swanzey, NH's Russ Hersey blasted past Charlie Rose on the 81st go-around and held off veteran New England ace Dave Dion to win the Miller Lite Battle of the Pro Stocks 100, pocketing $5,475 in posted awards and lap money bonuses. Rose started on the pole and led the first 80 circuits which were slowed by a whopping 18 cautions flags. Tom Scully, Sr. ran second in the initial laps before Bobby Tripp, Dave Dion, and Kenny Spencer moved into the top four.
Hersey, a former track champion at Monadnock Speedway who was making his first Seekonk appearance, started 19th and climbed to sixth in the initial 19 laps. All-time Seekonk Pro Stock win leader "Radical" Rick Martin was forced to pit and restart 23rd after a lap 5 incident, but quickly worked his way back inside the top ten. Martin passed Hersey for fourth on lap 38, but the four-time champion's bid for a win came to an end on lap 41 when Tripp got loose on the backstretch and spun out of second, collecting Martin's Chevrolet in the process.
A myriad of spins and crashes dominated the middle third of the race which saw Rose pacing Hersey, Dion, Todd Annarummo, Dave Hutchins, Tom Scully, Jr., and Mike Brightman and the halfway point. Hersey was kicked back to sixth on a lap 66 restart but gradually reeled in the leaders, picking off Dion after a spirited battle just after Hutchins brought out the final yellow when he slammed the backstretch wall on lap 80.
Hersey passed Rose on the restart and survived a three-wide battle for the lead with Dion, a veteran of the NASCAR Busch North Series, and Rose, a three-time Star Speedway track champion, with 10 laps to go in the contest. "I drove my backside off," Hersey admitted after wheeling his Ford to Victory Lane. "I give Charlie and Dave a lot of credit. They drove me clean out there. I was watching Dave trying to get by Charlie and thought there was no sense in just following the leader. Charlie was loose but was trying to protect the bottom. I got a fender on him on the last restart and was able to get by him."
Dion earned $2,500 in the runner-up spot while Rose collected $3,500, including lap leader bonus money while finishing third. Tom Scully, Jr. was fourth, ahead of Kenny Spencer, who bounced back from several mid-race mishaps to claim fifth. Positions six through ten went to John Dabrowski, Ray Parent, Mike Brightman, Tom Scully, Sr., and Maine racer Travis Benjamin.
Dave Berghman of Seekonk, MA was credited with a controversial victory in the 100-lap True Value Modified Racing Series event after tour officials penalized the first place finishing car of Lou Mechalides for apparently failing to honor a lap 31 black flag.
Andy Seuss rocketed into the lead at the drop of the green and paced the first 38 circuits while Vinnie Annarummo, Kirk Alexander, Berghman, and Rob Goodenough traded second through fifth. True Value officials noted a fluid leak from Mechalides' car and waved the black flag for three laps before the yellow came out for an unrelated incident on the 34th circuit. When no leak was noted under caution, Mechalides was allowed to continue on without incident.
Seuss's race leading mount spun in turn three on lap 39, moving Alexander into the lead spot. The three-time Seekonk winner held off the advances of Berghman until an electrical problem brought his night to a premature end on lap 69. Berghman took over from Alexander, but soon had to contend with Mechalides, who had clawed his way to the front of the pack. "Lightnin' Lou" powered into first on lap 75 and crossed the stripe 0.422 seconds ahead of Berghman at the checkers, but was penalized one position by True Value Officials for the early race infraction when he reached Victory Lane.
Berghman was credited with first, ahead of Mechalides, point leader Dwight Jarvis, locals Jimmy Kuhn and Vinnie Annarummo, Seuss, Jon McKennedy, Les Hinckley, Goodenough, and Dale Evonsion, who bounced back from a lap 44 mishap to claim tenth.
Tiverton, RI's Ray Parent executed a little bump and run maneuver to score a popular victory in the 50-lap Late Model contest which was plagued by a record 16 caution flags. Polesitter Glenn Lawton led the first 32 circuits, picking up $800 in lap leader bonus money, before two-time track champ Gerry DeGasparre, Jr. worked his way alongside the leader. The pair traded paint and the lead several times over the next several laps before Lawton got loose in the high groove and looped his ride on lap 34. DeGasparre paced the next 14 circuits while Parent, who started 23rd after wrecking his car during the previous day's qualifying race, stalked him from second. Coming through turns three and four for the white flag, Parent nudged DeGasparre up the race track and scampered away with the victory by 0.232 seconds.
DeGasparre finished second, ahead of Robin Sloane, Matt Hudon, and Barry Shaw, Jr., a contingent that ran in the top five all day long while managing to avoid the multitude of crashes and spins. Rookie of the Year contender Kevin Casper finished sixth, ahead of Ryan Vanasse, who came from the back several times to claim seventh. Chris Gifford, John Dumas, and Mark Hudson rounded out the top ten.
In the Northeastern Midget Association 30-lap feature, Marlboro, MA's rising star Bobby Santos III earned his first Seekonk win, passing veteran Jeff Horn with four laps to go en route to Victory Lane. Pete Pernesiglio went three-wide to take the lead on the initial go-around and paced the first five circuits before Horn rocketed past on the outside. Horn set a torrid pace, but saw his advantage wiped out by a caution with 8 laps remaining. Horn, Joey Payne, and Santos diced for the lead in the final three miles with Santos taking the inside lane to the head of the class and, ultimately, the checkered flag. Payne finished second, and was followed by Horn, Shane Hammond, and point leader Ben Seitz.
Pawtucket, RI's Manny Dias notched his first career win in the Sport Truck class 30-lapper, passing Matt Breault on a lap 17 restart to take over the lead. Breault led the first 16 laps which were slowed by caution six times, the most serious of which involved a turn two wall-banger involving Billy Prisco and Ted Berube. Breault, John Paiva, Adam Murphy, and Steve Dumas comprised the remainder of the top five.
In the 30-lap Street Stock feature, Quincy, MA's John Hanafin successfully defended his win in the 2005 DAV Memorial event, pocketing $700 in prize and lap leader money in the process. Mike Mitchell led the first nine circuits, good for $225, before rookie Billy Brady found his way around him. Two laps later, it was Hanafin who charged into first on the way to his third win of the season. Jim Silvia, Dick Cavallaro, Kevin Folan, and Paul Lallier rounded out the top five.
Pennellville, NY's Jeff Abold continued his dominance of the 1/3-mile Route 6 oval, picking up his third win in four Seekonk starts this season in the 25-lap USAC Ford Focus Midget Series feature. Jesse State and Nick Wean finished second and third while Kunkletown, PA's Ryan Smith was crowed the series' 2006 champion.
In the 30-lap Pro Four Modified event, North Brookfield, MA veteran Jeff Zuidema earned top honors, passing early race leader Matt Sagar with 10 laps remaining in the contest. Zuidema came from the 12th starting position to post his second career Seekonk win, finishing ahead of Adam Norton, Sagar, Norm Wrenn, and Rob Richardi.
Miller Lite Battle of the Pro Stocks (100 laps)
1. #88-Russ Hersey, Swanzey, NH
2. #29-Dave Dion, Hudson, NH
3. #91-Charlie Rose, Jr., Tiverton, RI
4. #2-Tom Scully, Jr., Cranston, RI
5. #03-Kenny Spencer, Taunton, MA
6. #00-John Dabrowski, West Bridgewater, MA
7. #17-Ray Parent, Tiverton, RI
8. #27-Mike Brightman, Acushnet, MA
9. #3-Tom Scully, Sr., Westport, MA
10. #17T-Travis Benjamin, Morrill, ME
True Value Modified Racing Series Feature (100 laps)
1. #82-Dave Berghman, Seekonk, MA
2. #40-Lou Mechalides, Tyngsboro, MA
3. #28-Dwight Jarvis, Ascutney, VT
4. #72-Jimmy Kuhn, Bridgewater, MA
5. #12-Vinnie Annarummo, Swansea, MA
6. #70-Andy Seuss, Hampstead, NH
7. #73-Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, MA
8. #06-Les Hinckley, Windsor Locks, CT
9. #01-Rob Goodenough, Swanzey, NH
10. #35-Dale Evonsion, East Hartland, CT
Late Model Feature (50 laps)
1. #17-Ray Parent, Tiverton, RI
2. #71-Gerry DeGasparre, Jr., Pawtucket, RI
3. #81-Robin Sloane, East Providence, RI
4. #22-Matt Hudon, Acushnet, MA
5. #85-Barry Shaw, Jr., Holbrook, MA
6. #88-Kevin Casper, Somerset, MA
7. #11-Ryan Vanasse, Warwick, RI
8. #18-Chris Gifford, Wareham, MA
9. #4-John Dumas, Brockton, MA
10. #02-Mark Hudson, Norton, MA
Sport Truck Feature (30 laps)
1. #0-Manny Dias, Pawtucket, RI
2. #00-Matt Breault, Acushnet, MA
3. #21-John Paiva, Fall River, MA
4. #81-Adam Murphy, Rochester, MA
5. #04-Steve Dumas, Quincy, MA
6. #22-Hugh Bowser, Taunton, MA
7. #2-Andy Jeffrey, Middleboro, MA
8. #77-Lenny Guy, New Bedford, MA
9. #80-Mike Cavallaro, Seekonk, MA
10. #5-Michael Ronhock, Mashpee, MA
Street Stock Feature (30 laps)
1. #76-John Hanafin, Quincy, MA
2. #116-Jim Silvia, Middletown, RI
3. #6-Dick Cavallaro, Seekonk, MA
4. #4-Kevin Folan, Attleboro, MA
5. #77-Paul Lallier, Pawtucket, RI
6. #39-Mike Lema, Taunton, MA
7. #48-Billy Brady, Marstons Mills, MA
8. #16-Wayne Silvia, Bristol, RI
9. #56-Elmer Wing III, Lakeville, MA
10. #40-Michael Mitchell, Manville, RI
Northeastern Midget Association Feature (30 laps)
1. #29-Bobby Santos III, Marlboro, MA
2. #45-Joey Payne, Fairlawn, NJ
3. #A1-Jeff Horn, Ashland, MA
4. #37-Shane Hammond, E.Bridgewater, MA
5. #17-Ben Seitz, Monument Beach, MA
6. #55-Mike Keeler, Danbury, CT
7. #4-Nokie Fornoro, Stroudsburg, PA
8. #26-Greg Stoehr, Bridgewater, MA
9. #49-B. J. MacDonald, Dublin, PA
10. #30P-Mike Horn, Ashland, MA
USAC Ford Focus Midget Series Feature (25 laps)
1. #05-Jeff Abold, Pennellville, NY
2. #18-Jesse State, New Hyde Park, NY
3. #78-Nick Wean, Milford, NJ
4. #38-Ryan Osborne, Milford, NJ
5. #4-Dana Messier, Pomfret Center, CT
6. #26-Shaun Gosselin, Oswego, NY
7. #04-Dan Moore, Smithtown, NY
8. #8-Aaron Wall, Shrewsbury, MA
9. #63-Jon Seaman, Jr., Southbury, CT
10. #48-Jeremy Tsishlis, Bethlehem, PA
Pro Four Modified Feature (30 laps)
1. #1M-Jeff Zuidema, No. Brookfield, MA
2. #01-Adam Norton, Brookfield, MA
3. #10-Matt Sagar, Seekonk, MA
4. #37-Norm Wrenn, Nashua, NH
5. #12-Rob Richardi, Jr., North Easton, MA
6. #73-Jim Darlington, Foxboro, MA
7. #97-Frank Hirt, Danbury, CT
8. #13-George Sherman, Framingham, MA
9. #8-Steve Heroux, Johnston, RI
10. #20-Jason Heroux, Johnston, RI
Sources: Todd Baptista/Seekonk Speedway PR
Posted: October 8, 2006