Fred Astle Flies to fifth win, capturing the ‘Miller Gold Cup Classic’
Lenny Guy and John Hanafin notch first career wins while Ryan Lineham repeats in the Street Stocks.
Seekonk, MA — Fred Astle of Westport MA picked up his fifth win of the season, and added a slight cushion in the championship chase, with his win in the Miller Gold Cup Classic 75 lap main event Saturday night. Fred started on the inside of the fifth row, and using the outside lane, charged into the top five by lap eight. Matt Hudon of Acushnet took the early lead from Scituate’s Steve O’Brien on the opening laps, and started to put some distance between he and the rest of the field. Scott Dion moved into second by lap eight, as he went around the Autopart International Chevy of O’Brien, and started to put pressure on the Honey Dew Donuts Chevy of Hudon. Behind O’Brien at this point were Tom Scully Sr, Fred Astle, Mike Brightman and Dave Darling, as they settled in.
Steve O’Brien got crossed up coming off of turn two on lap seven, and caused Sr Scully to back off slightly. When this happened, Astle and Brightman shot to the outside and picked up a couple of positions each. While they were battling for positions, Tom Scully Jr was working his way through the grid toward the front of the field. Scott Dion was moving his Douglas A King Builders Chevy to the inside lane and picked up the lead on lap 21. Astle had caught the lead duo at this time, and followed Dion into second. Hudon started to lose the handles on the T & J Frye Trucking Chevy, and started to backslide. Dave Darling had worked his way up on the outside and moved the Johnson Landscaping Dodge into the top five. Astle wasn’t going to ride in second for very long, moving the Wood Frame Structures Chevy to the outside of Dion to battle for the lead.
As they crossed the one-third mark, Astle grabbed the lead from Dion, and started top pull away. Dion had settled back in for second, with Hudon, Darling and Brightman rounding out the top five. Darling was using the outside lane in his quest for the front of the field, and worked the outside of Dion, picking up the second position. Brightman was using a different rout, as he snuck the Impact Collision Parts Ford to the inside of Hudon, picking up fourth with the Wheelock NAPA Auto Group Chevy of Kid Scully filling the hole, ding into the top five.
The only caution of the nigh came on lap 38, when Les Rose Jr spun in his Hank Zion’s Auto Salvage Chevy as he and Ryan Lineham battled in front of the leaders. Darling, coming off his first win of the season just a week before, was moving into position to try and make it two in a row. Dion was third with Brightman and Scully Jr rounding out the top five. Tom Sr, Ryan Vanasse, Ken Spencer, Hudon and Ray Parent rounded out the top ten.
Green was back out, and Daring gave Astle a fight for the lead, and on lap 40, Darling became the fourth different leader of the event. His lead would be a short one, as Flyin Fred grabbed the lead back again on lap 41, and never looked back. Mike Brightman got a good jump on the restart and jumped into third behind the leaders, but couldn’t make a run on Astle or Darling. Ryan Vanasse got a good run after the restart, and picked up a few positions over the next couple of dozen laps, moving as high as fourth. Dion was caught on the outside, and backslid to the back end of the top ten. Tom Scully Jr started to make up some ground, using the inside lane to work up into third, but a blistered right rear tire kept him from make any further progress.
In the end, no one could topple the points leader from the top of the leader board, as Fred Astle picked up his fifth win of the season by .544 over Dave Darling. Scully Jr was third, with Vanasse and Brightman rounding out the top five.
“I have to thank the Wood Frame Structures crew, Wayne Jack, my sweetheart Julie, and Ron and Lisa Louro the car owner,” sighed a relieved Astle in Victory Lane. ” A couple of weeks ago, we were ready to pack it up, I’ll tell you, but man, you can’t quit. David is a good driver, but you have to make him earn it” he continued, talking about the lone restart when reigning champion Dave Darling took the lead on lap 40. “We needed this one.”
In the Late Models, the President’s Landscape Chevy of John Hanafin jumped out into the lead over the Bayside Realty Chevy of Randy Clark on the green, and jumped out into the early lead. Clark settled into second, with Randy Burr in third. The first caution came out on lap four, when fifth place runner Mike Taschereau had mechanical problems in his Sponsor Wanted Pontiac, and came to a stop on the backstretch. The champion chase points leaders started in mid-pack, and had moved into the top ten early on.
Once back under way, Hanafin jumped out again, and set the pace. The Kidd Motorsports Chevy of Casper moved to the inside lane, working past Matt Breault and Burr, taking over second by lap eight. DeGasparre was using the outside lane, and by the halfway point, the A-1 Custom Auto Body Chevy was up to third. Jeramee Lillie, back after a two week hiatus, was running up a storm, and had followed Gerry up through the pack in his Houle Motorsports Ford, taking the fourth position by lap 15. Burr rounded out the top five at the halfway point.
The second caution came out on lap 20, when the Breault roofing Ford of Matt Breault spun in turn four. This would line up three time winner Kyle Casper on the outside of the rookie, and the reigning champion behind. On this night, Hanafin was up to the challenge, holding onto the lead as Casper and DeGasparre battled for second, with Gerry taking the spot away from the Somerset Auto Service Chevy of Casper. The final caution came out on lap 25 as the Ocean State Sweeping Pontiac of Mark Langlois spun in turn four. This time it would be the DeGasparre on the outside of the Local 7 Ironworkers Chevy.
Once again, Hanafin proved this was hi night, as he jumped back out front and never looked back, as he picked up his first career Late Model win over DeGasparre, Casper, Lillie and Jon Dickerman. Kevin Casper could only work his way up to sixth, Bill Bernard started scratch and worked his way up into seventh, with Burr, Clark and Len Ellis, who was filling in for Bob Hussey on this night, rounding out the top ten.
“I’ve got to thank all the guys who have helped me out all year,” exclaimed a happy winner in Victory Lane. “Presidents’ Landscape & Design, Local 7 Ironworkers District Council, Vets don’t Forget, EMZ, everyone. I didn’t want to see Kyle or Gerry up there on those restarts. The competition is so tough in this division. This feels good!”
After getting shut down in just about every way possible for 11 years, Lenny Guy of New Bedford MA put it all together and picked up his first career win in the 20 lap Seekonk Sports Trucks. Guy and Billy Clarke brought the field down for the green, and Guy put his LH Boulanger & Son’s Ford at the top of the leader board. John Paiva moved into second as Billy Clarke started to backslide on the outside in his Berkley Used Auto Parts Ford. High Bowser ran third at the one-quarter mark with Rick Martin fourth. Bill Prisco, Mike Cavallaro and Charlie Rose were working their way forward through the traffic, with Rose leading the way.
At the halfway mark, Guy had opened up a comfortable 10 truck length advantage over the MD Cabinetry Ford of Bowser, who worked past Paiva at lap seven. Martin was working the high groove, and worked past Paiva at the same time. Jody Tripp moved into the top four by this point in his Silver Key Incorporated Chevy. Paiva ran fifth with Rose, Ed Gannon III, Prisco, Cavallaro and Clarke the top ten. Martin started to wind up the Rick Martins RC Hobbies and Signs Toyota and took over second from Bowser at lap 17, and started to reel in the leader. Guy was his lead shrinking rapidly, and as they came under the white flag, Martin had closed to within four truck lengths.
One final chance over the last few turns, and Martin closed up on the rear bumper of Guy, but ran out of time as Guy picked up his first career win. Martin held on for second, with Tripp overtaking Bowser on the final laps to pick up third, and Prisco rounding out the top five.
“I can’t believe I’m here, after so many times we’ve almost had this and just screwed up,” breathed a relieved Lenny Guy. “I started backing way off at the end and kept saying to myself ‘Just stay ahead of him’. I knew someone was coming, but I didn’t know who it was, and I didn’t care. I just needed to stay ahead of him. I have to thank LH Boulanger’s, Horatio’s Welding, EIME Safety, Sparky’s Electric, and most of all, I have to thank my wife, because she’s crazy enough for me to do this stuff. My father, my brother, Dane Saritelli is with me every week. We’ve been working on his truck for two years, and he’s still helping me every week, Carl from Cornwell Tools, and everyone who has been rooting for me all this time. THANK YOU!”
In the Street Stock 20 lap feature, Charlie Rose and Crystal Serydynski brought the field down to the green, and it was Crystal Rose, Mike Mitchell, Roland Wheeler and Paul Newcomb across the stripe on lap one. The first caution came out on lap two, when the Casey Title Company Chevy of former champion Dick Cavallaro stalled off the second corner. As the yellow flag came out, Charlie Rose and Roland Wheeler got together, spinning in turn three, but would not be considered accident cars, as the caution came out for Cavallaro.
Mike Mitchell took the lead on the restart in his M & M Home Improvement Malibu, with the Coventry NAPA Auto Parts Chevy of Ryan Lineham moving from fifth to second by lap six. Rose and Wheeler were sliding back, which allowed Ron Barboza Jr to work into third by this time. Lap seven would see the second and final caution when Justin Travis spun in turn three. At this point the top five were Mitchell, Lineham, Barboza, Mark Henshaw and Newcomb.
Mitchell tried to hold off Lineham on the restart, but Flyin Ryan was just too much on the restart, as Flyin Ryan took the point as the third leader of the event. Mitchell settled into second as he had his work cut out for him with Barboza right behind. Tony Oliviera started outside the top ten, and quietly moved his E A Dion Malibu into the top five over the last several laps, bringing reigning champion Sparky Arsenault with him.
Over the last five laps, Ryan opened up a second and a half lead over Mitchell, and cruised to his second win of the season. Mitchell held on for second with Barboza, Henshaw and Oliviera rounding out the top five at the checkered flag. Sixth through tenth were Arsenault, Newcomb, Scott Serydynski, Steve Axon and Brian Spillane.
“We needed that! That’s all I’m going to say,” an excited Lineham stated in Victory Lane. “Running the Pro Stock has clearly helped out a ton. I have to thank Joe from East Coast for letting me drive his car, my dad and brother for working on this all week, my grandmother, Sherry, and everyone that supports us every week.”
Saturday night racing resumes on August 30 as the True Value Modifieds return to the Seekonk Speedway for the Del’s Lemonade 100. The Late Models, Street Stocks and Seekonk Sport Trucks will also be part of the events. The Pro Stocks will be dormant for the week. Admission is just $17.00 for adults, kids 12 and under are free. The Seekonk Sport Trucks will be competing in a 30 lap feature as well, making this a night to remember. Be sure to check out seekonkspeedway.com for all scheduling information.
Street Stocks
Heat I / 10 Laps
1) 8 Crystal Serydynski, Johnston RI
2) 04 Steve Axon, North Attleboro MA
3) 96 Sparky Arsenault, Attleboro MA
4) 22 Brian Spillane, Attleboro MA
5) 76 Ron Lum, Randolph MA
6) 01 Dave Ratcliffe, Burriville RI
7) 14 Pat Fitzgerald, Warwick RI
DQ 24 John Geremia III, Johnston RI
DQ 92 Dan Gamache, Manville RI
DQ 3 Chris Rioux, Pawtucket RI
Heat II / 10 Laps
1) 16 Paul Newcomb, Plymouth MA
2) 74 Scott Bruneau, Tiverton RI
3) 50 Roland Wheeler, Warwick RI
4) 12 Charlie Rose Jr, Tiverton RI
5) 98 Jay Steeley, Attleboro MA
6) 2 Ron Barboza Jr, Warren RI
7) 45 Justin Travis, Taunton MA
8) 08 Chris DeMoura, North Dighton MA
9) 42 Alan MacNutt, Taunton MA
DQ Jeff Amaral, Bristol RI
Heat III /10 Laps
1) 40 Mike Mitchell, Cumberland RI
2) 19 Ryan Lineham, Coventry RI
3) 41 Tony Oliviera, Taunton MA
4) 17 Mark Henshaw, Raynham MA
5) 1 Scott Serydynski, Exeter RI
6) 6 Dick Cavallaro, Seekonk MA
7) 03 Ray Parent, Tiverton RI
8) 4 Gerard Berthelette, N Smithfield RI
9) 70 Paul Lallier, Attleboro MA
Consi / 10 Laps
1) Justin Travis, Taunton MA
2) 92 Dan Gamache Jr, Manville RI
3) 24 John Geremia III, Johnston RI
4) 08 Chris DeMoura, North Dighton MA
5) 70 Paul Lallier, Attleboro MA
6) 14 Pat Fitzgerald, Warwick RI
7) 3 Chris Rioux, Pawtucket RI
8) 4 Gerard Berthelette, N Smithfield RI
9) 42 Alan MacNutt, Taunton MA
10) 07 Jeff Amaral, Bristol RI
11) 03 Ray Parent, Tiverton RI
Feature / 20 Laps
1) 19 Ryan Lineham, Coventry RI
2) 40 Mike Mitchell, Cumberland RI
3) 2 Ron Barboza Jr, Warren RI
4) 17 Mark Henshaw, Raynham MA
5) 41 Tony Oliviera, Taunton MA
6) 96 Sparky Arsenault, Attleboro MA
7) 16 Paul Newcomb, Plymouth MA
8) 1 Scott Serydynski, Exeter RI
9) 04 Steve Axon, North Attleboro MA
10) 22 Brian Spillane, Attleboro MA
11) 98 Jay Steeley, Attleboro MA
12) 92 Dan Gamache, Manville RI
13) 24 John Geremia III, Johnston RI
14) 3 Chris Rioux, Pawtucket RI
15) 74 Scott Bruneau, Tiverton RI
16) 70 Paul Lallier, Attleboro MA
17) 76 Ron Lum, Randolph MA
18) 08 Chris DeMoura, North Dighton MA
19) 12 Charlie Rose Jr, Tiverton RI
20) 8 Crystal Serydynski, Johnston RI
21) 01 Dave Ratcliffe, Burriville RI
22) 45 Justin Travis, Taunton MA
23) 14 Pat Fitzgerald, Warwick RI
24) Gerry Berthelette, N Smithfield RI
25) 50 Roland Wheeler, Warwick RI
26) 6 Dick Cavallaro, Seekonk MA
Seekonk Sport Trucks
Heat I / 10 Laps
1) 14 Rick Martin, Westport MA
2) 41 Charlie Rose Jr, Tiverton RI
3) 22 Hugh Bowser, Taunton MA
4) 38 Jody Tripp, Westport MA
5) 88 Bill Prisco, Cranston RI
6) 81 Dave Haywood, Tiverton RI
7) 5 Mike Ronhock, Mashpee MA
8) 13 Brian Murray, Tiverton RI
9) 3 Zach Tucan, Taunton MA
Heat I / 10 Laps
1) 80 Mike Cavallaro, Seekonk MA
2) 77 Lenny Guy, New Bedford MA
3) 10 Ed Gannon III, Fall River MA
4) 21 John Paiva, Fall River MA
5) 07 Eric Boyko, Blackstone MA
6) 1 Billy Clarke, Seekonk MA
7) 28 Richard Albernaz, Paxton MA
8) 96 Jason Heroux, Johnston RI
Feature / 20 Laps
1) 77 Lenny Guy, New Bedford MA
2) 14 Rick Martin, Westport MA
3) 38 Jody Tripp, Westport MA
4) 88 Bill Prisco, Cranston RI
5) 22 Hugh Bowser, Taunton MA
6) 41 Charlie Rose Jr, Tiverton RI
7) 10 Ed Gannon III, Fall River MA
8) 80 Mike Cavallaro, Seekonk MA
9) 21 John Paiva, Fall River MA
10) 1 Billy Clarke, Seekonk MA
11) 96 Jason Heroux, Johnston RI
12) 07 Eric Boyko, Blackstone MA
13) 3 Zach Tucan, Taunton MA
14) 13 Brian Murray, Tiverton RI
15) 81 Dave Haywood, Tiverton RI
16) 5 Mike Ronhock, Mashpee MA
Late Model Heats
Heat I / 12 Laps
1) 76 John Hanafin, Quincy MA
2) 20 Matt Breault, Acushnet Ma
3) 3 Jeramee Lillie, West Warwick RI
4) 88 Kevin Casper, Somerset MA
5) 33 Mike Taschereau, W Warwick RI
6) 12 Mark Langlois, Seekonk MA
7) 17 Kevin Folan, North Attleboro MA
8) .26 Marc DeJesus, Westport MA
9) 47 Bill Bernard, Holliston MA
Heat II / 12 Laps
1) 71 Gerry DeGasparre, Pawtucket RI
2) 13 Jon Dickerman, Weymouth MA
3) 7 Kyle Casper, Somerset Ma
4) 93 Randy Clark, East Harwich MA
5) 80 Len Ellis, Dartmouth MA
6) 32 Randy Burr, Middleboro MA
7) 22 Tyler Thompson, Somerset MA
8) 14 Rey Lovelace, North Providence RI
Feature / 30 Laps
1) John Hanafin, Quincy MA
2) 71 Gerry DeGasparre Jr, Pawtucket RI
3) 7 Kyle Casper, Somerset Ma
4) 3 Jeramee Lillie, West Warwick RI
5) 13 Jon Dickerman, Weymouth MA
6) 88 Kevin Casper, Somerset MA
7) 47 Bill Bernard, Holliston MA
8) 32 Randy Burr Middleboro MA
9) 20 Matt Breault, Acushnet MA
10) 80 Len Ellis, Dartmouth MA
11) 93 Randy Clark, East Harwich MA
12) 14 Rey Lovelace, North Providence RI
13) 12 Mark Langlois, Seekonk MA
14) 22 Tyler Thompson, Somerset MA
15) 17 Kevin Folan, North Attleboro MA
16) 26 Marc DeJesus, Westport MA
17) 33 Mike Taschereau, West Warwick RI
Pro Stocks
Heat I / 12 Laps
1) 22 Matt Hudon, Acushnet MA
2) 95 Steve O’Brien, Scituate MA
3) 2 Tom Scully Jr, Cranston RI
4) 11 Ryan Vanasse, Warwick RI
5) 52 Dave Darling, Rehoboth MA
6) 03 Ken Spencer, Taunton MA
7) 51 Ryan Lineham, Coventry RI
8) 08 Rob Murray, Tiverton RI
9) 74 Mike Mortimer, Mastic Beach NY
Heat II / 12 Laps
1) 3 Tom Scully Sr, Westport MA
2) 30 Fred Astle Jr, Westport MA
3) 27 Mike Brightman, Acushnet Ma
4) 17 Ray Parent, Tiverton RI
5) 4 Scott Dion, Taunton MA
6) 00 John Dabrowski, W Bridgewater MA
7) 62 Les Rose Jr, Raynham MA
8) 16 Jake Vanada, Berkley MA
9) 99 Dan O’Brien, Scituate MA
Feature / 75 Laps
1) 30 Fred Astle Jr, Westport MA
2) 52 Dave Darling, Rehoboth MA
3) 2 Tom Scully Jr, Cranston RI
4) 11 Ryan Vanasse, Warwick RI
5) 27 Mike Brightman, Acushnet Ma
6) 3 Tom Scully Sr, Westport MA
7) 03 Ken Spencer, Taunton MA
8) 17 Ray Parent, Tiverton RI
9) 16 Jake Vanada, Berkley MA
10) 4 Scott Dion, Taunton MA
11) 95 Steve O’Brien, Scituate MA
12) 51 Ryan Lineham, Coventry RI
13) 00 John Dabrowski, W Bridgewater MA
14) 62 Les Rose Jr, Raynham MA
15) 08 Rob Murray, Tiverton RI
16) 74 Mike Mortimer, Mastic Beach NY
17) 99 Dan O’Brien, Scituate MA
18) 22 Matt Hudon, Acushnet MA
Sources: Kevin Boucher/Seekonk Speedway PR