Jim Silvia wins 3rd Annual Kraze’s Speed Equipment 30/30. Astle back in top form, Norm Wrenn first time winner in Pro4’s. Martin repeats
Seekonk, MA – On Saturday, June 6, the 3rd Annual Kraze’s Speed Equipment 30/30 for the Street Stocks was held, and Jim Silvia returned to Victory Lane for the first time since 5/26/07. Ray Negley set the early pace from his pole position. Chris Beaulieu slid into the runner-up position over the opening laps and started to put pressure on the Coventry racer. N. Dighton’s Chris DeMoura was up to third with Silvia fourth by lap five.
The first caution came out on lap 8 when Manny Dias cut down a right rear tire and spun in turn one. No other cars were involved. Crystal Serydynski rounded out the top five at this time. On the restart, the New-Lux Cleaners Chevy of Negley got loose, forcing him to slide up the racetrack. This opened the bottom lane for Silvia, who moved in and made it three-wide for the lead. As they came off turn four, Silvia was now the new leader. Beaulieu was forced into the third groove, but hung on for second. Negley was back to third when the caution came out on lap ten when Crystal Serydynski spun. This moved Chris Rioux into the top five.
Beaulieu slid back on the restart, allowing Negley back into second. By the halfway point at lap 15, Chris Rioux moved into third. Ryan Lineham was working his way through and settled into fourth, with defending race winner Scott Serydynski up to fifth. Scott was using the outside lane to work his way into the top five, and wasn’t going to give up his hot hand just yet. Little by little, the Red Wing Shoes #1 was making moves and evened up with Rioux with 12 laps remaining. As they raced side by side, Negley wriggled a little in second, forcing the inside lane to slow up just a hair. This allowed Seryndynski to battle for second.
As the battle from second to fifth continued, Silvia was left all alone out front. With Serydynski racing the outside lane, he and Negley touched as Negley slid up again, forcing Serydynski to fall back to fifth. But as he slid up, Rioux slid underneath and took over second with 8 laps remaining. Lineham was able to follow as well, moving up to third. Serydynski wasn’t done yet, and started to go back to work on the outside of Negley, eventually overtaking him. Mitchell took over fifth on lap 23, and wound up there at the end.
Rioux closed in the gap and started to give Silvia fits as they ran nose to tail with two laps remaining. But it was to no avail, as the CP Watson Landscaping Chevy held on for the win.
“I want to thank my family of course,” an excited Silvia said after climbing out. “My wife and kids, mom, dad, and I want to thank Butch Watson of CP Watson. They helped me put this new car together. This feels real good and it was a lot of fun.”
19 cars took the green flag in the ARC Pro Stock feature, and Taunton’s Ken Spencer jumped out to the early lead over Wayne Dion. They cautions seemed to come quickly and often in the opening laps. Bobby Tripp brought out the first caution when he spun on lap two. Another caution when Dan O’Brien spun on lap three with Craig Weinstein.
Jeramee Lillie was up to second on the restart and started to put pressure on Spencer, but turned his attention to Fred Astle, who was running third. The two raced hard for a couple of laps before the Houle Motorsports Chevy went around in turn two on lap five. Green flag conditions would not stay for very long again, as Astle and Spencer raced side by side for the lead and on lap six, Spencer and Astle pun in turn one. Spencer stalled his Hadrose Well Drilling Chevy while Astle was able to do a complete 360 and continue without losing any momentum. This allowed him to retain the lead while Spencer was relegated to the rear. Jimmy Rosenfield went around on the restart, and the pack was slowed up once more and again when Ryan Vanasse broke on the next restart.
It was now Astle and Tom Scully Jr. at the front of the grid, and fought tooth and nail through several restarts, with Scully leading lap 12. But Scully was unable to wrestle the lead away for good, as Astle was strong each time and hung on for his first win of the season. Dave Darling overtook second with just a couple of laps remaining, but couldn’t catch Astle. Scully Jr. held on for third with Spencer and Rosenfield rounding out the top ten.
“It feels good to get back. I have the best car owner in Ron and Lisa Lauro,” a tired Astle stated after a long 40 lapper. “My man Jack has been with me for ever. He is great. I spent over 30 hours on the car getting it back here tonight. The car was working.”
In the Kraze’s Speed Equipment main event for the Pro4 Modifieds, Norm Wrenn picked up his first win at Seekonk Speedway in a hotly contested 30 lap feature. Seventeen cars took the green flag with George Sherman and Brian Vincent on the front row. Sherman led the first laps over Vincent, Rob Richardi, Cory Cleary and Phil Lausier. The first caution came out on lap six, when the Richardi Automotive #12 stalled coming off the second turn.
As the field got back up to speed, Vincent, a former Seekonk competitor in the Trucks and Formula Fours, jumped out front and started to put some distance between he and Sherman. Wrenn was using the outside lane to his advantage and was working his way through the field. The second caution came out on lap 12 when something broke on the Japanese Motors #4 and Cleary dropped fluid onto the track in turn three.
Stormin’ Norman took advantage of the caution and jumped out into the lead and started to set his pace. Vincent held on tough for several laps until he tried to move up on Wrenn in lapped traffic and got out of the groove, forcing him to back off and lost several positions. Sherman, Frank Perry and Robin Berghman were all able to move past Vincent. On lap 21, Vincent got loose and spun in turn three. The top five were Wrenn, Sherman, Perry, Berghman and Matt Sagar.
Perry couldn’t come up to speed on the restart forcing another yellow. Vincent was forced out at this time with damage received as the field was slowing up. Once back underway, Wrenn jumped out front and took off to the win. Robin Berghman, another former Seekonk competitor was running her first race at Seekonk with the Pro4 Mods, started the event taking her time and learning the track in a new car. But by the end of the 30 laps, she found her rhythm and wound up third, just behind George Sherman. Matt Sagar and Phil Lausier rounded out the top five.
“This place is awesome!” and happy Wrenn stated in Victory Lane. “I raced here with Jeff Zuidema a few years ago and loved this place. I couldn’t wait to get back. It was one of the only tracks that I haven’t won at with these cars and we can take this one off the list. We’ve had an awesome season so far. I’ve had the same crew since I started in 1983 and they are awesome. I’d like to thank Kraze’s Speed for sponsoring this event too.”
In the Seekonk Sport Truck 25 lap feature, Mashpee’s Mike Ronhock jumped out to an early lead over Fairhaven’s Kyle DeSouza, and set the early pace. DeSouza quickly slid back on the outside as reigning champion Mike Cavallaro and Jody Tripp were working their way toward the front, while points leader Rick Martin was following suit.
On a lap seven restart, Jody Tripp moved past Ronhock and began to set the pace. Behind the leaders, Rick Martin and Cavallaro were fighting for the third position. By lap ten, Martin was stalking Tripp for the lead, leaving Cavallaro and Ronhock to battle for position. I would take several laps, but Cavallaro did work his way into third. While they were fighting, the leaders had checked out on the rest of the field. With a caution coming out on lap 15 when several trucks got together, the cushion was gone.
After a restart on lap 15, Lenny Guy slid under Ronhock for fourth while Tripp and Martin battled for the lead with Cavallaro. Tripp and Martin started to open a little more distance and would settle it amongst the two of them. Martin attempted an inside move, but couldn’t get the power down low so he slid back behind and moved to the top of the racetrack and started to work high. When that didn’t work, Martin went from the top to the bottom and this time got the Richie’s Auto Radio Chevy to stick. The pair raced wheel to wheel for the final two laps, and as they came off turn four, Martin got some traction and slid past the Silver Key Inc. Chevy of Tripp to pick up his third consecutive win of 2009. Tripp had to settle for second, while Cavallaro, Guy and Ronhock rounded out the top five.
“Man, that was fun,” Rick stated afterwards. “I have to thank all the fans that came out tonight. This is what I love to do. I hope I can do this forever.”
This Saturday, June 13, the True Value Modifieds return for the Connecticut Laborers Union 100. The Late Models, Street Stocks and Seekonk Sport Trucks will be back in action. The Pro Stocks will be idle. On Friday, the 2009 season begins for the Fast Friday series, featuring the Pure Stocks, Seekonk Youth Racing Association, Kart Racing and the all new Sport4 division. For more information, check out our website at seekonkspeedway.com.
Sources: Kevin Boucher/Seekonk Speedway PR
Pro Stock
Heat I
1. 03 Ken Spencer
2. 27 Mike Brightman
3. 80 Rob Murphy
4. 52 Dave Darling
5. 07 Kyle Casper
6. 99 Dan O’Brien
7. 44 Jimmy Rosenfield
8. 95 Steve O’Brien
9. 90 Craig Weinstein
10. 41 Bob Pelland Jr.
Heat II
1. 2 Tom Scully Jr.
2. 30 Fred Astle Jr.
3. 11 Ryan Vanasse
4. 88 Jeramee Lillie
5. 8 Wayne Dion
6. 51 Bobby Tripp
7. 5 Phil Meany
8. 86 Bob Hussey
DNS 3 Tom Scully Sr.
Feature 40 Laps
1. 30 Fred Astle Jr.
2. Dave Darling
3. 2 Tom Scully Jr.
4. 03 Ken Spencer
5. 44 Jimmy Rosenfield
6. 3 Tom Scully Sr.
7. 8 Wayne Dion
8. 41 Bobby Pelland Jr.
9. 99 Dan O’Brien
10. 5 Phil Meany
11. 95 Steve O’Brien
12. 80 Rob Murphy
13. 86 Bob Hussey
14. 07 Kyle Casper
15. 27 Mike Brightman
16. 11 Ryan Vanasse
17. 88 Jeramee Lillie
18. 90 Craig Weinstein
19. 51 Bobby Tripp
Seekonk Sport Trucks
Heat I
1. 14 Rick Martin
2. 5 Mike Ronhock
3. 96 Jason Heroux
4. 13 Brian Murray
5. 1 Billy Clarke
6. 44 Steve Dumas
7. 40 Lance Cambra
8. 3 Jariah Roderick
9. 17 John Paiva
Heat II
1. 38 Jody Tripp
2. 77 Lenny Guy
3. 16 Russ Borges
4. 80 Mike Cavallaro
5. 88 Kyle DeSouza
6. 4 Darryl Church
7. 04 Dan Fresh
8. 49 Jim Hawkins
Feature 25 Laps
1. 14 Rick Martin
2. 38 Jody Tripp
3. 80 Mike Cavallaro
4. 77 Lenny Guy
5. 5 Mike Ronhock
6. 96 Jason Heroux
7. 88 Kyle DeSouza
8. 44 Steve Dumas
9. 17John Paiva
10. 16 Russ Borges
11. 13 Brian Murray
12. 4 Darryl Church
13. 49 Jim Hawkins
14. 40 Lance Cambra
15. 3 Jariah Roderick
16. 1 Billy Clarke
17. 04 Dan Fresh
Street Stocks
Heat I
1. 11 Bobby Pelland III
2. 79 Chris Beaulieu
3. 19 Ryan Lineham
4. 41 Tony Oliviera
5. 96 Sparky Arsenault
6. 4 Gerard Berthelette
7. 2 Ron Barboza
8. 92 Dan Gamache Jr.
9. 29 Elmer Wing III
10. 17 Mark Henshaw
11. 9 Manny Dias
Heat II
1. 116 Jim Silvia
2. 18 Roland Wheeler
3. 16 Paul Newcomb
4. 3 Chris Rioux
5. 39 Mike Lima
6. 98 Jay Steely
7. 04 Steve Axon
8. 6 Dick Cavallaro
9. 45 Justin Travis
10. 71 Patrick Delaney
Heat III
1. 24 Ray Negley
2. 08 Chris DeMoura
3. 8 Crystal Serydynski
4. 40 Mike Mitchell
5. 1 Scott Serydynski
6. 77 Paul Lallier
7. 22 Brian Spillane
8. 74 Scott Bruneau
9. 07 Jeff Amaral
10. 56 Tom Dolan
Feature
30 Laps
1. 116 Jim Silvia
2. 3 Chris Rioux
3. 19 Ryan Lineham
4. 1 Scott Serydynski
5. 40 Mike Mitchell
6. 24 Ray Negley
7. 45 Justin Travis
8. 16 Paul Newcomb
9. 79 Chris Beaulieu
10. 77 Paul Lallier
11. 11 Bobby Pelland III
12. 74 Scott Bruneau
13. 41 Tony Oliviera
14. 96 Sparky Arsenault
15. 98 Jay Steely
16. 22 Brian Spillane
17. 07 Jeff Amaral
18. 39 Mike Lima
19. 2 Ron Barboza
20. 04 Steve Axon
21. 92 Dan Gamache Jr.
22. 18 Roland Wheeler
23. 08 Chris DeMoura
24. 8 Crystal Serydynski
25. 71 Patrick Delaney
26. 6 Dick Cavallaro
27. 56 Tom Dolan Sr.
28. 29 Elmer Wing III
29. 17 Mark Henshaw
30. 9 Manny Dias
Pro4 Modifieds
30 Laps
1. Norm Wrenn
2. George Sherman
3. Robin Berghman
4. Matt Sagar
5. Phil Lausier