Dave Darling, Ryan Vanasse, Rick Martin and Ryan Lineham repeat in ARC Action

Seekonk, MA — On Saturday, July 25, Dave Darling picked up his fourth win of the season in the ARC Pro Stocks. Ryan Vanasse picked up win number seven in the Late Models, continuing his dominance, Rick Martin made it seven for eleven, as he closes in on the All Time win record at The Action Track of the East, and Ryan Lineham picked up his second win of the season in the Street Stocks.

In the 40 lap Pro Stock main event, Jeramee Lillie jumped out to the early lead in the Houle Motorsports Chevy, and started to put some distance between he and the rest of the field. Ken Spencer settled into second for the early part of the event, but at lap 8, the Hadrose Well Drilling Chevy started to slide back a little, allowing Darling and then Tom Scully Jr by for second and third.

[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto

Lillie continued to show the way as the field came under the half-way mark, and the lead over Darling had stabilized at about 4 car lengths. Scully continued to run third with Spencer and Tom Scully Sr rounding out the top five. Rob Murphy was making his presence known, and slid by Sr Scully just past the halfway point. While racing Spencer for fourth, the two tangled, bringing out the first caution on lap 28. This moved Scully and Mike Brightman into the top five.

Darling got the jump on the restart, and put the Johnson Landscaping Dodge to the front, but the momentum would slow again on lap 29 when several cars tangled in turn 3. All were able to pull away with the exception of Rick Martin, who hit the pit entrance wall, damaging the front of his Houle Motorsports Chevy.

Darling made quick work of Lillie, and took over at the top of the field. The Wheelock’s NAPA Auto Parts Chevy of Tom Scully Jr moved underneath Lillie and took over the second position. Brightman also followed through, and moved into third on lap 33. Tom Jr continued to hound the two-time champion, but could not muster up a serious challenge. Darling held on for the win, with Scully Jr, Brightman, Lillie and Scully Sr rounding out the top five. With his win, Darling again assumes the Pro Stock point lead with six events remaining for the Pro Stocks.

“I have to thank my crew, car owner Gary Johnson and Johnson Landscaping, Almeida Farms, Pepsi Cola and of course Ronnie Pond,” a satisfied Darling stated. “He works on the car all week and makes it go around in circles. I just drive the thing.”

For the seventh time in nine events, Ryan Vanasse is living up to his moniker of Rocket. With each win, he is looking to lock up his first ever title early, so he can participate in the ACT Invitational at NHMS on September 19. That just happens to be Seekonk Speedway’s Championship Night. So far so good for Vanasse.

The field didn’t get across the starting line before two cars were eliminated. Colby Fournier spun the tires on the start, causing the Propane Plus Chevy to spin in the middle of the pack. Matt Breault and Bill Bernard hit the wall trying to avoid Fournier, ending their nights. Once underway, Wellfleet’s Bob Hussey jumped out to the early lead and set the pace for the first four laps before Frank Duquette moved by and took over on lap 5. The second caution came out on lap 6 for the Triple G Scaffolding Dodge spun.

Vanasse took over on the restart, as the NAC Security & Sound System Chevy of Duquette settled behind for second. Gerry DeGasparre moved into third, with Hussey and Mike Cavallaro rounding out the top five. The second caution came out on lap 13, when Colby Fournier spun in turn three. Bob Hussey and Tyler Thomson had made contact heading into turn three, causing the spin.

DeGasparre took over second on the restart and hounded Vanasse to the checkered, but could not make a run on the now seven time winner. DeGasparre settled for second, with Cavallaro, Duquette and Kevin Casper rounding out the top five.

“Talk about pressure,” Vanasse joked. “My fans came out and won the Fans on Parade tonight. I couldn’t do anything less than win the feature. We race with a lot of great drivers, and we just try to bring it home in one piece.”

Rick Martin brought the Chevy back out, and with a bad clutch, was able to overtake Mike Ronhock on a lap 13 restart. Ronhock jumped out to the early lead, but had plenty of pressure from the get-go. John Paiva filled in right behind, and put pressure on the Mashpee native right away. The two put a little distance between themselves and Hugh Bowser. By the time lap seven came around, Martin was putting pressure on Bowser for third. Using the outside lane, he slid past Bowser for third, and overtook Paiva for second on lap 13. The only caution of the event came out at that time, when Brian Murray spun and Russ Borges made contact, cutting down a tire.

Martin has been able to use the outside lane to his advantage over the course of the season, and tonight was no exception. As the laps clicked off, Jody Tripp, using that same outside lane, moved into second on lap 16. Over the final nine laps, Tripp was able to close in on Martin, but Martin would not give him an opportunity to beat him. Tripp held on for second, with Lenny Guy finishing third. John Paiva and Russ Borges rounded out the top five.

“Three more to tie it!” a focused Martin mentioned, talking about the all-time win record. “That’s what we’re going at. I was driving it all off this week.”

The Street Stocks continue to put on a great show, and tonight they did not disappoint. As Paul Lallier and Bobby Pelland III headed into turn one at the green, the bottom lane opened up, and Pat Delaney moved in and made it three wide for the lead through the first corners. Chris Beaulieu followed through, and dropped Lallier back to third by lap two. Sparky Arsenault and Steve Axon also moved past by the time lap four was complete. The first of three cautions came out on lap five, when Bobby Pelland III came to a stop in turn four with front suspension damage to his A&A Auto Parts Chevy.

Arsenault moved into second on the restart, and followed Delaney around. By lap ten, Ryan Lineham had found his way from his ninth starting position, and moved past Lallier for third. Using the inside lane, he moved past Arsenault on lap fourteen, with Mark Henshaw following Lineham into second. Jim Silvia was also working his way forward, but as they came off turn two, contact between Silvia and Delaney while battling for third, send the Towncartravel.com Chevy around, bringing out the second caution. Silvia was sent to the rear for the assist.

Scott Serydynski started 18^th, but by this time, was sitting third on the restart, and looked poised to make it two in a row. It took a few laps, but Serydynski finally got by a hard charging Henshaw for second on lap 18. the third and final caution came out on lap 19, when Paul Newcomb and Elmer wing III got together.

Lineham and Serydynski raced wheel to wheel for several laps, before Lineham finally held him off and picked up his second win of the season, holding off Serydynski. Mark Henshaw, Sparky Arsenault and Chris Rioux rounded out the top five.

“I had to run Scott hard like that,” a tired Lineham spoke. “I hated to do that, he’s a great competitor, but he was a little faster than I was.”

ARC Racing continues on Saturday, August 1^st, with a full night of pro Stock, Late Model, Street Stock and Seekonk Sport Truck racing. Green flag drops at 6pm.

Sunday, the Army National Guard thrill Show will take place with Spectator Drags, Enduro Drags for cars and trucks, Enduro Racing, Monster Trucks, Drifting and Figure 8’s for the cars and trucks. The action starts at 5pm. General admission is $20.00 for adults and kids 12 and under, just $5.00. Print your tickets at home, using the website as your tool. Check us out at seekonkspeedway.com.

Sources: Kevin Boucher/Seekonk Speedway PR

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