Jeff Abold and Anthony Marvuglio pick up Airgas Boston Louie Classic wins for NEMA and NEMA Lites. Martin, Lima, Darling and DeGasparre share spotlight

Seekonk, MA — Jeff Abold added his name to the list of winners for the Boston Louie Classic, Presented by Airgas, putting the Seymour #29 back into victory lane, in the event that honors the Man that traveled over a million miles. Anthony Marvuglio scored the NEMA Lites win, his first in Lites competition.

Indianapolis’ Cole Carter, a regular on the USAC circuit, made himself right at home in the Bertrand Motorsports #74, as he took over on lap two, and opened up a straightaway lead over the field. Adam Cantor jumped into second, but could not keep up with Carter, who was making his Seekonk debut. Nokie Fornoro was up to third by lap four, from his ninth starting position.

[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto

Working through the field was Abold, who started 14th, due to setting fast time in qualifying with a time of 10.849. Abold moved into the top five by lap five, swinging by Chris Deritas. He caught and passed John Zych for fourth on lap 10. By the time the first caution came out on lap 16, for Matt O’Brien who spun in turn 2. He had passed Cantor for second on the restart, but found himself several cars in back of Carter when the final caution came out on lap 18 for Lee Bundy, who stalled on the backstretch.

As the pair came down for the restart, Carter and Abold pushed each other for the next lap and a half, banging wheels and nerf bars several times. Abold was able to recover, and took over the lead. Once out front, he opened up a nearly 2 second advantage and picked up the win. Carter finished second, with Nokie, Will Wall and Randy Cabral rounding out the top five.

In the companion NEMA Lites, Anthony Marvuglio scored his first win in the NEMA Lites in the Cabral #35. Marvuglio jumped out to the early lead, and never looked back in the 29 lap main event, as smoke billowed from his machine as he crossed under the checkers. While setting the pace, Jake Smith settled into second, while Stephanie Doty ran third.

Shaun Gosselin, who started 12th, started his move to the front. He took over fifth on lap ten with a three wide move to get by Joe Mikitarian and Russ Wood Jr. Just past the halfway point, he moved into third, and took over second on lap 19. Shaun was on a tear, but ran out of time, and had to settle for second. Doty squeezed past Smith for third over the final laps, with Mikitarian and Smith rounding out the top five.

The ARC Pro Stocks took the track with Jeramee Lillie jumping into the lead and set the pace for the first half of the main. Dan O’Brien settled in for second, but could only hold on for a few, as reigning champion Fred Astle Jr moved by for second on lap 5. Points leader Dave Darling wasn’t far behind, and moved into third by the 10 lap mark.

As the race entered the middle portions, Lillie held a car length advantage over Astle and Darling, with Kyle Casper and Mike Brightman in the top five. As they crossed the halfway point, Casper had slid out of the top five when Brightman and Tom Scully Jr moved up. With the cross flags behind them, Astle started looking for a way into the lead. Lillie moved up the track a little off of turn two on lap 26, and Astle took advantage. Flyin’ Fred took a look under Lillie, and the pair raced into turn three. As they hit the apex of the corner, contact was made, with Lillie spinning in front of the field. No one else was involved, but Astle was sent to the rear, as the leaders made contact.

Darling assumed the lead, with Brightman second. Scully, Casper and Rob Murphy rounded out the top five. Murphy spun on the restart, bringing out the second caution. A lap later, Dan O’Brien went around for the third slow up.

Once back underway, Darling settled into his own rhythm, and held on for his fifth win of the season. Brightman held on for second, with Scully Jr third. Astle was able to work himself back into fourth at the end, with Spencer rounding out the top five.

Gerry DeGasparre moved into a tie in the Late Model all time win list with his 28th win, and second of the season. As the field rolled on the first lap, Bob Hussey and Mike Cavallaro got together, with Steve Potter getting involved as well. Once back underway, Matt Breault set the early pace, with DeGasparre settling in behind. Just past the one-third mark, Gerry made his move and slid past Breault, taking over the lead. Kevin Casper ran third for the early laps until points leader Ryan Vanasse worked his way around on lap 17. The second caution came out on lap 18, when Tyler Thompson spun.

Vanasse took over second on the restart, with Casper following through. Randy Burr moved into fourth by lap 23. The final restart came on lap 24, after Kevin Folan and Steve Potter got together. Once back under way, DeGasparre held on for his second win of the season, with Vanasse, Kevin Casper, Kyle Casper and Randy Burr rounding out the top five.

Rick Martin made it back to Victory Lane for the ninth time this season, holding off John Paiva in the 25 lap Seekonk Sports Truck feature. Mike Ronhock jumped out into the early lead with Jariah Roderick running second. Roderick held on for four laps before Paiva slid by. Martin was right on his tail, and slid into third at the same time. At the ten lap mark, Martin moved to the outside, and took over the lead on lap eleven and opened up a five truck length advantage. The first caution came out on lap 16, when Ronhock and Jody Tripp spun. Lenny Guy was penalized for the assist.

Martin took off like a man on a mission, and set the pace for the remainder of the race. The battle going on was for fourth between Kyle DeSouza and Jason Heroux. DeSouza won that battle, as Heroux settled for third, with Heroux and Guy rounding out the top five at the checkered.

To win in the Street Stocks at Seekonk, one must have a good car, a patient driver, and a little lady luck on his/her side. For most of the race, Mike Lima had a good car, and patience. But it took luck to find Victory Lane for the first time since 2006.

Lima jumped out at the start of the race, and set the early pace. Roland Wheeler ran second for the first few circuits, before Patrick Delaney took over. Wheeler held on for third until he spun on lap seven to end his night. Delaney’s misfortunes continued, as under caution, a fan blade broke and went through the radiator, ending his night.

Lima took over once again, with Ray Negley and Justin Travis second and third. Justin started ninth, and was looking for his second win of the season as he moved into second on lap ten. It was then that he and Negley got together, ending their nights. Paul Newcomb Jr moved into the second position, and gave chase to Lima for several laps before Scott Serydynski, who started 17th, moved to the outside and picked off one car after the other. With nine laps remaining, Scott was second, looking for the lead. With five laps remaining, Lima, Serydynski, Newcomb, Sparky Arsenault, and Mark Henshaw Jr rounded out the top five.

As the laps wore down, Serydynski continued his march to the front, and on lap 24, he took over the lead. As Scott and Lima rode off turn two, Serydynski slowed a little, giving the lead back to Lima, who held on for the win. Arsenault moved into second, with Henshaw third. Serydynski finished fourth, after breaking an axle on the final circuit, with Steve Axon finishing fifth.

Action resumes on Saturday, august 15, with the Cirelli Marketplace 150 for the Pro All Stars Series. This will be the first ever appearance for the touring Super Late Model/Pro Stock series, at the track that began the Pro Stocks in 1978. Dave Darling and Fred Astle have already guaranteed themselves in the main event by virtue of the 75 lap qualifiers held earlier this season. Several other competitors from Seekonk have already shown interest in competing against some of the toughest Pro Stock competition in the North East. The Late Models, Seekonk Sport Trucks and Street Stocks will also be part of the racing action. Front gate admission for adults is set at $20.00. Green flag drops at 6pm. For more information, check out the all new seekonkspeedway.com.

Souces: Kevin Boucher/Seekonk Speedway PR

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