Martin, Casper, Estrella and Lineham pick up Seekonk Checkers
Seekonk, MA — On Saturday night, The Radical One returned to Pro Stock victory lane for the first time since 2006, holding off challenges from Dave Darling and Fred Astle over the final restarts. John Dabrowski took the lead on the initial green from pole sitter Phil Meany, and led the first six laps before the first caution came out for Dave Hutchins who slowed in turn two. Martin had already moved into the runner up spot, and lined up aside John. Rick took the lead over on lap 8, and started to open up his lead over Dabrowski. The second caution came out on lap 14 when Hutchins and Kyle Casper tangled in turn 2.
Over the next dozen laps, Martin continued to set the pace, while Mike Brightman led the charge to catch Martin. He hung on to second until Dave Darling moved underneath and took over second just before the caution came out for Scott Dion, who spun in turn 2. Kevin Casper was penalized for the assist.
With Brightman being penalized two positions for jumping the previous restart, Astle and Ryan Vanasse moved into third and fourth on the restart. Astle took over second after moving under Darling as they came back up to speed and set his sights on Martin. A final restart on lap 32 would give Astle a shot at a side by side battle.
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
In the end, it was all Martin, as he drove away and picked up his 57th Pro Stock win by three ca lengths over Astle. Darling, Vanasse and Tom Scully Jr rounded out the top five. Ken Spencer, Ray Parent, Rob Murphy, Dabrowski and Brightman rounded out the top ten.
Pro Stock finish
1 Rick Martin
2 Fred Astle Jr
3 Dave Darling
4 Ryan Vanasse
5 Tom Scully Jr
6 Ken Spencer
7 Ray Parent
8 Rob Murphy
9 John Dabrowski
10 Mike Brightman
11 Kevin Casper
12 Scott Dion
13 Phil Meany
14 Kyle Casper
15 Mike Medeiros
16 Dave Hutchins
17 Steve O’Brien
DNS Jake Vanada (Rear End)
For the third consecutive week, Kyle Casper showed that the first two wins were no flukes. Kyle started tenth in the 16 car field, and methodically moved his way through the field. Bob Hussey and Mike Cavallaro took the field down for the green, but it was Matt Breault jumping out front and taking the lead. Cavallaro settled into second and chased after Breault while Jon Dickerman moved into third by lap 6. As they reached the 1/3 point, Dickerman moved to the outside and challenged Cavallaro for second. While they battled, Colby Fournier spun on the backstretch, bringing out the first caution. Breault was penalized 4 positions for jumping the restart and ignoring the officials’ warnings.
Cavallaro was able to hold off the Weymouth native, but only for a lap before Jon took over the lead and started to put some distance between he and the field. As they hit the halfway mark, Dickerman led Cavallaro, Casper, Ryan Vanasse and Randy Burr. Kyle closed in and took over second from Cavallaro and moved to the outside of the leader on lap 21. They raced side by side before the second caution came out for Bill Bernard on lap 23. As they completed that lap, Casper edged Dickerman by .002, giving him the point on the restart. Vanasse moved into third as well.
Over the last seven laps, Dickerman fought back, but didn’t have enough to keep Casper out of Victory Lane. Vanasse settled for third with Cavallaro and Burr rounding out the top five. Bob Pelland III, Gerry DeGasparre, Dennis Stange, Tyler Thompson and Frank Duquette finished sixth through tenth.
LM Finish
1 Kyle Casper
2 Jon Dickerman
3 Ryan Vanasse
4 Mike Cavallaro
5 Randy Burr
6 Bob Pelland III
7 Gerry DeGasparre Jr
8 Dennis Stange
9 Tyler Thompson
10 Frank Duquette
11 Kyle DeSouza
12 Matt Breault
13 Colby Fournier
14 Bob Hussey
15 Bill Bernard
16 Rick Shinn
Before the Sport Truck feature would even complete a lap, Lenny Guy looped on the backstretch, causing several trucks behind him to scramble, bringing out the caution. Another caution came out on lap 1, when Dan Leach spun in turn 4, collecting Ted Berube, ending both of their nights.
Jariah Roderick and Brian Murray ran one-two on the first lap, but Dylan Estrella quickly moved out front and set the pace. Two time winner Rick Martin moved into second and started to put pressure on the former S.Y.R.A. champion. They pulled away from the field until the caution came out on lap 14 for Michelle Dumas, who spun on the front stretch.
Martin took over on the restart, and it looked like he would make it three in a row. Guy had worked through the field and moved under and past Estrella for second on the restart. John Paiva and Casey Sanchez ran fourth and fifth and the top five ran nose to tail until Brian Murray spun and brought out the final yellow on lap 19.
Estrella took back second on the restart and worked his way under Martin with three laps to go. The pair ran side by side while Guy tried to make it three wide for the lead off turn two. Guy ended up spinning for the second time, leaving the race for the lead between Estrella and Martin. As they came off turn four, they touched, slowing Martin up just enough and Estrella held on by .028 for his first career Sport Truck win. Martin was second with Paiva, Sanchez and Ron Cornell Jr rounding out the top five. Mike Ronhock was sixth, with Roderick, Dane Saritelli, Murray and Jim Hawkins seventh through tenth.
Sport Truck Finish
1 Dylan Estrella
2 Rick Martin
3 John Paiva
4 Casey Sanchez
5 Ron Cornell Jr
6 Mike Ronhock
7 Jariah Roderick
8 Dane Saritelli
9 Brian Murray
10 Jim Hawkins
11 Lenny Guy
12 Michelle Dumas
13 Bob Andreozzi
14 Dan Leach
15 Ted Berube
In the 25 lap Street Stock main, Flyin’ Ryan Lineham picked up his first win of the season, squeezing by Mark Henshaw with only one lap remaining. Gerard Berthelette jumped out in front of Tyler Jarvenpaa at the drop of the green, but his lead would only last until the first caution came out on lap two when last week’s winner Steve Axon spun with Ray Negley.
As they raced back up to speed, Henshaw used the inside lane and squeezed into the lead for the first time of the season. Patrick Delaney followed through for second, with Berthelette hanging on to third. The second caution came out on lap six then Joe Fernandez stalled in turn 4.
Berthelette moved back into second on the restart and ran second, trying to keep up with Henshaw. Lineham was moving through the top five and into third on lap 17. Jarvenpaa spun on the following lap, bringing out the final yellow.
Lineham moved past Berthelette for second and started putting pressure on Henshaw. Defending Street Stock Champion Mike Mitchell followed Lineham into third and worked his back bumper over the final laps. Lineham moved into the lead on lap 24, with Henshaw hanging onto the outside lane. Mitchell filled the hole underneath and squeaked by for second at the stripe. Henshaw was third with Chris Beaulieu and Rob Murray, Berthelette, Rey Lovelace, Tony Oliviera and Scott Serydynski.
Street Stock Finish
1 Ryan Lineham
2 Mike Mitchell
3 Mark Henshaw Jr
4 Chris Beaulieu
5 Rob Murray
6 Mike Lema
7 Gerard Berthelette
8 Rey Lovelace
9 Tony Oliviera
10 Scott Serydynski
11 Scott Bruneau
12 Patrick Delaney
13 Elmer Wing III
14 Ray Negley
15 Chris DeMoura
16 Steve Axon
17 Craig Pianka
18 John Geremia III
19 Tyler Jarvenpaa
20 Joe Fernandez
21 Chuck Taylor Jr
22 Crystal Serydynski
23 Tim Eaton|
24 Joe Kohler
25 Greg Perry
DNS Tom Blackwell II
Sources: Kevin Boucher/Seekonk Speedway PR