DeSouza, Spencer, Martin & Beaulieu pick up Seekonk Mid Season Championship honors
Seekonk, MA — Ken Spencer ended his two-season drought of Pro Stock wins in a convincing fashion after a second-lap spectacular crash halted the race for a major cleanup. The Taunton native hadn’t visited Victory Lane since a win in the 2008 season. Spencer, Rob Murphy from Rochester, MA and Westporter Rick Martin dueled for the lead throughout the feature. The trio finished the race in that order, just ahead of Ryan Vanasse and defending champ, Fred Astle. Astle’s fifth place finish juggles the leadership in points in the division at this mid-season race: Dave Darling, who nabbed the seventh spot on the night had been nursing a 1-point lead over Astle, and the 4-point differential edges Astle 3 points ahead of Darling.
At the outset, Murphy leapt off the high side of the front row, ahead of polesitter Phil Meany of Gardner, MA, getting the track to himself entering the first turn on lap 2. Meany got wide in turn one as Westport’s Dave Hutchins went to his outside. Opportunistic Spencer dived in underneath, making it 3-wide in turn 2. Coming out, the dynamics saw Meany get up into Hutchins, who was forced to the backstretch wall. The outside tires mounted the barrier amid a fury of sparks and rode the middle of the wall, tilting the car at a 45-degree angle. The pack began to scramble, but Acushnet’s Mike Brightman took a full force hit as Hutchins came down off the wall. Brightman had to be taken off on the hook and spent a great deal of time in the pits with suspension repairs. Also hauled from the track were the cars of Billy Manchester and Jeramee Lillie.
Murphy forged to the lead at the drop of the green and Spencer followed him into second. With Meany on the outside, Martin and Scully began a battle for position. Martin edged the Saunderstown, RI driver for the position. By lap 7, Murphy and Spencer were brawling over the lead with Martin patiently following for a shot at the spoils. Astle, Darling, Scully, Meany and Jake Vanada paraded behind them. Spencer had edged ahead of Murphy by the lap’s completion and wily Martin leapt at the opportunity to run to Murphy’s outside, where they battled through laps 8 and 9. Astle and Darling followed.
By lap 10, Spencer was working a 3-car lead on the field and Martin, having bested Murphy on lap 10, was drawing his sights on the leader. It was a parade over the next five laps, with Spencer working the front, chased by Martin, Murphy, Astle, Darling, Scully and Vanada. Martin was closing on the leader by lap 15 and by lap 18, Spencer had only a one-car lead. Martin was knocking on the door through lap 25 with Murphy again closing in, followed by Astle and Darling. The lead trio was nose-to-tail by the 27th circuit.
On the 29th rotation, the lead trio was beginning a dogfight, with Murphy looking to duck under Martin, but Kyle Casper ran into some suspension problems in the front stretch, forcing his car to pitch and yaw and dive onto the infield grass of turn 1, bringing out the caution flag. The lap 29 restart had Spencer on the pole and Martin on his right shoulder with Murphy at his back. Astle was on the outside of row 2 with Darling down low on the third and Scully up high. Spencer clawed his way to the lead on the restart, while Murphy followed him under Martin and the two began warfare for second spot.
Lap 33 saw Lillie spinning in turn four to bring out another caution, which would be the final yellow flag of the evening.
Spencer and Murphy resumed the dogfight as the green dropped with Spencer leading by a half car on the backstretch and Murphy by a nose at the start-finish line on the front. Martin was again following and watching them battle. Ryan Vanasse, who had edged carefully through the field to seventh on the restart, now went wide to leap into the fourth spot, getting around Vanada, Darling and Astle in a big leap.
The race became a very wild parade for the final laps, with the exception of Vanada wedging himself between Astle and Darling by lap 38. A brawling trio of Spencer, Murphy and Martin surged under the checkered flag for the 1-2-3 finish, followed by Vanasse, Astle, Vanada and Darling. Scully, Kevin Casper and Meany rounded out the top 10.
Order of Finish: 1: 03, Ken Spencer, 2: 80, Rob Murphy, 3: 14, Rick Martin, 4: 11, Ryan Vanasse; 5: 30, Fred Astle; 6: 46, Jake Vanada; 7: 52, Dave Darling; 8: 2, Tom Scully, Jr; 9: 88 Kevin Casper; 10: 5, Philip Meany; 11: 12, John Dabrowski; 12: 41, Dick Houlihan; 13: 7, Kyle Casper; 14: 6, Billy Manchester; 15: 50, Jeramme Lillie; 16: 27, Mike Brightman; 17: 96 Dave Hutchins.
ROOKIE DESOUZA WINS FIRST FEATURE IN LATE MODELS
Fairhaven’s Kyle DeSouza started the Late Model race on the pole and led all competitors under the checkered flag, but it was a race that saw him battle for the front and change places with Jonathan Dickerman through the 35-lap midseason race for Late Models. It was the first win for the division’s rookie, who has moved steadily through the divisions since starting several years back in the Seekonk Youth Racing Association’s 600 and 750 divisions.
Dickerman, from Weymouth finished in the runnerup spot, but was not easily beaten in a hard, clean race with only two mid-race restarts to slow the action. Warwick, RI’s Ryan Vanasse, Gerry DeGasparre, Jr.of Pawtucket and Matt Breault from Acushnet, MA rounded out the top 5.
DeSouza started on the pole with Dickerman on his outside. Dickerman was quick to the lead at the start, but Hyannis’ Rick Shinn was knocked to the infield at the start, suffering some damage to his body metal at the nose. He restarted at the end of the pack. This time, the racers were off in fashion with Dickerman again surging to the lead on the backstretch. Behind DeSouza, Seekonk’s Mike Cavallaro and Tyler Thompson from Somerset, MA, diced it up for third place Cavallaro settled into third by lap 3, and Middleboro’s Randy Burr had gotten by Thompson for fourth. By lap 5, the field was Dickerman, DeSouza, Cavallaro, Burr, and Ryan Vanasse, who had moved up from his eighth starting spot.
DeSouza, not to be denied, pulled up on Dickerman on lap 6 to renew warfare. He made an underneath move on the leader on the following circuit and they were side-by-side through lap 8. DeSouza had the lead to himself by lap to, but Dickerman was pursuing, followed, still, by Cavallaro, Burr, Vanasse and now divisional multi-champ DeGasparre in sixth.
Shinn’s damage brought him into a spin on lap 12. DeSouza had the pole on the restart with Dickerman outside. Cavallaro and Burr were the next row, and Vanasse and DeGasparre made up a dangerous third spread on the grid. Kyle Casper, who won the first three bouts of the season and continues to lead the division, was joined in the fourth row by Frank Duquette.
Dickerman edged ahead the face-off as the green fell in a real battle, side-by-side through lap 13. But Robert Pelland III brought out a caution with a spin in turn 4. It was the final of the 35-lap event. Dickerman’s slight edge gave him the pole over DeSouza on the restart, which he didn not waste. He continued to lead through lap 15, while Vanasse slipped into fourth place behind Cavallaro.
Dickerman and DeSouza continued to dice for the lead, 8 cars ahead of the pack. Vanasse, having passed Burr, now was wrestling with Cavallaro for third and slipped underneath into the position. It hung Cavallaro on the outside and DeGasparre seized the opportunity to go underneath for fourth. Kyle Casper and Middleboroite Jimmy Rosenfield also nabbed the advantage, shuttling Cavallaro back to seventh.
On lap 21, DeSouza dropped down and went under Dickerman to regain the lead. Vanasse began to pursue to make up the distance to Dickerman. The leaders continued to struggle, nose-to-tail, with Vanasse beginning to close. DeSouza worked a 2-car lead over Dickerman by lap 27, and added two more lengths over the next pair of circuits. Now, it was becoming a challenge between Dickerman and Vanasse for fourth, with DeGasparre on their tails. Over the final 3 laps, DeSouza continued to run for the win while Vanasse toiled to get past Dickerman. At the stripe, it was Dickerman holding him off by a nose with DeGasparre and Breault finishing out the top 5.
Order of Finish: 1: 88 Kyle DeSouza; 2: 13 Jonathan Dickerman; 3: 11 Ryan Vanasse; 4: 71 Gerry DeGasparre, Jr.; 5: 20 Matt Breault; 6: 7 Kyle Casper; 7: 44 Jimmy Rosenfield; 8: 12 Robert Pelland III; 9: 32 Randy Burr; 10: 87 Mike Cavallaro; 11: 03 Frank Duquette; 12: 22 Tyler Thompson; 13: 80 Robert Hussey; 14: 66 Dennis Stange; 15: 57 Colbey Fournier; 16: 10 Rick Shinn.
BEAULIEU PACES SEEKONK STREET STOCKS
Chris Beaulieu, The Woonsocket Rocket, took over Seekonk Speedway’s midseason Street Stock feature from his outside pole starting position and raced to the final checkers for a big, 30-lap win over Coventry, RI’s Ray Negley by 5 carlengths, 1.l427 seconds. Beaulieu started on the front, outside Crystal Serydenski and it was hard racing between the pair from the outset. Serydenski, from Johnston, RI, forged a lead which saw Beaulieu struggling to get down into the low groove at first, but by lap 5 it was again a dead heat between the duo and continued into lap 6, when hard-charging Gerard Berthelette spun, while Beulieu had a fender on Serydenski, giving him the pole on the restart.
However, Tim Eaton, Craig Pianka, and Joe Fernandez tangled up in the front stretch by the starter’s platform on the restart, so the field came back to try again. Beulieu bested Serydenski for the lead on the backstretch, but it was trouble again, as Patrick Delaney spun on theback side after suddenly slowing, setting up a big scramble which sent Ron Barboza, Sr. into the back wall. Delaney and last week’s winner, Ryan Lineham were towed to the pits, while Barboza was pulled from the wall. Delaney, Barboza and Pianka retired from the feature at this point.
The lap 8 restart saw Beaulieu outrun Serydenski once again. Crystal had some handling problems, sending her up the track, and a line of cars was able to take advantage and move under her. Negley, who had restarted third, was after Beulieu, followed by North Dighton’s Chris DeMoura and Cranston driver John Geremia III. Manny Dias was black-flagged for a flapping hood and he retired 11 laps down.
By lap 15, Beaulieu had a long lead over Negley and the field, which he pushed out to 8 cars on lap 17, where he began to encounter lapped traffic. He slipped easily through.
On the 22nd go-around, Steve Axon, driving out of Attleboro, MA, looped, collecting Pawtucket’s Chris Rioux in the crash. Both restarted at the tail of the field. Beaulieu and Negley battled at the green with Beaulieu again going to the front followed by DeMoura, Scott Bruneau, Tony Oliviera and Mike Mitchell. Mitchell and tim Caton spun between turns 3 and 4, bringing up a lap 23 restrt. Beaulieu and Negley faced off from the front row again, with Beaulieu taking the lead in the second turn.
By lap 27, Beaulieu had a comfortable 5-car lead on Negley, who was now being troubled by Bruneau, who had passed DeMoura. Bruneau made a final dash at the line, almost nipping Negley, who held on for second, while Beaulieu romped home under the checkers. DeMoura and Michael Lema of Taunton, MA, rounded out the top 5.
Order of Finish: 1: 79 Chris Beaulieu; 2: 61 Ray Negley; 3: 74 Scott Bruneau; 4: 08 Chris DeMoura; 5: 39 Michael Lema; 6: 40 Michael Mitchell; 7: 19 Ryan Lineham; 8: 17 Mark Henshaw 9: 41 Tony Oliveira; 10; 24 John Geremia III; 11: 1 Scott Serydenski; 12: 04 Steve Axon; 13: 3 Chris Rioux; 14: 4 Gerard Berthelette; 15: 98 Tim Eaton; 16: 76 Ronald Lum; 17: 85 Mike Viens; 18: 93 Chuck Taylor, Jr.; 19: 51 Joe Ferenandez; 20: 8 Crystal Serydenski; 21: 81 Manny Dias; 22: 44 Craig Pianka; 23: 71 Patrick Delaney; 24: 02 Ron Barboza, Sr.; 25: 23 Gary Boutelle; DNS: Ken Kohler; DNS: Rey Lovelace
MARTIN CRUISES AGAIN IN SPORT TRUCKS
Westport, Massachusetts driver Rick Martin added to his midseason divisional points lead over John Paiva with another victory on the season in the 30-lap feature, holding off New Bedford’s Lenny Guy to the finish line. Guy finished second, ahead of Seekonk’s Mike Cavallaro (last week’s divisional winner) and Paiva of Fall River. Ted Berube of Somerset, MA, rounded out the top 5.
Seekonk, MA driver Billy Clarke, who has been racing at Seekonk since the 1940’s, led off from the pole, but Berube, on his outside, went to the lead on the first lap. Paiva followed Berube from the outside of the second row, and had the lead early in lap 2. Michelle Dumas of Quincy, starting 8th, suffered a spin and the start was called back to the first lap, placing Berube on the pole with Paiva on his outside. Clarke started low on the second row with Guy alongside. Martin sat on the outside, behind Guy.
On the green, Paiva managed to surge to the lead by lap 3 with Berube falling in behind and Guy on his coattails. Martin managed to get around Clarke into fourth while Cavallaro was moving up from his 10th spot on the starting grid.
With Paiva trying to escape Berube on lap 6, Bob Andreozzi from Portsmouth spun in turn 4. This put Paiva on the pole with Berube on his outside. Guy was low behind paiva with Martin behind Berube. Berube fell back on the start, with Guy pulling in behind Paiva and Martin settling down in third. Berube finally got down into the groove in 4th place.
By the ninth circuit, Paiva was showing a two car lead on Guy, Martin and Berube. Cavallaro was moving rapidly toward the front. On lap ten, Clarke and Dylan Estrella rubbed paint in turn 3, sending Estrella to the infield grass and bringing a caution. Paiva was a way at the green flag, chased by Guy, Martin, Berube, Clarke and Cavallaro. Martin took a quick move under Guy to get into second place on the 12th lap while Berube and Clarke dueled for fourth. Paiva, Martin and Guy began to put distance on the field.
Martin slid under Paiva in lap 16 and into the lead on the following circuit; Guy settled in to gnaw at Paiva’s tail. Dumas and Dan Leach got into each other, spinning and bringing out the caution and a lap 19 restart. Martin again grabbed the lead from the pole while Guy came up from the low side of the second row to get under Paiva for second. Paiva was stuck on the outside and Cavallaro was coming up quickly. Martin went out to a 4-car lead on Guy over the next 4 laps, while Cavallaro edged Paiva for third. On the twenty-fifth completion, Martin led Guy, Cavallaro, Paiva and Berube with a long gap back to Estrella and Clarke.
With three to go, Martin had a comfortable 5 car lead over Guy, which he carried under the checkered flag for his third Sport Trucks win of the season. Guy, Cavallaro, Paiva and Berube rounded out the top 5.
Order of Finish: 1: 14 Rick Martin; 2: 77 Lenny Guy; 3: 80 Michael Cavallaro; 4: 17 John Paiva; 5: 91 Ted Berube; 6: 46 Dylan Estrella; 7: 1 Billy Clarke; 8: 3 Jariah Roderick; 9: 5 Michael Ronhock; 10: 29 Dane Saritelli; 11: 43 Dan Leach; 12: 44 Michelle Dumas; 13: 23 Anna Gregoire; 14: 49 Jim Hawkins; 15: 07 Steve Boyko; 16: 2 Robert Andreozzi; 17: 15 Casey Sanchez; 18: 92 Ronny Cornell
Sources: Kevin Boucher/Seekonk Speedway PR