Anderson Picks Up First Pro-4 Win at Seekonk Speedway
Seekonk, MA — With 19 cars on hand, the RF Logic/Bot-L Gas Pro Four Modifieds looked to put on a great show at Seekonk Speedway for their third visit to track this season. Tyler Anderson and Adam Norton took down wins in their respected heat races. Before the first took the initial green in the main event, #07x of Dave Maynard and #49 of Joe Lemay had found mechanical issues with their cars and were unable to race. Jeff Zuidema, #29, was given the black flag during hot laps, but was able to take his car pit side and ready in time for the feature.
The initial green was a short one as the field completed no laps before Billy Joerres and George Sherman got together. Start number two was deemed unacceptable by the race officials, but third time was a charm. Anderson got the jump as Cory Cleary and Dave Richardi followed him to get under the #16 of Stan Mertz. By lap two the action was heating up in the back as last place starter Rob Richardi had worked his way up to 10th, and Brian Vincent was working the field three wide to make his way through the pack.
The caution flew on lap five as Mertz, Phil Lausier, and Henry Sirignano all collected, and Mertz and Sirignano were towed off the track. Richardi, Jr. was sent to the rear for the assist. On the restart D. Richardi was able to pass Cleary on the low side, as Norton and Vincent followed through. Cleary was able to tuck back in line in the fifth position. Zuidema got the black flag again on lap seven as his car was shooting sparks from underneath. By the time he was able to get it repaired and re enter the track, he was scored a lap down by the officials. Another caution was drawn on lap eight when Vincent was in the wall and headed pit side. He also reentered the track, but was then a lap down.
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Racing action went just five more laps until Dave Bedard and Lausier spun. On the restart Anderson and Cleary put on a good race until Cleary seemingly broke something and fell off the pace. By lap 15 it was still Anderson out in front with D. Richardi and Frank Perry following behind and Norton trying to work the high side.
A series of cautions flew on lap 17 as Bedard spun, a false start was called, and Lausier spun and headed pit side. When they finally went green again, Anderson was still in command, with a lot of two-wide racing going on behind him. Sherman was back up to 4th and battling Norton and Richardi, Jr. for position. By lap 20, Anderson was able to pull away as Perry cleared for second position, but then lost control of his car, and was able to save it, and land back in seventh position. By lap 22, the field was running single file and on the last lap, Marc Charette spun into the infield, but no caution was called as Anderson was already approaching the checkered flag, clinching his first Pro-4 victory.
Official Finish:
- 25- Tyler Anderson
- 12- Rob Richardi, Jr.
- 00- Dave Richardi
- 01- Adam Norton
- 13- George Sherman
- 83- Frank Perry
- 56- Dave Bedard
- 29- Jeff Zuidema
- 10- Brian Vincent
- 86- Marc Charette
- 07- Phil Lausier
- 4- Cory Cleary
- 73- Jim Darlington
- 16- Stan Mertz
- 58- Henry Sirignano
- 99- Billy Joerres
- 5- Dan Meservey, Jr.
- 07x- Dave Maynard
Sources: Amy Arsenault/Pro Four Modifieds PR