Scully Takes Seekonk Pro Stock Opener
SEEKONK, MA — Tom Scully, Jr. of Cranston, RI used a late restart to pass race leader Rick Martin of Westport, MA on the outside for the Pro Stock win at Seekonk (MA) Speedway Sunday afternoon. Ryan Lineham edged Angelo Belsito at the line for third, while Kyle Casper brought home a solid fifth. Ryan Vanasse, Fred Astle, Jr., defending champion Kenny Spencer, Dick Houlihan, and rookie Nick Lascoula rounded out the top ten.
“That was pretty fun. Ricky (Martin), we got a little racy there, but I’m so glad my mother came today.” Scully said. “I don’t even know what to say. I feel overjoyed and kind of sad in another moment. I’d like to thank Wheelock’s Auto Parts and Brian worked on this car all winter long pretty much by himself and it’s proof that it won the race tonight.”
“If I could take the victory away and give her some comfortable days, I would do that all day,” Scully said of his mother Debra’s fight with cancer.
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
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Rick Martin and Kyle Casper led the field to the green for the 40-lap feature. Casper took over the lead from the outside lane, as Martin and Scully ran single file at the front of the field. Ryan Lineham tried to get under David Darling for fourth but got loose and made contact with Darling’s No. 52. Martin caught Casper in turn one and made the pass for the lead entering turn three on lap 21. Contact entering turn one between Lineham and Angelo Belsito cost Belsito ground. Jake Vanada spun in turn four on lap 25 to bring out the first yellow.
Martin resumed the lead after the restart. Scully looked to pass Martin for the lead while racing Casper for second. The second caution for a spin by Late Model champion Bobby Pelland, III in turn one. Martin led while Casper made a bid for second under Scully entering turn three. Lineham battled Casper on the outside for third place. Jake Vanada spun on the frontstretch to bring out the third caution on lap 29. Craig Weinstein spun after the fact as the field took the yellow and was able to maintain his position.
The restart with 11 laps to go had Scully battling Martin for the lead side-by-side. As the first two cars broke away, Lineham, Casper, Belsito and Darling were still two abreast. Lineham and Belsito moved up to third and fourth past Casper. Contact off turn four between Weinstein and Darling sent the Bristol Toyota Scion No. 52 spinning down the frontstretch with a cut left rear tire. Mike Brightman also spun and had some damage. The lap 32 restart saw Scully make the pass for the lead. The leaders were side by side for two laps before Scully’s blue deuce prevailed. Ryan Vanasse and Fred Astle, Jr. pressured Casper for fifth position with Dick Houlihan outside of Vanasse. Martin tapped the bumper of Scully off turn four with two laps to go. Belsito looked inside of Lineham for third, but Lineham edged him at the line.
For the Record:
Scully’s 27th win in his 12th winning season, 9 consecutive. He is tied for 28th with Christopher Robinson and Ed St. Angelo, Jr.
Scully’s first Pro Stock win was the last NASCAR-sanctioned race at Seekonk on September 10, 2005. Seekonk returned to the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (NWAAS) banner for the first time in 10 years Sunday.
David Darling leads all drivers with five consecutive opening day wins from 2009-13. Rick Martin has four from 1999-2002, Gerry DeGasparre, Jr. (2005-07) and Mike Cavallaro (2013-2015) have three.
Fred Astle, Jr. set fast time in qualifying with a lap of 12.346/97.1.
1 30 Fred Astle 12.346 2 97.1 mi/h 2
Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com