Season Preview: Cestodio Jumps into Thick of Pure Stock Title Battle
Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Pure Stocks Geared Up for COVID Shortened Season
Scott Cestodio is back. But the battle to the 2020 Pure Stock championship isn’t going to be easy for the Swansea, Massachusetts driver. The Pure Stock division has become one of Seekonk’s more competitive divisions at the front of the field, with a handful of drivers unloading in contention to take the win each week.
It’s gradually grown since its inception, and 2020 should be no different. The mix of newcomers and veterans is there.
Names like Greg Perry, the defending champion, Danny Massa Jr., last years runner-up, and Doug Benoit, the 2018 champion, are not going to make it easy on the Cestodio. Perry, who picked up his first Seekonk crown after years of trying just one year ago, isn’t going to be slowed down without a fight. He’s taken his time over the long winter to relax, away from racing, and spend time with his family and friends. Now, just a few days before the Fast Friday season gets underway, Perry is preparing his ride and showing up to the track ready to throwdown with the field for checkered flags.
Massa, who went into the 2019 with a shot at the crown, surely has a bitter taste in his mouth after losing it, but he’s ready to change that in 2020. Massa has been around the division for years, and has the speed to get the job done. He’s shown that he can be consistent — something that’s going to be crucial to success with a shortened 2020 season.
Benoit, who dominated the division en route to his first crown in 2018, showed plenty of speed last year as well. But he’s coming back in 2020 looking to find just a tick more to get back to title form, and has the car to get the job done. Cestodio, who is coming back full-time to the Pure Stocks after many years off from it, is certainly going to be one of the major favorites as the invader.
Joey Morrisette has been gradually improving in the division, and is expected to be a contender for his first win. With Amy Arsenault moving to the Sport Trucks on Saturday nights, there is a bit of an opportunity for other drivers to attempt to win the championship. Mike Henriques has shown the consistency and the speed at times to become a title contender, while names like Max Bergstrom, Cliff Avila, Timothy Ouellette, Nick Mignone, Alice Benoit, Marissa Morgan, Arthur Meack, Daryl Perry, Tommy Backwell, Jacob Kirk, Emily Brightman, Marc Sienkiewicz, and Jeremy Lambert are also registered to compete. Lambert is a former Pure Stock competitor who went Late Model racing, but is now returning to the Friday night class.
The 2020 Fast Friday season begins on Friday, July 10, and rolls through Friday, October 9, with no breaks throughout the summer to get the most of the 2020 season. The season has been delayed over one month due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Seekonk Speedway has put together a strict list of protocols and procedures for Fast Friday to keep all patrons safe. Although grandstands will be closed to start the season, the track hopes to open them for the great fans of Seekonk in the near future.
Thank you to Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment for their support of Fast Friday racing at Seekonk Speedway.
For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit seekonkspeedway.com and follow the track on social media.
Sources: SeekonkSpeedway.com