So, after countless months of going back and forth with the state of Massachusetts, we were granted the green light to open our Fast Friday season, with no fans, in July. We submitted multiple COVID plans to the town and state, and finally got them approved. We completed a 10-race season, with multiple special events, and made the best of what we had in the middle of a tough time for the whole world. We appreciate the work of our local Town and State officials during these unprecedented times to keep everyone safe.
For that, we can’t be more thankful to our car owners, teams, staff and race fans — who watched and followed from home — for all you have done in 2020. To our teams and staff, thank you for adhering to strict guidelines by the state, town, and CDC including the use of face masks and social distancing. It wasn’t easy, as it was extremely unusual for a group of race teams to stay apart from each other, when most normally mingle as friends. But it was a necessary part of completing a race season and keeping everyone safe.
Those special events we mentioned included countless extra-lap races, bonus cash on Fast Friday for the first time, and the three-race Everett’s Auto Parts Diamond Dash Series. This was all due to multiple sponsors that stepped up big for Seekonk to race in 2020. We have to thank Roy at Everett’s Auto Parts for his continued support of the entire Fast Friday season and the Diamond Dash. Special thanks to division sponsors Seekonk Grand Prix, Helger’s Southcoast Power Equipment, and Nick’s Pit Stop for their efforts. On top of sponsoring the Pure Stock division, Rich Helger went above and beyond with extra bonuses this year — providing cash to each of the five champions — and also supporting multiple of our special events. We can’t thank Rich and his team enough. Wayne Darling (Seekonk Grand Prix) and Keith Lascuola (Nick’s Pit Stop) have been great supporters of the Speedway for years and we can’t wait to work with them again and their businesses in 2021.
Craig Pinka, a regular in the Sportsman division, and his business, Spring Villa Memory Care, were huge supporters of the Fast Friday teams in 2020. Thanks to Craig for his support. Nat Chiavettone, of Nat’s Racing Engines, who has been around the track for many decades, building some of the best motors racing has to offer, was back again this year.
Also, a thanks is sent to Chaz Auto Body, Nick Lascuola Racing, Lambert Brothers Racing, Viper Graphics, Ceraphina, and Juliana Levesque, Gerry’s General Maintenance, Walsh’s Towing, T Moreshead Landscaping, Boss Lady Graphics, TTM Motorsports, and Dutch Body. Without them, none of it would have been possible.
A special thank you also goes to all of the people that made the season possible from a track perspective — including Seekonk Fire and EMS, Seekonk Police, Brewster Ambulance,Preferred Towing, the raceday staff, and especially our office staff, who work on a day-to-day basis to keep things steered in the right direction.
Finally, our great fans. Thanks for understanding the situation we were dealt. We are just as frustrated as you that you couldn’t come watch our race teams this year, but we hope you enjoyed our Seekonk Speedway TV YouTube channel, where races were posted less than 24 hours after they were completed. We also hope you got a chance to listen to our podcast series produced by Souza Media, hosted by our own Kyle Souza. We will continue to use the podcast series over the winter months and leading in 2021, so subscribe on Apple podcasts or follow on YouTube to hear and see more.
To our Saturday race teams: we can’t wait to see you tear up the track again 2021. We have deeply missed Pro Stocks, Late Models, Sportsman and Sport Trucks this year. The level of competition you supply our race fans is top-notch, and we know you’ll do it again next year.
With 2020 in the rear-view mirror, we’re already started work on our 2021 season schedule — with our Fast Friday and NASCAR Saturday divisions the centerpiece of what will be the 75th full-time season of racing at Seekonk. Yes, it might be the 76th year on paper since the opening, but we’re going to celebrate the 75th season the right way next year. We’re welcoming back Open Wheel Wednesday, the Tri Track Open Modified Series, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, ISMA Supermodiifeds, NEMA Midgets, and everything else that was on the schedule in style.
We can’t wait to see everyone in what we hope is a better year in 2021.
Thank you. All of you.
Sources: SeekonkSpeedway.com
