Packed Slate of Racing Including Special Events, a Look Back in Time This Weekend at Seekonk Speedway
SEEKONK, Mass. — Seekonk Speedway will return to both Fast Friday and NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Saturday night racing this weekend, July 16 and 17, for what is going to be two nights of packed action at the third-mile. Drivers will compete in multiple special events, and fans will have a look back in time on Saturday, as the Senior Tour Auto Racers make their only appearance of the year to Seekonk.
The weekend will include four Phil’s Propane Triple Crown Series events — one each for the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits & Outlaws, the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Pure Stocks and NASCAR Pro Stocks. The Phil’s Propane Triple Crown Series events are normally extra-distance, but with Seekonk eliminating extra-distance racing for the time being due to the ongoing nationwide tire shortage, the races will be at normal lap counts. However — that won’t eliminate the excitement — as drivers make their presence felt looking to make the final round of the series. The Phil’s Propane events are three special event races per division, with a separate championship on the line.
On Fast Friday, Danny Massa has been to Victory Lane in two of the first three Pure Stock races, including round one of the Phil’s Series back in June. In race three, Joey Morrissette sealed his first career win — and there are others looking for their first trophy heading into this week. Timothy Ouellette scored a career-best finish with a second-place effort last time out, and Sam Lincoln, Clay Petschke and Shayne Lambert have been impressive to start the year. Former champion Greg Perry will look to enter the winner’s circle for the first time this year.
In the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Bandits, their 15-lap Phil’s race will be a match between Darren Krantz Jr. and the rest of the field. Krantz has been to victory lane in the first three weeks, but Ryan Vanasse Jr., Milania Shilosky and Mike Hanafin have been strong, all looking for their first wins of 2021. Even with three wins, Krantz only leads the championship standings by eight points over Vanasse heading for the heat of the summer.
Richie Helger Jr. is coming off a victory in the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Outlaws last time out, which made three winners in three weeks for the competitive class. Helger is tied for the lead of the championship standings with Jase Mongeon, who hasn’t won yet, but has been inside the top-five in all three events as a master of consistency. Joey LeMay and Stephen Bowden won in the first two weeks, while Brent Robidoux has been impressive in search of his first career victory.
The other two Fast Friday divisions set for action are the Sport 4’s and the Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars. In the Sport 4’s, Crystal Murray heads into Friday with two straight wins, while Mike LeFort has podium runs in every race and is tied with her for the points lead after three weeks. Other impressive names so far in the Sport 4’s have been Dave Westgate, Dave Simpson Jr., Matthew Pion and Tim Bolger.
Luke LeBrun might have two wins in the first three weeks for the Legends Cars, however, last time out, a wreck forced the end to his race early. Mason Tessier took advantage, grabbing his first career win, with Brendon Hammann sitting in the points lead after finishing second in the first three races. Hammann is due for a win — but LeBrun, Tessier, Giovanni Ruggerio, Reese Bogue and others will also be strong in the 25-lap feature.
Fast Friday racing begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are just $10 for adults, and can be purchased in advance at Seekonktickets.net or at the track on race day.
Saturday’s action begins at 5:30 p.m. with another round of the Troy City Tactical Spectator Drags, and will also include the Pro Stock Triple Crown race, an Everett’s Auto Parts Diamond Series special for the Late Models, a Power 5 race for the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman and more. The Senior Tour Auto Racers are coming to town, set to give fans a look back in time at some of the most historic rides the Northeast region offers. They will run qualifying heats and their own feature event races. The gates will still open at 4 p.m.
In the Pro Stocks, Dave Darling didn’t finish in the top-five the last time out — and if the driver of the No. 52 wasn’t hungry before, look out for him even more going forward. Late contact with Kenny Spencer sent both of them, and Tom Scully Jr., to the rear of the field last time out, and Rick Martin went to Victory Lane, hoisting the trophy, inching closer to his 100th win at Seekonk. But Darling is coming back on fire as the points leader looking to gain back his checkered flag, with Dylan Estrella looking for his first win of the year. The 40-lap feature won’t be one to miss, as Kenny Spencer looks to get revenge and return to winning form for the first time in many years.
The Everett’s Auto Parts Late Model championship battle is tight at the top, after Vinnie Arrenegado had to start and park last time out due to a mechanical failure. Looking for his eighth track title, Gerry DeGasparre Jr. leads by two over Arrenegado, with Josh Hedges, a master of consistency early in the year, third in points, just 12 back. Chase Belcher is coming into the weekend fresh-off his first career win in the division as the class heads for another round of the Everett’s Auto Parts Diamond Dash Series.
Barry Shaw Jr.’s last time out in the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks was a fifth-place finish, and after winning five of the first eight races for the Division IV class, watch for him to try and rebound this Saturday. Mike Cavallaro is coming off his first victory in many years in a brand new truck, looking to go back-to-back, while Amy Arsenault and Brittany Campbell have been impressive early in the season and are both looking to break into Victory Lane.
And finally, the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Power 5 race will be another slugfest for some of Seekonk’s top Sportsman competitors. Chad Baxter has been impressive early in the year, winning five out of eight in his own division, but Ed Perry is coming off a victory last time out and looking to make it two-for-two himself. Names like Corey Fanning and Craig Pianka have been strong this year, but still haven’t been to Victory Lane yet, while Joe Kohler enters the race fifth in points with one victory on the season. The Sportsman division continues to showcase why they are one of the top classes in the entire New England region, with three-wide racing and door-slamming a regularity.
NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Saturday tickets are $15 for adults. Advance tickets are available to skip the lines at the track can be purchased at SeekonkTickets.net, but tickets will also be available on race day. Fans won’t want to miss a busy two nights of racing at Seekonk Speedway, July 16 and 17.
For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media.
Sources: Souza Media/Kyle Souza
