Back-to-Back: Brightman Wins Second Straight Opening Day Pro Stock Feature
SEEKONK, Mass. — Mike Brightman kicked off the 2023 season on Sunday at Seekonk Speedway the same way he did 2022 — in Victory Lane. Brightman dashed away from the field to win the opener of the Pro Stock season, scoring victory in the 40-lap feature in dominating fashion.
Early, Brightman passed polesitter Colbey Fournier for the top spot, then had to fend off Dylan Estrella for much of the middle of the race. Estrella and Brightman raced hard for the top spot, neither giving an inch. Brightman would prevail early, then Estrella spun off turn two later, sending him to the tail of the field.
Dave Darling and Rick Martin battled hard in the final laps, while Brightman drove away to victory. Martin scored second, with Darling in third. Defending division champion Mark Jenison finished fourth and Bobby Pelland was fifth. After post-race inspection, Dick Benoit moved to fifth, as Pelland didn’t pass. Dylan Estrella finished sixth, followed by Tom Scully Jr., Tommy Adams, Colbey Fournier and Mike Mitchell.
The Pro Stocks will return to the track for another 40-lap feature as part of Saturday night NASCAR racing on May 13. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com.
Arrenegado Opens Late Model Season in Victory Lane
SEEKONK, Mass. — With a new car, Vinnie Arrenegado proved he wasn’t going to be denied in the opener of the Late Model season on Sunday at Seekonk Speedway. Arrenegado, a former division champion, had a tough battle with Luke Lebrun, Josh Hedges, Richie Murray and others in the 30-lap season opener, but prevailed at the end to park the No. 17 in Victory Lane.
Arrenegado and Lebrun traded the lead back and forth multiple times in the race, mostly on restarts and the few laps after. Arrenegado would pass for the lead for the final time then dash away, while Lebrun and Murray raced hard for second in the final laps.
Murray, who started in 10th after finishing fifth in his heat race, charged up through the field and ended second. Defending division champion Mark Jenison worked the middle of the field and climbed to third. Lebrun would settle for fourth, while Tyler Tomassi battled back from some mid-race trouble to finish fifth.
Chase Belcher opened his 2023 campaign with a sixth-place, followed by Corey Fanning, Richard Souliere, Gerry DeGasparre Jr. and Bill Goodrow. The Late Models will return to the track for another 30-lap feature as part of Saturday night NASCAR racing on May 13. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com.
Ryan Lineham Dominates in Sportsman to Open the Season
SEEKONK, Mass. — Right from early in the day in the opener of the Seekonk Speedway season, it was clear Ryan Lineham was going to be one of the drivers to beat in the Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman. Lineham worked from the pole position in his heat race and scored the win, then started from the pole in the feature and led the entire 25 laps to score the season-opening victory.
While Lineham won, the story of the race was a mid-race chaos crash in turn three, collecting many of the front-running cars. When Steve Axon had mechanical problems, many cars were collected including Axon, Chris Gomes, Kyle Casper and others. Once the race went back green, Lineham drove away with the win while Randy Moretti and Adam Pettey were left to battle for second, with Moretti coming out on top.
Pettey finished third, with Craig Pianka and Don Perry finishing the top-five. Chris Rioux wrapped the race sixth, followed by Chad Baxter, Tim Watson, Tyler Almeida and Jimmy “Pepe” Silvia. The Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman will return to the track for another 25-lap feature as part of Saturday night NASCAR racing on May 13. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com.
Brittany Campbell Opens the Season, Busch Light Program in Victory Lane
SEEKONK, Mass. — As she kicked off her Busch Light Accelerate Her program in style, Brittany Campbell parked her No. 8 Truck in Victory Lane on Sunday to open the season at Seekonk Speedway. Racing in the Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks, Campbell raced multiple grooves battling for the lead, but in the final laps, pulled away from the competition.
She had to face the charges of names like Amy Arsenault, Mike Duarte and others. In the end, it was all her at the front driving the Truck right into Victory Lane. Duarte, a former division champion, would settle for second at the finish, followed by defending champion Rick Martin in third. Darryl Church opened the season with a strong run in fourth and Arsenault settled for fifth after some mid-race trouble.
Jake Vanada finished sixth, with Marissa Morgan, Bobby Tripp, Tom Scully III and Manny Dias finishing the top-10.
The Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks will return to the track for another 25-lap feature as part of Saturday night NASCAR racing on May 13. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com.
Sources: SeekonkSpeedway.com