Ryan Vanasse Wins ARC Pro Stock Francis Farm Mid-Season Championship for First of Career

Jody Tripp, Gerry DeGasparre and John Geremia III also celebrate in Mid Season Form

Seekonk, MA — Ryan Vanasse picked up his first career ARC Pro Stock win on July 19, as he picked up the Francis Farm Mid Season Championship, holding off Tom Scully Jr and Ken Spencer in a heated battle. John Dabrowski and Ken Spencer sat on the front row for the 45 lap feature. The pair ran wheel to wheel for the first 10 laps, swapping the lead back and forth. Spencer was credited with leading lap 6, as he ran the outside lane, but was edged out the next couple of laps by the Tire Warehouse Chevy of Dabrowski. On Lap 9, Spencer powered down the backstretch and put the Pub 76 Monte Carlo into the lead.

While Spencer set the pace, Scott Dion’s Douglas A King Builders Chevy was trying to hold off the Subway of Seekonk Rt. 6 machine of Tom Scully Sr, as they raced nose to tail. Vanasse was starting to climb his way from his seventh starting position. Ryan found the Regal Law PC Chevy liked the outside lane, and by lap ten, found himself fifth. Following Vanasse on the outside was reigning champion Dave Darling current points leader Fred Astle Jr. and two time winner Tom Scully Jr.

Just past the halfway point, Vanasse started his ascent again, and worked the outside of Sr Scully, as they raced for third. All of a sudden, the East Coast Collision Chevy of Scully slowed, and lost several positions. While all this was going on behind him, Taunton’s Spencer kept the pace moving at a feverish pitch, holding onto a 2 car length cushion over Dabrowski. Dabrowski had his hands full, as Vanasse started to climb the ladder. By lap 30, Dabrowski had fallen back to third, but still had Spencer in view, as the top three cars raced under a blanket. Kid Scully had worked his way up into fourth with Astle running fifth.

Lap 31 saw the first caution of the event, as Berkley’s Jake Vanada spun his Aubuchon Hardware Ford in turn 2. The top ten at this point were Spencer, Vanasse, Dabrowski, Kid Scully, Astle, Darling, Ray Parent, Scott Dion, Mike Brightman, and Tom Scully Sr. As the field went back to green, Spencer got a great jump, and led the pack by a car length over Vanasse, who had his hands full keeping Dabrowski at bay. John was filling the hole on the inside lane under Ryan. Lap 33 brought out the second and final caution, when Scott Dion spun his Northern Light Electric Co Chevy, collecting the Propane Plus Ford of Vanada, ending Vanadas’ night. The Autopart International Chevy of Steve O’Brien was also involved, which saw him go off via the hook. Dion was able to get his machine repaired and back out.  With a dozen laps remaining, all eyes were on the top 6, as Spencer was working for his first win of the season.

As the green returned, Spencer pushed his Hadrose Well Drilling Chevy as hard as he could, as Vanasse pushed his Team V Transportation mount on the outside. The duo ran wheel to wheel for several laps before Vanasse fell in behind. Tom Scully Jr had squeezed his Dr Feelgood Limo Chevy into third, and put his machine right on the back bumper of Spencer, as Vanasse tried the outside once again. The Johnson Landscaping Dodge of Darling was fourth with Astle fifth. At the 40 lap mark, Vanasse fell back behind Spencer, but was an opening on the inside and squeezed into the hole, pushing Spencer to the outside.

For four laps, Spencer was able to hold onto the lead over Vanasse, edging him out by mere inches each lap. Scully, Darling and Astle made it a five car battle for the lead. As they raced through turns one and two on the final lap, Spencer bobbled just a bit, and that allowed the rookie to squeeze past and lead the charge to the checkered flag. Tom Jr took advantage of Spencer and picked up the second spot across the line. Spencer regrouped to hang on for third. Astle saw a little opening around Darling, and was able to put his WoodFrame Structures Chevy up into fourth, breaking his 3 week win streak. Darling wound up fifth, with Ray Parent, Dabrowski, Brightman, Dave Hutchins and Dan O’Brien rounded out the top ten.

“I’ve got a lot of people to thank, so this may take a while!” a very relieved Vanasse said in Victory Lane. “That was a great race. I wasn’t worried about Kenny running me rough, and he put up a great fight. There are a lot of people that have helped me to get here. My wife, father, mother, brother are a big part of this. Regan Law PC, Foundation Title, the family business Team V Transportation, Dick and Jackie Houle helped me earlier in my career in the Late Models. I know I forgot some people, I’m sorry. I am just so excited right now.”

In the 35 lap Late Model feature, Gerry DeGasparre picked up his second win in a row, and third over the last four events. In an event that was 5 cautions, DeGasparre celebrated his second Mid Season title. John Hanafin and Mike Taschereau brought the field down for the green. Hanafin put his President’s Landscape and Design Chevy out front in the early going. The first caution came out on lap 3, when the Marchetti’s Restaurant Chevy of Rey Lovelace spun in turn 4. Matt Breault had worked his way into third by this point, with Randy Burr and Kyle Casper rounding out the top five.

On the restart, Breault was able to make a bid for the lead, as they went three wide through turns one and two. When they came out the turns, the Breault Roofing Ford of Matt Breault was your leader. Casper was glued to his rear bumper, and the Somerset Federal Credit Union Chevy was running second. Hanafin was back to third, while DeGasparre sat fourth and John Dickerman rounded out the top five. Gerry was moving through the field, and by lap eight, the A-1 Custom Auto Body Chevy ran third. At the same time, Jeramee Lillie and Kevin Casper were working through the traffic, and ran fifth and sixth. Lillie, by lap 15, had his 2B Racing & Fabrication Ford into fourth, and started putting pressure on the reigning Champion. When the second caution came out on lap 17, when Mark Langlois and Randy Clark spun together in turn 2, Kevin Casper put his Phil’s Propane Ford into fifth.

When the field went back to green, Breault, one again, was able to fend off the challenges of the Kidd Motorsports mount of Kyle Casper, as DeGasparre squeezed under the Somerset native. Gerry got a little crossed up a few laps later, and fell into line behind Kyle and in front of Kevin Casper. As they thundered off of turn four to complete lap 27, there was contact between the front runners. Kyle Casper got into the back of Breault, who appeared to slow a hair, sending both cars spinning into the infield. DeGasparre barely squeezed through to inherit the lead. Kevin Casper restarted second, with Jon Dickerman, Jeramee Lillie, and Mike Taschereau rounding out the top 5.

Once back under green, Dickerman got a good jump behind DeGasparre, putting the AirGas Chevy into second. With Lillie into third, while Casper dropped back to fourth. Lillie had a good run going, and slid the Houle Motorsports Ford inside Dickerman for second. On lap 31, the back end came out from underneath the Warwick native and Lillie spun into the infield, bringing out the fourth yellow of the evening. Under caution, Lillie’s machine rubbed against the North American Amusements Chevy of Dickerman, causing the Jon’s right front tire to go down, taking him out of contention. This would get Lillie disqualified for the night. Mike Taschereau was back up to third in his Sponsor Wanted Pontiac, with Randy Burr and Bill Bernard rounding out the top five. Kyle Casper and Matt Breault were working their way back through the pack, and both sat just out of the top five.

The final caution waved on lap 32 when Mark Langlois spun his Crown Collision Pontiac off turn 4. Over the last three laps, DeGasparre would keep his Spumoni’s Restaurant Chevy at the top of the field. Kyle Casper worked his way past Burr and Taschereau for third over the last few laps, while Breault rounded out the top five as the field crossed under the checkered flag.

“It was pretty hot out there tonight.” sighed an overheated Late Model winner. “To all the naysayers out there, I’m not worried about tech. This thing is AWESOME! They guys did an awesome job. It is an absolute pleasure to win on Ken Foley’s night. This is the second time we’ve been able to do it. Cerelli Foods, thank you for coming and supporting us. It looked like it was going to be a great battle out there, then Kyle and Matt got together. It’s a shame, as they both had great cars tonight. Thank you to all of my sponsors and to all the fans for coming out again.”

The Street Stocks ran without reigning champion and current points leader Sparky Arsenault, as he failed to qualify do to a loose wire in his consolation event. As the field came down for the green for their 25 lap main event. Ron Barboza Jr held the top spot as Dave Ratcliffe set up on his tail. Chris Rioux, Rey Negley and John Geremia III rounded out the top 5. The first yellow dropped at lap 2, when Paul Newcomb Jr cut down a right rear tire and spun through turns three and four. Dick Cavallaro got tangled up with him, causing the two cars to lock together.

 The MTG Disposal Camaro of Barboza held onto the lead, once back under green. Ratcliffe fell out of second on the restart, as Chris Rioux squeezed underneath for second. Geremia was up to fourth, with Rey Negley rounding out the top five. While the top four remained unchanged for the first 20 laps, they were setting a torrid pace. By lap 16, the top four were over half a straight in front of Paul Lallier, who had worked himself into fifth. Lallier came into the night second in points and was hoping to capitalize on the misfortunes of Arsenault. Once into fifth, e started closing in on the top four, but would need some help if he was going to be able to make any moves. His help came on lap 21, as a muffler had come off of one of the cars, and sat in turn 4, forcing the ARC officials to throw a caution. The top five at this point were Barboza, Rioux, Ratcliffe, Geremia, and Lallier.

As the green returned, Ratcliffe decided he wanted to give leading a try. In a three wide bid, Ratcliffe put his Jack’s Auto Salvage Camaro to the inside of Barboza and Ratcliffe. They raced that was for a lap, and as the former Street Stock Champ seemed to take the lead, he went around, forcing him out of contention. Paul Lallier would get the penalty for the assist. Ron Barboza started to slide back, as he had already fallen out of the top five.

The green returned, but would come right back out, when several cars got together heading into turn three, with Elmer Wing III getting into the wall. Chris DeMoura, Dave Ratcliffe, and Paul Lallier were all involved. This set up a 3 lap battle with John Geremia and Jeff  Amaral sitting on the front row after all of this fracas. Rioux, Tony Oliviera and Scott Bruneau rounded out the top five as they went back to green.

Amaral, coming off his second win of the season just a week prior, looked to make it two in a row, as he tried to get a grip on the outside. But it was with no avail, as the JRA Powdercoating Monte Carlo slid back during the last 3 laps. Everyone from second back were jockeying for position, as John Geremia III set out front, and picked up his first win of the season. The battle for second got wild over the last two laps, as Mike Mitchell worked his way from sixth to second on the final laps, with Ryan Lineham finishing third. Jeff Amaral wound up fourth, with Lallier working his way back up into fifth in the final tally, and unofficially taking over the Street Stock points lead. Paul Newcomb wound up sixth, with Oliviera, Justin Travis, Crystal Serydynski, and Ray Negley rounding out the top ten.

“I can’t believe this” a very emotional John Geremia III said in Victory Lane, as his father gave him a great big bear hug. “I want to thank everyone who has helped me out this year. Especially my dad, he is great. To all of my sponsors, NuLux, Camille’s, all of you. Thank You. To my sister, I love you. I’m speechless!”

Second generation racer, and rookie, Jody Tripp lined up on the point with veteran Billy Clarke on the outside, as the Seekonk Sport Trucks got underway for their Francis-Farm 25 lap Mid Season Championship. Tripp would find himself leading the race in the opening laps, as Zach Tucan moved his Reynolds Auto Wrecking Nissan into the runner up spot. Clarke started sliding back, as Fall River’s John Paiva slid into third by lap three. Bill Prisco and Rick Martin were working through the field, and by lap 5 were fourth and fifth respectively. Using the inside lanes, Prisco squeezed under Paiva, and moved his Phil’s Propane Chevy into third by lap 9, with Martin glued to his rear bumper. Lap 10 saw the first of three cautions, as Charlie Rose Jr cut a tire on his Sanford Tree Experts ford, and came to a stop in turn two.

As the field came up to speed, the handles on the track, allowing Prisco, Martin, Paiva and Mike Cavallaro to slip by. Martin, working the outside, pushed his Rick Martin Hobbies and Signs Toyota into second, and started to put heavy pressure on the leader. As Martin was working the outside, the second yellow dropped for the Taunton MA native Tucan, who spun in turn 2 on lap 16. The top five at this point were Tripp, Martin, Prisco, Paiva, and Cavallaro.

Martin wound up the outside lane, trying to wrestle the lead away from the Silver Key Inc. Chevy of Tripp. The final caution came out on lap 18, when Eric Boyko and Lenny Guy got together. This set up a seven lap dash to the finish. Once back underway, Tripp and Martin raced wheel to wheel for the lead, with Prisco, Paiva, Cavallaro and Rose stacked up behind them.

As they crossed the white flag, Prisco tried to make a three wide bid for the lead, and got a run on the inside as they came into turn three. It was Martin on the outside, Tripp in the middle and Prisco on the bottom. As they came across the stripe, the ARC scorers had to check the AMB Transponder scoring loop to verify the winner, as Jody Tripp picked up his first career win by .009 over Prisco. Martin was .180 behind in third, with Cavallaro and Rose rounding out the top five. Ed Gannon III was sixth, Tucan recovered to move back up to seventh, Paiva was eighth, Lenny Guy ninth and Brian Murray tenth.

“FANTASTIC” a very ecstatic Tripp exclaimed after climbing out of his winning mount. “It was a handful at the end. It was loose, and I just tried to stay with it. I wasn’t even sure who had it at the end. I want to thank my dad. He’s been a big part of this. Mike and my sponsors, Chuck if he is here, thank you to al of you.”

During intermission, a presentation was made to the Providence Ronald McDonald House in memory of Ed Holewiak III. Over 25 teams raced for the House a week ago, and they joined the Holewiak family trackside as they presented a check for over $36,000. this was done through donation from Saturday night racers and fans, as well as the 6^th annual Bike Run that concluded Sunday at Seekonk Speedway. A big thanks goes out to the speedway management and staff for use of the facility, and to Francis-Farm, as they provided the food for the day. Over 1200 bikes attended the run. Linwood Cowen held a fundraiser for the House at a local 7-11, and presented his check to Ed and the family while trackside. A new Huffy bike was given to one lucky youngster, courtesy of Francis-Farm, and a great time was had by all.

The 63^rd season continues this weekend, as the Fast Friday series returns after a week off. The Pure Stocks and Seekonk Youth Racing Association headlines the racing on the 1/3 mile, as Kart racing takes center stage in the back pit area. General admission is just $5.00 for adults, children 12 and under is free. On Saturday, July 25, Wheelock Napa Auto Group presents a full night of racing with the ARC Pro Stocks, Late Models, Seekonk Sport Trucks and Street Stocks.  Highlighting this event will be our annual Fans On Parade, where the fans get more involved with the activities. To be part of the Fans on Parade, all you need is your favorite driver, and be creative with t-shirts, posters, banners, signs, or whatever your creative mind can come up with. General Admission is just $12.00, and kids 12 and under are free. Be a part of something special at Seekonk Speedway.

Sources:Kevin Boucher/Seekonk Speedway PR

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