Seekonk: Brightman Optimistic about NASCAR Connection
Mike Brightman of Acushnet, MA hopes Pro Stock drivers that travel in regional tours or are not committed to a particular track will consider Seekonk (MA) Speedway. The track will operate under the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series for the first time since 2005.
“I think it’s a good thing all around,” Brightman said. “It’s good for the racers that are racing the track, for the people looking for a track to call their home and undecided. … Now you can race at a track like Seekonk that’s established and been around for a while, and compete on the NASCAR national scene as well, and accumulate points on both ends, and race for decent money at a track that’s in your backyard.”
Brightman considers his 2005 Late Model championship a highlight.
“It was a great thing. … To put it all in perspective, and move from where I started to where I am, and know that NASCAR was a part of there in the middle is pretty cool.”
Brightman hopes additional recognition through NASCAR will help in the sponsorship search. Drivers can compete at additional tracks to earn more points towards the national championship.
“It’s a little easier to let them know that you’re racing at a NASCAR affiliated track. It helps in pushing the sponsorship battle like we all do. It helps with the end of the year point fund, ‘cause you’re in the national point fund, and if somebody is able to drum up a Modified ride let’s say at Waterford or at Stafford, theoretically you could double dip, ‘cause Seekonk would be your home track, and you could compete in extra NASCAR events to accumulate more points.”
Brightman appreciates the positive direction of the track through capital improvement. The pit expansion last year allowed the teams to work from their trailers. Lighting will be improved for this year. Brightman would like to see the track repaved for the first time since the 1970s.
“It will definitely make for a better experience for the fans and help the drivers see better. .. Everything’s on the up and up. It seems like they’re trying to improve the track last year with the pit expansion. I can’t tell you how much easier that makes life for all of us guys, and now with the lighting. If i had my choice I’d ask them to repave the place. But I guess we’ll take the lights this year and maybe repave it next year.”
Brightman does not know what to expect of the track surface after a harsh winter. While he expects the track to provide more grip, “it also makes it tough to gauge. The last time there was a lot of snow like this was probably three or four years ago, and it never lasted this long, so who knows what we’re up against. … It’s going to be a hairy experience when the snow finally thaws. … There’s going to be frost heaves and bumps and dips … It will definitely be (about) handling.”
The Phil’s Propane Triple Crown Championship will eliminate drivers this year. The top seven drivers, called the “Lucky 7” will advance to the second race. The top four or “Final 4” drivers will advance to the final round, unless another driver wins the second race. This places the race winner into the Triple Crown finale, and only allows the top three to advance. All the races will still award double points.
“It’s kind of mirroring what NASCAR’s doing and having like a chase type setup, which is fine. … There isn’t much of a change. Everybody is up in arms about it and kind of upset about it, but that’s how it panned out last year.”
Brightman points out that last year’s Triple Crown essentially eliminated competitors anyway. The six to seven contenders after the first race were cut to four by the second race. Ryan Lineham’s only chance was if the top three of Fred Astle, Brightman, and Kenny Spencer finished poorly.
Brightman plans to return to the Pro Stocks at Seekonk full-time. He wants to maintain his momentum from last season.
“To build on what we did last year, to build on a top five car, a championship contending car, and defending Triple Crown car, and use the notes that we have from successful weeks last year, and rebuild it this year, and see what we can do.”
Impact Collision Parts of Attleboro, MA and Energy Management International of Seekonk will stay with Brightman, but he is seeking additional sponsors, specifically one to cover the $4,000-$5,000 tire bill. The team expects to have a fundraiser to cover some expenses.
“We’re pretty much wide open after that. There haven’t been any commitments verbally or financially, so we’re about a third of the sponsorship money we had last year.”
“Every year it gets a little harder and I don’t know that I see any light at the end of the tunnel until you find that one big sponsor. … You need one big sponsor to compete at this level.”
He looked into a Modified ride for the annual Open Wheel Wednesday race, but sponsorship is hard to find.
“The sponsorship window is smaller and smaller this year than it ever has been. There’s really not a lot of money out there, and to say we’re on a limited budget would be an understatement, so we’ve got to try and drum up something to help us.”
Brightman enjoyed an “awesome year” last season. He ended a two year winless drought in the second race and remained consistent. He captured the Phil’s Propane Triple Crown championship. The three extra distance races award double points.
Brightman battled a double hernia throughout the year. It eventually required surgery in September and he missed the final points race. He finished fourth in the standings.
“I am one of those old school drivers that I still do most of the work on my own. … (I) like to have a hand on working on the car. When you’re down and out with a double hernia like I was most of the year, you’re limited to what you can do. So my crew had to step up, and do more than they normally do, and it impacted all the way around.”
Brightman’s 15-year-old daughter Emily will be racing on Fridays in the Pure Stocks. Brightman said it is “pretty cool” to have the third generation on the track.
“It will definitely take the Brightman racing thing to the next level.” Brightman believes that having his daughter around has been a positive influence on his career lately.
“I know it’s calmed me down the last two years just having her around with us. I don’t get so hostile on the track anymore. I don’t lose my temper anymore. I’m even watching my tongue in the garage now, so it’s taken on a whole new aspect, and that probably had a lot to do with my winning the Triple Crown, calming down, and just staying focused, trying to be more of a role model than a racer.”
Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com