2019 Sport Truck Season Preview
Mix Of Veterans, Upcoming Stars Chasing Seekonk Sports Trucks Title
SEEKONK, Mass. — With the last two champions in the Seekonk Sports Trucks division planning to move to the Late Models, the 2019 season will likely see a brand new champion crowned. Although there will be some drivers returning who do have championship experience in the class, a mix of veterans looking for their first title are going to be closely followed by upcoming stars looking to make a name for themselves.
At the top of the veterans list, Mike Cavallaro, a former seven-time champion in the division, is registered back behind the wheel of his No. 80 Truck. Cavallaro, a native of Seekonk, Massachusetts, has the most experience of anyone in the class and will look to use it to his advantage once again this season. But, on the side of veterans, Cavallaro is joined by another former champion and a long-standing veteran in the list of registered competitors.
Rick Martin, a former Sports Truck and Pro Stock champion at Seekonk, has registered the No. 14 for competition, as he will look to dabble some competition in the Trucks with action in Seekonk’s top class. Barry Shaw Jr., another veteran who has come close to winning the title the last few years, is also coming back looking to finally seal the deal.
It might be hard to call them veterans, but drivers like Ed Perry, David Simpson Sr., and Andrew Kun have been around the block in this class. Kun is the defending Rookie of the Year in the division, and his father, Mike, is stepping away from the Pro Stock technical inspection staff to help get his Truck steered closer to the front of the field. Perry and Simpson both have shown plenty of promise in the division, while a name like Darryl Church is someone else fans should watch as one to have plenty of laps in the class.
But, the upcoming stars list might have them all outnumbered. Moving up from the Fast Friday Series, defending Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero Outlaw champion Evan Marchand is looking to take his talent to Saturday nights. Marchand, a Somerset, Massachusetts, driver, has been a success on Friday for many years, winning plenty of races and championships as a young driver. With his experience turning laps at the third-mile, and the pure racing knowledge in his family, watch for him to catch on quick.
Richie Murray will continue the tradition of Saturday night competitors in the Murray family as he moves from
the Sport 4 class up to the Sports Trucks. Murray, much like his additional family members, already has built quite the resume early in his career. Winning two races last year, including the finale at the D.A.V. Fall Classic, Murray moves to the Truck that Josh Hedges won the championship with last year.
Connor Souza, who was a winner last year in the Bandolero Outlaw class, is moving up and taking over controls of the No. 38 that Ed Gagnon drove last year. Souza, much like Marchand and Murray, has already made a name for himself in the Fast Friday Series and looks to continue that trend to Saturday.
Right with them, two females enter their new season looking to continue to gain more experience behind the wheel. Maddie Harkin and Brittany Campbell both are ready with their Trucks looking to add their names to the list of Sports Truck winners. Names like Nick Mattera, Elias Dib, Anatasia Lebrun and former Sport 4 competitor Christine Cavallaro are also on the list of drivers looking to grab the checkered flag early this season.
As always, there will likely be additional Trucks who join the field throughout the season.
The 2019 Seekonk Sports Truck Series begins on Sunday, May 5, as part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series opener at Seekonk Speedway.
Sources: Kyle Souza/SeekonkSpeedway.com