Well opening is in the books for Seekonk Speedway as they played host to a 75 lap feature for the ARC Pro
Stocks. To kick off the day, 20 pro stocks took part in time trials to set the heat races. It was Kenny Spencer
starting the season on the right foot as he clocked in at 12.525 seconds.
When feature time rolled along it was the Sport Trucks to start the official season. Adam Murphy and Mike
Cavallaro set the early pace. A caution just past halfway bunched up the field and the war was on between the
two. Murphy restarted the race on the inside and drove Cavallaro all over the track sending Cavallaro into the
frontstretch wall. However it was Murphy who ended up on the short end of the stick as he cut a tire down with
the contact, while Cavallaro was able to continue with minor cosmetic damage. During the melee John Paiva
was able to sneak by and inherit the lead. In the lead is where he stayed as he held off the charging Cavallaro
to the stripe recording his first career win. Following them across the line would be Brian Vincent, Mike
Ronhock and Teddy Berube.
The ever exciting Streeters were up next and they never seem to disappoint with action. It all started on the
first lap first turn where the Lineham brothers got together ending Ryan Lineham’s day, brother Dan was able
to continue but not before Ryan gave him a piece of his mind on the track! Gee I wonder if they will help fix
each other’s car this week?! Once racing continued Chris Rioux set the early pace. Just a few laps into the
event Mike Mitchell charged his way to the front taking the lead on lap 4. John Hanafin started midpack and
moved his way to the front, but was never really able to mount much of a challenge for Mitchell. That was the
way they crossed the line with Steve Axon, Paul Lallier and Sparky Arsenault making his return to the Street
division rounding out the top 5.
Late Models were next on the docket, and they turned in a fairly clean race unlike races from last year.
Jeramee Lillie and rookie Matt Breault set the pace in the early stages of the race. A caution with 10 to go
bunched up the field, and things fell apart for Lillie from there. Robin Berghman made her way to the top 3
getting by Breault and setting her sights on Lillie. Contact between the two sent them both spinning and
collecting Breault as well. Gerry Degasparee made it through and inherited the lead as Berghman was sent to
the rear for her partaking in the mess. Gerry led the final 8 laps holding off Kevin Casper for his 3rd straight
opening day win (someone tell this guy to move up to a division!!). Kyle Casper crossed the line 3rd but was
unable to have the spot as he drove through Barry Shaw on the final lap to gain that spot. After sorting
through the field, Denny Stampfl was awarded 3rd with Jon Dickerman and Bryan Connors rounding out the top
5.
It was main event time as 19 Pro stocks took the green. 2006 Champion Dave Darling set the early pace
jumping from his outside pole starting spot and leading the early stages of the race. Kenny Spencer, Freddy
Astle and Todd Annarummo were making their way through the field as they ran a long green flag stretch. By
lap 21 Spencer had reeled in Darling and took control of the lead for the time being. Todd Annarummo made
contact with Astle sending him into a spin and bringing out the caution on lap 60. From there things went
downhill, a false restart pretty much ended Annarummo’s day as contact was made between he and several
other cars. Another minor spin on lap 73 set us up for a green/white/checker situation and the potential for a
great finish with the likes of Darling, Spencer, the father/son team of Tom Scully Sr and Jr., Charlie Rose
among others all looking for the $2,000 payday. Darling and Scully Sr. led the field to the green, but contact
between the Scully and Spencer (running 3rd at the time) set off a major crash which literally took out just about
everyone behind them. Included in the accident would be both Scullys, Rose, Spencer, rookie Glen Lawton,
Mike Brightman and others. When all was said and done, 7 cars remained on the track for the final two laps.
After a lengthy red flag to rid the damaged vehicles it was Darling holding off Ray Parent who struggled to even
crack the top 10 all day. Following them across the line would be Steve O’Brien, Freddy Astle who recovered
from the spin and rookie Scott Dion rounded out the top 5….and the only ones basically running on the end of
the 75 laps.
Several teams got their work cut out for them before next Saturday comes around and one wonders how
many will be ready to go by then. Scully Sr. deemed his car a total loss after surveying the damage, so there
will be one less pro stock in the already small field for the next week. Hopefully I’ll have another full report for
you all next week with better results for many of these competitors.
Stocks. To kick off the day, 20 pro stocks took part in time trials to set the heat races. It was Kenny Spencer
starting the season on the right foot as he clocked in at 12.525 seconds.
When feature time rolled along it was the Sport Trucks to start the official season. Adam Murphy and Mike
Cavallaro set the early pace. A caution just past halfway bunched up the field and the war was on between the
two. Murphy restarted the race on the inside and drove Cavallaro all over the track sending Cavallaro into the
frontstretch wall. However it was Murphy who ended up on the short end of the stick as he cut a tire down with
the contact, while Cavallaro was able to continue with minor cosmetic damage. During the melee John Paiva
was able to sneak by and inherit the lead. In the lead is where he stayed as he held off the charging Cavallaro
to the stripe recording his first career win. Following them across the line would be Brian Vincent, Mike
Ronhock and Teddy Berube.
The ever exciting Streeters were up next and they never seem to disappoint with action. It all started on the
first lap first turn where the Lineham brothers got together ending Ryan Lineham’s day, brother Dan was able
to continue but not before Ryan gave him a piece of his mind on the track! Gee I wonder if they will help fix
each other’s car this week?! Once racing continued Chris Rioux set the early pace. Just a few laps into the
event Mike Mitchell charged his way to the front taking the lead on lap 4. John Hanafin started midpack and
moved his way to the front, but was never really able to mount much of a challenge for Mitchell. That was the
way they crossed the line with Steve Axon, Paul Lallier and Sparky Arsenault making his return to the Street
division rounding out the top 5.
Late Models were next on the docket, and they turned in a fairly clean race unlike races from last year.
Jeramee Lillie and rookie Matt Breault set the pace in the early stages of the race. A caution with 10 to go
bunched up the field, and things fell apart for Lillie from there. Robin Berghman made her way to the top 3
getting by Breault and setting her sights on Lillie. Contact between the two sent them both spinning and
collecting Breault as well. Gerry Degasparee made it through and inherited the lead as Berghman was sent to
the rear for her partaking in the mess. Gerry led the final 8 laps holding off Kevin Casper for his 3rd straight
opening day win (someone tell this guy to move up to a division!!). Kyle Casper crossed the line 3rd but was
unable to have the spot as he drove through Barry Shaw on the final lap to gain that spot. After sorting
through the field, Denny Stampfl was awarded 3rd with Jon Dickerman and Bryan Connors rounding out the top
5.
It was main event time as 19 Pro stocks took the green. 2006 Champion Dave Darling set the early pace
jumping from his outside pole starting spot and leading the early stages of the race. Kenny Spencer, Freddy
Astle and Todd Annarummo were making their way through the field as they ran a long green flag stretch. By
lap 21 Spencer had reeled in Darling and took control of the lead for the time being. Todd Annarummo made
contact with Astle sending him into a spin and bringing out the caution on lap 60. From there things went
downhill, a false restart pretty much ended Annarummo’s day as contact was made between he and several
other cars. Another minor spin on lap 73 set us up for a green/white/checker situation and the potential for a
great finish with the likes of Darling, Spencer, the father/son team of Tom Scully Sr and Jr., Charlie Rose
among others all looking for the $2,000 payday. Darling and Scully Sr. led the field to the green, but contact
between the Scully and Spencer (running 3rd at the time) set off a major crash which literally took out just about
everyone behind them. Included in the accident would be both Scullys, Rose, Spencer, rookie Glen Lawton,
Mike Brightman and others. When all was said and done, 7 cars remained on the track for the final two laps.
After a lengthy red flag to rid the damaged vehicles it was Darling holding off Ray Parent who struggled to even
crack the top 10 all day. Following them across the line would be Steve O’Brien, Freddy Astle who recovered
from the spin and rookie Scott Dion rounded out the top 5….and the only ones basically running on the end of
the 75 laps.
Several teams got their work cut out for them before next Saturday comes around and one wonders how
many will be ready to go by then. Scully Sr. deemed his car a total loss after surveying the damage, so there
will be one less pro stock in the already small field for the next week. Hopefully I’ll have another full report for
you all next week with better results for many of these competitors.