051207@seekonk
Seekonk’s first regular Saturday night is in the books and it was an early night, as they had the
fans out of there by 9pm, might be a record for them! With only 4 weekly divisions running there
this year, the early nights might become the norm. Roughly 220 laps of racing including heats
and features in 3 hours for $12….can’t go wrong there! Enough of the numbers, let’s get to the
racing.
The Sport Trucks were first up for their 20 lap feature. Adam Murphy bolted out to the early
lead putting some distance between he and the rest of the field. A caution about 7 laps in
negated his lead and on the restart Hugh Bowser wrestled the lead away, but that would be short
lived. Murphy recgained the lead just a few laps later and moved out on the field and was never
challenged the rest of the way. Mike Cavallaro, with his potent V-8 truck started deep in the field,
took 2nd away from Bowser in the closing laps but could never catch up to Murphy…I say he
would of needed another 5 laps just to get to Murphy’s bumper. Following them across the line
would be Bowser for 3rd, Bowser’s teammate Andrew Jeffrey, and David Haywood would close
out the top 5.
The ever exciting Street Stocks would be next on the track, and for the second week in a row
rookie Dan Lineham would cause a caution on the very first lap, very first turn, as he turned
around Doug Rioux and send the field scattering. This time officials penalized Lineham and
forced him to restart in the rear of the field. Maybe that’s a good place for him for a couple
weeks as he seems to be a little over anxious in the early goings of the race, but in due time he
will be racing for the lead I’m sure as he has a good car underneath him. From his pole position
start Mike Lema would lead all 20 laps of the feature despite being slowed by six caution flags.
All six cautions would be for minor spins and debris but none the less Lema made up for his
opening day absence by taking down his first him of the year. With that win, its two for two for the
full frame cars in a division that is usually dominated by camaros, its like a changing of the guard
of sorts! Anyway following Lema to the line would be second year runner Billy Brady, Ryan
Lineham, Rey Lovelace, and Elmer Wing III.
Seekonk’s Late Models would be next to take to the 1/3 mile oval and the Casper family would
start and end this race, as young Kyle Casper would jump out to the early lead and maintain that
lead for the first 15 laps of the race. He would be followed by the likes of Gerry Degasparre,
Barry Shaw and Kevin Casper. Gerry D would work the inside lane like usual as Kevin Casper
had his car flying on the outside lane as both would challenge for the lead. Kevin would
eventually get by his brother for the lead as would Degasparre sending young Kyle Casper to
third. It was there, that Kyle would run into problems as he and Barry Shaw got into each other
and sending the field scattering on the frontstretch. During this melee, Robin Berghman sat
stranded on the frontstretch and Kevin Folan slid into her a ton. Fortunately it was a right side to
right side impact and most of the damage looked to be cosmetic on both cars. Once the race
went back green Kevin Casper and Degasparre would step out to the lead and despite
Degasparre’s best efforts he was unable to get by Casper. Following them to the line would be,
our Racersbored very own Jon Dickerman in for third with Bill Bernard and Barry Shaw
recovering from the late race tangle with Casper to round out the top 5.
The Pro Stocks would end the night with their 40 lapper. With all the carnage in last week’s
opener, a light field of roughly 17 pro stocks took the green tonight. Vinny Annarummo took full
advantage of his front row starting spot, and led green to checker, in a race that was slowed by
only two cautions both on lap 10. The latter of the cautions being brought out when Mike
Brightman was booted out of the way by Matt Hudon, which earned him a trip to the back of the
pack. The final 30 laps would be run caution free and it turned into the Annarummo show as
father Vinny and son Todd would run away from the field and make it a 1-2 finish for them.
Racing for 3rd through 5th would be great as Tom Scully Jr, Dave Darling, and Freddy Astle
would mix it up over the late stages of the race with Astle working the high groove and getting by
both of them for 3rd. Darling would also move by Scully via the inside for 4th with Scully rounding
out the top 5. Astle’s car seem to be the fastest on the track but the lead the Annarummo’s had
would be prove to be too great, it would have been interesting had Astle caught them though!
That about wraps up the first Sat. night of racing at Seekonk. Hopefully in the coming weeks
more cars will fill the pit area as car counts in the Pros and Late Models were up the light side.
The mighty midgets of NEMA will be on hand this coming Saturday and they always make for
some exciting racing, so come on down you won’t be disappointed! ( I hope not anyway!!!)