(Press release from Seekonk Speedway)
MAJOR EVENTS, FULL FRIDAY & SATURDAY SLATES HEADLINE NEW SEASON
Seekonk Speedway is looking ahead to a fresh, exciting 2021 season. On December 3rd, the Massachusetts third-mile announced the full schedule of events for 2021 — one that will mark the 75th anniversary of full-time racing. Seekonk Speedway looks forward to welcoming fans back to the grandstands safely, as the recent vaccine announcements for COVID-19 are welcomed news and talks continue with the state of Massachusetts.
Multiple major events headline the 2021 schedule — including the ISMA Supermodified and Boston Louie NEMA Midget and NEMA Lite Races (June 9), the annual $10,000 to win Open Wheel Wednesday headlined by the Tri Track Open Modified Series (June 30), the inaugural $10,000 to win Bay State Summer Classic with the PASS Pro Stocks (July 28), the annual DAV Fall Classic (September 24-25) and the Haunted Hundred, headlined by Tri Track (October 23).
The slate includes 18 Saturday Night Showdowns — showcasing Seekonk’s premiere Pro Stocks, Everett’s Auto Parts Late Models, Helger’s South Coast Power Equipment Sportsman and Chaz Auto Body Sport Trucks. It will also see the return of the Fast Friday Series — with 16 events for the Nick’s Pit Stop Legends Cars, Helger’s Pure Stocks, Sport 4’s and Seekonk Grand Prix Bandoleros. Seekonk is pleased to welcome back all divisions and their sponsors, while adding Chaz Auto Body to the team of division sponsors.
With COVID-19 shutting down Saturday night competition and Thrill Shows in 2020, and only Fast Friday drivers hitting the track due to regulations from the state of Massachusetts to stop the spread of the virus, it’s only fitting that the 75th anniversary be celebrated in 2021. Seekonk’s Fast Friday classes ran a 10-race slate in front of no spectators in 2020, however, they continued to showcase youth talent and some of the best racing Seekonk offers through the track’s YouTube channel.
“Our schedule includes a bit of something for everyone who is a race fan in the region.” Ed St. Germain, Director of Business Development at Seekonk Speedway, said. “We’re excited for all of our special events, but above all, we can’t wait to welcome back our great fans and get our premiere Saturday night divisions back on the track in 2021.”
The season opens with two Test & tune sessions on April 10 and 24, while opening weekend returns on Saturday and Sunday, May 1-2. Saturday will include the Classic Car Show & Swap Meet fans have come to love, with burn out drags and race practice. On Sunday, May 2, the engines fire in a race competition for the first time with the Pro Stocks, Late Models, Sportsman, Trucks and Spectator Drags. The season rolls from this starting point in May all the way through October, with more than 45 events planned.
Of the touring divisions included, two of them will visit Seekonk more than once — with the prestigious Tri Track Open Modified Series bringing their top Modified talent for Open Wheel Wednesday (June 30) and the Haunted Hundred (October 23). Both races have a large purse and always attract the best Modified talent in the region. New for 2021, the American Canadian Tour (ACT) will also join the Haunted Hundred, along with the return of the Pro All Star Series (PASS) Super Late Models. All three races as part of the season-finale will be 100 laps, matching the Haunted “Hundred” name.
PASS, New England’s premier touring Super Late Model division, will return to Seekonk for three events overall in 2021 — including the big $10,000 to win race on Wednesday, July 28. PASS will also help headline the two races that will close the season — the annual Fall Classic, with a 150 lapper on September 25, and the Haunted Hundred.
The track welcomes back five Thrill Shows to the schedule — with a show for Memorial Day (May 29), Independence Day (July 3), Mid-Summer Spectacular (July 31), Labor Day (September 4) and the Pumpkin Smash (October 9). Note that all Thrill Shows are on Saturday night’s — giving weekly competitors the night off. There will also be a special event on Sunday, August 8 — headlined by the return of Monster Trucks and the first ever Spectator Drag race — where drivers will double up and actually race for multiple laps together on the track, instead of just in a one-on-one format.
As part of the weekly slate, track champions will be crowned in all nine divisions. Championship battles for all divisions except the Pro Stocks will include as part of the DAV Fall Classic weekend on September 24 and 25, as the Fall Classic returns to a two-day race format, with a practice session on Thursday night, September 23. The Pro Stock title battle wraps on Saturday, September 18, on Ocean State Oil Night, allowing drivers to compete with PASS at the Fall Classic.
The Phil’s Propane Triple Crown Series returns after a year off due to COVID, with a three-race, extra distance, set of races for all of Seekonk’s divisions. The Pro Stock Triple Crown Series races will be 60 laps, while the Late Models will shift to 45 laps. The Sportsman and Sport Trucks remain at 35, while the Pure Stocks, Sport 4’s and Legends Cars are set for 30. As always, the Seekonk Grand Prix Bandolero division runs 15 laps for all of their events, but will also crown a Triple Crown champion.
Phil’s Propane Triple Crown Series Dates:
- Pro Stocks: June 5, July 16, August 21
- Late Models: May 22, June 26, August 21
- Sportsman: May 15, June 19, August 21
- Sport Trucks: May 8, June 12, August 21
- Legends Cars: June 25, July 30, August 20
- Pure Stocks: June 18, July 16, August 20
- Sport 4: June 11, July 23, August 20
- Bandolero: June 4, July 9, August 20
The Everett’s Auto Parts Diamond Races are on the schedule, with three special events for the Pro Stocks and the Late Models. All of these races will be 50 laps for both divisions, including a night where both classes run the 50’s on Saturday, August 14.
Everett’s Auto Parts Diamond Race Dates:
- Pro Stocks: June 26, July 24, August 14
- Late Models: June 19, July 17, August 14
The Troy City Tactical Spectator Drag Series is back, with drivers set to compete in a 10-race series starting on May 2 and ending on October 9. In the middle, drivers will thrill fans in front of both Saturday night crowds and Thrill Show fans.
The Power 5 Series will return for Helger’s Southcoast Power Equipment Sportsman, with five races set for 30 laps instead of 25, with a bit of extra purse money on the line courtesy of Helger’s. Sponsorship is available for Power 5 races for the remainder of Seekonk’s Saturday night divisions.
The schedule also includes the special returns of Military Night, Youth Sports Night, the STAR and NEAR Antique Racer divisions, R.I. Shriners Night (with Trike Races), Fans on Parade, Scout Night, the Pit Party, Phil’s Propane night, Helger’s Southcoast Power Equipment night and the annual Fan Appreciation night sponsored by Everett’s Auto Parts.
Seekonk looks forward to welcoming back a long list of supporters for the 2021 season, and can’t thank those who stepped up in 2020 enough. See below for a full list of 2021 sponsors to this point:
- Everetts Auto Parts, Helger’s Southcoast Power Equipment, Phil’s Propane, Ocean State Oil, Solar Theraputics, PEPSI, T. Moreshead Landscaping, Sunoco Race Fuels, American Racer, Elmwood Dodge, Bristol Toyota, First Ford, Troy City Tactical, Shriners Childrens Hospital, Roger Williams Zoo, Precision Harley Davidison, Columbus Energies, Chick Fil A, Seekonk Grand Prix, Chaz Auto Body, Nick Lascuola Racing, Lambert Brothers Racing, Spring Villa Memory Care, Viper Graphics, Nick’s Pit Stop, Nat’s Racing Engines, KC’s Burger Bar, Miller Brewing, Coors Light, WCTK Cat Country, Four Town Farms
The full schedule is subject to change.
Seekonk Speedway will release additional updates about the 2021 season when available. For more information, follow the track on all social media channels and visit seekonkspeedway.com. Please stay tuned for ticket release dates for advanced purchase.
Fans should keep a lookout for new episodes of the Seekonk Speedway podcast series over the winter months, giving you a step back in time, a view of the present and a look into the future.
Five Saturday nights off for the weekly divisions? You’d think after having no Saturday night racing in 2020 they’d want to get as much as possible next season. I wouldn’t be thrilled if say Waterford had multiple thrill shows on a Saturday night instead of the weekly guys. No matter. As Dafella would say, idiots for scheduling anything during the trumppandemic. 2021 is canceled.
No mention of Nascar anywhere in the release. They were a Nascar track in 2019 and well never opened up for Saturday racing in 2020. Last year Seekonk stated they werent going to run under the Nascar banner for the few Saturday programs they had planned siting costs of being Nascar sanctioned and running without a crowd. They never ended up running a show featuring their Saturday night divisions. Anyone know if they are going to be Nascar sanctioned next year? They have been doing the thrill shows on Saturday for a few season now. This isnt new for next year. I havent been a big fan of it but they pack them in for the thrill shows. Some of the locals say those thrill shows keep the track open. So I really cant complain. Hopefully we are in a better place next year and we can actually celebrate Seekonks Anniversary season by sitting in the stands watching a Saturday or Wednesday night program.
The thrill show crowds are usually HUGE, which is probably the reason they get Saturdays. Plus it wouldn’t surprise me if some of the weekly racers might run the thrill shows just for fun.
The weekly drivers requested some off weeks during the summer a few years ago. It eventually morphed into this. It gives teams time to enjoy summer and spend time with the family. I think Stafford is the only track that doesn’t give teams a week off and they might have the longest season of all the tracks. The Stafford drivers have been asking. I know that. I think this is one area where Stafford falls short.
Haunted 300 weekend. A one day show with heats, consi races for three tours and three 100 lap features? That will be a 12hr show easily. Features only would be a day in of itself.
Jake Johnson, a Seekonk regular, won the Snowflake 100 Pro Late model race tonight at Pensacola FL. He had a bad qualifying time and had to run the last chance race to qualify. He started 31st and won the race after Stepehn Nasse bumped Bubba Pollard at the end of the race causing Pollard to spin out of the lead. Nasse crossed the line in first. They interviewed Nasse and then dqd him giving second place finisher Jake Johnson the win.
The Snowball Derby for pavement Super Late models is scheduled for tomorrow at the same track. NH native Derek Grifith is in the starting field after he qualified in the last chance race today which was won by Chase Elliot. The Derby and Snowflake are a couple of the more prestigious asphalt late model races in the country. It is nice to see some local racers making an impression down there.
It is true some Stafford drivers have mentioned time off on social media. It’s mostly spotty with no idea of what the general mood is among race teams. It seems unlikely that Mark Arute who is held in such high esteem among teams would purposely ignore a wide spread call for a week off.
The reality is there is usually ample races lost to weather under normal conditions. It doesn’t allow for planning vacations but it’s time off. Generally speaking people immersed in weekly points racing aren’t prioritizing a week at the beach. Racing is the recreation of choice and for most families there is no addition money for travel.
In 2018 and 2019 there were inordinately few rain dates and both those seasons became a grind. That may be the reason for the renewed interest in a week off by some.
If 2020 had been a normal year there would have been at least two weeks off mid season due to rain. Friday night events on 7/3 and 7/10 washed out. Schedule a week off around that time and that’s a huge hole mid season in prime time.
In the end racing is entertainment. No one is making you race on any given Friday night. It’s not any tracks responsibility in my view to lose a magnificent summer night of income to encourage people to take family vacations. If that’s their priority simply do so. What you save from skipping a race may very well help pay a large portion of your lake cottage rental.
CSG, thanks for the Snowflake update! Glad to hear Johnson, a Seekonk guy, did well down south! I’m sure Griffith will be a factor this afternoon. Wish we were having a Snowflake race instead of snowflakes!
Nice run by Jake Johnson in the Snowflake and Derek Griffith in the Snowball Derby. Wish someone would put Doug Coby in a Super Late Model; he used run pretty good in a Pro Stock