Seekonk Speedway
Encyclopedia
Seekonk Speedway is a semi-banked 1/3 mile paved oval located on U.S. Route 6
in Seekonk, Massachusetts
.
The track holds the distinction of being the longest continually operated race track in the United States, under the guidance of the Venditti family since it opened on May 30, 1946. It is also the widest track in New England
at 72 feet.
The track's all-time winningest driver is "Radical" Rick Martin of Westport, Massachusetts with 72 wins and still growing.
The Seekonk weekly motorsport program ends on the second Sunday of October with the D. Anthony Vendetti Memorial event. True Value Modifieds, NEMA Midgets, NEMA Lites, and Pro 4 Modifieds join the open-competition Pro Stock, Late Model, Sport Truck and Car, and Street Stock divisions for a two-day spectacular of extra-distance and extra-money racing.
For the 2010 season, Seekonk is adding another event to the Open-Wheel Wednesday schedule, with an additional 25-lap NEMA Lites feature titled the "Showdown of Champions", a race intended to boast a starting lineup of some of New England's most notable drivers
Seekonk Speedway holds four to five races of twenty five cars each twice a year, on the Sundays of Independence Day
and Labor Day
weekends, as well as several somewhat
smaller figure 8 and demolition derby
events from May through October. Due to the high intensity of each race, densely packed fields of cars, and the geometry of the track, vehicles tend to crash out very quickly, keeping most races to five or ten complete laps.
U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6 , also called the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, a name that honors an American Civil War veterans association, is a main route of the U.S. Highway system, running east-northeast from Bishop, California to Provincetown, Massachusetts. Until 1964, it continued south from Bishop to...
in Seekonk, Massachusetts
Seekonk, Massachusetts
Seekonk is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, on the Massachusetts border. It was incorporated in 1812 from the western half of Rehoboth. The population was 13,722 at the 2010 census. Until 1862, the town of Seekonk also included what is now the City of East Providence, Rhode...
.
The track holds the distinction of being the longest continually operated race track in the United States, under the guidance of the Venditti family since it opened on May 30, 1946. It is also the widest track in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
at 72 feet.
The track's all-time winningest driver is "Radical" Rick Martin of Westport, Massachusetts with 72 wins and still growing.
Weekly Racing
Typically starting on the first Sunday of May, the Action Track of the East plays host to short track action every Saturday night, depending on the weather. Most weekly programs are composed of Seekonk's four regular divisions: Pro Stock, Late Model, Sport Truck, and Street Stock. In addition to the staple series, a variety of touring series visit the speedway. The True Value Modified Racing Series, NorthEastern Midget Association, Pro 4 Modifieds of New England, and Pro All Stars Series all have events on the Seekonk calendar, with the former three visiting on multiple occasions.The Seekonk weekly motorsport program ends on the second Sunday of October with the D. Anthony Vendetti Memorial event. True Value Modifieds, NEMA Midgets, NEMA Lites, and Pro 4 Modifieds join the open-competition Pro Stock, Late Model, Sport Truck and Car, and Street Stock divisions for a two-day spectacular of extra-distance and extra-money racing.
Open-Wheel Wednesday
Since 2005, Seekonk has featured an exclusively open-wheel program on one Wednesday of the summer, with the NEMA Midgets, NEMA Lites, and Pro 4 Modifieds underlining the main event, a $10,000-to-win True Value Modified race. The event has become one of the most popular on the Seekonk schedule, with a large crowd each year.For the 2010 season, Seekonk is adding another event to the Open-Wheel Wednesday schedule, with an additional 25-lap NEMA Lites feature titled the "Showdown of Champions", a race intended to boast a starting lineup of some of New England's most notable drivers
Fast Friday Series
On Friday nights, Seekonk Speedway is open for lower-budget competition as well as youth racing. Seekonk's least expensive divisions are the Sport4 (stock 4 cylinder car with minor safety enhancments) and Pure Stock, that are same as 4 cylinder class only 8 cylinders. These classes have a minimum age of 15 with proper paperwork on file with track. These car race on the oval along with the two Seekonk Youth Racing Association Mini Cup classes open to competitors age 10-18.Figure 8 Racing
The speedway's figure 8 path is considerably longer than average tracks, and is fully paved, increasing the speed of racing cars (as well as the risk of injury). Another unique facet to the track are the four "humps" placed within the "X" of the figure 8, which typically cause cars to become completely airborne multiple times throughout an event.Seekonk Speedway holds four to five races of twenty five cars each twice a year, on the Sundays of Independence Day
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
and Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
weekends, as well as several somewhat
smaller figure 8 and demolition derby
Demolition derby
Demolition derby is a motorsport usually presented at county fairs and festivals. While rules vary from event to event, the typical demolition derby event consists of five or more drivers competing by deliberately ramming their vehicles into one another...
events from May through October. Due to the high intensity of each race, densely packed fields of cars, and the geometry of the track, vehicles tend to crash out very quickly, keeping most races to five or ten complete laps.
See also
- Ron BouchardRon BouchardRon Bouchard is a former NASCAR driver who was the 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year. His brother Ken Bouchard was the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year.-Local driving career:...
(former competitor) - Ken BouchardKen BouchardKen Bouchard is an American former NASCAR driver. His brother Ron Bouchard was the 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year and one time Winston Cup race winner.-Modified career:...
(former competitor) - Allen BestwickAllen BestwickAllen Bestwick is the host of ESPN's NASCAR pre-race show NASCAR Countdown and play-by-play announcer for the Sprint Cup Series races for the same company. He took over that position in 2011 after serving as the countdown to green host from 2008-2010 and a pit reporter for the network in 2007...
(former track announcer)