Seekonk Speedway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Seekonk Speedway

"The Cement Palace", "The Action Track of the East", "The Fast Track to Family Fun"
Logo and track map of Seekonk Speedway
Location	Seekonk, Massachusetts
Time zone	Eastern
Coordinates	41°47′04″N 71°18′08″W / 41.7845°N 71.3021°W / 41.7845; -71.3021
Capacity	About 10,000
Owner	Venditti Family
Operator	Francis Venditti and David Alburn
Broke ground	1945
Opened	May 30, 1946
Architect	D. Anthony Venditti
Major events	NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Northeastern Midget Association Whelen Modified Tour U.S. Pro Stock/Super Late Model Championship American Canadian Act
Oval
Surface	Dirt (1946–1979) Asphalt (1980–present)
Length	1/4 (1946–1979) 1/3 (1980–present) mi
Turns	4
Banking	7 Feet

Seekonk Speedway is a super fun place for families to watch all kinds of racing! It's a 1/3-mile oval track with an asphalt surface, located in Seekonk, Massachusetts.

This racetrack is special because it has been run by the same family, the Venditti family, since it first opened on May 30, 1946. That makes it the longest continuously family-operated racetrack in the United States! Seekonk Speedway is also connected with NASCAR through their Whelen All-American Series. It's known for being the widest track in New England, at 72 feet across. Some of the best drivers ever at Seekonk include George Summers and "Radical" Rick Martin.

Racing usually kicks off on the first Sunday of May. You can catch exciting short track races every Saturday night, as long as the weather is good. On Friday nights, Seekonk Speedway offers races for drivers who are just starting out or have a smaller budget. The track has seats all around, so you can see the entire race from anywhere. You can even buy special pit passes to go into the pit area, meet the drivers, and see the race cars up close!

History of Seekonk Speedway

Seekonk Speedway first opened in 1946 and has been hosting stock car races ever since. The track was built by Dominic Anthony Venditti in 1945, right after World War II, when car racing became very popular.

When it first started, Seekonk was a 1/4-mile dirt oval track, mainly for midget cars. Soon, modified cars also became a big part of the racing for about 20 years. In 1980, the track was made bigger, becoming a 1/3-mile oval, and it was paved with asphalt.

Over the years, new types of cars were introduced. For example, the track brought in cars that were like today's super late models. Seekonk Speedway has even been flooded at least once for exciting boat races!

Modified and midget cars were the main attraction until 1987, when they stopped racing weekly. Other divisions like "mini modifieds" also raced for a few years. The "pro stocks" became the main racing division in 1984. Before them, the "late models" have been racing at the track since 1960, though their name changed a few times over the years.

Street stock racing was introduced in 1971 as a way for people to get into racing without spending too much money. These cars used parts from regular American cars. After a few breaks, street stocks came back in 1985 and have been racing weekly ever since. In 2016, they were renamed "sportsmen." In 1995, "sport trucks" were added, which look like smaller versions of the trucks you see in the Camping World Truck Series.

Saturday Night NASCAR Racing

How Racing Works

Every Saturday night, starting at 6 PM EST, Seekonk Speedway hosts weekly NASCAR races as part of the Whelen All-American Series. This means local drivers can compete for national points against racers from other tracks across the country.

Phil's Propane sponsors 12 special races each year, called the Phil's Propane Triple Crown Series. The victory lane, where winners celebrate, is sponsored by Everett's Auto Parts. Usually, caution laps (when cars slow down for a crash or problem) don't count towards the total race laps at Seekonk.

Races are split into two parts:

• Heat Races: These are shorter races to decide who gets a good starting spot in the main race. Sport trucks, sportsmen, and late models run 10-lap heat races, while pro stocks run 12-lap heat races. The top five finishers in each heat race earn points.
• Feature Races: These are the main races of the night. Sport trucks and sportsmen race for 25 laps (or 35 laps during Triple Crown Series races). Late models race for 30 laps (or 50 laps during Triple Crown Series races). Pro stocks race for 40 laps (or 65 laps during Triple Crown Series races, except for the first Triple Crown race which is 75 laps in memory of Brad Scott).

NASCAR Divisions

Pro Stocks (Division 1)

The pro stocks are the top division at Seekonk Speedway. They are also known as super late models at many other tracks. These cars use special tube frame or straight rail chassis and race on 10-inch American Racer racing slicks (tires with no tread).

Their engines are powerful 358 cubic inch "crate engines" from General Motors or Ford Motor Company, making about 400-450 horsepower. You'll see many different car bodies, like Camaros, Mustangs, Chargers, and Camrys, all made of fiberglass.

Before every pro stock race, the song "Stranglehold" by Ted Nugent plays over the loudspeakers!

Late Models (Division 2)

Late models are the second division in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Their rules are very similar to those used by the American Canadian Act (ACT). These cars have tube frame chassis and use 8-inch American Racer racing slicks.

They run 358 cubic inch crate engines from General Motors and Ford, producing about 350-370 horsepower. You might see car bodies like Monte Carlos, Impalas, Chargers, and Camrys. Their bodies are mostly fiberglass, with some steel parts.

Before every late model race, "Fuel" by Metallica is played!

Sportsmen (Division 3)

Sportsmen cars lined up for a heat race at Seekonk Speedway.

The sportsmen division uses older American-made car chassis from the 1970s to late 1980s. They race on 7-inch American Racer treaded racing slicks.

Their engines are 358 cubic inch General Motors and Ford engines, or 366 cubic inch Chrysler engines. They can also use crate engines, making about 300-350 horsepower. A wide variety of car bodies from 1970 to 1988 are allowed, but they must be made of aluminum or steel.

Before every sportsman race, "Flirtin' with Disaster" by Molly Hatchet is played!

Sport Trucks (Division 4)

Sport trucks at Seekonk Speedway race for 25 laps. These trucks use stock chassis from models like the Ford Ranger, Chevrolet S-10, and Toyota Tacoma. They race on 7-inch Hoosier treaded racing slicks.

Drivers can choose between 4-cylinder or 8-cylinder engines. The 4-cylinder engines have size limits, while 8-cylinder trucks can use General Motors crate engines or other specific Chevrolet, Ford, or Dodge engines. All truck bodies must be made of steel.

Before every sport truck race, "Wild Side" by Mötley Crüe is played!

Open Wheel Wednesday

Since 2005, Seekonk Speedway has hosted a special "Open Wheel Wednesday" event once each summer. This event features cars with open wheels (meaning the wheels are outside the car's body, not covered by fenders).

The event includes races from the NEMA Lights and Midgets, as well as a big 100-lap race for the Tri Track Modified Series, where the winner takes home $10,000! The NEMA races at this event are very important for their series, especially the Boston Louie Memorial for NEMA.

Modifieds

Modified racing on Open Wheel Wednesday starts with several 12-lap heat races. The top drivers from these races go straight to the 100-lap main event. Drivers who don't qualify directly can race in "consolation" races to try and get into the "B-Main" race. The winner of the 25-lap B-Main race can either take a $1,000 prize or get the last starting spot in the big 100-lap race.

The rules for the Tri Track Modified Series are similar to other modified series, so drivers from different tours can easily compete. Past winners of the 100-lap modified race include Doug Coby and Matt Hirschman.

NEMA Lights and Midgets

NEMA races at Seekonk for the Boston Louie Memorial also begin with 10-lap heat races. All drivers who qualify are eligible for their division's main race (either NEMA Light or Midget). These cars can use a variety of engines, from 140 cubic inch 4-cylinder engines to 195 cubic inch Mopar 4-cylinder engines.

Fast Friday Series

Racing for Everyone

Every Friday during the racing season, Seekonk Speedway opens its doors for "Fast Friday." This event is designed for lower-budget racing and is perfect for kids and new drivers who want to gain experience before possibly moving up to the Saturday night races.

Phil's Propane also sponsors three races per year for each division in the Phil's Propane Triple Crown series on Fridays. The Seekonk Youth Racing Association (SYRA) races are 20 laps. Sport 4, legend, and pure stock races are all 25 laps. Sometimes, the track's spectator drag series also visits on Fast Friday, but not every week.

Fast Friday Divisions

SYRA 600+750

This is the beginner class for kids who want to race at Seekonk Speedway. These cars are smaller versions of NASCAR Cup Series cars and use Honda engines. The main difference between the 600 and 750 classes is a "restrictor plate," which limits how much power the engine can make. The 750 class allows more power.

The 600 class is mostly for kids aged 10–14, while the 750 class is for kids aged 14–18, or younger kids with more driving experience. The SYRA division is slowly being replaced by "bandoleros" by 2018. For the 2017 season, bandoleros replaced the 750 division.

Sport 4s

The Sport 4s at Seekonk Speedway are almost like regular front-wheel-drive cars with four-cylinder engines. The only changes allowed are for safety. This series is a great place to learn how to race, as cars must remain mechanically stock, so no one can get an unfair advantage. Any front-wheel-drive, four-cylinder car made from 1980 to 2004 can compete, with a few exceptions.

Legends

The Legends cars at Seekonk Speedway follow rules set by INEX. This means that drivers who race Legends at Seekonk can also race at other INEX Legend events, and drivers from other INEX races can come to Seekonk. Legends cars were added to the Fast Friday lineup in 2012.

These cars use sealed 1250cc Yamaha engines that produce about 132 horsepower. The cars themselves weigh 1,300 pounds (including the driver and fluids) and use special Federal Tires as required by INEX rules. They have a full tube frame with adjustable coil-over springs.

Pure Stocks

Just like their name suggests, pure stocks are very similar to regular stock cars. They use stock V8 American rear-wheel-drive cars made from 1970 through 1992. The only changes allowed are for safety. Cars with T-tops must have them sealed and braced. No extra weight can be added to the car, except for safety equipment. Mustangs and two-seat cars are not allowed. They must use stock transmissions and street-legal 65-series tires on steel 7-inch wheels, and all tires must be the same.

Thrill Shows

On certain Sundays throughout the year, Seekonk Speedway hosts exciting "Thrill Shows" to celebrate holidays like Memorial Day. These events often include:

• Spectator Drag Series: Street-legal cars race against each other in one-lap drag races.
• Enduro Cars and Trucks: These are long races where cars and trucks try to last as long as possible.
• Monster Trucks: Sometimes, huge monster trucks come to crush cars and perform stunts!

In recent years, the track has also held demolition derbies twice a year. These are some of the biggest in the world, with up to 200 cars crashing into each other at the same time! Seekonk is also famous for its unique figure-8 racing, 50-lap enduros with up to 100 cars, and even occasional backwards races and trailer races. These thrill shows often attract huge crowds of 15,000 fans, especially on the 4th of July and Labor Day.

Wall of Fame

The Wall of Fame honors important people who have contributed to Seekonk Speedway's history.

Notable Races

Here are some results from important races held at Seekonk Speedway:

Track Champions

Here are the champions from different racing divisions at Seekonk Speedway over the years:

Notable Alumni

Many famous drivers and racing personalities have been part of Seekonk Speedway's history:

• Ron Bouchard (former competitor)
• Ken Bouchard (former competitor)
• Richie Evans (former competitor)
• Bugs Stevens (former competitor)
• Dale Shaw (former competitor)
• Reggie Ruggiero (former competitor)
• Allen Bestwick (former track announcer)

• The History of America's Speedways: Past and Present by Allan Brown

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