SEEKONK SPEEDWAY

Mother Nature was a big factor on Star’s next stop at Seekonk Speedway on July 7^th.  The skies were dark and small showers went on all day.  It looked like there would not be any racing tonight.  Heavy thunderstorms were in the forecast, but I guess Mother Nature changed her mind and by mid afternoon the sun was back out and it was off to racing for all divisions at Seekonk Speedway. 

Star filled the pit area with 23 vintage stock cars from as far as Maine to New York.  Star started their day with warm ups and the evening would bring the tour three heats and two features.

Star sportsmen were the first to hit the track for their first heat race.   Richard Eastman from Ma in his #0 Pinto and John Dipietro from Ma in his #7 coupe battled for the win, lap after lap.  Alec Gause from NH in his #75 Vega and Skip Stearns from NH in his #7X coupe awaited for a opening, but Eastman and Dipietro drove side by side until the first checkered came down on Eastman to take the first win for the Sportsmen that evening.  Dipietro took a very close second and to finish off third was Alec Gause.

The second group of Sportsmens were on the grid and waiting to come out for the second heat race for the Sportsmen.  Charlie Wilcox from Ct in the 111 coupe took the lead with Alan Zemla from Me in his #43 coupe on Wilcox’s tail.  Richard Harless from NY in his #8 sedan and Rick MacDowell from Ma in his #76 Pinto drove side by side for third place.  Then Zemla made his move around Wilcox to take the lead on the last few laps and the second victory for the tour that evening.  Wilcox pulls a second with Harless topping off the field with a third.

The modifieds were then brought out for their heat race Richard Houle from RI  in the #U2 and Charlie Lima from Ma in the #10 Pinto lead for a few laps until Darryl Dutch from RI in his #6 coupe passed Lima and the battle began with Dutch and Houle for first place.  When the checkered came down it was Houle in the U2 to take the third win for the tour that evening, with Dutch finishing with a very close second and to top off the pack was James Allen from Ma in his #46 Monte Carlo.

As I stood in the grandstands watching the heat races I was approached by some children who were there just to see the Star cars run.  Come to find out these children were the children that Star donates toys to each year.  They knew Star was racing tonight and they wanted to come and see them.  I thought that was pretty neat!  Now when we go to the school this year to donate toys I am sure the children will tell us they saw us race!!!!  So it goes to show you what an impression we at Star have made on these young minds.  SANTA HAS A STOCK CAR!!!!!

Now it was time for the feature races of Star to come out on the track.  Sportsmen were up first.   Kenny Lowe from Ma in his #22 coupe jumped to the front with John Dipietro in the #7 right behind him.  Eastman in the #0 and Stearns in the #7X trailed behind them.  Then Eastman had a tire rubbing and had to pull out leaving Richard Harless in the #8 and Alan Zemla for second and third place.  Then Charlie Wilcox in the #111 made his way through the pack to take over second place.  When the checkered came down it was Lowe in the #22 to take the third victory for the evening with Wilcox taking a second and Zemla finishing off the pack for a third.  Lowe was brought to Victory Lane where he was award with a win trophy and signing of autographs for the children. 

Star modifieds were ready and waiting for their feature race.  When the green came down it was Bob Bateman from RI in his #17 Pinto and Darryl Dutch from RI in his #6 coupe side by side to lead the pack.  Charlie Lima from Ma and Charles Grassie Jr. from Ma ran a close second and third.  When the pack opened up it was Grassie to make his move to the front along side of Dutch, Richard Houle in the #U2 and James Allen in the #46 make their move to second and third positions. When the checked came down it was on Charles Grassie Jr. to take the modified win.  Darryl Dutch in the #6 coupe came in with a close second followed by James Allen in the #46 to top of the field with a third.  Grassie was taken to victory lane and awarded with a trophy for win and to sign auto graphs

Star would like to thank the entire staff of Seekonk Speedway for a great night of racing!

Alan Zemla Sportsmen Heat Winner

Richard Eastman Sportsmen Heat Winner

Richard Houle Modified Heat Winner

Kenny Lowe Sportsmen Feature Winner

Charles Grassie Jr. Modified Feature Winner

STAR Modifieds Hit to the Track

STAR Sportsmen Hit to the Track

Happy Birthday Mr. President!