“Action Track of the East” Seekonk Speedway was the next stop for the Senior Tour Auto Racers on July 9th. It was not the greatest weather, with overcast skies and most all the other tracks already cancelling racing for the evening. It looked pretty grim for racing that night! But with a break in the system Seekonk was able to get in all their shows before the rain began.
It was great to see 18 vintage cars show up to support STAR that evening. STAR would like to thank those who took a chance at the weather and it was worth it! STAR was out for an action pack night!
It was warm ups for the group to start their day, first the Sportsmen then the Modifieds. Then at 4:30 it was time for Seekonk’s Pit Party and what a party it was! All divisions from Seekonk and Star hit the oval to greet the fans. It was great to see so many drivers, car owners and fans from the past and present stop by and say hello and talk with the members. Star would also like to thank Ric Mariscal for bringing a little piece of ProNyne Motorsports with the #26 Gremlin pace car to support the club.
Now it was time for some action pack racing! The first to go out were the sportsmen division for their 10 lap heat. What a heat this was! The Sportsmen gave it all they had, switching spots from lap to lap. Just who was going to cross the line first? Side by side John Mulcahy from Ma in his #57 mustang and Skip Stearns from NH in his #7 drove for the win. When the checkered came down it was on Mulcahy in the #57 for the first victory and the heat win for the Sportsmen division. The modifieds were in the pits ready to come out for their 10 lap heat. Watching from the press tower I knew as soon as they came out of the tunnel it was going to be quite a race. One by one they entered the track and the headers gave that sound you no longer hear. Something about these open wheel vintage cars, they have a sound of their own! Tight to the pack and inches apart these STAR modified drivers drove just like the modified use to back in the days. When the checkered came down it was on Darryl Dutch from RI in his #6 coupe to pick up the second checkered that evening for the tour.
Later in the evening STAR was on tap for two 15 lap features. With Mother Nature still holding out the first feature began with STAR Sportsmen hitting the asphalt first. Tammy Barboza from Ma in her #10 Pinto showed the sportsmen how it was done by taking down the feature win for the Sportsmen. Alan Zemla from Me in this #43 coupe took down a second with Skip Stearns from NH in his #7 Coupe rounded out the pack with a third. All three were brought trackside for an out of car interview and awarded with trophies.
Now it was time for the modifieds to come out for their 15-lap feature. Lap after lap these modifieds drove bumper to bumper until Charlie Grassie from Ma in his #15 Pinto took over first place. When the checkered came down it was on Grassie to pick up the last checkered for the tour. Now it was a battle between Gregg Massini #19 Vega Wagon and Scott Poirier from Ct in the #73 Pinto as who would finish second. As the checked waved it was on Poirier to pick up the second and finishing off the pack with a third was Massini. All three were brought trackside for an out of car interview and awarded with trophies.
STAR would like to thank Seekonk Speedway and their entire staff for all their hospitality and a “GREAT NIGHT OF RACING”
