A jump from a Street Stock to a Pro Stock has not been unheard of, and in fact has been quite successful, over the past few years at Seekonk Speedway.
In 2016, another former Street Stock champion, Rey Lovelace, will take the NASCAR Whelen All American Series jump from Division III to Division I, with plans to compete in the Pro Stock division full-time.
Lovelace will partner with Anytime Realty and owner Don Parsons, who has become a bigger and better part of weekly racing at Seekonk over the past few years, sponsoring cars in multiple different divisions. He purchased a ride owned by Tom Scully Sr. during the offseason and the car has recently been wrapped by 32 Signs in Baltic, Conn.
"I am grateful to Don for affording me this opportunity to drive his car full-time for the 2016 season," Lovelace told Race Chaser Online. "He really bought me a great car from a great race team. I'm looking forward to the help of the Scully's getting the car dialed in and getting me acclimated to the division on a weekly basis."
Though the Street Stock division at Seekonk showcases some of the most intense and exciting racing in the Northeast, the Pro Stock division takes that a step further. The class provides top notch equipment and top notch drivers, many of them that are past track champions or come from a storied racing history background.
"I am also looking forward to racing with some of the best drivers in the Northeast," Lovelace added. "I hope to earn their respect as a serious competitor week in and week out on the track."
Lovelace has run the Street Stock division very successfully over the past four seasons, breaking through for his first championship in 2014. In 2015, he scored two feature wins to go along with 14 top-ten runs in 16 races. An average finish of just under sixth place clinched him a fifth place finish in the division championship standings.
Though his Pro Stock experience is limited, Lovelace has been behind the wheel of a Super Late Model in the past. He competed at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in 2010 and also ran a Late Model at Seekonk in 2008.
"The change from Street Stock to Pro Stock is unlike anything else," Lovelace explained. "Seat time is key, I have driven Pro Stocks at Thompson and have raced many different cars at many tracks in the Northeast. It's really all about comfort and getting used to the car and once I do that I should be fine. We already know what the car is capable of so now it's on me to do my job for my new car, owner, sponsors and crew."
Parsons sponsored top names at Seekonk last year, including Lovelace in the Street Stock division, Lineham in the Pro Stock division, and Mike Cavallaro in the Sports Truck division. He also sponsored Cavallaro's daughter Christine in the Fast Friday Sport 4 class.
"This year I decided to take a step up and become a car owner as well as a sponsor for the very first time and the oppurtunity came about to buy the Tom Scully Sr. car and I jumped on it," Parsons told Race Chaser Online. "I have been friends with Rey for as long as I can remember and our families are also very close friends. We just kinda talked about it last season about me buying a car. Rey is a great driver and after spending a lot of time at the track last season I see how he is respected by many drivers, and also gives that respect back in return."
Both parties have expectations for the 2016 season, saying that they want to finish every lap of every race and improve each week.
"My expectations for the 2016 with Rey are to go out and finish every lap of every race and be there at the end," Parsons added. "There is a lot of really fast and experienced drivers out there and I think we would both love to see a championship trophy in 2016 as well as a Rookie of the Year trophy,but only time will tell."
Though Lovelace will be moving up to the top class at Seekonk, his Street Stock ride will still be on the track on a regular basis. He mentioned that his Dad and Parsons may both drive select races throughout the year and Lovelace himself will most likely be behind the wheel for the three races in the Phil's Propane Triple Crown Series.
The series is a three race, double points series that gives drivers a chance to compete for extra cash and run extra laps. It was announced at the 2015 awards banquet that Phil Viverios and Phil's Propane of Tiverton, R.I. would continue to sponsor the series for 2016.
"My car will be completely gone through this offseason and we will get the best of the best, maybe even some upgrades," Lovelace said. "Hopefully Don will run a couple shows this year in it and it will be a championship caliber car as it always has been. We are 100% committed to the Pro Stock, my owner and my sponsors in that division."
For Lovelace, it's a dream come true situation and he is thankful for everyone that will be behind the effort to get him on the track in April for the "Test and Tune" sessions, to feel out the car and find the right setup.
"For me, there are so many people to thank for the upcoming season. I have to thank Don for one believing in me and two for giving me this opportunity, he is a great friend and a business man. I have to thank my Dad for all he does for me along with my family for all the support. All my fans who come and support me every year, it's really overwhelming getting the Most Popular Driver award was really humbling this year. I also lastly would like to thank my new sponsors for the Pro Stock, Anytime Realty, Law offices of Michael C. Lima, Pillar to Post home inspections and Home Point Financial and to anyone who may come on board for 2016."
Parsons is confident Lovelace is the right driver for the ride, but also is looking to increase his sponsorships to touring series and divisions outside of the Action Track of the East.
"I am very happy to give Rey this opportunity and I think he is the right driver for the job," Parsons added. "For me, this is just the start of owning a race team and its only going to get better every day. I have plans to add a Whelen Tour Modified, Legends Car, and Sport Truck for 2016. I want to make a big impact on the racing world and offer the best drivers and opportunity to drive the best equipment out there."
Rey Lovelace
98 Pro Stock