Seekonk Speedway Race Magazine Seekonk Speedway 7.30.18 | Page 55

DESHAIES CONTINUES WINNING WAYS IN BANDITS

Devin Deshaies was back in a place he’s grown very familiar with – Victory Lane – after once again grabbing the lead over the Bandolero Bandits and cruising unimpeded to the checkers to lead Giovanni Ruggerio by 4.7 seconds at the stripe. It seemed business as usual for Devin as he came up form a fifth place start in the 15-lapper, to pass initial leader Nathan Smith heading into lap 3. From there, as the feature went caution-free from start to finish, Deshaies was in command and lengthening his lead each lap. Smith pursued with abandon, but could not overcome the Deshaies magic and ended up in an entertaining battle over second with sprightly Giovanni Ruggerio and the wily Riley Caron. Ruggerio, who has been one of the two drivers to break Deshaies’ winning skein, (Isaiah Necomb being the other) was able to dodge past Smith going into the white flag lap to secure the runnerup slot. Smith grabbed third while Caron, who had been persistent

in battling Smith most of the distance, claimed fourth, just ahead Brayden Meservey to round out the top five. (Isaiah succumbed to mechanical woes just one lap into this week’s feature.)

Smith and Nikolas Frechette led off from the front and Smith pulled ahead down the front stretch as Caron drove in under Frechette from low in row two. Isaiah had started the outside of the second step on the grid, but after a single lap, rounded the oval to the pit exit on the following circuit.

Meanwhile, Deshaies went to the outside, got past Newcomb and Frechette, then went to work on Caron. Riley drifted high in turn four and Deshaies took advantage, and second behind Smith.

Second time around, Devin went low under Smith to snare the lead down the back stretch. Another time around and he was eight cars in the lead. Behind him, Smith tried to pursue and Frechette got under Caron as the latter seemed unable to get down from the third groove. Ruggerio had come up from the last row onto Caron’s back and Meservey followed.

Deshaies continued his solo flight as Caron got the handle and settled into fourth behind Ruggerio. Another time around and Devin led all comers by a half-straightaway. He continued to put distance on the field while Meservey and Frechette got into a side-by-side battle.

Giovanni was moving up and engaged Smith over second and took the spot on lap eight. Deshaies was another question for him, however, as the leader was a full straight ahead. Smith continued to pester Ruggerio until Caron rolled in onto his back bumper and began a duel over third. It was a grim affair as Riley wouldn’t let go – all the way to the checkers. Smith was able to hold him off but just barely. At the line, it took the electronics to sort them out as Smith earned third with just a .299-second advantage.

Frechette secured sixth place, followed by Collin Vanasse, Brent Robidoux and Joel Newcomb.