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Fast Friday will continue to help grow the sport once again with the Nick’s Pit Stop Legends, Pure Stocks, Sport4’s, and the Bandalero’s. They kick off their season on Friday night, June 1st. The competition in each of these classes will continue to be some of the most competitive racing in the northeast. They too will have their off-weeks when the Thrill Shows take over the Saturday night slot.
New to the schedule will be the double header Monster Truck Madness on Saturday July 21. They will be in competition at both 1pm and 7pm. There will be a pit party and ride alongs. If you are a Monster Truck fan, you will not want to miss this event.
The Tri Track Modifieds will return again for their two events. The annual Open Wheel Wednesday, which has become a staple in the Modified schedule, will be held on June 27th. They will return for the second annual Haunted Hundred. If you talked to anyone who was at last years Haunted Hundred, they probably told you it was one of, if not the best modified race in the Northeast in all of last year.
The Pro Stock Nationals will return for their third engagement on Wednesday July 18th. $10,000 up for grabs for the winner will continue to bring in more and more cars each year.
Did you ever wonder if people remember Seekonk Speedway years after a visit? I always have. Heck, I hear people around this area asking “Are they still running? My dad/mom used to bring me there when I was a kid.” Once some people grow up, they forget about it for a while, thinking it closed down, or something else is there now. Of course I always offer them an opportunity to come back and enjoy a night of racing. I know people grow, move away, things take over their lives.
I bring this up, because I was at the season opener of Bowman Gray Stadium on the 21st of April. Of course, I had to represent, as I had on my new pullover. A gentleman was standing next to me and noticed the logo, and asked if we were still racing. He was stationed at Quonset Point back in the early 1960s, and would visit us when his schedule would allow. I thought it was pretty cool that a retired Seabee would remember some fun he had back in 1962.
As we kick off this new season, let me ask you to do something. Or several things. One, cheer loudly for all of the competitors. These men and ladies have given a lot to be here either part time or weekly. Not to mention what their families and friends have given as well. Not everyone gets along on the track every week, but they have all given everything they could.
Second, bring a friend with you that hasn’t been here in a while, or at all. At Bowman Grey, they had about 10,000 plus people in the grandstands. Now, I don’t expect that here, but boy, wouldn’t that be nice. For the competitors, as well as the speedway itself.
Third, enjoy yourself while you’re here. When it all comes down to it, this is entertainment. Entertainment that hundreds of employees at the track, thousands of men, women, children, and families have gotten together for, so they could pursue a passion that has grown inside of them since they first experienced this glorious sport that we all enjoy.
Fourth, if you own a company, have a friend that does, or know someone who has the financial means to partner up with a competitor, regardless of the division they compete in, or what they can offer. Believe it or not, every little bit helps. You would be surprised on how down to earth these drivers, car owners, teams are. It just might surprise you how tight the budgets are on some of these teams, even when you look at them and think they are well funded. Rumor has it that there are at least a couple of teams that close to closing up due to funds.
They are like a family. Sometimes a little dysfunctional, but none the less, a family. A family that I am proud to be a part of, no matter how small my part.